An epidemiological study on brugian filariasis was carried out in endemic areas including Cheju Island in Korea, with a brief review of literatures.The results showed that the incidence among residents has remarkably decreased in Cheju Island, which was the main endemic area. Reviewing available informations on the prevalence of filariasis reported in recent years and also judging from the present socio-economic conditions which enable people to practice personal protection against mosquitos, it can be said with confidence that filariasis has almost disappeared from Cheju Island and inland areas. The disease is considered to remain at a low level of endemicity in Hugsan Islands. Certainly mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment carried out in Cheju Island in the 1960s and 1970s and remarkable economic growth followed by improved living standard and altered life-style of inhabitants could all have combined effects on the disappearance of this mosquito-borne diseae in this island. If the present trends go on, the possibility of resurgence of filariasis in Cheju Island is hardly postulated.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Brugia malayi ; filariasis ; epidemiology

No abstract available.
Psoriasis*

Three cases of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia were treated at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul national University Hospital during last four years. In all cases, many Cafe-au-lait spots and subcutaneous nodules were shown on the whoIe body skin, which are suggestive of neuro-fibromatosis. Case 1, A thirteen years old boy was treated with plate and screw fixation with massive iliac cancellous and cortical graft. In a follow-up of three and one half years, solid bony union has been obtained with successful result. Case 2, A 5 years old boy was treated with Boyds dual cortical graft with plate and screw fixation. In a follow-up to eight months, bony union were satisfactory. Case 3, A six months old boy who is young brother of case 2, was treated with Charnleys intramedullary nailing and iliac cancellous and cortical graft. The patient is still in the Iong leg cast, six months postoperatively. The evidence of familial and hereditary factor in pedigree is elicited on case 2 and 3. This congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in the sibling is regared as the first report in Korean literature.
Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Pedigree ; Pseudarthrosis ; Seoul ; Siblings ; Skin ; Tibia ; Transplants

Two cases of synovial hemangioma have been experienced at the Department of Orthopedic surgery, Seoul National University Hospital. In the first case, synovial hemangioma about 1.5cm in diameter was found to be attached to the anterior aspect of the medial condyle of the left femur, which was excised completely with good follow-up result. In another case, cavernous hemangioma was observed diffusely invading tendon sheaths, lower one third of the tibia and also synovium of the ankle joint. Because of diffuse involvement, complete removal was not possible. After partial removal, a total 800 r Roentgen therapy was taken.
Ankle Joint ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Orthopedics ; Seoul ; Synovial Membrane ; Tendons ; Tibia

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the adequate cutoff value of the neonatal screening test to decrease recall and false-positive rates. METHODS: During the period of January 1999 through December in Asan Medical Center, newborn screening tests for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and galactosemia were performed in 3,775, 3,707, 3,783, and 3,806 newborns respectively using commercial ELISA kits. We reviewed and analyzed the recall rate at currently used cutoff values. RESULTS: 1)In neonatal screening test for congenital hypothyroidism, using a current cutoff value, 17 microIU/mL, the recall rate was 0.9% and using a 99.7% cutoff value, 21.3 microIU/mL, the predictive recall rate was 0.4%. There were no significant differences in the other reports that suggest adequate recall rate. 2)In neonatal screening test for phenylketonuria, using a current cutoff value, 3.6 mg/dL, the recall rate was 1.5% which was no significant difference compared with expected presumptive positive rate, 1.44%. 3)In neonatal screening test for congenital adrenal hyperplasia and galactosemia, the recall rate was high when using current cutoff value. But all results were within normal limits in reevaluation. CONCLUSION: The cutoff values of screening test which are currently recommended by manufacturers of commercial kits for congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and galactosemia, are needed to be reset to decrease the recall rate by false-positive results on the basis of data from an individual newborn screening laboratory.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Galactosemias ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening ; Neonatal Screening* ; Phenylketonurias

PURPOSE: Conservative management of multicystic dysplastic kidney(MCDK) without nephrectomy has recently been advocated. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical course of conservatively managed MCDK and to find out possible predictive factors for involution of MCDK by ultrasonography(US). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made on 46 patients(26 boys and 20 girls) in whom MCDK was detected and had been traced by US between Dec. 1993 and Aug. 2005 at Severance Hospital. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 30 months(range 2-102 months). All patients underwent radionuclide scans and voiding cystourethrograms. The serial follow-up US showed complete involution in 11(24%), partial involution in 19(41%), and no interval change or increased in cyst size in 13(28%) patients. Nephrectomy was done in 3 patients(7%) due to relapsing urinary tract infection(UTI) and severe abdominal distension. The mean age of complete involution of MCDK was 37 months(range 12-84 months). Episodes of UTI were present in 17 patients(37%) and additional genitourinary(GU) abnormalities were found in 22 patients(44%). Hypertension and renal insufficiency was complicated in one patient. No child developed malignant tumor. Univariate analysis showed that five variables were associated with complete involution of the MCDK; gender, site, UTI episode, additional GU abnormalities, and renal length on initial US. After adjusting using the Pearson model, the presence of additional GU abnormalities was exclusively associated with complete involution among the 5 variables(P=0.034). CONCLUSION: In our review of 46 cases of MCDK, non-surgical approach for patients with MCDK was advisable and we could predict poor prognosis when MCDK is associated with other GU anomalies.
Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney* ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease has preceded the increase of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma in Western countries. An increase of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma can also be predicted due to the increase of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Asia. Therefore, the ability of endoscopists to detect Barrett's esophagus can be important in the future. The aim of this study was to examine whether a short education program could improve the ability of gastrointestinal endoscopists and nurses to detect Barrett's esophagus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endoscopists and nurses of Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Center in Kosin Uinversity Gospel Hospital were enrolled in this study. Endoscopic images of biopsy proven Barrett's esophagus and normal gastroesophageal junction were obtained with conventional endoscopy. Thirty-seven still images of conventional endoscopy were used for slide test before and after 15 minutes education on Barrett's esophagus. RESULTS: Diagnostic ability of the doctor group after education did not changed (pre-education 79.6% vs. post-education 79.3%, P=0.906). Nurse group showed improved diagnostic ability for Barrett's esophagus after education (pre-education 68.7% vs. post-education 75.5%, P=0.008). After a short education program, inter-observer agreement of endoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus was improved in both doctor and nurse groups (doctor inter-observer correlation coefficient [ICC], 0.684→0.879; nurse ICC, 0.524→0.862). CONCLUSIONS: Even a short education program can improve the diagnostic ability, especially inter-observer agreement of endoscopic diagnosis for Barrett's esophagus. Further studies are needed to establish a role of education to improve diagnostic ability of Barrett's esophagus.
Adenocarcinoma ; Asia ; Barrett Esophagus* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Education* ; Endoscopy ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Prevalence

Ovarian myoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor, accounting for only 1% of benign ovarian neoplasm. These tumors only originate from smooth muscle on the walls of blood vessels in the cortical stroma, in the corpus luteum and in the ovarian ligaments at the point of attachment to the ovary. Most patients are asymptomatic and the tumors are usually found incidently during operations or at autopsies. Two cases of ovarian myoma experienced in our hospital recently are reported with a brief review of the literatures."
Autopsy ; Blood Vessels ; Corpus Luteum ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Ligaments ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myoma ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary

Here we report two cases of isolated diffuse mesangial sclerosis (IDMS) with early onset end-stage renal failure. These female patients did not show abnormalities of the gonads or external genitalia. Direct sequencing of WT1 PCR products from genomic DNA identified WT1 mutations in exons 8 (366 Arg>His) and 9 (396 Asp>Tyr). These mutations have been reported previously in association with Denys-Drash syndrome (DDS) with early onset renal failure. Therefore we suggest that, at least in part, IDMS is a variant of DDS and that investigations for the WT1 mutations should be performed in IDMS patients. In cases with identified WT1 mutations, the same attention to tumor development should be required as in DDS patients, and karyotyping and serial abdominal ultrasonograms to evaluate the gonads and kidney are warranted.
Base Sequence ; DNA/chemistry/genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Glomerular Mesangium/*pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; *Mutation ; Nephrosclerosis/*genetics ; WT1 Proteins/*genetics

No abstract available.
Female ; Indomethacin* ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Pregnancy ; Ritodrine*