Hemospermia is a common urologic problem that can be caused by diverse pathologic entities, including inflammatory and neoplastic disorders of the seminal tract. Transrectal ultrasonography provides excellent anatomic detail of pathologic changes in the seminal vesicle and ejaculatory duct. Morphological change of the seminal tract of patient with hemospermia was determined by means or transrectal sonography on 16 patients. The 14 patients (88%) had positive sonographic findings, Abnormalities detected included 5 cases of seminal vesicle stones, 2 cases of dilatated seminal vesicles, 3 cases of ejaculatory duct stones. 2 cases of ejaculatory duct cysts, 1 case of seminal vesicle stone and ejaculatory duct stone, 1 case of Mullerian duct cyst. Our result indicate that transrectal ultrasound is effective in studing in patient with organic hemospermia.
Ejaculatory Ducts ; Hemospermia* ; Humans ; Male ; Seminal Vesicles ; Ultrasonography*

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a predominant pleomorphic sarcoma usually occurring in the deep soft tissue of adults. The tumor commonly occurs in the extremities or in the retroperitoneum. We report a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the paratesticular tissue. A 59 year old man presented with a 7 month history of a painless right upper scrotal mass. Radical orchiectomy with high ligation of the spermatic cord and wide excision of surrounding tissue was performed and then he was received external beam radiation to the right inguinal area and scrotum. He was well 15 months later with no evidence of local recurrence or metastases at follow up study.
Adult ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orchiectomy ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Scrotum ; Spermatic Cord

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HOPP) is a rare disease characterized by reversible attacks of muscle weakness accompanied by episodic hypokalemia. Recent molecular work has revealed that the majority of familial HOPP is due to mutations in a skeletal muscle voltage-dependent calcium-channel: the dihydropyridine receptor. We report a 13-yr old boy with HOPP from a family in which 6 members are affected in three generations. Genetic examination identified a nucleotide 3705 C to G mutation in exon 30 of the calcium channel gene, CACNA1S. This mutation predicts a codon change from arginine to glycine at the amino acid position #1239 (R1239G). Among the three known mutations of the CACNA1S gene, the R1239G mutation was rarely reported. This boy and the other family members who did not respond to acetazolamide, showed a marked improvement of the paralytic symptoms after spironolactone treatment.
Acetazolamide/pharmacology ; Adolescent ; Arginine/chemistry ; Calcium Channels/chemistry/*genetics ; Codon ; Exons ; Family Health ; Female ; Glycine/chemistry ; Humans ; Hypokalemia/metabolism ; Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis/*diagnosis/*genetics ; Korea ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spironolactone/pharmacology

Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were isolated from an ocular patient in the Republic of Korea and maintained in the laboratory (designated KI-1). In the present study, its genotype was determined by analyzing dense granule antigen 6 (GRA6) gene and surface antigen 2 (SAG2) gene as typing markers. Digestion of the amplification products of GRA6 and of the 5' and 3' ends of SAG2, respectively, with Mse I, Sau3A I, and Hha I, revealed that KI-1 is included in the genotype I, which includes the worldwide virulent RH strain. In addition, when the whole sequences of the coding regions of SAG1, rhoptry antigen 1 (ROP1), and GRA8 genes of KI-1 were compared with those of RH, minor nucleotide polymorphisms and amino acid substitutions were identified. These results show that KI-1 is a new geographical strain of T. gondii that can be included in the genotype I.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antigens, Protozoan/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Genes, Protozoan ; Genotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Protozoan ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Toxoplasma/*genetics

The pond smelt Hypomesus olidus and minnow Zacco platypus were collected from the Soyang and Daechung Lakes in January 2003, and their metacercarial infections was examined by the muscle compression and artificial digestion techniques. In the Soyang Lake, 161 metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis (0.35 per fish) were harvested from 459 pond smelts examined. Also, 13 metacercariae of C. sinensis (0.43 per fish), 1 of Metagonimus sp., 4 of Echinostoma sp., 148 of Centrocestus armatus and 44 unidentified species were collected from 30 minnows. In the Daechung Lake, 369 metacercariae of C. sinensis (3.69 per fish) and 51 unidentified species were recovered from 100 pond smelts. The metacercariae of C. sinensis were fed to experimental rats, in which the adult flukes were identified. The pond smelts and minnows collected from the Soyang and Daechung Lakes were verified to be the second intermediate hosts and the sources of human C. sinensis infection.
Animals ; Clonorchiasis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Clonorchis sinensis/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Cyprinidae/*parasitology ; Fish Diseases/parasitology ; Fresh Water ; Host-Parasite Relations ; Korea ; Osmeriformes/*parasitology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To determine the status of Enterobius vermicularis infection among children living on western and southern coastal islands of the Republic of Korea, children (3-10 years) in 39 kindergartens and primary schools were examined using the cello-tape anal swab method, during July and August 2000. Of 1, 661 children examined, 307 (18.5%) were found to be positive for E. vermicularis eggs. The highest infection rate (59.3%) was found in a kindergarten and a branch school of Shinyang primary school on Chujado, Jeju-do (Province). Remarkable differences in egg positive rates were observed in different localities. The egg positive rate for boys (21.3%) was significantly higher than that of girls (15.4%) (P = 0.02). However, positive rates were not significantly dependent on age. The results of the present study show that E. vermicularis infection is highly prevalent among pre-school and primary school children living on the western and southern coastal islands of the Republic of Korea, and indicate the need for efforts to control this infection.
Prevalence ; Parasite Egg Count ; Male ; Korea/epidemiology ; Humans ; Geography ; Female ; Feces/parasitology ; Enterobius/*isolation & purification ; Enterobiasis/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Animals

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and limitations of double contrast esophagography in patients with superficial esophageal cancer, as compared with endoscopic, gross and microscopic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 43 patients with pathologically proven superficial esophageal cancer, the detection rate and diagnostic accuracy of double contrast esophagography and endoscopy were compared. The depth of invasion revealed by esophagography, and grossly and microscopically in resected specimens, was compared. RESULTS: The detection rate and diagnostic accuracy were, respectively, 86.0% and 76.7% for esophagography, and 100% and 95.3% for endoscopy. In addition, very different detection rates (54.6% and 100%, respectively) were noted for epithelial and mucosal lesions. In flat-type cases (0-IIb), esophagography showed limited ability to detect lesions, but the accuracy of this modality in predicting the depth of tumor invasion was relatively high (94.6%). CONCLUSION: In cases of superficial esophageal cancer, double contrast esophagography showed a lower detection rate and lower diagnostic accuracy than endoscopy, and this was especially so for epithelial and mucosal lesions. The modality was able, however, to reliably predict the depth of tumor invasion.
Diagnosis* ; Endoscopy* ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Humans

A nationwide survey was performed to know the distribution and prevalence of human Gymnophalloides seoi infection on western and southern coastal islands in the Republic of Korea. A total of 4,178 fecal specimens were collected from residents on 45 (24 western and 21 southern) islands, and examined by Kato-Katz and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. Eggs of G. seoi were detected from 160 (3.8%) people living on 22 (13 western and 9 southern) islands. The prevalence varied by the location of islands; higher on western islands than on southern islands. The highest prevalence was found on Amtaedo (25.3%), followed by Cheungdo (25.0%), and Anchwado (20.9%) (Shinan-gun). A little lower prevalence was observed on Munyodo (13.3%), Shinshido (12.9%), and Sonyudo (10.3%) (Kunsan-shi). Of the remaining islands, the regions showing the prevalence greater than 5% included Kohado, Dallido (Mokpo-shi), Pyeongildo, Kogumdo (Wando-gun), and Keogumdo (Kohung-gun). A strong age predilection was noted (P < 0.05); 95% of the infected people were over 40 years old. Females showed a little higher prevalence than males. The results indicate that human G. seoi infection is more widely distributed than previously considered. Nine of 11 islands (excluding the 2 known areas Munyodo and Sunyudo) that showed greater prevalence than 5% are regarded as new endemic foci of G. seoi.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/*epidemiology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sex Factors ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Trematode Infections/*epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Since 1997, the annual case occurrence of vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea (ROK) has exceeded 1,000 cases. The military is thought to be an important source of the current outbreak. We collected various informations about malaria cases (soldiers, veterans and civilians) that occurred in 2001, and analyzed the characteristics of the current outbreak. METHODS: Informations about malaria cases of soldiers, veterans and civilians, including the name, age, sex, day of onset, region, etc., were collected through the National Institute of Health. RESULTS: Out of a total of 2,534 cases, 672 (26.5%) occurred in the military, 752 (29.7%) occurred among the veterans, and 1,110 (43.8%) occurred among the civilians. Ten-day incidence reached its peak in mid-July. Areas such as Cheolwon, Yeoncheon, Paju and Hwacheon showed the highest prevalence. CONCLUSION: It is considered that the current malaria outbreak has escaped from the exponential growth phase, however, attention should be paid to prevent further spreading of malaria.
Humans ; Incidence ; Malaria ; Malaria, Vivax* ; Military Personnel ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea* ; United Nations ; Veterans

Carpal tunnel syndrome, compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel at the wrist, is the most common entrapment syndrome of peripheral nerve. It is characterized by sensory and motor symptoms and signs in the distribution of the median nerve. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation is a neuroablative treatment for various chronic pain disorders, but is associated with neural injury, neuritis, and occasional neuroma. Unlike RF, pulsed radiofrequency, the use of the high current intensity and electrical fields, has been proposed for the modulation of the excited nervous system pathway of pain without neuro-destruction and other potential complications. We report a case of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome that was relieved after PRF lesioning of both median nerves.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Chronic Pain ; Electrocoagulation ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Nervous System ; Neuritis ; Neuroma ; Peripheral Nerves ; Wrist