No abstract available.

The use of zinc in medicinal skin cream was mentioned in Egyptian papyri from 2000 BC (for example, the Smith Papyrus), and zinc has apparently been used fairly steadily throughout Roman and modern times (for example, as the American lotion named for its zinc ore, 'Calamine'). It is, therefore, somewhat ironic that zinc is a relatively late addition to the pantheon of signal ions in biology and medicine. However, the number of biological functions, health implications and pharmacological targets that are emerging for zinc indicate that it might turn out to be 'the calcium of the twenty-first century'. Here neurobiological roles of endogenous zinc is summarized.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Biology ; Calcium ; Ions ; Iron ; Ischemia ; Skin Cream ; Stroke ; Zinc*

Vaginitis is one of the most common disease in gynecologic field in recent days. About 90% of these patients suffer from the infection of the vagina caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida, or Trichomonas, either alone or in combination. For the effective diagnosis and management, it is essential to get an accurate identification of the causative agent. Applying simple and easy diagnostic methods such as pH of vaginal discharge, amine test and microscopic examination of wet mount preparation of normal saline and 10% KOH to 549 cases of randomly selected patients visiting Out-patient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Yeungnam University Hospital through May 1st to Sept. 31st, 1987, the following results were obtained. 1. In the Gardnerella vaginitis vaginal pH was more than 5.0 in 81.0% of total cases, positive amine test in 62.8%, decreased lactobacilli in 77.4% & decreased WBC counts in 70.1%, In the Trichomonas vaginitis vaginal pH more than 5.0 was noted in 93.3% of the cases, negative amine test in 90%, decreased showed vaginal pH of 3.0~4.0 in 83.2%, negative amine test in 90%, decreased lactobacilli in 90% & increased WBC counts in 93.3%, whereas Candida vaginitis and normal groups showed vaginal pH of 3.0~4.0 in 83.2%, negative amine test in 100%, normal distribution of lactobacilli in 89.7%, normal WBC counts in 72.4%. 2. The accuracy rates of physical diagnosis by wet mount preparation of normal saline and 10% KOH revealed 26.3%, 47.5%, 70.0% in Gardnerella vaginitis, Candida vaginitis, and Trichomonas vaginitis, respectively. The vaginal pH and amine test showed 83.2% of accuracy rate in Candida vaginitis group, 60.6% in Gardnerella vaginitis group and 83.3% in Trichomonas vaginitis group. 3. In 23 cases of Gardnerella vaginitis showing vaginal pH of 3.0 or 4.0 and positive amine test, the clue cells were observed in 10% or less in 12 cases, 30% in 5 cases, 50% in 4 cases and 50% or more in 2 cases. In summary vaginal pH and amine test could be useful in screening and differentiating the different types of infectious vaginitis. Furthermore by adding microscopic examination of normal saline and 10% KOH wet mount preparation to them, they not only could obtain higher diagnostic accuracy rate but would be more valuable in selecting the patients requiring cultures to confirm the diagnoses.
Candida ; Diagnosis ; Gardnerella ; Gardnerella vaginalis ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Mass Screening ; Obstetrics ; Outpatients ; Trichomonas ; Trichomonas Vaginitis ; Vagina ; Vaginal Discharge* ; Vaginitis*

No abstract available.
Twins, Conjoined*

No abstract available.
Twins, Conjoined*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to report mixed germ cell tumor, which revealed changes compatible with early transformation of dysgerminoma to endodermal sinus tumor(EST) through histogenetic considerations and immunohistochemical stains. METHODS: Ovarian germ cell tumors were reviewed from files of Dept. Ob/Gyn. Seoul Paik Hospital fiom 1992.1 to 1996.12. Total of 5 cases include 4 pure dysgerminoma and 1 mixed germ cell tumars. All tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin and reviewed by two pathologists with immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin, vimentin, AFP, PCNA, p53 & bc1-2. RESULTS: Grossly, the areas of transformation were located at the middle of the mixed tumor. The outer layer of the tumor mass was filled with typical pure dysgerminoma. They were characterised as the presence of microcysts and small glandular structures in hematoxylin-eosin(H-E) stains with positive stain for vimentin, except the tissue of the EST. The cells in the intermediate layer were characterised as the mixed form of dysgerminomatous and EST structures in H-E stains. AFP in the dysgerminomatous cells in intermediate layer and EST were stained, but not in outer layer. CONCLUSION: Dysgerminoma may possess the ability to transform to EST. There might be intermediate stage between dysgerminoma and EST, and Immunohistochemical staining for AFP, cytokeratin, vimentin, PCNA also can be used for prognosis of germ cell tumor.
Coloring Agents ; Dysgerminoma* ; Endoderm ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor* ; Formaldehyde ; Germ Cells ; Keratins ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Paraffin ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Seoul ; Vimentin ; Yolk Sac*

Hereditary ovarian cancer accounts for about 5% to 10% of the total ovarian cancer bnurden, The discase has been observed in context with three types of hereditary ovarian cancer prone syndrome : (1) site-specific ovarian cancer, (2) hereditary breast/ivarian cancer syndrome, (3) hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer(Lynch syndrome II). Each of these syndmmcs is chracterized by autosomal dominant transmission of cancer, sigrdficant early age of onset, and exeess of multiple Iprimary cancers. Auuthor expxeriencecl six families with hereditaty ovarian cancer, two families with a site-spxific. ovarian cancer and four with a breast/ovarian cancer syndrome, and report these families.
Age of Onset ; Chymopapain ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms*

Hereditary ovarian cancer accounts for about 5% to 10% of the total ovarian cancer bnurden, The discase has been observed in context with three types of hereditary ovarian cancer prone syndrome : (1) site-specific ovarian cancer, (2) hereditary breast/ivarian cancer syndrome, (3) hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer(Lynch syndrome II). Each of these syndmmcs is chracterized by autosomal dominant transmission of cancer, sigrdficant early age of onset, and exeess of multiple Iprimary cancers. Auuthor expxeriencecl six families with hereditaty ovarian cancer, two families with a site-spxific. ovarian cancer and four with a breast/ovarian cancer syndrome, and report these families.
Age of Onset ; Chymopapain ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms*

Differential diagnoses of the nasopharyngeal mass in an adolescent or in a young adult include the nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, hemangioma, antrochoanal polyp, or, in rare cases, malignant disease. A twenty one-year-old male patient visited our department with aggravated symptoms of left nasal obstruction and frequent epistaxis, which originated three years ago. Endoscopic examinations revealed a dark pinkish mass with bleeding tendency in the left nasopharynx and it was also observed in the right side due to its huge size. At first, we suspected a nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and evaluations including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. These studies showed a highly vascular mass confined in the nasopharynx. However, its origin was uncertain. After an angiography with embolization of feeding vessels, the mass was removed endoscopically. Unexpectedly, its origin was the posterior end of the left inferior turbinate, and the diagnosis of a cavernous hemangioma was confirmed with histopathological findings.
Adolescent ; Angiofibroma* ; Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epistaxis ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasopharynx ; Polyps ; Turbinates* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Critical care physician staffing is a crucial element of the intensive care unit (ICU) organization, and is associated with better outcomes in ICUs. Adult ICUs in Korea have been suffering from inadequate full-time intensivists and nurses because of insufficient reimbursement rates (<50% of the original critical care cost) from the National Health Insurance System. Recently, full-time intensivists have been introduced as a prerequisite for adult ICUs of tertiary hospitals in Korea. The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of intensivist staffing among critical care program directors regarding the barriers and solutions when implementing an intensivist model of critical care in Korea. METHODS: An email survey of critical care program directors in designated teaching hospitals for critical care subspecialty training by the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine was performed. The survey domains included vision, culture, resources, barriers, and potential solutions to implementing intensivist physician staffing (IPS). RESULTS: Forty-two critical care program directors were surveyed. A total of 28 directors (66.7%) responded to email queries. Of these, 27 directors (96.4%) agreed that IPS would improve the quality of care in the ICU, although half of them reported a negative perception of relevant clinical colleagues for the role of full-time intensivists and poor resources for IPS in their hospitals. Increased financial burden due to hiring full-time intensivists and concerns regarding exclusion from the management of their critically ill patients in the ICU, together with loss of income for primary attending physicians were stated by the respondents to be major barriers to implementing IPS. Financial incentives for the required cost from the health insurance system and enhancement of medical law relevant to critical care were regarded as solutions to these issues. CONCLUSIONS: Critical care program directors believe that intensivist-led critical care can improve the outcome of ICUs. They indicated the financial burden due to IPS and underestimation of a full-time intensivist's role to be major barriers. The program directors agreed that a partnership between hospital leaders and the Ministry of Health and Welfare was needed to overcome these barriers.
Adult* ; Critical Care ; Critical Illness ; Electronic Mail ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Intensive Care Units ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Motivation ; National Health Programs ; Personnel Staffing and Scheduling ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Care Centers