Median raphe canal is an uncommon disease and represents a defect abnormality of the male genitalia. It occurs along the ventral median raphe from the glans penis to the anus. Histologically the canal is lined by stratified squamous epithelium which dose not communicate with the urethra. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Recently we observed a 25-year-old male patient who had had a median raphe canal located in the ventral aspect of penis.
Adult ; Anal Canal ; Epithelium ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Penis* ; Urethra

PURPOSE: Patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease are at risk for trace element deficiency due to impaired absorption and gastrointestinal loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trace element status of patients with gastrointestinal disease by blood and hair analysis, and to determine the usefulness of hair mineral analysis for diagnosing trace element deficiency not detected by a blood test. METHODS: An analysis of hair minerals was performed and compared with blood mineral analysis in 13 patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease. The concentration of each element in the hair and blood was compared in the subgroups based on parenteral nutritional support or clinical symptoms. RESULTS: Almost all patients had trace element deficiency. The trace elements deficient in the blood or hair analysis included zinc, selenium and copper. The hair zinc concentration was significantly lower in the group receiving parenteral nutritional support. The hair selenium concentration was statistically associated with the clinical symptoms of hair loss, brittle hair and loss of hair pigmentation. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease should receive adequate zinc and selenium replacement to avoid trace element deficiency especially when treated with long-term parenteral nutrition. Hair mineral analysis is useful as a complementary tool for the detection of a trace element deficiency.
Absorption ; Child ; Copper ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Hair ; Humans ; Minerals ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Selenium ; Trace Elements ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: The 2004 World Health Organization classification introduced atypical pituitary adenoma (aPA), which was equivocally defined as invasion with increased mitotic activity that had a Ki-67 labeling index (LI) greater than 3%, and extensive p53 immunoreactivity. However, aPAs that exhibit all of these features are rare and the predictive value for recurrence in pituitary adenomas (PAs) remains uncertain. Thus, we sought to characterize pathological features of PAs that correlated with recurrence. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-seven cases of surgically resected PA or aPA were retrieved from 2011 to 2013 in Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. Among them, 28 cases were confirmed to be recurrent, based on pathologic or radiologic examination. The pathologic characteristics including mitosis, invasion, Ki-67 LI and p53 immunoreactivity were analyzed in relation to recurrence. RESULTS: Analysis of the pathologic features indicated that only Ki-67 LI over 3% was significantly associated with tumor recurrence (p = .02). The cases with at least one pathologic feature showed significantly higher recurrence rates (p < .01). Analysis indicated that cases with two pathologic features, Ki-67 LI over 3% and extensive p53 immunoreactivity 20% or more, were significantly associated with tumor recurrence (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, PA tumor recurrence can be predicted by using mitosis, invasion, Ki-67 LI (3%), or extensive p53 immunoreactivity (≥ 20%). Assessment of these features is recommended for PA diagnosis for more accurate prediction of recurrence.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Mitosis ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Recurrence* ; Seoul ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: Woods are capable of causing allergic or irritant contact dermatitis which typically occurs on exposed areas. Because Bolivian rosewood exclusively contains the strong sensitizer R-3,4-dimethoxydalbergione, an increasing number of cases of irritant and allergic contact dermatitis has been reported. CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old, male, wood worker, who handled a variety of woods, developed allergic contact dermatitis. A patch test confirmed a positive reaction to one of the exotic woods, Bolivian rosewood. Allergens found in Bolivian rosewood caused this patient's dermatitis, which cleared when he avoided this wood. CONCLUSION: Exotic woods such as Bolivian rosewood can induce occupational contact dermatitis. Measures to lower the incidence of work-related dermatitis are needed in the workplace. Especially, when cutting or sanding woods, workers should wear proper personal protection.
Allergens ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patch Tests ; Silicon Dioxide ; Wood

No abstract available.
Aged ; Cysticercosis/*diagnosis/radiography ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Incidental Findings ; Male ; Neurocysticercosis/diagnosis/radiography

No abstract available.
Angiomyoma*

Nocardiosis is an acute, subacute, or chronic infection, most often beginning in the lung, and usually affects the immunocompromised host. Nocardial infections are not rare in the United States, 500 to 1000 cases are recognized each year, but rarely reported in Korea. Disorders associated with cellular immune dysfunction are the major risk factors for nocardiosis. We report one case of brain and retroperitoneal abscess caused by Nocardia asteroides in patient who has had a chronic lymphocytic leukemia and diabetes mellitus, with a review of the relevant literature.
Abscess ; Brain ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Korea ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* ; Lung ; Nocardia asteroides ; Nocardia Infections* ; Risk Factors ; United States

OBJECTIVES: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects 2%-4% of the all pregnant women, and it is a major risk factor for development of type 2 DM. We performed this cross-sectional study to determine whether there were defects in insulin secretory capacity or insulin sensitivity in women with previous GDM. METHODS: On 6-8 weeks after delivery, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 36 women with previous GDM and 19 non-pregnant control women matched with age and weight. Intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed on 10-14 weeks after delivery. Insulin secretory capacity measured as the acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) and insulin sensitivity as minimal model derived sensitivity index (S(I)) were obtained. AIRg x S(I) (beta-cell disposition index) was used as an index of beta-cell function. RESULTS: Women with previous GDM were classified into normal glucose tolerance (postpartum-NGT, n=19) and impaired glucose tolerance (postpartum-IGT, n=17). Postpartum fasting glucose levels were significantly higher in postpartum-IGT compared to postpartum-NGT and control (P<0.05). AIRg x S(I) was significantly lower in postpartum-IGT compared to control (P<0.05). S(I) was lower in postpartum-NGT and postpartum-IGT compared to control, but the difference did not have the statistical significance. Frequency of parental history of type 2 diabetes was significantly greater in postpartum-IGT compared to postpartum-NGT (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Women with previous GDM showed impaired insulin secretion although their glucose tolerance states were restored to normal. It suggests impaired early insulin secretion may be a major pathophysiologic factor for development of type 2 DM, and this defect may be genetically determined.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetes, Gestational* ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin* ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; Parents ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: A successful cord blood (CB) bank requires long-term storage of a large number of CB units with good quality. To provide an optimal storage condition and to solve issues of space, many techniques have been developed to remove the plasma and RBC with maintenance of the quality and cell dose. We compared the results of the use of two different automated systems with the hydroxyethyl starch (HES) sedimentation method used in routine manual processing. METHODS: A total of 38 donated CB units with informed consent (18 June 2007~16 July 2007) were randomly selected and enrolled. We performed volume reduction of 20 units with the Sepax(R) S-100 (Sepax), 18 units with the AXP(TM) AutoXpress Platform (AXP), and compared the levels of nucleated cell recoveries, viability, and CD34+ cell/total nucleated cells (TNC) with the levels of 20 units processed using the HES method in the same period. The correlations of the initial TNC with cell recoveries were also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean values of the TNC recoveries, viabilities, and CD34+ cell/TNC among the three methods were similar (P=0.75; P=0.13; P=0.75). However, the MNC recovery was significantly higher with the use of the AXP system (89.2%, P<0.001) than the other methods. The Sepax system also showed a reduced SD for TNC recovery. Moreover, cell recovery rates were independent of the initial TNC counts. CONCLUSION: The Sepax and AXP automated cord blood process systems allow similar cell recoveries and viability as compared with the HES method. With the results of this study, a cord blood bank may be able to use an automated system considering the facility, personnel and the workload.
Fetal Blood* ; Informed Consent ; Plasma ; Starch

PURPOSE: Use of emergency rooms (ERs) has increased considerably in Korea. This increase has caused over-crowding and has increased the burden on ER services, created a lack of continuous service provided by ERs, and raised costs. The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of ER use for urgent and non-urgent cases in 2009-2011. METHODS: In this multivariate analysis, we included data collected from the 2009-2011 Korea Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to assess independent factors associated with ER use in non-urgent settings. We consecutively included patients > or =19 years who had completed the survey until 2011. RESULTS: Among the 10,428 respondents, 19.1% of patients had used ERs. Patients who had used EDs were less likely to have attended graduate school (high school: odds ratio [OR], 0.78 [0.63-0.98]; university: OR, 0.69 [0.54-0.89]) or have chronic disease (OR: 0.68 [0.60-0.78]). In addition, patients who did not have a usual source of care (OR, 0.78 [0.70-0.87]) or those who did not have private insurance (OR, 0.86 [0.74-0.99]) were less likely to use ERs. In the 1,994 cases of ER use, however, the any factors were not affected in the non-urgent ER use group. CONCLUSION: The number of patients who used ERs has increased, and there were no significant differences in ER use between non-urgent and urgent patients. ERs may have been used for non-urgent cases owing to other reasons. Further studies on the reasons for non-urgent ER use and development of urgent patient criteria are required.
Adult* ; Chronic Disease ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Health Care Surveys ; Health Expenditures* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio