Blue nevus is a benign melanocytic neoplasm and represents itself usually as a solitary blue or blue-black papule. It rarely occurs as multiple lesions grouped in a circumscribed area. How-ever, non-grouped disseminated blue nevi are exceedingly rare. We report a patient with acquired multiple blue nevi that was distributed over the entire body discretely and showed an increase in the number of the nevi without any causal factors.
Humans ; Nevus ; Nevus, Blue*

The trachea is a cartilagenous and membranous tubular midline structure with parallel walls. Tracheal deviation may be caused either by traction toward the diseased hemithorax or by compression toward the normal side. Unless an obvious mass is observed radiographically, occasionally it can be difficult to decide whether the trachea has been pushed or pulled from its normal position in the mediastinum. We studied the differences between tracheal deviation patterns in 23 patients with fibroatelectatic pulmonary tuberculosis and 35 patients with elongated and dilated aortas. In cases of retraction of the trachea by fibroatelectatic pulmonary tuberculosis, the diameter of the deviated segment was greater than that of the normal segment and deviation of the wall adjacent to the fibroatelectasis from its normal position was greater than that of the opposite wall. In cases of compression of the trachea by the elongated and dilated aorta, the diameter of the diviated segment was smaller than that of the normal segment and deviation of the wall adjacent to the aortic arch from its normal position was greater than that of the opposite wall. We conclude that these differences between tracheal deviation patterns are useful signs for discriminating retraction from compression. Thus when the trachea is retracted, the deviation of the juxtalesional wall is greater than that of the lesion-free wall, and vice versa.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Trachea* ; Traction* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: The incidence of renal tuberculosis has decreased considerably in recent years, but the disease still threatens public health. Childhood genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) has been very rare. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical aspects and characteristics of childhood GUTB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 145 cases of GUTB were diagnosed. We analyzed retrospectively the clinical manifestations of eight patients with GUTB younger than 15 years of age. RESULTS: The age of the patients, six boys and two girls, ranged from 5 to 14 years. Follow up period ranged from 12 to 145 months. Presenting features were diverse and included gross hematuria in five cases. Rarer presenting features included one case of epididymorchitis. All had had BCG vaccination at around 1 month old. Conclusive diagnosis was made on the basis of isolation of mycobacterium tuberculosis in five patients, whereas three patients were given a therapeutic trial based on clinical manifestations. The most common site of involvement was the kidney (7 cases). Temporary urinary diversional procedures were performed in two patients for relieving ureteral obstruction. Excisional surgery was needed in three patients, whereas one underwent ureteroneocystostomy for ureteric stricture. Response to antitubercular drug therapy was gratifying. No relapse was observed during follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood GUTB is rare, but may become serious. The importance of early diagnosis is emphasized, and aggressive treatment is needed in advanced childhood tuberculosis for preservation of renal function.
Child* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Public Health ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Renal ; Ureter ; Ureteral Obstruction ; Urinary Diversion ; Vaccination

Natural products have long been major sources of pharmaceutical products in medicine. We have undertaken a series of studies designed to characterize the pharmacologic profiles of natural products used to treat psychotic illnesses in Korean traditional medicine. In our previous screening assays, we found that three of plant extracts (Coptidis j, Citrus u, and Phellodendron a) contain active components which show relatively potent binding to alpha-2 adrenoceptors. The present study is to explore pharmacologic activities of extracts as agonism or antagonism by G-protein modulations in radioligand receptor binding study. We have found that two extracts(Coptidis j and Phellodendron a) contain active ingredients which have antagonistic properties to alpha-2 adrenoceptors, whereas one plant extract (Citrus u) has agonistic properties. The demonstration of three plant extracts used to treat psychotic illnesses in Korea may help in the elucidation or their pharmacologic characteristics and provide insights for the development of new psychotropic drugs.
Biological Products* ; Citrus ; Felodipine ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Medicine, Korean Traditional ; Medicine, Traditional ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Phellodendron ; Plant Extracts ; Plants ; Psychotropic Drugs ; Receptors, Adrenergic

Iliac vein compression syndrome is an uncommon process in which the right common iliac artery compresses the left common iliac vein, resulting in left iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, severe leg edema and ulceration. We experienced a 55-year-old male patient with recurrent left leg ulcer for 15 years. Skin grafting had been done three times, but none of them healed the patient. Femoral venography showed a complete occlusion of the left common iliac vein. Palma-Dale bypass grafting procedure(crossover saphenous vein bypass grafting) and arteriovenous fistula formation was done. The leg ulcer healed two months after the operation.
Arteriovenous Fistula ; Edema ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Iliac Vein* ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Male ; May-Thurner Syndrome* ; Middle Aged ; Phlebography ; Saphenous Vein ; Skin Transplantation ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Venous Thrombosis

PURPOSE: Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is an uncommon benign condition characterized by calcium deposits in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. It may be associated with testicular malignancies and infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of clinical charts and scrotal ultrasound findings of 18 patients who were found to have TM. Scrotal ultrasound scans were performed using 5- to 10-mHz high-resolution transducers. The indication for ultrasonography was an abnormal scrotal examination. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation was 39.9 years (range 14 to 70 years). Most (15; 83.3%) of the patients had bilateral TM. There were no differences in the sonographic patterns and appearance according to patient age. A third of the patients (7; 38.9%) had benign epididymal lesions. Two with bilateral TM had unilateral testicular malignancy. A varicocele was identified in two men, who demonstrated normal semen parameters. A 16-year-old boy showed no interval sonographic changes at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular microlithiasis usually affects both testes. The association between TM and progres sion of cancer is unclear.
Adolescent ; Calcium ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography ; Varicocele

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the characteristics of stable pelvic bone fractures with intra-abdominal solid organ injury. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed from January 2000 to December 2009 of patients with stable pelvic bone fractures. A stable pelvic bone fracture according to Young's classification is defined as a lateral compression type I and antero-posterior compression type I. Subjects were divided into two groups, one with (injured group) and one without (non-injured group) intra-abdominal solid organ injury, to evaluate the dependences of the characteristics on the presence of an intra-abdominal solid organ injury. Data including demographics, mechanism of injury, initial hemodynamic status, laboratory results, Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), amount of transfusion, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: The subjects were 128 patients with a mean age of 42 years old, of whom were 67 male patients (52.3%). The injured group had 21 patients(16.4%), and the most frequent injured solid organ was the liver. Traffic accident was the most common mechanism of injury and lateral compression was the most common type of fracture in all groups. Initial systolic blood pressure was lower in the injured group, and the ISS was greater in the injured group. Arterial pH was lower in the injured group, and shock within 24 hours after arrival at the emergency department was more frequent in the injured group. Transfused packed red blood cells within 24 hours were 8 patients(38.1%) in the injured group and 11 patients(10.3%) in the non-injured group. Conservative treatment was the most common therapeutic modality in all groups. Stay in the ICU was longer in the injured group, and three mortalities occurred. CONCLUSION: There is a need to decide on a diagnostic and therapeutic plan regarding the possibility of intra-abdominal solid organ injury for hemodynamically unstable patients with stable pelvic bone fractures and for patients with stable pelvic bone fractures along with multiple associated injuries.
Abbreviated Injury Scale ; Abdominal Injuries ; Accidents, Traffic ; Blood Pressure ; Demography ; Emergencies ; Erythrocytes ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Injury Severity Score ; Intensive Care Units ; Liver ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pelvic Bones ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock

Cancer is the most frequent cause of death in both developing and developed countries, including Korea. The aim of this study was to present survival rates of Korean cancer patients. Survival analysis was carried out with data collected under the Korea Central Cancer Registry Program, which included all cancer patients diagnosed from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997. We have analyzed the effects of age at diagnosis and sex on cancer survival from the cancer registry data of 64,240 Korean patients diagnosed of cancer in 1997. The overall survival rate of all Korean cancer patients (both men and women) was 67% at 1 yr and 57% at 2 yr. The 1- and 2-yr survival rates for all cancers in men were 58% and 47%, respectively, while those in women were 77% and 69%, respectively. Men had a lower survival rate than women in most malignancies. The pancreatic cancer was shown the lowest 1-yr survival rate.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/*mortality ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: There are many factors that influence the differentiation and growth of trophoblasts. During differentiation of trophoblasts, two major hormones are secreted ; human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL). These two hormones are secreted in a peculiar pattern during pregnancy and function of these hormones is not yet fully understood. Also, it is not known whether these hormones directly influence the differentiation and growth of trophoblasts. On the other hand, it is known that choriocarcinoma cells are undifferentiated, so they are unable to form syncytiotrophblasts. And many factors may be associated with this inhibitory potential. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to observe whether the hCG and hPL are associated with differentiation and growth of early placental trophoblasts and becoming malignant. METHOD: The hCG, hPL, IL-6 and insulin were added to cytotrophoblasts isolated from normal 8 to 10 gestational weeks' placental tissues by a degree of concentration, and observed the secreted hPL concentration and morphological change to syncytiotrophoblasts daily. And it was performed in Bewo cells in same manner. RESULT: The increased hPL secretion was noted in hCG, hPL, IL-6 and insulin were added normal trophoblasts and this may result from differentiation of cytotrophoblasts to syncytiotrophoblasts. Also, morphological changes to syncytiotrohoblasts was observed at the same time. But, Increased hPL secretion and syncytiotrophoblasts formation was not detected in Bewo cells. CONCLUSION: In this study, it seems that hCG, hPL, IL-6 and insulin had an influence on differentiation and growth of normal trophoblasts. On the other hand, no changes in hPL secretion and morphology at the choriocarcinoma cell line tells us that defects of differentiation in choriocarcinoma is due to abnormalities of the receptors on hCG and hPL or a differentiation associated gene, not a defect of these hormones themselves.
Cell Line ; Choriocarcinoma ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Gonadotropins ; Hand ; Humans* ; Insulin ; Interleukin-6 ; Placental Lactogen* ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts*

The aim of this paper is to estimate the nationwide incidence rate of lung cancer in Korea. The potential incident cases were identified by hospital visiting and mailing, based on the ICD-9 diagnostic codes on the claims as one of the following: ICD-9 162-165 (malignant neoplasms of the respiratory system), 212 (benign neoplasm), 231 (carcinoma in situ), 511 (pleurisy), or 195-199 (malignant neoplasms with uncoded sites) in beneficiaries data of the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation from January, 1988 to December, 1989. Thereafter, the identified cases were confirmed by an oncologist (Dr. DS Heo). When adjusted with age distribution of the Korean population based on the 1985 Population Census, the incidence rate was 22.3 per 100,000 in males (95% CI: 21.70-23.01) and 8.37 (95% CI: 7.97-8.78) in females in 1989. And the age-adjusted rate for the world population was 39.63 in males and 9.95 in females.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lung Neoplasms/*epidemiology/pathology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Sex Factors