Surface ECG findings in 29 patients with left isomerism were reviewed. Among the total 46 wave axis distributions, 25(54%) were abnormal axis, not originated from sinus node. Congenital atrioventricular block was found in 2 children. 6 patients showed the bradycardia and junctional escape rhythm intermittently or persistently. 4 of them, not related with heart surgery, were much older than 2 patients who showed these ECG findings after heart surgery. These ECG findings suggested the possibility of occurrence of sinus node or subsidiary pacemaker dysfunction in the patients with left isomerism, especially in the older patients. So we thought that electrophysiologic evaluation is necessary in some patients with left isomerism.
Atrioventricular Block ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bradycardia ; Child ; Electrocardiography* ; Humans ; Isomerism* ; Sinoatrial Node ; Thoracic Surgery ; United Nations

Leiomyosarcoma(LMS) is a malignant tumor from smooth muscle origin that arises most commonly in the gastrointestinal tract and uterus, but rarely in the oral and maxillofacial area which lacks smooth muscles. 63 cases of oral LMS have been reported, especially LMS that occurred in the mandibular gingiva is only 2 cases. Major symptom of oral LMS is painful or painless swelling. Besides it, oral LMS has no specific characteristics. So it is difficult to diagnose the case as LMS of the oral cavity. Certain cases report that LMS of the oral cavity was misdiagnosed as periodontitis and the patients were treated with unnecessary procedures. Conventional treatment of LMS is the radical surgical excision. LMS that is infiltrative and very malignant has poor prognosis despite of well-circumscribed boundary. LMS of the oral cavity is often recurred, has high rate of distant metastasis and 5-year-survival rate is as low as 23%. This article reports LMS of the mandibular gingiva that treated with surgical intervention, had local recurrence and metastasis to the lymph node after 16-month's follow-up examination.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Gingiva* ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lymph Nodes ; Mouth ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Periodontitis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Unnecessary Procedures ; Uterus

BACKGROUND: There are few recent studies on transfusion practice and blood use with regard to diagnoses of Korean recipients. We conducted a survey of blood component use in Yonsei University Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. METHODS: A survey was carried out on blood component transfusion from January 2000 to June 2000. Transfused components were listed by broad diagnostic categories formed from the principal diagnoses of the recipients according to the ICD-10. RESULTS: Of all investigated components (67,433 units), 18,623 units of RBCs (27.6%), 10,203 units of FFP (15.1%), 38,547 units of platelets (57.2%), and 60 units of whole blood (0.1%) were transfused. The transfusion rate in relation to sex was 1.7:1 and the majority of all blood units were transfused to patients aged <65 yrs (85.9%). The rate of blood component transfusion was the highest in the department of internal medicine (47,451 units, 70.4%). Of 18,623 RBCs units and 10,203 FFP units, 70.8% and 74.5% were transfused to patients in four diagnostic categories; neoplasms, digestive system diseases, circulatory system diseases, and leukemia or lymphoma. Of 38,547 platelets units, 87.8% were used in patients with neoplasms, leukemia or lymphoma, digestive system diseases and diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs. CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides information on the blood component usage in tertiary-care teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea. It demonstrates the concentration of today's blood utilization among a few diagnostic categories. This information is relevant for quality management of transfusion practice, cost analyses and for planning local and regional blood donation programs.
Academic Medical Centers ; Blood Component Transfusion ; Blood Donors ; Classification* ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Diagnosis ; Digestive System Diseases ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Seoul

Pulmonary embolism is the impaction of material into branches of the pulmonary arterial bed. It usually occurs in patients with primary hypercoagulable states or secondary hypercoagulable states like cancer, preganancy, and estrogen replacement therapy. We report a case of a pulmonary embolism in a patient with positive lupus anticoagulant who received estrogen replacement therapy. The patient was referred due to suddenly developed shortness of breath and echogenic mass densities in the right atrium on 2 dimensional echocardiography. The patient was markedly improved with intravenous urokinase and subsequent oral anticoagulant therapy. Related articles are also reviewed.
Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor* ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Morning sickness is a common condition in early pregnancy, and it affects the health of both the pregnant woman and fetus. It can decrease the woman's quality of life and also contribute significantly to health care costs and time off work. In most women the condition is mild and self limiting, but a small percentage of women experience severe form being hyperemesis gravidarum. Once symptoms progress, treatment can become more difficult. So, the treatment in the early stages is important to prevent more serious complications, including hospitalization. Once pathologic causes have been ruled out, treatment is individualized. Initial treatment should be conservative and should involve dietary and lifestyle changes. But, severe or prolonged cases may need hospitalization and pharmacologic therapy.
Female ; Fetus ; Health Care Costs ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyperemesis Gravidarum ; Life Style ; Morning Sickness ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Quality of Life

Since 2015, the Support Project for Obstetrically Underserved Areas has been operating a total of 31 obstetric clinics, including 12 delivery clinics, 14 outpatient clinics, and 31 mobile clinics. However, the effectiveness of the project is being questioned due to the low birth rate in some of the hospitals that received delivery clinics through the project. Despite the support project, the number of obstetrically underserved areas is increasing as clinics ceasing their business or at least give up maternal care. This has led to the need for a discussion regarding the limits of obstetrics clinics in underserved areas that are operated by the support project itself and the direction of future improvements. The increasing number of obstetrically underserved areas that lack delivery clinics within a one-hour drive range can have grave consequences, which are not limited to maternal medical systems alone, but also towards the general deterioration of the community. Thus, it has been determined that existing problems should be addressed and the project should continue operating with the Support Project for Obstetrically Underserved Areas Act as the foundation and minimal measures for strengthening the social security system, which is essential. Additionally, aggressive policymaking by the government is thought to be needed for the sake of expanding the extremely weakened obstetric infrastructure.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Birth Rate ; Commerce ; Mobile Health Units ; Obstetrics ; Social Security

Head ; Lipoma ; Neck Muscles ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Shoulder ; Subcutaneous Tissue

Retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma is a rare benign tumor, which is included in the neuroblastomas group. It can occur anywhere along the peripheral autonomic ganglion sites, and the tumor is often incidentally detected in asymptomatic patients or may produce symptoms related to the slow growing tumor. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice and the prognosis is good. We report a case of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma, which was incidentally detected in the first trimester of pregnancy in a 29-year-old woman. Surgical resection of the ganglioneuroma was done at the time of cesarean section at full term without complications.
Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Ganglia, Autonomic ; Ganglioneuroma* ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) during pregnancy is a rare condition. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. CAH patients has lower pregnancy rate compared to normal women. A 27-year-old nulliparous woman, a diagnosed case of 21-hydroxylase deficient simple virilising form of classic CAH visited. She got pregnant spontaneously without any trial of assisted reproductive technology. At the age of 12, she underwent clitoral resection and vaginoplasty. She took dexamethasone or prednisolone after operation. She delivered healthy singleton female baby by cesarean section. Four years later, she delivered healthy singleton female baby by repeat cesarean section. Two female babies have shown normal external genitalia. Here, we report a case of successful pregnancy and delivery in a patient with CAH.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Cesarean Section, Repeat ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Fertility ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Prednisolone ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the association between total and ionized magnesium, and the changes in serum magnesium and calcium levels in patients with preterm labor during magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) administration. METHODS: The study population included 64 women who were candidates for intravenous MgSO4 treatment for preterm labor. Serial blood samples were taken and measured total magnesium (T-Mg), ionized magnesium (I-Mg), total calcium (T-Ca), and ionized calcium (I-Ca) levels every one-week interval (1st, 2nd, 3rd). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in T-Mg and I-Mg levels during MgSO4 administration (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in T-Ca and I-Ca levels during MgSO4 administration (P>0.05). Compared before and after administration of MgSO4, T-Mg and I-Mg levels and T-Ca levels were changed allow statistically significant (P < 0.05). But, there was no significant difference in the I-Ca serum levels before and after MgSO4 administration (P=0.495). The I-Mg levels for patients with adverse effect were higher than other group but did not reach statistical significance (P>0.05). There was significant correlation between levels of I-Mg and T-Mg (I-Mg=0.395×T-Mg+0.144, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in serum Mg and Ca levels during MgSO4 administration for preterm labor. Compared to the before and after administration of MgSO4, only I-Ca levels were not substantially changed. There are significant correlations between I-Mg and T-Mg levels during administration of MgSO4 and I-Mg level seemed to have more correlation with adverse effect than T-Mg.
Calcium ; Female ; Humans ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Magnesium ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy