PURPOSE: Acute appendicitis still remains one of the most common causes of childhood abdominal surgery. Despite of the development of modern diagnostic tools, it presents more serious problems than in adults due to the higher perforation rate. METHODS: In our hospital, 5-year term clinical reviews have been performed, over the last 2 decades to see if there were any changing tendencies of this disease entity. We reviewed 186 cases of child acute appendicitis between January 1997 and December 2001. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) The male to female ratio was 1.35: 1. 2) The peak incidence occurred in the 11 to 15 years old age group. 3) The overall perforation rate was 24.7%, which was decreased compared with 34.7% of our previous study (P<0.05, Odd ratio=0.60). 4) The negative exploration rate was 8.06%. 5) The overall complication rate were 2.85% and 32.6% in non-perforated and perforated cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the incidence of acute appendicitis were shown to be almost the same as for the previous decade, but the perforation rate had dropped, maybe due to the early intervention, and advances in the diagnostic tools.
Adult ; Appendicitis* ; Child* ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male

The current patient management system has several limitations. To develop the critical pathway (CP) as a cost-effective method via continuous patient management, we investigated the medical records of 77 patients who underwent FP chemotherapy in Seoul National University Hospital from Feb, 1 to 28, 1999. And the pilot study was done to 12 patients admitted to undergo the FP chemotherapy. 1. The vertical contents in the CP consisted of 7 items; assessment, activity, diet, IV therapy, medication, education and evaluation. The duration of the horizontal axis was 6 days from admission to discharge. 2. The medical performance according to the vertical axis in the preliminary CP, consisted of 72 , and modified to 74 items in the final form of CP. 3. The nursing record consisted of a vertical axis of 4 items; assessment, IV therapy, medication and education. The duration of the horizontal axis was 6 days from admission to discharge of hospital days.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Critical Pathways* ; Diet ; Drug Therapy* ; Education ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Nursing Records* ; Nursing* ; Pilot Projects ; Seoul

We present the cytologic features of a case of solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas. Cytologically, the tumor was composed of a monotonous population of polygonal cells containing ecentrically located round nuclei with one or two distinct small nucleoli and a finely stippled chromatin pattern. The tumor cells were similar to those of the islet cell tumor and showed isolated loosety aggregated and solid sheedts or large cell clumps. The large cell clumps revealed a branching papillary structure containing fibrovascular central core, which is characteristic histologic feature of solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas. The case was confirmed by tissue examination including histochemical immunohistochemical and electron microscopical studies. Utrastructurally, the tumor cells contanined a few membrane-bound electron dense granules.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Chromatin ; Pancreas*

OBJECTIVE: To provide reference ranges of the fetal gall bladder in the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fetal gall bladder development was evaluated in well-dated, non-anomalous fetuses in the Korean population between February and April 2003 and the visualization rate and reference values were determined from the obtained data. RESULTS: The visualization rate of the fetal gall bladder increased as gestation advanced to a plateau above 90%, which was maintained between 16 and 34 weeks. The measured parameters from the fetal gall bladder had a significant positive relationship with gestational age (p = 0.000 for all cases), and the correlation of length and area with the gestational age (r = 0.741 and r = 0.690, respectively) was better than the correlation of width, height, and volume with gestational age. The repeatability coefficients and coefficients of variation between the two operators were 5.56 mm and 12.9% for the length and 344.11 mm(2) and 33.52% for the area. The median length of the fetal gall bladder in the Korean population was not significantly different from the mean length of gall bladders in the Caucasian and African-American populations (p = 0.915). CONCLUSION: We have provided reference values for the fetal gall bladder throughout the gestation period in the Korean population.
Female ; Gallbladder/*embryology/ultrasonography ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Korea ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; *Ultrasonography, Prenatal

PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT and MRI findings of neurosyphilis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectivelyreviewed the CT and MR imaging findings in five patients with intracranial neurosyphilis confirmed by CSF, VDRL,TPHA, and clinical follow-up. MR imaging was performed in all five cases, and CT in two. RESULTS: The MRI and CTfindings of intracranial neurosyphilis included infarction (n=3), focal inflammation (n=1) and encephalopathy(n=1). There was a total of ten infaretions : three of the basal ganglia, two each of the frontal lobe, watershedzone, and cerebellum, and one of the occipital lobe. Intaretion was most common in MCA territory (n=9; 50%),followed by the watershed zone (16.6%), posterior cerebral artery territory (16.6%), and posterior inferiorcerebellar artery territory (11.1%), The size of the lesion varied from 1cm to larger than one lobe. One patientshowed diffuse high signal intensity in the left temporal lobe, but on follow-up MRI, this had resolved. CONCLUSION: The most common finding of neurosyphilis, as seen on MRI and CT, was infarction in middle cerebralarterial territory.
Arteries ; Basal Ganglia ; Cerebellum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Infarction ; Inflammation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurosyphilis* ; Occipital Lobe ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Syphilis ; Temporal Lobe

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of differentiation between benign and malignant clustered microcalcifications without mass on mammogram. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourty six mammogramsof 44 patients showing clustered microcalcifications without mass were interpreted blindly by five independent observers majoring in breast imaging from different institutions. Twenty two were malignant (10 infiltratingductal carcinomas, 12 intraductal carcinomas) and 24 were benign (all fibrocystic disease). The observers judgebenignancy or malignancy of microcalcifications. The authors assess the accuracy of differential diagnosis of clustered microcalcifications. RESULT: Of 24 cases proved benign microcalcifications, five radiologists correctly interpreted 20 on average as benign and of malignant 22 cases, 16 on average were correctly interpreted asmalignant. The diagnostic accuracy of malignant microcalcifications was 71.8% on average(63.6%-81.8%) and the diagnostic accuracy for benign microcalcifications was 83% on average(71% - 92%). It was 9 among total 46 cases that were misinterpreted by more than three radiologists. Among these 9 cases, malignant microcalcifications thathad been misinterpreted as benign were seven, benign microcalcifications misinterpreted as malignant were two. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of clustered malignant microcalcifications(71.8%) without mass on mammogramwas lower than that of benign microcalcifications(83.3%). So, in case of suspected malignant microcalcification onmammogram, it is preferable that along with magnification view, histopathologic confirmation by core biopsy mustbe obtained.
Biopsy ; Breast ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Mammography*

A 57-year-old woman developed an inflammatory carcinoma in her left breast next to the spot of a silicone injection that had been used for augmentation some 20 years previously. She underwent a modified radical mastectomy with an axillary lymph node dissection. There have been relatively few cases reported in the literature that have noted breast cancer associated with silicone injections. During physical examinations, such breasts are frequently firm, tender, painful, and inflamed. Far more important, in silicone-injected breasts, carcinomas become more difficult to detect by physical examination, mam mography, and other known methods. Although no causal relationship between silicone and breast carci nomas is implied, a heightened awareness of the possible coexistence of silicone mastopathy and a breast carcinoma is necessary.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Middle Aged ; Noma ; Physical Examination ; Silicones*

A 57-year-old woman developed an inflammatory carcinoma in her left breast next to the spot of a silicone injection that had been used for augmentation some 20 years previously. She underwent a modified radical mastectomy with an axillary lymph node dissection. There have been relatively few cases reported in the literature that have noted breast cancer associated with silicone injections. During physical examinations, such breasts are frequently firm, tender, painful, and inflamed. Far more important, in silicone-injected breasts, carcinomas become more difficult to detect by physical examination, mam mography, and other known methods. Although no causal relationship between silicone and breast carci nomas is implied, a heightened awareness of the possible coexistence of silicone mastopathy and a breast carcinoma is necessary.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Middle Aged ; Noma ; Physical Examination ; Silicones*

BACKGROUND: The aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transferase (ALT) ratio increases with alcohol consumption. This study investigated AST/ALT ratio according to alcohol drinking and predictive power of AST/ALT ratio for heavy drinking in Korean men. METHODS: In 2015, 830 men with no history of disease or medication affecting liver function values were selected. Using 14 g of alcohol as the standard glass, odd ratios (ORs) of AST/ALT ratio over 1 among the drinking group were compared with the non-drinking group by multiple logistic analyses. Screening of heavy drinkers was conducted according to both NIAAA and Korean guidelines. Using AST/ALT ratio >1, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, positive likelihood ratios, negative likelihood ratios and odds ratios were investigated. RESULTS: After correcting for age, body mass index, exercising, and smoking history, ORs (95% confidence interval) of AST/ALT >1 were 1.607 (1.048-2.464) in <8 glasses group, 2.172 (1.160-4.065) in the 14 glasses group, and 3.670 (2.218-6.053) in the >14 glasses group. When AST/ALT >1 in the drinking group, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, likelihood ratios (LR)+, LR- and OR according to NIAAA guidelines, were 57.2%, 52.7%, 23.2%, 76.8%, 1.21 (1.04-1.41), 0.81 (0.67-0.98), and 1.49 (1.05-2.01), respectively. By Korean guidelines, these values were 55.2%, 55.3%, 33.7%, 66.3%, 1.24 (1.03-1.36), 0.84 (0.72-0.98), and 1.40 (1.04-1.89), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy male adults showed a positive correlation between risk of AST/ALT >1 and drinking amount compared to the non-drinking group. Use of the AST/ALT >1 in combination with other blood markers to predict excessive drinking is advisable.
Adult* ; Alanine Transaminase* ; Alanine* ; Alcohol Drinking* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases* ; Aspartic Acid* ; Body Mass Index ; Drinking ; Eyeglasses ; Glass ; Humans ; Liver ; Male* ; Mass Screening ; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.) ; Odds Ratio ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transferases

Betaine derivatives are considered major ingredients of shampoos and are commonly used as antistatic and viscosity-increasing agents. Several studies have also suggested that betaine derivatives can be used as antimicrobial agents. However, the antifungal activity and mechanism of action of betaine derivatives have not yet been fully understood. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity of six betaine derivatives against Malassezia restricta, which is the most frequently isolated fungus from the human skin and is implicated in the development of dandruff. We found that, among the six betaine derivatives, lauryl betaine showed the most potent antifungal activity. The mechanism of action of lauryl betaine was studied mainly using another phylogenetically close model fungal organism, Cryptococcus neoformans, because of a lack of available genetic manipulation and functional genomics tools for M. restricta. Our genome-wide reverse genetic screening method using the C. neoformans gene deletion mutant library showed that the mutants with mutations in genes for cell membrane synthesis and integrity, particularly ergosterol synthesis, are highly sensitive to lauryl betaine. Furthermore, transcriptome changes in both C. neoformans and M. restricta cells grown in the presence of lauryl betaine were analyzed and the results indicated that the compound mainly affected cell membrane synthesis, particularly ergosterol synthesis. Overall, our data demonstrated that lauryl betaine influences ergosterol synthesis in C. neoformans and that the compound exerts a similar mechanism of action on M. restricta.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Betaine ; Cell Membrane ; Cryptococcus ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Dandruff ; Ergosterol ; Fungi ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Testing ; Genomics ; Humans ; Malassezia ; Methods ; Skin ; Transcriptome