The authors reviewed clinical data and 50 pathologic specimens from 41 patients of prostate adenocarcinoma filed in the Department of Pathology, Hanyang University school of Medicine, in order to evaluate correlation between clinical stages and histopathologic grades of prostate adenocarcinoma. Each of five currently used grading systems were compared with clinical stages of prostate adenocarcinomas. The followings results were obtained: All of the grading systems were relatively well correlated with clinical progression of the tumon. Histologic grading systems including Gleason's grading system, Gleasons scoring system and M.D. Anderson system showed better correlation than cytologic grading system of Mostofi. Gaeta gradings system regarding both histologic and cytologic aspects of the carcinoma showed good correlation to clinical stage with correlation coefficient of 0.654. Combined scoring system of cytologic and histologic grades (Mostofi-M.D. Anderson combined scoring system) showed better correlation to the clinical stage than single individual grading s system. The author conclued that Gleasons histologic grading system with cytologic characteristics of tumor cells would represent best parameter of clinical progression of the prostate adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: There is increasing concern in many countries about the problem of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Prevalence of primary drug-resistant tuberculosis is the optimal epidemiological indicator for long term monitoring of national tuberculosis control program. Our purpose was The purpose of our study is to assess clinical characteristics and socioeconomic status of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. METHODS: We studied 68 cases with durg-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosed at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from March, 1995 to February, 2000. RESULTS: Patients with primary drug-resistant tuberculosis(PDR) were younger(39.6±16.3 years vs. 48.2±16.5 years; p<0.05), had more population of less than more were under the age of 40 years aged-group(62.9% vs. 36.4%; p<0.05) and were more highly educated than those with acquired drug-resistant tuberculosis(ADR)(38.9% vs. 11.1%; p<0.05). In patients with ADR, the rates of familial history of tuberculosis and living in a rented house residence in a rented house were increased higher than compared with to those of patients with PDR. Patients with ADR had more involved lobes(2.0±0.8 vs. 1.4±0.7; p<0.01) and longer treatment duration than those with PDR(18.3±7.2 months vs. 10.6±6.3 months; p<0.05). Patients with ADR showed larger numbers of resistant were resistant to more number of drugs, lower hospitalization rate and higher rate of self-interruption of medication than those with PDR. In patients with PDR, mono-drug resistance was increased, whereas poly-and multi-drug resistances were decreased compared with those with ADR. Resistance to isoniazid was the highest among antituberculosis drugs, and resistance to isoniazid in patients with ADR was higher than that in patients with PDR(90.9% vs. 71.4%; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ADR were more likely to include more population be of lower socioeconomic class, and patients with PDR seem seemed to be young and socially active population. For control of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, proper isolation and prevention of patient with drug-resistant tuberculosis are needed.
Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Prevalence ; Social Class ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant*

Hereditary anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is a rare condition characterized by underdeveloped ectodermal structure including the skin, teeth or skin appendages. The patient has characteristic feature of anhidrosis, hypotrichosis and defective dentition. We experienced a case of hereditary anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in a l-month-old male infant who had unexplained recurring fever, anhidrosis and characteristic facial feature, so we established the diagnosis with clinical feature and skin biopsy.
Biopsy ; Dentition ; Diagnosis ; Ectoderm ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Hypotrichosis ; Infant ; Male ; Skin ; Tooth

Until recently, the etiology of schizophrenia was generally attributed to abnormalities in dopaminergic neurotransmission. Specifically, an excess of dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic system has been postulated to produce the positive symptoms, while decreased dopaminergic activity in the mesocortical system has been suggested to cause negative symptoms. Accordingly, we performed an association study of schizophrenia with TH gene. Three hundred and seventy four biologically unrelated schizophrenic patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria from Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital affiliated with Catholic university of Korea were recruited for our study. The 393 healthy controls were volunteers for DNA library of Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital without personal or family history of psychiatric and neurologic illness. DNA was extracted from peripheral mononuclear cells and polymorphic region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. TH intron 1 VNTR polymorphism was typed by silver staining. The allele distributions of TH gene were not different between schizophrenics and controls. However, the frequency of allele A was significantly higher in positive group than that of negative group of schizophrenics. These findings suggest that poitive schizophrenia may be associated with allele A of TH gene.
Alleles ; DNA ; Gene Library ; Genetics ; Humans ; Introns* ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Schizophrenia ; Silver Staining ; Synaptic Transmission ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase* ; Tyrosine* ; Volunteers

The authors reviewed the clinical findings and treatment results of 12 cases of spinal meningeal cysts which were detected in MRI of low back patients. In these lesions, large cysts without CSF communication can compressed the nerve roots within spinal canal and it is difficult to confirm the cause of symptom whether it is originated from cysts or from associated spinal disorders. The terms and classifications of spinal meningeal cysts were very confusing. Among 12 cases, we excised 3 cases of large cysts with gluteal and perianal pains that were caused by compressed sacral nerve roots. All three cases were type 2 cyst (classified by Nabors) and located in sacral canal. In one case associated with isthmic spondylolisthesis, posterolateral fusion and pedicle screw fixations were combined with cyst excision. In other two cases, there were not any spinal pathologic findings that compressed sacral nerve roots except mild degenerative changes and intervertebral disc herniation in lower lumbar and sacral levels All 3 excised cases showed good prognosis in more than one year follow up. The other cases were treated conservatively for the associated spinal disorders.
Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Canal ; Spondylolisthesis

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to compare the sensitivity of the Repetitive Nerve Stimulation Test (RNST) between the upper and lower extremity muscles in myasthenia gravis(MG) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 20 normal persons(control group) and 10 MG patients(MG group). Using Stalberg's method. RNST was systemically performed in orbicularis oculi muscle. upper extremity muscles(flexor carpi ulnaris. abductor digiti quinti), and lower extremity muscles(tibialis anterior. extensor digitorum brevis. vastus medialis). RESULTS: There were statistical differences of decremental response(mean+/-SD) in orbicularis oculi and upper extremity muscles between the control and MG groups(p<0.05 or p<0.01). However, there was no statistical difference of decremental response(mean+/-SD) to RNST in lower extremity muscles between the control and MG groups. There were highersensitivity in orbicularis oculi and upper extremity muscles than lower extremity muscles. Although positive reponse were detected in the lower extremity muscles, the positive response rates of lower extremity muscles were lower than o.oculi and upper extremity muscles. CONCLUSIONS: When the response rates of RNST in facial and upper extremity muscles are normal, may not be required RNST in lower extremity muscles.
Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Muscles* ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Upper Extremity

Both spindle cell variant of squamous cell carcinoma and atypical fibroxanthoma are most commonly presented as a solitary, often ulcerated nodule, occurring on sun-exposed skin of the elderly. These lesions also share the histologic features of diffuse or indistinct fascicular arrangement of polygonal or pulmp spindle cells. Therefore it is not easy to differentiate immunohistochemistry is done. A case of 73 year old woman with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin resembling atypical fibroxanthoma is presented.
Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) is mainly caused by the infection of coxsackievirus A16. But recently several epidemics of HFMD with meningitis or myocarditis due to enterovirus 71 have been reported in Southeast Asia. It was necessary that the possibility of enterovirus 71 epidemic in Korea should be ruled out. This study was designed for the determination of causative agents of HFMD in Cheju province in the spring of 1998. METHODS: Serum specimens were collected from 45 pediatric patients with HFMD at Cheju Hankook Hospital in March and April,1998. Virus isolation was performed with RD cell culture through up to three passages. Reverse transcription-PCR and nucleotide sequencing were performed by the method of Oberste et al.(J Clin Microbiol 1999;37:1288-93). The serotypes of viral isolates were determined by BLAST program of National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S.A. RESULTS: Virus could be isolates from 4 patients, whose age was ranged from 11 months to 3 years. All of 4 viral isolates showed about 430-bp product of RT-PCR using primers 011 and 012. The serotype showing the highest similarity with the nucleotide sequences of all of these viral isolates was coxsackievirus A16. CONCLUSIONS: The causative enteroviral agent of HFMD in Cheju province in the spring of 1998 was coxsackievirus A16. We could not detect enterovirus 71 from the patients' sera in Cheju Province in the spring of 1998.
Asia, Southeastern ; Base Sequence ; Biotechnology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Enterovirus ; Humans ; Jeju-do* ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Myocarditis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Parenteral reserpine was given intramuscularly to 32 hospitalized hypertensive patients: 10 hypertensive patients without renal insufficiency, 3 hypertensive patients with heart failure, 10 hypertensive patients of malignant phase or with uremia, and 9 hypertensive patients with cerebrovascular accident. Follwoings were the result. 1. In the majority of patients, the effective dose of reserpine was 2 to 3 mg. 2. Reserpine given intramuscularly lowered blood pressure in 2 to 4 hours, had its maximum effect in 3 to 6 hours and had a duration of 3 to more than 24 hours (average 9 hours). 3. When effective dose of reserpine was given, blood pressure was lowered significantly (more than 30mmHg in mean blood pressure) in 18 patients (81.7%) of 22 hypertensive patients without renal insufficiency, and in 4 patients (40%) of 10 hypertensive patients with renal insufficiency. 4. Major side effect was drowsiness which was more evident in the patients with renal insufficiency. 5. Reserpine administered parenterally is an effective and safe agent for the treatment of hypertensive emergencies on a short term basis especially in the patient without renal insufficiency.
Blood Pressure ; Emergencies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency ; Reserpine* ; Sleep Stages ; Stroke ; Uremia