Clinical features, laboratory and operative findings were reviewed in 10 cases of Ebstein's anomaly admitted to Dong San Hospital, Keimyung University during a 7(1/2)-year period from January 1982 to June 1989. The following results obtained : 1) Exertional dyspnea(90%) and palpitation(30%) were the predominant symptoms, and cyanosis was documented in 2 cases among 10 patients. 2) Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly in all cases, but cardio-thoracic ratio was above 0.6 in 4 cases. 3) Electrocardiograms showed RBBB in 4 cases, RVH in 2 cases, 1st degree AV block in 4 cases. 4) Echocardiograms and angiograms showed displacement of tricuspid valve in all cases. 5) Interatrial communication via atrial septal defect (5) and patent foramen ovale (5) was present in 10 cases(100%). 6) Operative findings of 5 cases showed abnormalities of septal leaflet in 5(100%), posterior leaflet in 5(100%), and anterior leaflet in 1 case (20%).
Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiomegaly ; Cyanosis ; Ebstein Anomaly* ; Electrocardiography ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Thorax ; Tricuspid Valve

To help clarify the comparative effects of percutaneous endoscopic discectomy and microsurgical discectomy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, the authors studied 37 consecutive patients with discogenic symptoms who had not responded to conservative treatment. Their indications are restricted to discogenic root compression with"contained"or small"noncontained"lumbar disc. Patients with sequestrated disc, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis were excluded. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging and if the radiological interpretation was confused with extruded migrated disc, a discogram was also obtained. Of the 37 patients, 18 underwent percutaneous endoscopic discectomy and 19, microsurgical discectomy. In order to compare the efficacy of the two methods, both groups were investigated. Disc herniations were located at L4-5(24 patients), L5-S1(11 patients), or L4-5 and L5-S1(2 patients). With regard to age and sex distribution, preoperative complaints, and clinical symptoms, there were no differences between the two groups. At the last follow-up evaluation after percutaneous endoscopic discectomy, low back pain had disappeared in three patients(17.6%), sciatica in nine(50.0%), sensory deficits in two(16.7%), motor deficits in three(42.5%), and reflex differences in one (50%). After microsurgical discectomy, low back pain had disappeared in one patient(5.6%), sciatica in nine(47.4%), sensory deficits in five(33.3%), motor deficits in six(66.7%), and reflex differences in three(75.0%). In 83.3% of patients in the percutaneous endoscopic discectomy group, the outcome was successful(excellent or good result), compared with 78.9% of those who had undergone microsurgical discectomy. One patient in the percutaneous endoscopic discectomy group suffered from discitis. For patients with"contained"or slight subligamentous lumbar disc herniations, percutaneous endoscopic discectomy offers a surgical alternative.
Discitis ; Diskectomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Reflex ; Sciatica ; Sex Distribution ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spondylolisthesis

Supratentorial hemangioblastomas are rare tumors. The first documented case of congenital cystic supratentorial hemangiblastoma associated with intracystic hemorrhage is presented; it occurred in a 38-day-old male infant.
Hemangioblastoma* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVE: Until now, there have been no evidence-based guidelines produced for the mass screening of hyperlipidemia cases in Korea. This study was done to find the most efficient strategy for a hyperlipidemia-screening program among Korean adults. METHOD: Seven alternative strategies for hyperlipidemia screening were formulated and compared in terms of cost-effectiveness. Cost and effectiveness were estimated from social perspectives and using a two-stage screening process (initial testing and additional testing for positives from the first test). A computerized database (based on persons who had visited a health promotion center in one teaching hospital for a routine health check-up) was used to determine the cost and the outcome of various strategies. Official data was used in calculating direct and indirect costs. Effectiveness was measured according to the number of persons who needed clinical intervention for hyperlipidemia. A stratified analysis, considering age group and sex, was then done. Sensitivity analyses, focusing on several uncertain parameters, were also done. RESULTS: Of the seven test alternatives available, the most cost-effective strategy was a screening program, which consisted of an initial test of total cholesterol,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. There was some variation in the rank of the cost-effectiveness ratios for the seven alternatives dependent on age group or gender. CONCLUSIONS: Current hyperlipidemia screening practice, for National Health Insurance beneficiaries, tests only the total cholesterol level with a cut-off value of 260mg/dl as an initial screening test. It is not the best strategy for cost-effectiveness, and should be modified. Different screening strategies taking age group and sex into account should be developed and used for the efficient mass screening of hyperlipidemia cases among Korean adults.
Adult ; Cholesterol ; Health Promotion ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Korea* ; Lipoproteins ; Mass Screening* ; National Health Programs ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, acute toxic liver injury has been reported to be the most common cause of acute hepatitis. The frequency and clinical manifestations of acute toxic liver injury was evaluated. METHODS: The medical records of 68 patients demonstrating clinically significant acute toxic liver injury were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with mild biochemical abnormalities were excluded. RESULTS: The annual percentage of toxic liver injury ranged from 50% to 90% among acute hepatitis groups. Among the causes, prescribed drugs (group D) accounted for 55%, herbs or plant products (group H) for 42% and both accounted for 3%. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs were the most common agents (78%) among group D. The mean age of the patients was 43 and 70% of patients were female. Of the population, common symptoms were jaundice, weakness, fatigue, and nausea. Initial ALT and AST levels were 847 +/- 879 and 664 +/- 625 IU/L, and initial total bilirubin was 7.5 +/- 8.1 mg/dL. Acute toxic liver injury occurred after a mean of 32 days after first exposure. Liver injury resolved within a mean of 32 days. Hepatocellular, mixed, and cholestatic type was 45.2%, 32.3%, 22.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Recently, acute toxic liver injury has been the most common cause of acute hepatitis in Korea. Prescribed drugs and herbs or plant products are equally important etiologic agents of toxic liver injury. However, etiologic difference may not affect clinical courses or outcomes. A nationwide investigation of the hepatotoxicity of drugs, herbs or other plant products is required.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; English Abstract ; Female ; Hepatitis, Toxic/*diagnosis/etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Leiomyosarcoma is an uncommon tumor which arises from various sites including uterus, stomach, retroperitoneum, superficial soft tissues, bladder, kidney, and lung. Primary hepatic leiomyosarcoma is a very rare tumor and fewer than 70 cases of primary hepatic leiomyosarcoma have been reported since the first publication in Japan. And there was only one case report of cutaneous metastasis from hepatic leiomyosarcoma. We recently experienced a case of primary hepatic leiomyosarcoma presenting as subcutaneous palpable mass. Herein we report this case with a review of literatures.
Head and Neck Neoplasms/*secondary ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma/diagnosis/*secondary ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Scalp ; Skin Neoplasms/*secondary

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ascites is a fairly common condition, but the clinical features of pseudomembranous colitis with ascites are not well-known. The aim of this study was to determine how the existence of ascites is related to the clinical factors. METHODS: Between March 2002 and June 2006, 67 pseudomembranous colits patients were diagnosed by performing lower endoscopy and biopsy. The patients' ascites was identified by abdominal plain radiography, ultrasonography or computerized tomography. The extension of colitis was evaluated by ultrasonography or computerized tomography. RESULTS: 16 patients (23.9%) had ascites. The serum WBC (p=0.01), hypoalbuminemia (p<0.01), CRP (p<0.01), recurrence (p<0.01), and extension of colitis (p<0.01) were associated with the existence of ascites. The four patients who had undergone paracentesis had a low SAAG level and PMN dominant ascites. CONCLUSIONS: There were correlations of ascities with leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia, CRP, extension of colitis and recurrence of PMC.
Ascites* ; Biopsy ; Colitis ; Endoscopy ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous* ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Leukocytosis ; Paracentesis ; Radiography ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography