No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

This paper describes a GPSS-based, multi-server queueing model that was developed to simulate the patient flow, and to analyze the effectiveness of the patient scheduling system under various conditions. Unpredictable and unacceptably long waits to receive the service at the outpatient department of a general hospital necessitated the study. Arrival and service time distribution needed for the simulation model were generated from actual arrival and service patterns observed during the peak hours. The simulation results show that a change in patient scheduling system (i.e. time interval between appointments, starting time, and the number of physicians) from a current system would significantly reduce the patient wait time. This study provides the hospital administrator with an analysis of patient scheduling system under several conditions, and will be used to plan future scheduling system and staffing. Studies such as this can demonstrate the value of simulation in providing information for use in future planning.
Appointments and Schedules ; Hospital Administrators ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Outpatients*

PURPOSE: Following the first in 1990, the use of course evaluations(CE) by medical schools across the Republic of Korea has grown steadily since 1997. The purpose of this study was to investigate these CE programs and to make general recommendations for further implementation. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted by mail. From June 20 to September 22, 2006, data was obtained from 38 of the 41(93%) medical schools in the country. Of those who responded, 27 schools also sent their CE forms as requested. RESULTS: There was little difference among the 38 medical schools in the main body, methods, frequency, grades, systems of evaluation, and types of survey. Evaluation criteria such as instructor effectiveness, course management efficiency, and student satisfaction showed high frequency, whereas issues concerning learning objectives and workload were less common. In contrast, the stated purposes of employing CE varied from school to school. While 92% of the respondents regarded improvement to the quality of instruction as the goal of their programs, 32% indicated that CE results also factored in administrative decisions concerning promotion, tenure, and salary increases. CONCLUSION: In addition to embracing the expanding role and influence of CE in Korean medical education, schools must proactively enact measures to enhance further implementation. First, evaluation criteria should be better formulated to increase the consistency, reliability, and validity of CE results. Next, to promote efficiency, the scheduling and methodology of CE administration should carefully consider the medical curriculum. Finally, professional attitudes should be fostered to recognize the value of CE as a tool for raising educational standards overall.
Curriculum ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Learning ; Postal Service ; Republic of Korea ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Schools, Medical*

No abstract available.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Emergency Treatment* ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: To explore the role of apolipoprotein E in schizophrenia, we investigated apoli-poprotein E polymorphism in groups of patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. We also examined the relationship of clinical characteristics of schizophrenia to apolipoprotein E genotypes. METHODS: Samples were obtained from 101 schizophrenic patients and 96 controls in Korea and apolipoprotein E polymorphisms were analysed using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The genotype and allele frequencies did not differ from those of controls. The clinical variables of schizophrenia, such as positive and negative groups by PANSS, subtypes by DSM-IV, family history were not associated with each genotypes. CONCLUSION: We could not find the association of apolipoprotein E in Korean schizophrenic patients and it could be suggested that apolipoprotein E isoforms might not play a main role in expression of schizophrenia.
Apolipoproteins* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Isoforms ; Schizophrenia

The major forms of amyloidosis affecting the eye are primary systemic and localized amyloidosis. Primary Amyloidosis localized to the conjuctiva is relatively rare, especially involved to bulbar conjunctiva and corn eo scleral limbus and is consiccered to be in the differential diagnosis of other conjunctival diseases. We diagnosed a amyloidosis in which the biopsy from the superior bulbar conjunctiva and superior cornea of the left eye of 68-year-old woman showed histopathologic findings of amyloidosis. There were no evidences of amyloid deposit except conJuntiva and cornea on physical and other systemic examination, including immunelectrophoresis, and cornea on physical and other systemic examination, including immunelectrophoresis, and no evidences of underlying disease that can cause amyloidosis. So we concluded that it was primary localized amyloidosis of bulbar conjunctiva and cotnea.
Aged ; Amyloidosis* ; Biopsy ; Conjunctiva* ; Conjunctival Diseases ; Cornea* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Zea mays

The major forms of amyloidosis affecting the eye are primary systemic and localized amyloidosis. Primary Amyloidosis localized to the conjuctiva is relatively rare, especially involved to bulbar conjunctiva and corn eo scleral limbus and is consiccered to be in the differential diagnosis of other conjunctival diseases. We diagnosed a amyloidosis in which the biopsy from the superior bulbar conjunctiva and superior cornea of the left eye of 68-year-old woman showed histopathologic findings of amyloidosis. There were no evidences of amyloid deposit except conJuntiva and cornea on physical and other systemic examination, including immunelectrophoresis, and cornea on physical and other systemic examination, including immunelectrophoresis, and no evidences of underlying disease that can cause amyloidosis. So we concluded that it was primary localized amyloidosis of bulbar conjunctiva and cotnea.
Aged ; Amyloidosis* ; Biopsy ; Conjunctiva* ; Conjunctival Diseases ; Cornea* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Zea mays

PURPOSE: Most students choose the same option to questions in course evaluation surveys. Identical answers to each question render the results unreliable. The purpose of this study was to analyze the trend of medical student' consistent responses to course evaluations. METHODS: The data of this study were the results of a course evaluation over 3 years (from 2006 to 2008) at the School of Medicine at A University. RESULTS: The proportion of students who replied with the same answers to each question was below 20%. This result was consistent in freshmen, sophomores, and junior students. Using a 5-point Likert scale, more than 40% of the students gave 5 points consistently. CONCLUSION: We conclude that student' responses to evaluations do not have a significant impact on the reliability of course evaluations at Medical School at A University. These results differ significantly from those of previous research. Hence, future studies are required to analyze course evaluations in medical schools using diverse aspects.
Humans ; Schools, Medical

Pulmonary histiocytosis X is a rare granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology that alters the interstitium of the lung. When confined to the lung, it is known as primary pulmonary histiocytosis X or eosinophilic granuloma of the lung. The chest radiograph shows characteristic nodular, reticular, and cystic abnormalities, which are most apparent in the upper and middle lung zones, but spare the costophrenic angles, The CT demonstrates innumerable small cysts with thin walls, and fine nodules. Recently we experienced pathologically proven primary pulmonary histiocystosis X in 35 years old male patients who had recurrent pneumothorax.
Eosinophilic Granuloma ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Pneumothorax ; Radiography, Thoracic

Steroid cell tumor of ovary, first described as lipid cell tumor, is rare lesions composed entirely of cells resembling typical steroid hormone - secreting cells, that is lutein cells, Leydig cells, and adrenal cortical cells. Steroid cell tumors oftcn secret androgen and manifest themselves with symptoms of virilization. Other presentations include abdominal swelling or pain, menstrual dysfunction, postmenopausal bleeding, or rarely ascites. We experienced a case of right ovarian steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified(NOS), manifested hirsuitism and amenorrhea in 49 - year - old patient. The tumor was about 5 cm in size, and associated with huge ascites (l3,000 ml), both pleural effusion, and elevated serum CA 125. We present a case of Meigs syndrome associated with benign ovarian steroid cell tumor with a brief review of the literature.
Amenorrhea ; Ascites* ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; Luteal Cells ; Male ; Meigs Syndrome ; Ovary ; Pleural Effusion ; Virilism