No abstract available.
Renal Artery* ; Ureter* ; Veins*

Mandible is the biggest and the hardest facial bone and its shape is found well-remained in the fossil and forensic research area. Therefore it is of significance in physical anthropology and it has been used to distinguish the different ethnic groups as well as the sex. The researchers took 102 mandibles in Korean of the known sex and examined the physical anthropologic characteristics that exist among the Korean males and females as well as the different ethnic groups. Through examining 13 criteria that include the shape of the chin and the shape of mental spine the following results were achieved. Out of the 13 non-metric criteria of the examined mandibles, Concerning the sexual dimorphism, the most distinguished criteria was the contour of the mandibular lower border. In males, 68.1% showed the "rocker form", on the other hand in females, the "straight form" was more general (82.0%). In addition, the shape also differed in mental region. In males the shape of the chin was bilobate or square form generally (91.7%), while females' mandible wasn't bilobate form, but square (53.6%) and pointed form (46.4%). Beside this, there was no differences between the male and female. We compared in presence of mylohyoid canal in Korean with the other ethnic groups by non-metric traits. The mylohyoid canal was relatively low by 5% among the Asians including the Koreans and relatively high by 10.0% among the Whites and over 15.0% among the Blacks.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Anthropology, Physical ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chin ; Ethnic Groups ; Facial Bones ; Female ; Fossils ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible* ; Sex Differentiation ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Puffer fish can be the source of lethal flood poisoning in humans. Tetrodotoxin(TTX) poisonings are not infrequency seen in Korea, but there are few clinical reports. So we reviewed the patients of TTX poisoning and analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 40 patients who visited Chung Ang Gil Hospital from Jan. 1, 1995 to May. 31, 1998 with a diagnosis of TTX poisoning by a review of patients' medical records and telephone inquiries, The diagnosis of TTX poisoning was made by causal links between consumption of puffer fish and the development of typical symptoms of tetrodotoxication. The clinical severity of the patients in this study was classified according to the classification of Fukuda. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 40 years. The highest incidence was in the 4th decade in 21 patients(52.5%). The ratio of male to female was 3.44:1, Seasonal distribution excluding cases in 1998 was 12 patients in spring, 6 in summer, 5 in autumn and 12 in winter. The mean interval between consumption and symptom onset was 137 minutes. Common initial symptoms were circumoral numbness(32 patients) and paresthesia of extremities(24 patients). Various symptoms were developed after ingestion of puffer flesh such as neuromuscular(39 patients), cardiovascular/pulmonary (23 patients) and gastrointestinal (16 patients) system. Mean recovery time from the onset of symptom was 22.00 hours. All were treated with symptomatic and supportive measures and recovered completely without sequelae. In 2 cases ventilatory supports were applied for 18.5 hours and 31.5 hours respectively.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Paresthesia ; Poisoning* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Telephone ; Tetraodontiformes*

PURPOSE: Enterobacter is one of the important organisms in neonatal intensive care unit. We reviewed the clinical characteristics, underlying diseases, invasive procedures during admission, mortality and antibiotic sensitivity of Enterobacter infection in NICU. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 21 neonatal patients whose blood cultures yielded Enterobacter between June 1994 and June 1997 at Dongguk University Hospital. RESULTS: Blood cultures were positive in 62 from 2,025 neonates and 21 was Enterobacter. The clinical spectrums were diverse such as sepsis (85%), pneumonia, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and necrotizing enterocolitis. The underlying conditions upon admission were composed of prematurity (38%), hyaline membrane disease (38%), jaundice, sepsis and pneumonia. The procedures used during admission were endotracheal intubation (57%), mechanical ventilation (57%), umbilical vessel catheterization, gastric tube inserition, total parenteral nutrition and exchange transfusion. The antibiotic sensitivity was as follows : ampicillin (0%), ceftriaxone (0%), amikacin (55%), gentamicin (85%), ciprofloxacin (100%), imipenem (100%). Overall mortality was 26.5%. Mortality was significantly high in cases of leukopenia (P< or = 0.01), thrombocytopenia (P< or = 0.01) and use of inappropriate antibiotics (P< or = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Enterobacter is an important organism in the cause of nosocomial infection in NICU and has a high rate of mortality. Enterobacter infection was associated with prolonged hospitalization, invasive procedures and preceding antibiotics. Commonly used antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporin would be inappropriate for the treatment of Enterobacter infection. We consider the use of gentamicin or imipenem to be far more effective in the initial therapy of Enterobacter infection.
Amikacin ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Cross Infection ; Enterobacter* ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Gentamicins ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Imipenem ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Jaundice ; Leukopenia ; Mortality ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Penicillins ; Pneumonia ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies* ; Sepsis ; Thrombocytopenia

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is an inherited connective tissue disorder characterized by fragility of the skin, hyperelasticity of the skin, hyperextensible joints, vascular lesions, easy bruising, and excessive scarring after injuries. Some patients with EDS have neurological symptoms and signs, such as muscular hypotonia, muscular atrophy, spin-ocerebellar tract degeneration, cerebral atrophy, mental retardation, and epilepsy. We report a 16-year-old man who showed mental retardation, hyperelasticity of the skin, joint hypermobility, and muscular atrophy on the bilateral hand muscles. A skin biopsy revealed dermal thickening, a decrease in the density and number of collagen fibrils, distur-bances of the wickerwork pattern, and a disproportional increase in the number of elastic fibers.
Adolescent ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome* ; Elastic Tissue ; Epilepsy ; Hand ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Joint Instability ; Joints ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Muscles ; Muscular Atrophy ; Skin

No abstract available.
Animals ; Hydrocephalus* ; Rats*

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) consists of several clinical syndrome characterized by chronic, treatment-resistant, superficial candidal infections of skin, nails and oropharynx. The patients with CMC usually have other manifestations including non-candidal infections, endocrinopathies and autoimmune diseases. These findings suggest that patients with CMC have multiple or complex abnormalities in their immune systems, especially of cell mediated immunity. The scrofuloderma or scrofuloderma-like BCGitis is used to describe the skin reaction and enlargement of regional lymph node with suppuration. In contrast to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, BCGitis does not suggest underlying host immune defect in most cases. In our knowledge, there is no report about scrofuloderma-like BCGitis and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis occurring in the same patient. Herein, we report a case of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis associated with scrofuloderma-like BCGitis.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunity, Cellular ; Lymph Nodes ; Nails ; Oropharynx ; Skin ; Suppuration ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of fat infiltration at low back extensor muscles on osteoporotic vertebral fracture. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: In persons with stronger back muscles, the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fractures will likely be lower than in those persons with weaker back muscles. However, the degree of influence of fat infiltration of the back extensor muscle on osteoporotic vertebral fracture remains controversial. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-seven patients who had undergone lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging and bone mineral density (BMD) were enrolled in this study. The amount of low back extensor muscle was determined using the pseudocoloring technique on an axial view of the L3 level. The patients were divided into two groups: osteoporotic vertebral fracture group (group A) and non-fracture group (group B). The amount of low back extensor muscle is compared with BMD, degenerative change of disc, osteophyte grade of facet joint and promontory angle to reveal the association between these factors. RESULTS: A negative correlation is found between age and the amount of low back extensor muscle (p=0.001). The amount of low back extensor muscle in group A and group B was 60.3%+/-14.5% and 64.2%+/-9.3% respectively, thus showing a significantly smaller amount of low back extensor muscle in the osteoporotic vertebral fracture group (p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Fat infiltration of low back extensor muscle was increased in osteoporotic vertebral fracture patients. Therefore, fat infiltration of low back extensor muscle in an elderly person may be a risk factor of osteoporotic vertebral fracture.
Aged ; Bone Density ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles* ; Osteophyte ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Zygapophyseal Joint

The laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), introduced by Gagner and Pomp in 1994, is typically done in high-volume centers due to its technical demands. Our methods aim to provide effective traction, enabling efficient surgery despite limited staffing. A retrospective analysis of 29 patients undergoing LPD by a single surgeon between September 2021 and December 2022 showed promising outcomes: median intraoperative bleeding of 425 mL, operation time of 505 minutes, and postoperative hospital stay of 10 days. With only one case requiring open conversion, our external retraction techniques demonstrate efficacy in overcoming challenges associated with manpower constraints, highlighting potential utility for surgeons in similar settings. We share LPD external retraction techniques and outcomes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was conducted to investigate the assessment of treatment efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) and other therapeutic modalities compared with palliative care only for treatment with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: From 2002 to 2010, based on the case of 47 patients with advanced HCC, we have investigated each patients' Child-Pugh's class, ECOG performance, serum level of alpha fetoprotein and other baseline characteristics that is considered to be predictive variables and values for prognosis of HCC. Out of overall patients, the 29 patients who had received RT were selected for one group and the 18 patients who had received only palliative care were classified for the other. The analysis in survival between the two groups was done to investigate the efficacy of RT. RESULTS: Under the analysis in survival, the mean survival time of total patients group was revealed between 30.1 months and 45.9 months in RT group, while it was 4.8 months in palliative care group, respectively. In the univariate analysis for overall patients, there were significant factors which affected survival rate like as follows: ECOG performance, Child-Pugh's class, the tumor size, the type of tumor, alpha fetoprotein, transarterial chemoembolization, and RT. The regressive analysis in multivariate Cox for total patients. No treatment under radiotherapy and high level of Child-Pugh's class grade were independent predictors of worse overall survival rate in patients. In contrast, for the subset analysis of the twenty-nine patients treated with radiotherapy, the higher serum level of alpha fetoprotein was an independent predictors of worse overall survival rate in patients. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the survival of patients with advanced HCC was better with radiotherapy than with palliative care. Therefore, radiotherapy could be a good option for in patients with advanced HCC.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality/pathology/*radiotherapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality/pathology/*radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Palliative Care ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Analysis ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis