In a jaundiced patient, it is important to ascertain as early as possible whether the bile duct is dilated. Ultrasonography, computed tomography & conventional cholangiography are widely accepted methods of determining the size of the extrahepatic bile ducts. But there is a considerable discrepancy among the size of the bile duct as measured from them. So the author analyzed and compared the respective diameters of the bile ducts in Korean normal adults as measured from cadaver, IV cholangiography, ultrasoud and computed tomography. The materials were 45 cases of cadaver, 38 cases of IV cholangiography, 100 cases of ultrasonography & 55 cases of computed tomography. The results were as follows ; 1. The diameters of the bile ducts were 7.58±2.26mm at CHD & 8.04±2.42mm at CBD from cadaver ; 5.38±1.90mm at CHD & 6.58±2.37mm at CBD from IV cholanglography ; 3.24±1.13mm at CHD & 4.71±1.48mm at CBD from ultrasonography ; and 4.56±1.51mm at CHD & 5.87±1.68mm at CBD from computed tomography. 2. The diameter of the bile duct was greatest in cadaver, and then reduced in IV cholangiography, computed tomography and ultrasonography in this orde.r 3. There were no size discrepancy between the diameter of the common hepatic duct and that of the common bile duct. 4. There were no discrepanry of the diameter of the bile duct by sex.
Adult* ; Bile Ducts* ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Bile* ; Cadaver ; Cholangiography ; Common Bile Duct ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Ultrasonography

College students, who major in health science, feel troubles in learning histology or embryology due to the differences between medical terminology and biological terminologies used in high school course. Moreover, the differences can cause errors in communication between patients and medical personnel. So we investigated and analyzed the terminologies used in 7 high school biology textbooks, and compared them with official histological or embryological terminologies and official biological terminologies (Korean association of biological science). The concordance rates of high school biology terms with histological or embryological terminologies were just 42.3+/-4.0% or 55.8+/-18.1%, while those with official biological terminology were significantly higher (74.0+/-3.8% or 89.5+/- 8.0%). Most notable differences between high school biology textbook terminologies and histological terminologies were found in the chapter of the urinary system. In addition, several eponyms and unofficial word spacing were noted in high school textbooks. These results can be served as valuable basic resources for revision and standardization of terminologies used in the biomedical fields. Collaboration among anatomists, biologists and high school teachers is thought be prerequisite.
Anatomists ; Biology* ; Cooperative Behavior ; Embryology* ; Eponyms ; Humans ; Learning

College students, who major in health science, feel troubles in learning anatomy due to the differences between anatomical terminology and biology terms used in high school course. Moreover, there can be errors in communication between patients and medical personnel. So we investigated and analyzed the terminologies used in 7 high school biology textbooks, and compared them with Korean anatomical terminology and official biological terminology. The concordance rate of high school biology terms with anatomical terminology was just 50.3 +/-2.7%, while that with official biological terminology was significantly higher (89.8+/-1.6%). Most notable differences between high school biology terms and anatomical terminology were found in descriptions of the reproductive system. In addition, several eponyms and unofficial word spacing were noted in high school biology textbooks. These results can be served as valuable basic resources for revision and standardization of terminologies used in biomedical fields. Collaboration among anatomists, biologists and high school teachers is thought be prerequisite.
Anatomists ; Biology* ; Cooperative Behavior ; Eponyms ; Humans ; Learning

Infantile myofibromatosis is an uncommon, benign, probably hamai tomatous proliferation of myofibroblasts. This lesions are most often present before the age of 2 years, show a male predomenance and may be multiple or solitary. The solitary lesions arise in the dermis, subcutis, or deep soft tissue, most commonly in the head and neek region or trunk. The elinical coirse is benign and spontaneous regression is not infrequent. A female newborn presented with a turmr lesion on the upper portion of the right eyelid. Physical examination showed a firm, non-tender, fixed, erythematous, 3 x 3cm sized tumor. Histologic examinatign revealed a spindle cell tumor in the deimis with a whorled arrangemant and grouped fescicles. There was no evidence for potential visceval and bony involvement. Follow-up examination at 6 months of aige revealed a remarkable degree of spoitaneous involution.
Dermis ; Eyelids ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Myofibroblasts ; Myofibromatosis ; Physical Examination

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminally ill cancer patients. METHODS: The data were collected from 21 terminal cancer patients and families through the in-depth interview. Data analysis were performed by the Colaizzi's phenomenological method (1976). RESULTS: The reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminal cancer patients and families was then categorized with 4 elements; Awareness of limitations in contemporary medical treatments, Belief in effectiveness of the CAM, Satisfaction with emotional needs of family members, and Disbelief due to negative attitudes of physicians. The result indicated the following 9 themes expectation for a complete cure, uncertainty in hospital treatments, complementary method for management of side effect of chemotherapy, alleviation of symptoms and life-sustaining, fear for side effects of cancer treatments, belief in earned information, referrals by other, responsibility of family, and dissatisfaction with negatine attitudes of physicians. CONCLUSION: Physicians should provide a sufficient explanation and try to effectively communicate with clients about hospice and palliative service and the CAM. We strongly realized that concerns about patients' best care and satisfactions with family's needs should be understood.
Complementary Therapies ; Hospices ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Referral and Consultation ; Statistics as Topic ; Terminally Ill ; Uncertainty

The anatomical structure of vermiform appendix was studied for 124 Korean adult cadavers and the articles were reviewed with special reference to its position and length. The results are as follows ; 1. On the frequency of positional types based on Wakeley (1933), postileal type was recorded most frequently (37.7%) and retrocecal type was found in 19.7% of cases, showing the difference from other ethnic groups whose most frequent position was retrocecal or pelvic type. 2. In the direction of appendix in relation to the clock, the direction between 1 and 3 o'clock was most frequently found. 3. Appendix of fixed form was found in 22.1% of cases, that of free form 77.9%. In free form, postileal type was found most frequently, but retrocecal type was met most frequently in fixed form. 4. The length of appendix was 5.95±1.64 cm (male ; 6.14±1.67 cm ; female 5.59±1.51 cm). Neither significant difference between sex nor positional type was noted. 5. Positions of appendix are seemed to be set up during fetal stage. The Ethnic variation in the positions of appendix is thought to be determined by inherited physical anthropological factor, not by postnatal one.
Adult* ; Appendix* ; Cadaver ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Estradiol* ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Progesterone*

PURPOSE: Circumcision is widely practiced in Korea, but its implementation is still controversial, especially among younger parents. Using a questionnaire study, we tried to determine the rate of circumcision among elementary school boys and to determine parental concerns about phimosis and circumcision. We then compared our findings with previously published literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May and June 2007, we randomly selected five elementary schools and distributed self-administered questionnaires to the parents of 2,712 boys from these schools. Questions were related to children's circumcision status, age at the time of circumcision, and opinions concerning circumcision, such as its necessity and benefits. Completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The response rate was 66.2%. The overall circumcision rate of boys in elementary school was 15.4%. Some 40.3% of those boys underwent circumcision in the neonatal period, and 37.3% underwent the procedure between ages 9 and 12 years. The circumcision rate was significantly higher in boys in the higher income bracket group(29.5%) compared to boys in the middle and low income bracket groups(15.4% and 12.8%, respectively). Most boys were circumcised based on the intent of their parents(64.2%). Some 44.5% of parents believed that circumcision was necessary, while 36.3% of parents believed it was not necessary. The most common motive for circumcision was "hygiene benefits"(80.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The rates of actual circumcision practice and of approval of circumcision were lower in this report compared to previous reports. It seems that more clinical research on circumcision is needed. Physicians should provide information about circumcision to boys and their parents.
Circumcision, Male ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Parents ; Phimosis

We report herein two cases of pachyonychia congenita in 19-month-old and 7-year-old girls. In addition to severely deformed nails, both had white plaques on the tongue and keratotic papules on the elbows and knees. In the 19-month-old girl, her father showed deformity of the nails and severe hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles, The family history was normal in other case.
Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Elbow ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Knee ; Nails, Malformed* ; Pachyonychia Congenita* ; Tongue

BACKGROUND: Recent DNA polymorphism analysis using numerous DNA markers has been used to determine the parental origin of the extra chromosome 21 in Down syndrome. In this study we used seven dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms on chromosome 21 to characterize a case of rea(21q21q) and to know whether it is consistent with an isochromosome or a true Robertsonian translocation. METHODS: Cytogenetic investigation was done by conventional G banding DNA was extracted from whole blood of a proband and her parents and was amplified by PCR using seven sets of (GT)n repeat dinucleotide markers located on the long arm of chromosome 21 After electrophoresis of the PCR product in polyacrylamide gel and silver staining the parental origin and number of DNA copy were determined by visual comparison of the band intensities within and between individuals. RESULTS: Conventional cytogenetics showed that the proband had a 46.XX.re(21q21q) chromosome pattern. Parental chromosome studies were normal, therefore, the rearrangement was a de novo event. All seven DNA markers showed one or two alleles, demonstrating rea(21q21q) to be an isochromosome. For D21S215 and D21S156 markers both parents were heterozygous and the proband inherited one copy of paternal allele and two copies of maternal allele which both parents did not share. This finding was consistent with a maternally derided isochromosome. CONCLUSION: Use of dinucleotide repeat DNA polymorphisms after PCR amplification will be very useful to detect the parental origin of additional chromosome 21 or rearrangement of chromosome 21 in Down syndrome. Besides employing siltier staining of a PCR product we will be able to avoid using of radioisotopes and apply to clinical laboratory diagnosis.
Alleles ; Arm ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Cytogenetics ; Dinucleotide Repeats* ; DNA ; Down Syndrome ; Electrophoresis ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Isochromosomes ; Parents ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radioisotopes ; Silver Staining