The polymorphic variants of HLA-linked genetic markers GLO, Bf, C2 and C4 were determined in Koreans. The GLO2 allele was found at a similar frequency as compared with other orientals and at higher frequency than in Caucasians. The gene frequencies of BfS and BfF showed different figures from those in other orientals and were similar to Caucasians. The C2C allele was the highest variant as in other populations. The rare variant C2A was not observed in this study. The common variants of C4A alleles are C4A*3 and C4A*4. Among the C4B variants, C4B*1, C4B*2 and C4B* QO are common in that order. Several undefined electrophoretic variants C4A and C4B were observed in this study. These findings suggest that the frequencies of various HLA-linked genetic markers can be used in anthropological studies.
Caucasoid Race ; Comparative Study ; Genetic Markers* ; HLA Antigens/genetics* ; Human ; Korea ; Mongoloid Race* ; Polymorphism (Genetics)

The anterior clinoid process and the optic strut are often removed during operation on the anterior part of the cavernous sinus. Therefore it is important for neurosurgeons to verify their dimensions and variations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dimension and the variation of the anterior clinoid process and to describe the locational variation of the optic strut. Seventy-three skulls of Korean adults were used. The average length, basal width and thickness of the anterior clinoid process were 9.18 +/- 1.55, 9.63 +/- 1.49 and 5.32 +/- 1.07 mm, respectively. The average thickness of the optic strut was 2.9 +/- 1.15 mm and it was commonly attached to anterior two-fifths of the anterior clinoid process. The complete caroticoclinoid canal was observed in 4.1%, however it was incomplete in 11.6%. The incidence of a caroticoclinoid canal in Koreans was relatively low compared with other races.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Cavernous Sinus/anatomy & histology* ; Human ; Korea/ethnology ; Mongoloid Race* ; Sphenoid Bone/anatomy & histology*

In this study, 45 parotid glands and 111 facial nerves were examined in adult Korean cadavers to determine the morphological relationship of the parotid gland and the peripheral facial nerve. The results are summarized below; (1) The average length of the parotid gland was 54.7mm and the width averaged 32.9mm, and the gland was slightly larger in males. (2) The shape of the parotid gland was classified into four types and the series contained 66.7% type A, 15.5% type B, 8.9% type C and 8.9% type D. Type A was the most common type. (3) The patterns of tributory ducts into Stenson's duct were divided into 5 types and the series showed 42.2% type a, 26.7% type b 4.4% type c, 4.4% type d, 22.3% type e. The frequency of occurrence of accessory glands was 22%. (4) The average distance from the external angle of the mandible to the bifurcation of the facial nerve trunk was 28.8mm. (5) A pattern of trifurcation of the main facial nerve trunk was discovered in 4.4% of the cases. (6) The pattern of anastomosis of the peripheral branches of the facial nerve was classified into six types, and the rate of occurrence of each type was type I 6.3%, type II 13.5 %, type III 33.4%, type IV 23.4%, type V 6.3%, type VI 17.1%.
Adult ; Facial Nerve/anatomy & histology* ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Mongoloid Race* ; Parotid Gland/anatomy & histology* ; Sex Factors

HLA-DR antigen and gene frequencies were studied in 150 unrelated Koreans in Seoul. HLA-DR4 was the most common DR specificity encountered and HLA-DR1 and -DR3 occurred with the lowest frequencies. The frequency of HLA-DR blank allele was 27.1%. HLA-B:DR haplotypes involving positive delta values differing significantly from zero were DR1:B7, DR2:Bw22, DR3:B17, DR5:Bw35, DRw6:B17, DR7:B12, DR7:B13, and DRw8:Bw16. The supertypic groups (MT1, MT2 and MT3) differ somewhat in frequencies from Other populations. These findings suggested that the Korean population, while having many similarities in HLA-DR antigen frequencies with those of neighboring Orientals, has not only different features in the distribution of HLA-DR antigens but also has unique HLA-B:DR haplotypes.
Gene Frequency ; HLA Antigens/analysis* ; HLA-B Antigens ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Haploidy ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/analysis* ; Human ; Korea ; Mongoloid Race*

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HFE), which affects 1 in 400 and has an estimated carrier frequency of 1 in 10 individuals in Western population, results in multiple organ damage caused by iron deposition, and is treatable if detected early. C282Y mutation in HFE gene has been known to be responsible for the most hereditary hemochromatosis cases and 5-10% of white subjects are heterozygous for this mutation. However, the prevalence of hemochromatosis in the Asian population was reported to be very low and ethnic heterogeneity has been suspected. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of heterozygosity and homozygosity for the C282Y HFE gene mutations in 502 unrelated Koreans. Results revealed that none of them had the mutant gene, suggesting a significant ethnic difference when compared with Caucasians. Our study excluded underlying possibility of hereditary hemochromatosis in Korean which could mimic the findings of alcoholic liver disease with iron overload or liver cirrhosis with chronic hepatitis C.
Alleles ; Caucasoid Race/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Genetic Screening ; Genotype ; HLA Antigens/genetics ; Hemochromatosis/genetics* ; Hemochromatosis/ethnology* ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/genetics ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Mongoloid Race/genetics* ; Point Mutation* ; Prevalence