PURPOSE: We used computed tomography (CT) scans to describe normal Korean lacrimal gland volume and lacrimal gland size and then examined their correlations with patient age. METHODS: CT scans were obtained in 213 orbits of 111 patients who underwent CT from January to August of 2013. Aquarius iNtuition (TeraRecon, Foster City, CA, USA) software was used to outline the lacrimal gland in consecutive axial slices and to calculate the volume. RESULTS: The mean volume of the lacrimal gland was 0.589 cm3 in right orbits (SD = 0.090), 0.583 cm3 in left orbits (SD = 0.289), 0.596 cm3 in males (SD = 0.083), and 0.575 cm3 in females (SD = 0.094). There was no significant difference in mean lacrimal gland volume according to laterality (p = 0.614) or sex (p = 0.102) (2-sample t-tests). We investigated mean lacrimal gland volume in 3 age groups. Mean lacrimal gland volume was 0.630 cm3 (SD = 0.080) for the 20 to 40 year old group, 0.553 cm3 (SD = 0.734) for the 41 to 60 year old group, and 0.544 cm3 (SD = 0.885) for the older than 60 years old group. There was an inverse relationship between gland volume and age (Pearson r = -0.384, p = 0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The mean volume of the lacrimal gland decreased with age and there was no significant difference between right and left orbits or between male and female patients.
Aging ; Female ; Humans ; Intuition ; Lacrimal Apparatus* ; Male ; Orbit* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the ribosomal DNA including the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) have been determined for 11 species in order to analyze their intrageneric relationships. The total length of these sequences ranged from 530 nucleotides for Trichoderma reesei KCTC 1286 to 553 nucleotide for Trichoderma koningii IAM 12534. Generally speaking, the length of ITS1 region was about 30 nucleotides longer than that of the ITS2 region. Also, the sequences of 5.8S rDNA were more conserved in length and variation than those of ITS regions. Although the variable ITS sequences were often ambiguously aligned, the conserved sites were also found. Thus, a neighbor-joining tree was constructed using the full sequence data of the ITS regions and the 5.8S rDNA. The Trichoderma genus used to be grouped on the basis of the morphological features and especially the shape of phialides needs to be reexamined. The phylogenetic tree displayed the presence of monophylogeny in the species of Trichoderma. Therefore, it was difficult to distinguish the intrageneric relationships in the Trichoderma genus.
Base Sequence* ; DNA, Ribosomal* ; Nucleotides ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S ; Trichoderma*

Tuberous sclerosis is an autosomal dominant disorder of cellular differentiation that affect the brain, skin, heart, kidney and other organs. We experienced three cases of tuberous sclerosis that affect multiple organs in mother and two daughters. We report these cases with brief review and related literatures.
Brain ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mothers* ; Nuclear Family* ; Skin ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

No abstract available.
Glomus Tumor*

PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in many parts of the world, however the molecular mechanisms underlying liver cell transformation remain obscure. The instability of microsatellite sequences dispersed in the genome has been linked to a deficiency in cellular mismatch repair. This phenotype has been frequently observed in various human neoplasms and is regarded as a major factor in tumorigenesis. To investigate cumulative genetic changes related with apoptosis during development and progression of HCC, we examined DNAs isolated from 12 Korean HCCs and their adjacent non-tumorous parts to look for evidence of microsatellite instability (MSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve microsatellite loci (D6S271, D6S426, D13S153, D13S263, D17S849, D17S938, D17S945, D18S474, D18S64, D19S420, D.19S418 and D19S210) were amplified by PCR from 12 Korean HCCs, and analyzed using an automated DNA analyzer. RESULTS: The high percentages of the MSI were found for the loci of D6S426 (33.3%) and D17S945 (25.0%). The related genes with high frequency of MSI were noted in the wafl (41.7%) and p53 (25.0%). From this study, fifty eight percent of HCCs (7/12) showed MSI with at least one marker. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the analysis of MSI in HCC might be useful for identifying genes whose loss of function contributes to the development of liver cancer. Furthennore, this method may give a more rapid and accurate sizing of the PCR products of microsatellite; making the routine assessment of MSI possible in many clinical fields.
Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; DNA ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Genome ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Microsatellite Instability* ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

PURPOSE: The demand for suitable organs in the world greatly outweighs the supply of transplantable organs. Perceptions and attitudes of the attending physician to brain death are pivotal for the organ donation process in brain dead donors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of the attending physician on brain death and organ donation in order to promote the organ donation from brain dead donors in Korea. METHODS: Questionnaires were collected from 194 (17.9%) among 1,018 physicians and were analyzed by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 97.5% (189/194) of respondents have positive attitudes toward organ donation. Although 97.9% (190/194) have experienced donor management, the referral rate was no more than half (96/194, 49.5%). The main barriers against organ donation were lack of knowledge on organ donation and transplantation (60/129, 46.5%), cultural background (27/120, 20.9%) and complexity in the organ donation process (12/129, 9.3%). CONCLUSION: Promotion of organ procurement organization and well trained-education programs are crucial to help attending physicians to understand the organ donation process, and eventually to increase the rate of organ donations in brain dead donors.
Brain Death* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Referral and Consultation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue and Organ Procurement* ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplantation

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular diseases are a common cause of mortality in patients with end stage renal disease and are associated with vascular calcification (VC) and arterial stiffness. In addition to high turnover bone disease, there is substantial evidence that low levels of serum intact PTH (iPTH) are associated with vascular calcium deposition. The objective was to evaluate the association of iPTH levels with VC, arterial stiffness, and to identify risk factors contributing to VCs and arterial stiffness. METHODS: One hundred five hemodialysis (HD) patients were divided into three groups according to iPTH levels: A, <150 pg/mL; B, 150< or =and< or =400 pg/mL; and C, >400 pg/mL. The simple vascular calcification score (SVCS) was obtained by X-ray; the brachial ankle-pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) and the serum fetuin-A level was mesured. RESULTS: Patients in group A were older and had a higher SVCS, a prevalence of diabetes, and an increased arterial stiffness. Severe VCs (SVCS> or =3) were associated with the low iPTH group (iPTH<150)/a higher CRP/a lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP)/diabetes/ increased arterial stiffness/older age and a lower serum fetuin-A level. The log [ba-PWV] had a positive correlation with age, systolic blood pressure (SBP)/DBP/PP/CRP/presence of diabetes and low iPTH and a negative correlation with serum albumin. Based on multivariate analysis, the low iPTH group and diabetes were identified as independent risk factors of severe VC and age/SBP/CRP and diabetes were risk factors for arterial stiffness. CONCLUSION: Low iPTH levels and/or diabetes had a greater risk of developing VCs and age/SBP/CRP/diabetes were associated with increased arterial stiffness in HD patients.
alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Vessels ; Bone Diseases ; Calcium ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Multivariate Analysis ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin ; Vascular Calcification ; Vascular Stiffness

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a recently established clinicopathologic entity often associated with various types of other autoimmune diseases. We report a case of postrenal acute kidney injury (AKI) due to retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with autoimmune pancreatitis. The seventy one year old male patient was admitted because of oliguria and lower extremity edema. He had been diagnosed to have autoimmune pancreatitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis by increased serum IgG and IgG4 level with the presence of rim like attenuation around pancreas and the retroperitoneal fibrosing mass in abdominal CT scan 1 year ago but was lost to follow up. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancretogram and follow up abdominal CT scan showed progressed retroperitoneal fibrosis with newly developed bilateral hydronephrosis and atrophied left kidney despite partial improvement in pancreatitis. Because of progressively rising serum creatinine and oliguria, percutaneous nephrostomy in right kidney was performed. Steroid treatment was initiated with insertion of double J catheter at right ureter and renal function gradually returned. We report here a rare case of postrenal AKI developed in unilateral functioning kidney complicated by combined retroperitoneal fibrosis and autoimmune pancreatitis.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Catheters ; Creatinine ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Immunoglobulin G ; Kidney ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Oliguria ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis ; Ureter

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) in children according to socio-demographic factors and the distribution of ADHD subtypes in a community in Korea. A screening survey using the Korean version of ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) was conducted between 2007 and 2008, and clinical interviews by a pediatric psychiatrist were performed for selected children between 2009 and 2010. A total of 49,573 elementary school students, between ages of 7 and 12, constituted the target population, among which 38,365 students (77.2%) and respective parents gave consent to participate. Of the participants, 200 screened children were clinically examined to confirm the diagnosis of ADHD. We estimated the prevalence of ADHD and its comorbidity in the population, after adjusting for nonresponse and nonparticipation. The prevalence of ADHD was 11.7% in boys and 5.2% in girls, with an overall prevalence of 8.5%. The combined type of inattentive and hyperactive was the most frequent at 4.7% of the whole population. Children were more likely to have ADHD if their parents were separated and had less education. Most commonly combined comorbidity was autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (10.1%). The prevalence of ADHD in the school-aged population is an essential information for improving the quality of public health mental services for evaluation and treatment of ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Child* ; Comorbidity* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Female ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Parents ; Prevalence* ; Psychiatry ; Public Health

With the aim of determining the outcome of surgery, a review of patients undergoing trauma-associated atrantoaxial arthrodesis. Between 1993 and 1997, 16 patients underwent 19 proceedures, with a follow-up period of between six and 29 months. The most common reasons for surgery were odontoid fracture(n=12), os odontoideum(n=1) procedure, and neurofibrimatosis type I(n=1). Ten posterior wiring, four Halifax clamp application, one anterior screw fixation of dens, two transarticular screw fixations, and one staged operation(anterior odontoiddectomy and posterior occipitocervical fusion) were performed. All patients has been surgically managed for about three months with a Halo-vest or rigid cervical neck collar, during which time three complications associated with operative procedures arose : Halifax clamp dislodgement, malunion and subluxation kyposis. In 15 of 16 patients, fusion was successful. In caes involving complicated atlantoaxial dislocation, the authors recommend postoperative Halo-vest immobilization for sucessful fusion after posterior C1-C2 wiring or Halifax clamping
Arthrodesis ; Constriction ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Neck ; Spine* ; Surgical Procedures, Operative