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: To compare the clinical efficacy of iopamidol 370 and iopromide 370, as used in hepatic arteriography, in terms of their safety, patient tolerance, and image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February and April 2001, 30 patients (M:F=27:3; mean age, 57 years) with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent hepatic angiography in which iopamidol 370 was used for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TAE). Sensations of heat or pain following contrast injection, a patient's distress or discomfort levels, and any side effects of the contrast media were monitored, and afterwards patients were asked whether they were aware of any differences between iopamidol 370 and iopromide 370, which had been used in hepatic angiography for previous TAE prior to February 2001. Three experienced independent radiologists assessed the diagnostic efficacy of the contrast media in terms of overall image quality, which was statistically analysed using Wilcoxon's signed ranks test. RESULTS: No patient experienced sensations of heat or pain during angiography, or showed any objective distress or discomfort, though two suffered mild nausea during angiography with iopamidol 370. None was aware of any difference between iopromide 370 and iopamidol 370. In terms of overall image quality, the diagnostic efficacy of contrast media in all patients was 'good'to 'excellent', with no significant difference between iopromide 370 and iopamidol 370 (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In hepatic arteriography, the clinical efficacy of iopamidol 370 is comparable with that of another nonionic contrast medium, iopromide 370, in terms of safety, tolerance, and image quality. Iopamidol 370 is thus a useful alternative medium.
Angiography* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Contrast Media ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Iopamidol* ; Matched-Pair Analysis* ; Nausea ; Patient Safety ; Sensation

The incidence, recurrence, and mortality of Clostridium difficile infection are increasing and the standard therapy is oral metronidazole or vancomycin. Since treatment failure with standard therapy is increasing, an alternative therapy is needed. Fecal microbiota transplantation is one effective method in patients with refractory or recurrent C. difficile infection, including pseudomembranous colitis. Here, we report two cases of refractory pseudomembranous colitis treated with fecal microbiota transplantation.
Clostridium difficile ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Metagenome ; Metronidazole ; Recurrence ; Transplants ; Treatment Failure ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is the single biggest avoidable cause of death and disability in most countries. Effective prevention of cigarette Smoking and help for those wishing to quit can therefore yield enormous health benefits for populations and individuals. Although most of smokers try to stop smoking for themselves, the success rate of quitting smoking is very low. Promoting and supporting smoking cessation should be an important health policy priority for healthcare professionals in all clinical settings. In this study, we tried to evaluate the effect of the educational program for smoking cessation of our hospital, the smoking pattern, and characteristics of adult smokers enrolled in the program. METHODS: We enrolled 640 smokers, who has visited the '5 day stop smoking school' for smoking cessation from Jan 1998 to 2001. we evaluated the characteristics of the smokers based on the self report questionnaire at the beginning of the program and we also checked 100 smokers, enrolled in Inpatient Smoking Cessation Educational program, their smoking behavior and the cessation rate with postal questionnaire after finishing this program from Nov 2002 to Jan 2003. RESULTS: The health was most common motivation for smoking cessation. The stress was the most important motivation of smoking. The overall smoking cessation rate of the smokers enrolled in inpatient smoking cessation school was 60%. The age of starting smoking and the kind of occupation have a significant difference between the success group and failure group of smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: The inpatient smoking cessation program was effective smoking cessation intervention in the adult smokers who enrolled in '5 day stop smoking school'.
Adult ; Cause of Death ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Insurance Benefits ; Motivation ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Report ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking*

Esophageal perforation is a rare but serious complication of anterior cervical spine surgery. Various methods have been developed for it's repair, and due to its multifocal blood supply, considerable length in the neck, and proximity to many important cervical structures, a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap has, in particular, been successfully utilized. The authors report two cases of cervical esophago-cutaneous fistula treated with sternocleidomastoid muscle flap.
Esophageal Perforation ; Fistula* ; Neck ; Spine*