PURPOSE: The etiology of febrile seizures is not yet ascertained but it is known that genetic factors, cytokines or trace elements are associated with pathogenesis of febrile seizures. Among them, zinc deficiency is known to play some role of pathogenesis of febrile seizures. We purposed to know the relation between recurrence of febrile seizures and serum zinc level. METHODS: The subjects were recurrent febrile seizures group who were admitted to our hospital from June 2003 to July 2005 because of more than 3 times febrile seizures. The other two control groups were simple febrile seizures and acute febrile illness groups admitted to our hospital in same period. Simple febrile seizures group showed no more seizure over 1 year after first onset. We investigated serum zinc level in each group. RESULTS: The number of patient in each group is 33 children. Recurrent febrile seizures group was composed of 20 boys and 13 girls (the ratio of 1.5:1) with an average age 30 months old. The mean serum zinc levels in the recurrent febrile seizures group (123.7+/-9.6 microgram/dL) were not statistically different from those of the simple febrile seizures group(112.5+/-8.9 microgram/dL). Both of the recurrent and simple febrile seizures groups had significantly lower serum zinc levels than the febrile illness group(154.1+/-6.8 microgram/dL). CONCLUSION: We suggested that serum zinc level is not relationship with recurrence of febrile seizures. Nevertheless, the fact remains that serum zinc level was decreased in recurrent and simple febrile seizures groups compared with acute febrile illness group.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; Female ; Humans ; Recurrence* ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile* ; Trace Elements ; Zinc*

An undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver (USL) is a rare and highly malignant hepatic neoplasm of mesenchymal origin. This tumor almost exclusively affects pediatric patients, with a poor prognosis. The highest incidence is noted in pediatric patients, usually from 5~10 years of age, but only 43 cases of USL have been reported in adults worldwide since it was first as a clinicopathological entity. With a USL in adults, most patients are known to have died within 1 year of diagnosis. The absence of specific symptoms, rapid tumor growth, normality of common tumor markers and the consequential delay in diagnosis often result in significant enlargement of the tumor, with a poor prognosis. Various therapeutic modalities have been attempted in adult patients, but only a few long-term survivors have been reported. Herein, our experience of a 42-year-old female patient who is still alive, 55 months after the first resection for a USL is reported.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Neoplasms ; Liver* ; Prognosis ; Sarcoma* ; Survivors* ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Osseointegrated implants have been established as the standard treatment modality for full/partial edentulous patients since the 1960's, and the long term results for full edentulous patients have proven to be successful. Based on these results osseointegrated implants are now widely used for partial edentulous patients. There has been an increased interest towards the efficacy of wide implants, despite many reports mentioning the lower success rate of wide implants compared to regular implants. Recently, mandibular molar area defects are commonly restored using 2 wide implants, but it is not determined whether which treatment modality-3 regular implants or 2 wide implants-shows superior success rate. In this study, 2 wide implants and 3 regular implants used for the restoration of mandibular molar area are used to compare the survival rate of 1-4 years, and to analyze and compare the failure factors. The following conclusions could be drawn from this study. 1. Wide implants and regular implants showed 94.5% and 97,6% of survival rate respectively. After prosthodontic work, the survival rate was 100% and 98.1% for wide implants and regular implants respectively. 2. 5 failed implants have been removed. 2 wide implants and 1 regular implant have been removed due to failure of osseointegration, 1 wide implant was removed due to abscess formation caused by over-heating, and 1 regular implant was removed due to mechanical failure caused by over-loading within the first year of function. 3. No statistically significant difference was observed with respect to the amount of marginal bone loss of wide and regular implants.(P>0.05) In conclusion, restoration of the mandibular molar area using 3 regular implants was found to be a good treatment modality, and 2 wide implants could be considered a good treatment modality when success factors are taken into account.
Abscess ; Humans ; Molar ; Osseointegration ; Prosthodontics ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Many clinical measures have been used to assess fall risk in elderly adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the interrelationship of maximal step length (MSL) measurement as protective strategies and risk factors of falls. METHODS: The study population consisted of 149 community-dwelling people (> or = 60 yrs). Demographic data, depression degree (GDS-short form), fatigue degree (revised Chalder's fatigue scale) were reviewed by self-recorded questionnaire. K-MMSE, MSL, US and TUG were done when they visited our clinic. We examined whether MSL was correlated with the six leg-directions and was related to other measures to evaluate fall risk. To examine the association between MSL and other variables, we analyzed data by T-test, ANOVA and multiple regressions. RESULTS: The MSLmean correlated highly with each leg- direction MSL (correlation coefficient, r=0.771~0.941, P<0.01), US (r=0.392, P<0.01) and TUG (r=-0.608, P<0.01). The MSL(mean/L) (MSL(mean), leg length adjusted) correlated strongly with frequent fall (P=0.005). Also, the MSL(mean/L) had a tendency to be low in the elderly, females, in those with regular exercise, widowed or divorced, DM, stroke, dementia suspicion, inclination toward depression, arthritis and frequent falls, but higher score on fatigue groups. Age (P<.001), sex (P=0.001), DM (P<.001), frequent falls (P= 0.017), dementia suspicion (P=0.016), and arthritis (P= 0.024) variables were related with MSL(mean/L) when we examined these variables by multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: MSL was correlated highly with other functional performance test and DM, age, sex, frequent fall, dementia suspicion, and arthritis variables for fall risk.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis ; Dementia ; Depression ; Divorce ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Widowhood ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Many clinical measures have been used to assess fall risk in elderly adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the interrelationship of maximal step length (MSL) measurement as protective strategies and risk factors of falls. METHODS: The study population consisted of 149 community-dwelling people (> or = 60 yrs). Demographic data, depression degree (GDS-short form), fatigue degree (revised Chalder's fatigue scale) were reviewed by self-recorded questionnaire. K-MMSE, MSL, US and TUG were done when they visited our clinic. We examined whether MSL was correlated with the six leg-directions and was related to other measures to evaluate fall risk. To examine the association between MSL and other variables, we analyzed data by T-test, ANOVA and multiple regressions. RESULTS: The MSLmean correlated highly with each leg- direction MSL (correlation coefficient, r=0.771~0.941, P<0.01), US (r=0.392, P<0.01) and TUG (r=-0.608, P<0.01). The MSL(mean/L) (MSL(mean), leg length adjusted) correlated strongly with frequent fall (P=0.005). Also, the MSL(mean/L) had a tendency to be low in the elderly, females, in those with regular exercise, widowed or divorced, DM, stroke, dementia suspicion, inclination toward depression, arthritis and frequent falls, but higher score on fatigue groups. Age (P<.001), sex (P=0.001), DM (P<.001), frequent falls (P= 0.017), dementia suspicion (P=0.016), and arthritis (P= 0.024) variables were related with MSL(mean/L) when we examined these variables by multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: MSL was correlated highly with other functional performance test and DM, age, sex, frequent fall, dementia suspicion, and arthritis variables for fall risk.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis ; Dementia ; Depression ; Divorce ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Widowhood ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Many studies from the past have indicated that women tend to have lower self- esteem than men. This cross-sectional study looks for this tendency in a medical school in Korea, where men are still thought to comprise much of a dominating force despite the current growth in number of female students in student body. Along with the cross-examination of possible gender difference in self-esteem, the significant and relevant factors will also be sought and discussed. METHODS: Questionnaires were obtained from 202 junior and senior students (125 male and 77 female students) in a medical school in Korea. Self-esteem was determined using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (reliability = 86% in our study). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine gender difference in self-esteem and statistical relevance in each covariate. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in self-esteem between male and female medical students. Significant factors related to self-esteem include school rank, physical attractiveness, and depression, among which of them, depression was the strongest. CONCLUSION: Innate limitation of cross-sectional studies and evaluation of selected junior and senior students of a single medical school could possibly explain for the absence of gender difference in self-esteem in this study. Academic achievement and physical attractiveness are shown to be positive factors for self-esteem, while depression puts negative force in one's self-esteem.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare benign hepatic neoplasm that is characterized by a mass of localized proliferations of fibroblasts and infiltrations of mononuclear inflammatory cells. An IMT can occur in a variety of locations, including the lung, orbit, parotid, pleura and stomach. However, they have rarely been encountered in the liver. An IMT of the liver most often presents in young adults. The clinical presentations of a hepatic IMT vary: asymtomatic, fever, abdominal pain, palpable mass, vomiting, obstructive jaundice, anemia and hepatosplenomegaly. Their radiographic appearance and clinical presentation make them extremely difficult to distinguish from a malignant neoplasm, preoperatively. Therefore, surgical management is used when a malignancy can not be excluded preoperatively or when the IMT produces a biliary obstruction. We encountered a 31-year-old male patient who is still alive for 38 months following a resection for symtomatic IMT.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult* ; Anemia ; Fever ; Fibroblasts ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Liver Neoplasms ; Liver* ; Lung ; Male ; Myofibroblasts* ; Orbit ; Pleura ; Stomach ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: Empathy is important in the education of medical students. Many psychosocial variables are related to empathy. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between empathy and psychosocial factors such as burnout, personality, self-esteem, and resilience. METHODS: The participants completed a set of self-reporting questionnaires, including questions related to socio-demographic characteristics, the Korean edition of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, student version (JSE-S-K), Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS), NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (R-SES), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Partial correlation and regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: In male students, there were positive correlations between JSE-S-K and R-SES (r=0.229, p=0.002); conscientiousness of the NEO-FFI (r=0.153, p=0.037) and negative correlations, specifically between JSE-S-K and depersonalization of MBI (r=-0.206, p=0.005). In female students, there was positive correlations between JSE-S-K and personal accomplishment of MBI (r=0.384, p=0.004). In the multiple regression model, the JSE-S-K was affected by conscientiousness of the NEO-FFI (adjusted R² =0.245, β=0.201, p=0.001); depersonalization, personal accomplishment of the MBI-GS (β=-0.188, p=0.001, β=0.143, p=0.017); R-SES (β=0.176, p=0.004); sex (β=0.117, p=0.029). CONCLUSION: The present findings suggested that conscientiousness, depersonalization, personal accomplishment, self-esteem and sex have an influence on empathy. Therefore, these must be considered in medical education and can be helpful to nurture more empathetic doctors.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depersonalization ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Empathy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psychology ; Students, Medical