One hundred and thirty-eight strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from the 7th nationwide tuberculosis prevalence survey in 1995 were subjected to the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using IS6110 probe to define the representative fingerprinting patterns of Korean strains of M. tuberculosis and to evaluate the usefulness of DNA fingerprinting in tracing the transmission link of M. tuberculosis. Among 138 strains, 129 different IS6l10 RFLP types were identified. The number of bands in IS6110 RFLP types diversed from 1 to 20, and the majority (75%) was 9 to 14 bands. The RFLP patterns of 8 out of 15 strains isolated from the follow-up survey of one and half year later after the 7th national TB prevalence survey were unchanged when compared with previous RFLP patterns. Fifteen (11%) out of 138 strains were grouped in 6 IS6110 clusters; 2 with 10 copies, 2 with 12 copies, 1 with 14 copies, and 1 with 17 copies. These clusters were unable to be subclassified by IS1081 or (GTG) probes except one cluster by pTBN12 probe. The transmission links of 2 clusters were deducible; one from household and another from neighborhood, but those of remaining clusters were unclear because they had no contact one another. The results suggest that vigorous transmissions in tuberculosis are still progressing in Korea.
Dermatoglyphics ; DNA Fingerprinting* ; DNA* ; Family Characteristics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Korea ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence* ; Residence Characteristics ; Tuberculosis*

Obstruction on the urinary tract eventually results in damage to the kidneys and loss of function. The questions that concern the clinician are the degree of nephron loss in that kidney and the potential for recovery following the relief of obstruction. 99mTc DMSA accumulates in tubule cells and has been proposed as a marker of the tubular mass. The authors estimated the renal uptake ratio of 99mTc DMSA for the degree of nephron loss corresponding to duration of hydronephrosis following left ureteral ligation in 5 NewZealand white rabbits and the potential for recovery following percutaneous nephrostomy of hydronephrosis in 24 rabbits. While the renal uptake ratio of 99mTc DMSA of the kidney with unilateral hydronephrosis following ureteral ligation reduced dramatically within 24 hour, that of the opposite healthy kidney increased, and the total renal uptake ratio was same as normal functioning kidneys before ureteral ligation. Upon ureteral release, there was no evidence of definite recovery or impairment in the experimental kidneys for 5 days. The authors conclude that a combination of ureteral release and administration of some drugs such as renal vasodilator or diuretics is an appropriate treatment for the recovery of function in unilateral hydronephrosis.
Diuretics ; Hydronephrosis* ; Kidney ; Ligation ; Nephrons ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous* ; Rabbits ; Recovery of Function ; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid* ; Ureter ; Urinary Tract

No abstract available.
Carotid Artery, Common* ; Rupture*

Alkaptonuria (AKU, OMIM: 203500) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of tyrosine metabolism due to a defect of enzyme activity, homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD). The patients with AKU initially presented with dark urine discoloration, and ochronosis and arthritis develop after third decades of life. With advances of Internet resources, web-based health seekers for rare disease are increasing. Here, we report the case of an 18-year-old boy with AKU who visited our center due to dark black urine based on self-diagnosis via web searching of this rare condition. Compound heterozygous mutations in HGD gene, IVS5+3A>C and IVS12+6T>C were identified and both of mutations were detected in his parents. Our case illustrates the utility of publicly available Internet resources for diagnosis of rare disease.
Adolescent ; Alkaptonuria* ; Arthritis ; Databases, Genetic ; Diagnosis ; Homogentisate 1,2-Dioxygenase ; Humans ; Internet* ; Male ; Metabolism ; Ochronosis ; Parents ; Rare Diseases* ; Tyrosine

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: Gastrectomy with lymph node dissec tion is the standard treatment for early gastric can cer(EGC). However, patients who have high risks demand modifications in surgical treatment for EGC. Recently, endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR) has become accepted in many institutions as a treatment for cancerous mucosal lesions of the stomach. Thus we investigated the efficacy and safety of EMR prospectively in the patients with EGC who have high risks in surgery and those with premalignant lesions. METHOD: Twenty-five patients were treated with EMR, thirteen were EGC and twelve were premalignant lesions such as tubular adenoma, severe dysplasia. We used standard snare method and endoscopic mucosal resection using a band ligation kits(EMRL). RESULTS: The complete resection rate at the first step of EMR was 100%(12/12) in premalignant lesions, 76.9%(10/13) in EGC. Of three EGC resected incomple tely at the first step, one patient was treated by surgery and two patients underwent the third step of EMR. The final complete resection rate was 92%(23/25) and it was 100%(12/12) in the premalignant lesions, 84.6%(11/13) in EGC. The final complete resection rate in according to the methods was 100%(5/5) by standard snare method, 75%(6/8) by EMRL. As pathologic results, all cases of EGC were limited to the mucosa. No serious complications such as perforation, major bleeding were encountered. CONCLUSION: We consider that EMR is effective and safe in treatment of the patients with EGC who have high risks in surgery and those with premalignant lesions.
Adenoma ; Gastrectomy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligation ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Prospective Studies ; SNARE Proteins ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: Interest in peptic ulcer in children has been relatively low because the disease is rarer in children than in adults and there were restrictions in the application of endoscopy to children, but the recent development of pediatric endoscopy is activating research on pediatric peptic ulcer. Thus, this study compared the H. pylori infection rate and clinical and endoscopic findings among pediatric patients diagnosed with peptic ulcer. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 58 pediatric patients for whom whether to be infected with H. pylori was confirmed selected out of pediatric patients diagnosed with gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer through upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the Department of Pediatrics of Gachon University Gil Hospital during the period from January 2002 to December 2007. A case was considered H. pylori positive if H. pylori was detected in the Giemsa stain of tissue or the results of UBT (urea breath test) and CLO (rapid urease test) were both positive. RESULTS: Of the pediatric patients, 37 were infected with H. pylori and 21 were not. The H. pylori infection rate increased with aging and the result was statistically significant (p<0.05). However, H. pylori infection was not in a statistically significant correlation with sex, chief complaint, and gastroduodenal ulcer (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection increased with aging, but was not significantly correlated with gastroduodenal ulcer. Further research may need to examine prospectively the relation between H. pylori and gastroduodenal ulcer in the Incheon area.
Adult ; Aging ; Azure Stains ; Child ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Pediatrics ; Peptic Ulcer ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Ulcer ; Urease

For undercorrected esotropia after bilateral medial rectus(MR) recession, we performed unilateral or bilateral MR rerecession, unilateral rerecession or marginal myotomy of the recessed medial rectus muscle combined with lateral rectus(LR) resection, or unilateral LR resection. The correction of deviation was 15 delta in unilateral 2.0mm MR rerecession. Bilateral 2.0mm MR rerecession corrected 20 to 25 delta of esodeviation, but undercorrection was noted in one case. With unilateral 2.0mm rerecession or marginal myotomy of the recessed medial rectus muscle combined with 5.5mm or 8.0mm LR resection, the correction of deviation was 26 to 29 delta, and there was no under- or overcorrection. The corrective effect of this procedure was therefore greater and more stable than that of bilateral 2.0mm MR rerecession. Unilateral 8.0mm LR resection performed 3 months after bilateral MR recession showed correction of 15 delta, whereas the same procedure performed 3 weeks after bilateral MR rerecession showed correction of 24 delta. Unilateral LR resection procedure seems to be more efficacious for residual esotropia if performed as soos as possible within 3 months after sufficient bilateral MR recession or rerecession.
Esotropia* ; Methods ; Reoperation

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic, multisystem disease that rarely involves the genitourinary tract. Here we present an unusual case of testicular sarcoidosis with extensive lymphadenopathy that mimicked a metastatic testicular tumor. A 27-year-old male presented with a palpable right testicular mass accompanied by multiple palpable inguinal lymph nodes. The scrotal ultrasound showed a hypoechoic lesion at the inferior portion of the right testis. Extensive enlarged lymph nodes were noted in multiple areas on the abdominal computed tomography. Preoperative testicular tumor markers were within the normal range. Exploration of the right testis with a frozen section analysis of the right testicular mass and of a palpable right inguinal lymph node showed granulomatous inflammation. The testis was salvaged and the final pathological diagnosis was sarcoidosis. Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids resulted in complete resolution of the intratesticular mass and a significant decrease in the extent of the lymphadenopathy.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Reference Values ; Sarcoidosis ; Steroids ; Testicular Neoplasms ; Testis ; Biomarkers, Tumor

The authors surveyed one-hundred women within 24-36 hours after delivary for the evaluation of low back pain in pregnancy. It showed that 55% of them suffered from low back pain during pregnancy. Low back pains mostly started form 6-9 months of gestational age. Low back pains were tolerable at 84% of them. And low back pains were not aggravated during pregnancy among the 67% of low back pain pregnant women. Leg pains were noted at 34% of low back pain group.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Leg ; Low Back Pain* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women