Holoprosencephaly is a rare malformation complex or development defect including different degrees of incomplete cleavages of the embryonic prosencephalon and varying degrees of the midface defects, resulting from the defect of prechordal mesoderm, migrating forward into the area anterior to the notochord during the third week of fetal development. Early antenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly is important to find out its severity, to predict its prognosis, and to determine proper management according to its prognosis and severity. The possibility of early antenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly by ultrasound has been suggested, but occasionally missed and rarely confirmed. We present one case of lobar holoprosencephaly, diagnosed postnatally and one case of alobar holoprosencephaly, diagnosed antenatally in our hospitals.
Fetal Development ; Holoprosencephaly* ; Mesoderm ; Notochord ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Prosencephalon ; Ultrasonography

The axial contour and proximal contact of the prosthesis affect periodontal health, food impaction, and patient satisfaction. This narrative review provides a summary of articles regarding the axial contour and proximal contact of a fixed dental prosthesis on periodontal health and physiologic function. By acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the axial contour and proximal contact of teeth and prostheses, as well as their functional significance, the virtual design of fixed dental prosthesis can be optimized to maintain periodontal health and promote physiologic function effectively.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluation the effect of administration of postpartumtonic agent(MMQ) on postpartum anemia during puerperal period, obesity control and uterine involution. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From June 2002 to November 2002, twenty women who underwent spontaneous vaginal delivery at department of obstetrics and gynecology, college of medicine, Pochon CHA University ghopital were included in this study. All women were randomly assigned to receive postpartum tonic agent(MMQ, Albiomed Co.Ltd) or placebo two times a day after each meal for four weeks. They were assessed obesity test(BMI), hematologic examination(CBC, reticulocyte count), liver function test(AST/ALT) and ultrasound test at first day and 28th days after delivery. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two group in demographic characteristics. No statistically significant difference were found in this study between the two group in hemoglobin, hematocrit, BMI and the size of uterus. There was no adverse effect to the tested drug. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in efficacy and safety between MMQ and placebo in the effect of postpartum anemia, obesity control and reduction of recovery perod. The following limitations have to be considered; Iron supplement, variable diet, seaweed ingestion, consumption of herb and small sample ize. Therefore, a extensive prospective study with control of these variables should be required.
Administration, Oral* ; Anemia* ; Diet ; Eating ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Iron ; Liver ; Meals ; Obesity* ; Obstetrics ; Postpartum Period* ; Reticulocytes ; Seaweed ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study on the outcomes of surgical treatment for pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis. OBJECTIVES: To report the clinical outcomes of the surgical treatment of pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis using a one stage posterior approach. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There are few reports on the treatment of pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis through a one stage posterior approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1999 and June 2005, this study examined the history of 12 patients with pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis treated by simultaneous posterior debridement, autogenous iliac bone graft and pedicle screw fixation. The clinical outcomes were evaluated in terms of the pain level, neurological status, hematological parameters and radiology findings. RESULTS: The clinical symptoms improved in all cases after surgery. There was no case of the infection recurring. The mean time for postoperative antibiotics and hospitalization was 6 weeks and 41.6 days, respectively. Radiological bony fusion was observed at 5.5 months on average. The mean preoperative, immediate postoperative and final follow-up sagittal angles were 4.6, 8.6 and 6.9degrees. CONCLUSION: One stage posterior interbody fusion and instrumentation for the treatment of pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis can provide radical debridement, bone graft and immediate stability without prohibiting the control of infection. Therefore, it can be used in selected cases.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Debridement* ; Discitis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and account for 1% of all GI malignancies. GISTs have a highly variable clinical course, and recurrent disease sometimes develops despite curative treatment. Although there are several known risk factors for recurrence, there are few adequate treatment strategies. This study evaluated the clinical behavior and clinicopathological characteristics, and examined correlation between recurrence and the prognostic factors. METHODS: From March 1999 to December 2005, 41 patients, with GISTs confirmed by a pathologic examination after a surgical resection, were enrolled. The patients were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for CD117, CD34 and smooth muscle actin, and were classified according to the NIH criteria. RESULTS: The mean age was 58.9 years and the GISTs were mainly located in the stomach (56%) and small bowel (32%). With a median follow-up of 17.4 months, recurrence of the disease occurred in nine (22%) patients, with the liver being the main organ involved. According to the NIH criteria, there were 2 very low risk tumors, 11 low risk, 16 intermediate, and 12 high risk diagnosed. Gender was found to have predictive value for a recurrence (P=0.05). CONCLUSION: The primary site and gender have predictive value for a recurrence. Identifying the risk factors for recurrent disease may be useful for planning follow-up schedules. Further study involving more cases and a long-term follow-up will be needed. In addition, pathologic and immunohistoche-mical studies will be required to reduce the recurrence rate after a resection and to improve the patients' outcome.
Actins ; Appointments and Schedules ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Humans ; Liver ; Muscle, Smooth ; Recurrence* ; Risk Factors ; Stomach

A meniscal ossicle is an ossified structure embedded in the meniscus of the knee, and it very rarely occurs in human. We present here two cases of meniscal ossicle. The two patients were men in their thirties. They had intrameniscal ossicles from the torn posterior horn of the medial meniscus without having any history of trauma. Both cases were treated by arthroscopic excision.
Animals ; Horns ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial

Periprosthetic bone loss may lead to major complications in hip arthroplasty, including aseptic loosening, implant migration, and even periprosthetic fracture. Such a complication leads to revision surgeries, which are expensive, technically demanding, and result in a low satisfaction rate. Therefore, a study was conducted of the factors affecting the periprosthetic bone loss around the stem that caused these complications. Factors influencing periprosthetic bone loss include demographic factors such as age, sex, obesity, smoking, and comorbidity including diabetes and osteoporosis. The implant design and fixation method are also factors that are determined before surgery. In addition, there are surgical factors, such as surgical approach and surgical technique, and we wish to investigate the factors affecting periprosthetic bone loss around the stem by comparing the effects of postoperative rehabilitation protocols and osteoporosis drugs.

Bezoars are concretions of foreign bodies found in the gastrointestinal tract. In the past, most common method for the treatment of bezoar was surgical management. However, the current treatment methods include chemical dissolution and endoscopic mechanical lithotripsy. There were few reports on the treatment of phytobezoars by nasogastric Cola lavage. However, there was no report succeeded by oral route alone. In our two cases, phytobezoars were treated by oral administration of Coca-Cola. Our patients drank 700-800 mL of Coca-Cola daily, and after two months, complete dissolutions of bezoars were achieved. We report two cases of phytobezoars completely treated by drinking Coca-Cola.
Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Bezoars/diagnosis/*therapy ; *Carbonated Beverages ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; *Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is regarded as a risk factor of cardiovascular disease. We observed and compared aging males symptoms (AMS) between healthy and metabolic syndrome patients in middle-aged Korean men to evaluate clinical significance of AMS. METHODS: From May 2009 to July 2009, 171 middle-aged men (over 40 years-old) who visited a health promotion center of a university hospital in Gyeonggi Province were enrolled in study. The subjects were divided into two groups; metabolic syndrome (N = 87) vs. control (N = 84) and measured the aging male symptoms (AMS) scale. AMS were also grouped according to its severity. RESULTS: There were no significant differences except, weight, body mass index between two groups. In AMS severity, 'severe' group show higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome. And the group of metabolic syndrome gets higher AMS score than control. Among the five constitutive factors of metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of fasting blood sugar (> or = 100 mg/dL) and triglyceride (> or = 150 mg/dL) level is higher 'moderates' and 'severe' groups in AMS severity. In the subscale analysis of AMS, there are significant differences between two groups in sexual and somato-vegitative axis, but are not in psychological axis. With age-adjusted analysis, the results still show same trend. CONCLUSION: It might be necessary to approach aging males symptoms comprehensively during the management of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged men. And it could be helpful in treatment to recognize and control metabolic syndrome factors for the patients with severe aging males symptoms.
Aging ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Fasting ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

The importance of quality control for dramatically growing genetic tests continues to be emphasized with increasing clinical demands. Diagnostic genetics subcommitee of KSQACP performed two trials for cytogenetic study in 2002. Cytogenetic surveys were performed by 33 laboratories and answered correctly in most laboratories except some problems in nomenclature and analysis for mosaicism and cytogenetics of neoplasia. The molecular genetic test surveys include M. tuberculosis, HCV, HBV, leukemia/lymphoma, ABO genotyping, ApoE genotyping, spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke like episodes (MELAS). HBV, SCA, SMA, MELAS tests were the first challenge of the genetic survey. Molecular genetic survey showed excellent results in most participants, however, ABO genotyping tests should be improved by new methods in a few laboratories. External quality assessment program for diagnostic genetics could be helpful to give participants many chances of continuous education and of interesting case materials.
Acidosis, Lactic ; Apolipoproteins E ; Cytogenetics ; Education ; Genetics* ; Korea* ; MELAS Syndrome ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; Molecular Biology ; Mosaicism ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Quality Control ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; Stroke ; Tuberculosis