The unilateral megalencephaly is a rare brain malformation characterized by cerebral asymmetry and cortical dysplasia caused by faulty migration of the subependymal neuroblasts. We experienced a case of unilateral megalencephaly in a two day-old male with the chief complaint of asymmetric head appearance. Large left hemisphere with agyria, pachygyria, dilatation of lateral ventricle, and the thick cortex of the ipsilateral hemisphere were showed in brain MRL, Clinical findings in this case were intractable seizure, hemiparesis, and psychomotor retardation. A review of literatures was also presented briefly.
Brain ; Dilatation ; Head ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Lissencephaly ; Male ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Paresis ; Seizures

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease that is mediated by anti-platelet antibodies. Based on the pathogenesis of ITP we evaluated the efficacy of intravenous anti-D immunoglobulin for adult chronic ITP. METHODS: Fourteen patients (4 without splenectomy and 10 with splenectomy) with refractory chronic ITP were treated with 50-70 microgram/kg of intravenous anti-D immunoglobulin only once. Treatment effects were evaluated by measuring the platelet counts and hemoglobin levels. RESULTS: Five patients (36%) showed a response; improvement in the platelet count lasted for on average 7 days (range: 2~24 days). There were no serious adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Anti-D immunoglobulin, which is associated with an Fc receptor blockade, appeared to be safe and effective for the treatment of adults with chronic ITP. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and define further potentially effective treatment protocols with intravenous anti-D immunoglobulin.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Clinical Protocols ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Isoantibodies ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Receptors, Fc ; Rho(D) Immune Globulin ; Splenectomy

Schwannomas are uncommon benign, slowly growing tumors that originate in peripheral, cranial, or autonomic nerves and are composed of Schwann cells in a collagenous matrix. Retroperitoneum is often the site of occurrence of schwannoma, but report on schwannoma of the adrenal gland is rare. We report a case of adrenal schwannoma. A 53 male had facial edema and paresthesia of extremities for 3 month. Incidentally adrenal mass was found on abdominal computer tomogram and exploration performed.
Adrenal Glands* ; Autonomic Pathways ; Collagen ; Edema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Male ; Neurilemmoma* ; Paresthesia ; Schwann Cells

No abstract available.
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

OBJECTIVE: Conization is used for diagnosis and treatment of cervical neoplasia. Our purpose of this investigation is to determine the efficacy of loop conization for the treatment of cervical dysplasia and the significance of the clinical and histological factors used to predict residual dysplasia after loop conization. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of patients who were received conization and subsequently total hysterectomy at Kangnam St Mary Hospital during 1989 and 2000. Logistic regression and Chi-square test were used for analysis. RESULTS: Total 257 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 44.7 years. Of these patients, 87 (33.8%) had residual disease in the hysterectomy specimens. Age, the involvement of cut surface of endocervix and exocervix, severity and extent of the lesion, and scattering lesion were associated with the residual disease. But preoperative HPV infection, which is known as the cause of cervical neoplasia was not associated with the residual disease. CONCLUSION: When the high risk factors are present, the validity of conservative treatment should be considered and more careful follow up with pap smear, HPV test and colposcopy is necessary. Because about one thirds of patient has residual disease after conization, LEEP conization should be used for diagnosis of cervical neoplasia rather than treatment.
Colposcopy ; Conization* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Logistic Models ; Risk Factors*

OBJECTIVES: The surveillance of infectious diseases, which is crucial in public health, may also suffer from poor community support. In South Korea, the government operates several national surveillance system for the National notifiable infectious diseases(NNID). Some programs work satisfactorily but other programs may not be fully accepted at the community level which result in low participation and delayed report. METHODS: May 2003, to improve the blind side of the National Surveillance System, a district health agency initiated a community based surveillance system for infectious diseases called as Communicable Disease Information Sharing System (CDISS) to complement the national program. As the name suggests, it underscores the mutual benefit of surveillance for public and private health sectors through partnership. With collaboration of participating private clinics and hospitals around the district, the health agency collects data and provides the health practitioners more up-to-dated information on the trend of infectious diseases than National level information. Total population of study area, Dong-gu which locate in the center of Gwangju-metropolitan city, is about 120,000 in 2005. Reporting facilities consist of 6 daycare clinics, 3 hospitals, and 1 university hospital, 2 local public health organizations. RESULTS: CDISS was introduced in May 2003, and full system has been successfully operated since March 2004 with 10 participating facilities. Each reporting facility regularly sends the weekly reporting form, filled with the number of patients in last week, to Dong-gu District Health Center in every Wednesday. All data were organized in tables and graphs by weekly summarizing the reporting data and interpreted information. Feedback is done to reporting facilities until Friday through faxes, email, website (http://kjdisweb.richis.org) ?at least a week earlier than National Surveillance System.If reported data exceeded epidemic alert level, the community warnings are issued through mass-media and other means of public communication.During the period of CDISS operation, some epidemic events and sporadic outbreak occurred in Dong-gu were detected well-earlier than the notification at national level, such as chickenpox, viral enteritis, and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis(EKC). CONCLUSIONS: The program has been functioning successfully with active community participation and revealed to be economic and effective way of disease surveillance in the community. Several episodes of disease epidemic were reported by the program well before the recognition of the epidemic at the national level. We suggest that the community surveillance program may well complement national surveillance system.
Chickenpox ; Communicable Diseases ; Complement System Proteins ; Consumer Participation ; Cooperative Behavior ; Electronic Mail ; Enteritis ; Humans ; Information Dissemination ; Public Health ; Republic of Korea

Previous studies have suggested that the Gly460Trp polymorphism of the alpha-adducin gene (ADD-1) is associated with salt sensitivity and primary hypertension. The results of linkage or association studies of ADD-1 of different populations are controversial. This study investigated the relationship between the Gly460Trp poly-morphism of ADD-1 and essential hypertension in a Korean population. The subjects (n=903) were participants in a population-based study in Jangseong County, Korea. The Gly460Trp polymorphism of ADD-1 was determined using a polymerase chain reaction method. The frequency of the 460Trp allele was 59.4% in normotensives and 61.1% in hypertensives (p=0.523). The frequencies of the genotypes did not differ significantly between the hypertensive and normotensive groups (16.3% Gly/Gly, 45.8% Gly/Trp, and 38.0% Trp/Trp in normotensives; 16.2% Gly/Gly, 45.8% Gly/Trp, and 38.0% Trp/Trp in hypertensives; p=0.928). After adjusting for other risk factors, Gly/Trp and Trp/Trp were not associated with hypertension (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.65-1.53, Gly/Trp vs. Gly/Gly; OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.79-1.90, Trp/Trp vs. Gly/Gly). These findings suggest that the Gly460Trp polymorphism of ADD-1 is not associated with hypertension.
Calmodulin-Binding Proteins/*genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis/methods ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/*epidemiology ; Genetic Screening/methods ; Humans ; Hypertension/*epidemiology/genetics/*metabolism ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/*genetics ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Risk Assessment/*methods ; Risk Factors

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) on lipid levels in Korean adults and to investigate the interactions between these polymorphisms and environmental factors in determining lipid levels. We performed a cross-sectional study of 1,900 subjects (668 men and 1,232 women; 45-74 yr old) in Namwon, Korea, in 2004. APOE polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis. Carriers of the APOE*E2 (E2) allele had significantly lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations than did carriers of the APOE*E3 (E3) or APOE*E4 (E4) alleles, regardless of gender. The APOE allele type had significant effect on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride levels in women, but not in men. The effect of APOE allele type on HDL-C levels was modified by age in women. In addition, in men, the effect of APOE allele type on triglyceride levels was modified by smoking. These findings highlight the important effect of gene-environment interactions on lipid levels.
Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Apolipoproteins E/*genetics ; Comparative Study ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Lipids/*blood ; Lipoproteins, HDL Cholesterol/blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL Cholesterol/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Triglycerides/blood

In this part the writing group will cover strategies, techniques, and endpoints of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Prior to all, electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins is recommended during all AF ablation procedures. In addition, techniques to be used for ablation of persistent and long-standing persistent AF, adjunctive ablation strategies, nonablative strategies to improve outcomes of AF ablation, and endpoints for ablation of paroxysmal, persistent, and long-standing persistent AF will be reviewed. Currently many technologies and tools are employed for AF ablation procedures. Radiofrequency energy, cryoablation, and other energy sources and tools are in various stages of development and/or clinical investigation. Finally, anticoagulation strategies pre-, during, and postcatheter ablation of AF and technical aspects of ablation to maximize safety are discussed in this section.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Cryosurgery ; Pulmonary Veins ; Writing

PURPOSE: A phase II study of vinorelbine and ifosfamide combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was conducted to assess response rate, response duration, and toxicites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced NSCLC who had no prior systemic chemotherapy were eligible. They have no central nervous system metastasis and recurrent or progressive disease after surgery or radiotherapy. Each cycle consisted of vinorelbine 25 mg/m' i.v. days 1 & 8, and ifosfamide 2 g/m i.v. days 1, 2 & 3 with Mesna and treatments were repeated every 21 days. RESULTS: Forty patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC were treated at multi center between March, 1997 and March, 1998. Six patients were not evaluable because five patients refused therapy after the first course and one patient was protocol violation. Of 34 evaluable patients, objective responses were seen in 11 (32.4%) patients (CR 0%, PR 32.4%). The median duration of response was 16.4 weeks. The median overall survival was 9.5 months. The toicities of this regimen were acceptable without treatment related toxic death. CONCLUSION: We concluded that combination regimen of vinorelbine and ifosfamide was effective and tolerable in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Central Nervous System ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Ifosfamide* ; Mesna ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*