There are several variations in normal mastication. In them, unilateral mastication is chewing, predominantly on a preferred side of the dentition and hardly on the non-preferred side. Continual unilateral mastication may alter the coordination of masticatory muscles. Although they studied about these EMG of masticatory muscles, there were no information about characteristics of masticatory muscle activity in unilateral mastication. Therefore, In this study, we investigated the activity of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles during rest, clenching in maximum intercuspation and gum chewing in habitually unilateral mastication group com-pared with normal group and tried to know effects of continual unilateral mastication on activity of masticatory muscles. The results of this study were as follows 1. In electromyographic activity during rest, in bilateral mastication group pattern of muscle activity of right and left side was symmetrical. But, in unilateral mastication group, records of anterior part of temporal muscle was higher than that of bilateral mastication group (p<.01) and patterns of muscle activity of right and left side in both muscle were asymmetrical.(p<.05). 2. In electromyographic activity during clenching in maximum intercuspation, records of superficial part of masseter muscle were higher than anterior part of temporal muscle in both group. Muscle activity of temporal muscle in unilateral mastication group was a little higher than bilateral mastication group and asymmetry of activity pattern in temporal and masseter muscle was shown but these differences were not statistically significant. (p< .05). 3. In electromyographic activity during gum chewing, temporal muscle was activated earlier than masseter muscle and .aximum bite force is derived from masseter muscle in both group. In unilateral mastication group, electromyographic activity of masseter and temporal muscle of preferred chewing side, regardless of right or left side chewing, was higher than that of bilateral mastication group and especially, difference in masseter muscle was statistically significant. (p< .01) Based on the above results, our study suggested that recording of masticatory muscle activity will be helpful in the effective diagnosis and treatment of some types of the parafunctional habits.
Bite Force ; Dentition ; Diagnosis ; Gingiva ; Masseter Muscle ; Mastication ; Masticatory Muscles* ; Temporal Muscle

Neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1) is one of the most common inherited disorders, clinically characterized by cafe-au-lait spots, Lisch nodules and neurofibromas. In addition, the affected individuals usually develop benign and malignant tumors of the nervous system. One of the most common tumors is the optic nerve glioma. NF1-associated glioma, however, rarely occurs in the cerebellum. Recently, we experienced a NF1-associated cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma in an 11 years old girl. She has a family history of NF1 and multiple cafe-au-lait spots over her whole body. We report herewith a case of NF1-associated cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma with a brief review of related literature.
Astrocytoma* ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Cerebellum ; Child ; Female ; Glioma ; Humans ; Nervous System Neoplasms ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Optic Nerve Glioma

The purpose of this study was to examine the donators' characteristics and donative foods of both government-dominant and non-governmental food bank program, to understand the problems and benefits of food bank program, and to find the solutions to activate food bank program. The questionnaires were distributed to 120 food bank operators and 3 donators were selected from each food bank for the survey from April 2002 to May 2002. 118 sheets (32.8%) from government-dominant food bank and 53 sheets (20.1%) from non-governmental food bank were collected. The main results of this study were as follows: The largest donators to either government-dominant or non-governmental food bank programs were bakery and confectionery companies 31.4% and 45.3% respectively. The majority of donated foods were "goods in stock" (55.6%) and frequency of donation were largely on a daily basis (27.1% for government-dominant and 22.6% for non-governmental). Some of the donators who had more donative food did not donate, and the reasons were closeness to expiration date of food (67.3%), lack of legal protection in the event of food poisoning (54.5%), and poor public image of food related accidents (52.3%).
Foodborne Diseases

Splenic tuberculosis is an uncommonly considered diagnosis in clinical practice. This is a case report of splenic tuberculosis in a 13-year-old boy who was seronegative to HIV. He was just well until 7 days prior to this admission when he started to feel epigastric and left subchondral pain. Chest X -ray was not pathological. Abdominal ultrasonography showed slight splenomegaly with multiple hypoechoic nodules and abdominal CT disclosed multiple irregular hypodense lesions in the spleen. Radiological interpretation suggested the possibility of lymphoma or metastatic malignancy. Splenectomy was done and the histopathological findings showed extensive chronic granulomatous inflammation compatible with tuberculosis. Splenic tuberculosis 1l1ust be included in the differential diagnosis of hypoechoic and hypodense lesions by means of sonography and computed tomography, respectively.
Adolescent ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; HIV ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Spleen ; Splenectomy ; Splenomegaly ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Splenic ; Ultrasonography

Leigh's disease is a rare progressive neurological disorder that is characterized light microscopically by focal spongy necrosis in the brain and electron microscopically by mitochondriopathy. We report an autopsy case of Leigh's disease that showed abnormalities in the liver, kidney and skeletal muscle as well as the central nervous system. The patient was an 18-month-old girl who has carried a diagnosis of cerebral palsy ever since her birth to a 20-year-old mother. The baby was generally hypertonic and mentally retarded. She died of severe metabolic acidosis. Postmortem examination showed growth retardation, fatty liver, fatty kidney and soft brain. Brain section showed multifocal softenings in the brainstem, basal ganglia and periventricular areas. Microscopically increased capillaries with endothelial proliferation, vacuolar degeneration and mild gliosis were seen in the brain. The axons were relatively preserved. Liver and kidneys showed microvesicular fatty change. Myofiber degeneration of the skeletal muscle was also noted. Electron microscopic examination showed markedly increased mitochondria in the parenchymal cells of the brain, liver and kidney. The mitochondria showed round to ovoid ballooned appearance including electron-dense core-like structures and pseudoinclusions of glycogen granules.
Brain/pathology/ultrastructure ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney/pathology/ultrastructure ; Leigh Disease/*pathology ; Liver/pathology/ultrastructure ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies/pathology ; Muscles/pathology

BACKGROUND: Endometrial carcinomas are pathogenetically classified into two major types; endometrioid carcinoma (EC) and serous carcinoma (SC). The most frequently altered gene in EC is the PTEN tumor suppressor gene (TSG). SC is usually associated with mutations in the p53 TSG. METHODS: To further determine the role of PTEN and p53 mutation in endometrial carcinogenesis, the analysis of 33 endometrial carcinomas, including 28 ECs and 5 SCs, for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 10q23 and for mutation in all 9 coding exons of PTEN and the 5-8 exons of p53, using SSCP-PCR methods was carried out. RESULTS: LOH was detected in at least one marker in 12 (54.5%) of 22 ECs, but in only one (20.0%) of 5 SCs. Somatic PTEN mutations were detected in 10 (35.7%) of 28 ECs. PTEN was altered in 67.9% of ECs and in 20.0% of SCs, including those with 10q23 LOH. No PTEN mutations were found among the SCs. Somatic p53 mutations were detected in 2 (7.1%) of 28 ECs and 3 (60.0%) of 5 SCs. CONCLUSIONS: PTEN gene alterations contribute to the pathogenesis of an endometrioid subtype of endometrial carcinoma, but not to the serous type. In contrast, p53 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SCs.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Clinical Coding ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Exons ; Female ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Loss of Heterozygosity

Umbilical vein varix has diverse clinical features and an unpredictable course during the pregnancy and/or perinatal period. We report a rare case of isolated fetal varix of the intra-abdominal umbilical vein, which was associated with fetal cardiomegaly. After birth, the umbilical vein varix remained with continuous blood flow through the patent ductus venosus. In addition, persistent cardiomegaly was complicated with an atrial septal defect.
Cardiomegaly ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Umbilical Veins* ; Varicose Veins*

Diverticula are frequently seen in the sigmoid, descending, ascending and transverse colons whereas rectal diverticula are extremely rare. The stapled rectal mucosectomy for the treatment of a prolapsed hemorrhoid is less painful and has lower morbidity; therefore, it has been commonly used despite possible complications. This paper reports a case of a rectal diverticulum that developed after a procedure for prolapsed hemorrhoids (PPH). A 42-year-old man with a history of hemorrhoidectomies came to the hospital because of constipation. On sigmoidoscopy, a 2-cm-sized, feces-filled pocket was located just above the anorectal junction. After removal of the fecal material, a huge rectal diverticulum (-4 cm in diameter) was seen. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis of rectal diverticulum outpouching through the muscular layer of the intestine in a left posterolateral direction. The patient was discharged without complication after a transanal diverticulectomy had been performed, and the direct rectal wall had been repaired.
Adult ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulum* ; Hemorrhoidectomy ; Hemorrhoids* ; Humans ; Intestines ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Sigmoidoscopy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of tear film osmolarity for non-Sjogren dry eye syndrome through measuring the correlation between tear osmolarity and several conventional dry eye parameters. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study, 274 patients (274 eyes) with non-Sjogren dry eye syndrome were examined using tear film osmolarity and the following conventional dry eye parameters: Schirmer's test, tear film break-up time, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and corneal staining score. The correlations between tear film osmolarity and each conventional dry eye parameter were assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The mean tear film osmolarity of the study population was 296.34 ± 21.08 mOsm/L. The tear film osmolarity was significantly negatively correlated with the Schirmer's test value (r = -0.431, p < 0.001) and tear break-up time (r = -0.131, p = 0.031), while it was significantly positively correlated with the OSDI scores (r = 0.191, p = 0.001) and corneal staining scores (r = 0.150, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Tear film instability was significantly correlated with other conventional dry eye parameters. However, additional studies are required to determine its feasibility as a stand-alone diagnostic tool.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis* ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Humans ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Tears*

PURPOSE: We tried to find the relationships between the fetal beta-cell function and neonatal birth weight, anthropometric measures, and maternal characteristics, and to observe role of insulin as fetal growth factor in offsprings of mothers who have normal glucose metabolism. METHODS: We measured umbilical cord blood insulin and C-peptide concentrations in 236 neonates delivered at Cheil General Hospital from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31 1994. Their mothers had normal glucose metabolism during pregnancy. The birth weight and other anthropometric measures were performed within 24 hours after birth by same pediatrician. RESULTS: 1) The mean gestational age was 39.5+/--0.1 wk and mean birth weight was 3.3+/--0.2 Kg. According to birth weight percentile, the numbers of small for gestational age(SGA), adequete for gesational(AGA), and large for gestational age(LGA) infans were 3(1.3%), 178(75.4%), and 55(23.3%), respectively. There were no differences in gestational age, birth weight, length, head circumference, chest circumference, Ponderal index, and symmerty index between male and female infants. 2) The maternal weight gain during pregnancy was related to neonatal birth weight, length, and head circumference, but not to Ponderal index and symmetry index. 3) The mean cord blood insulin and C-peptide concentrations were 5.1+/--0.1uU/ml and 1.3+/--0.1 ng/ml. There was a significant positive correlation between insulin and C-peptide concentrations. 4) There were no significant differences in cord blood insulin and C-peptide concentrations among the SGA, AGA, and LGA group. 5) The cord blood insulin and C-peptide concentrations had weak positive correlations with neonatal birth weight, obesity, and gestational age, but nor with maternal weight gain during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Although insulin has a significant role in fetal growth in diabetic pregnancy or intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR), our results suggest that it does not have a significant effect on fetal growth in offsprings of mothers who have normal glucose metabolism.
Birth Weight ; C-Peptide ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Development ; Gestational Age ; Glucose* ; Head ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin ; Male ; Metabolism* ; Mothers* ; Obesity ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Thorax ; Umbilical Cord* ; Weight Gain