Primary tumors of the ureter are usually malignant and rare, a few are benign. Benign tumors arising from mesoderm are especially rare. But, recently the incidence rate was progressively increased due to developed methods of diagnostic procedures. We herein report a case of ureteral polyp in the left ureteropelvic junction with a brief review of literatures.
Incidence ; Mesoderm ; Polyps* ; Ureter*

Authors experienced a case of torsion of spermatic cord recently and reviewed the literatures. The patient was a 33 year-old male with chief complaints of sudden onset on left scrotal swelling and testicular pain. Physical examination was not significant except positive Prehn`s sign on the involving side of testicle. Under the diagnosis of torsion of spermatic cord, he was performed of left orchiectomy and the opposite side orchiopexy.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Orchiopexy ; Physical Examination ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Spermatic Cord* ; Testis

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of size and morphology of the normal trachea is important for airway management and tracheal reconstruction. Conventional radiography is a simple method used to measure the tracheal diameter, but it is not accurate because of the artifacts related to image magnification and overlapping by the shoulder. The purpose of this study was to provide the normal values of the tracheal size and anatomy in Korean adults using Computerized Tomography. MATERIAL AND METHOD: There were 43 men and 34 women included in this study. They were divided into three age groups(group 1, 20-39 years ; group 2, 40-59 yeas ; groups 3,>or=60 years). The anteroposterior and transverse diameters and cross - sectional areas of the trachea were measured at the level of the thoracic inlet(Level 1) and the aortic arch(Level 2). These values obtained at each level were compared between age groups and sexes. RESULT: In 43 men, the anteroposterior / transverse diameters(mean SD in millimeters) of the trachea at levels 1 and 2 were 19.95+/-2.99 / 17.72+/-2.13 and 19.77+/-2.57 / 18.02+/-2.19, respectively. In 34 women, those values at levels 1 and 2 were 15.56+/-2.12 / 14.18+/-2.07 and 15.35+/-1.82 / 15.00+/-1.60, respectively. At both levels, the anteroposterior and transverse diameters were significantly greater in men than in women (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area of the trachea at levels 1 and 2 were 279.14+/-61.37 / 281.93+/-63.97 mm2 in men and 173.29+/-35.81 / 181.88+/-34.74 in women, respectively. They also showed significantly greater values in men than in women(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in diameters and cross-sectional areas of the trachea between age groups. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences in the internal diameter and cross- sectional area of the trachea between men and women in normal Korean adults, while the age difference was insignificant. We believed CT is a relatively accurate and safe way to measure the internal diameter and cross-sectional areas of the trachea.
Adult* ; Airway Management ; Artifacts ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Reference Values ; Shoulder ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trachea*

Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor that is relatively common in the uterus, the gastrointestinal tract, and the retroperitoneum. Only 3 to 10% of leiomyosarcomas arise in the head and neck. A review of the English-language literature since 1908 revealed 11 cases of primary and one case of metastatic leiomyosarcoma of the gingiva. We report on a case of leiomyosarcoma that arose in a 34-year old male, affecting the mandibular gingiva.
Adult ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Gingiva* ; Head ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Male ; Neck ; Uterus

BACKGROUND: Pathogen inactivation (PI) is a proactive approach to overcome the limitations of the current testing system and donor questionnaires. Effect of PI on non-leukoreduced platelet rich plasma derived platelets (PRP-PLTs) suspended in plasma has not yet been evaluated. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of PI on the quality of non-leukoreduced PRP-PLTs suspended in plasma. METHODS: PRP-PLTs treated with the Mirasol PRT System and the Intercept Blood System were tested for PLT count, blood gas, PLT activation, and apoptosis on days 3, 5, and 7 of storage. RESULTS: PLT number showed a decrease after PI. No difference in pH was observed until day 5. At day 7, PLTs treated with Mirasol had a lower pH value (6.5), however, it satisfied the quality control criteria. PLTs treated with Mirasol had a lower pO2 compared to pre-inactivation PLTs. pO2 during storage differed significantly between the two PI groups. pCO2 showed a decrease after inactivation and both groups showed a significant difference, compared with the control. PLTs treated with Mirasol had increased P-selectin expression after inactivation; however, difference of P-selectin during storage was not significant compared to the control. P-selectin of PLTs treated with Intercept was significantly different compared to those treated with Mirasol and control. Annexin V showed an increase after inactivation in Mirasol treated PLTs and difference during storage was significant compared to control and Intercept. CONCLUSION: As both PI systems showed satisfactory pH values, the criteria showing a high correlation with in vivo PLT viability and generally applied to monitor quality of PLTs, quality of PRP-PLTs after PI appears not to be negatively affected.
Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Blood Platelets ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; P-Selectin ; Plasma ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Quality Control ; Tissue Donors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was designed to provide the basic data for the development of the management program for overactive bladder by ascertaining its prevalence among Korean women aged over 30 years, and the factors related to its occurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed by using self-questionnaires through the community-based cross sectional study from May to July, 2000. The subjects consisted of 2869 women, aged over 30 up to 89 years, among those who understood and responded to the questionnaires, and was residing in Seoul, Kyongki Kangwon, Chungchong, YongNam, HoNam, Cheju proinces. They also did not have known neurological problem and diabetes mellitus. The data were analyzed by Student t-test, chi2-test, and multiple logistic regression with using SAS program. RESULTS: The results were as follows ; 1. They all experienced at least one of frequency, urgency, nocturia, urge incontinence for the past one year and 52.3% of the subjects had experienced symptom at least once in 5 voidings. The highest prevalence of overactive bladder was 86.2% in the category for 70 to 89 years, 74.3% for the sixties, 45.3% for the forties, 42.5% for the thirties. In the symptoms of 1499 women among subject, 19.4% of them had nocturia, 18.2% frequency, 10.5% urgency, 9.6% urge incontinence, 9.5% frequency and urgency, 5.9% frequency and nocturia. 2. The age(OR = 1.041, 95% Cl = 1.027, 1.055) and the menopause(OR = 0.696, 95% Cl = 0.527, 0.919) were related to overactive bladder occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The above findings indicated that about the half of the women aged over 30 years had symptoms for overactive bladder, and the prevalence was higher in old women and the women with menopause. So, the prevention and management programs for overactive bladder are required to be developed, and the primary screening programs based on community shall be developed.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Jeju-do ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Menopause ; Nocturia ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was designed to clarify the fine structures of the hepatocytes and mesencymal tissues in chronic hepatitis according to severity. METHOD: For the purpose of elucidating the ultrastructural characteristics of mesenchymal tissues, liver biopsy specimens were studied by light and electron microscopy in 20 patients with chronic hepatitis. RESULTS: 1) Hepatocytes in mesenchymal tissues were thought to be in the stage of regenerated or degenerated process. 2) Regenerating nodules were surrounded by a basement membrane-like materials in the space of Disse. 3) In the widened Disse space the deposition of collagen fiber bundles and increased numbers of hepatic stellate cells in necrotic area were observed. 4) In necrotic areas, hepatic mesenchymal cell response including an increase of collagen fibers and fibroblast, angiogenesis, and a proliferation of bile ductules were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that the fibrosis in severe chronic hepatitis was accompanied by the mesenchymal response including the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells, fibroblasts, capillarization of Disse space, and mesenchymal proliferation. Finally, this fibrosis observed electron microscopically may be a cause of functional hepatic failure.
Adult ; English Abstract ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic/*pathology/virology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human/*pathology ; Hepatocytes/ultrastructure ; Human ; Liver/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Mesoderm/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged

dTDP-rhamnose provides L-rhamnose to the bridge-like structure between mycolyl arabinogalactan and peptidoglycan of the mycobacterial cell wall. dTDP-rhamnose is composed of glucose-1-phosphate and dTTP by four enzymes encoded by rmlA-D. To determine the region(s) of RmlC protein essential for its dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxyglucose epimerase activity, we overexpressed both whole (202 amino acids) and three different truncated (N-terminal 106 or 150 or C-terminal 97 amino acids) RmlC proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The RmlC enzyme activity in the soluble lysates of DELTArmlC E. coli strain SPHI874 (DE3 PlysS) expressing the wild type or truncated rmlC genes was initially analyzed by three sequential reactions from dTDP-glucose to dTDP-rhamnose in the presence of purified RmlB and RmlD. All three soluble lysates containing the truncated RmlC proteins showed no enzyme activity, while that containing the wild type RmlC was active. This wild type RmlC was then overexpressed and purified. The incubation of the purified RmlC enzyme so obtained with dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxyglucose resulted in the conversion of dTDP-4-keto-rhamnose. The results show that the truncated regions of the RmlC protein are important for the RmlC enzyme activity in M. tuberculosis.
Cell Wall ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Peptidoglycan ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: One of the major morphologic characteristics of hepatitis B is a hepatocellular regeneration which is induced by massive hepatocyte necrosis and associated with proliferative activity of hepatocytes. The purpose of this study is to document the proliferative activity of hepatocytes in various types of hepatitis B by immunohistochemical staining for proliferative cell nuclear antigen-labelling index (PCNA-LI) and electron microscopy. METHODS: We studied 83 patients with hepatitis B; 11 cases of acute viral hepatitis, 24 cases of mild chronic hepatitis, 34 cases of severe chronic hepatitis with early cirrhosis and 14 cases of severe chronic hepatitis. The PCNA was tested by immunohistochemical staining using anti-PCNA antibody. Furthermore we evaluated the ultrastructure of acinus-forming hepatocytes (AFH) by electron microscopy. RESULTS: The expression rate and labelling index of PCNA were 27.3% and 5.3 +/- 0.9% in acute viral hepatitis, 62.5% and 22.9 +/- 31.7% in mild chronic hepatits, and then 47.1% and 14.1 +/- 24.2% in severe chronic hepatitis with early cirrhosis, respectively (Figure 1). By contrast, no detectable PCNA expression was noted in AFH. Electron microscopic findings showed that hepatocytes forming a rosette underwent marked degenerative changes with sinusoidal capillarization and increased fine strands of collagen fiber in portal area. CONCLUSION: The proliferative acitivity of hepatitis B was significantly decreased in severe chronic hepatitis containing AFH. This result suggested that differences in proliferative activity was associated with hepatic cell necrosis and AFH.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cell Division ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*metabolism/*pathology ; Hepatocytes/*metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Age ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/*metabolism

OBJECTIVES: The rates of asymptomatic infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus vary. A serologic study was conducted to determine the asymptomatic MERS infection rate in healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers by exposure status. METHODS: Study participants were selected from contacts of MERS patients based on a priority system in 4 regions strongly affected by the 2015 MERS outbreak. A sero-epidemiological survey was performed in 1,610 contacts (average duration from exposure to test, 4.8 months), and the collected sera were tested using an enzyme-linked immunespecific assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and plaque reduction neutralization antibody test (PRNT). Among the 1,610 contacts, there were 7 ELISA-positive cases, of which 1 exhibited positive IFA and PRNT results. RESULTS: The asymptomatic infection rate was 0.060% (95% confidence interval, 0.002 to 0.346). The asymptomatic MERS case was a patient who had been hospitalized with patient zero on the same floor of the hospital at the same time. The case was quarantined at home for 2 weeks after discharge, and had underlying diseases, including hypertension, angina, and degenerative arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: The asymptomatic infection was acquired via healthcare-associated transmission. Thus, it is necessary to extend serologic studies to include inpatient contacts who have no symptoms.
Asymptomatic Infections ; Coronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Epidemiology ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inpatients ; Korea* ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus* ; Middle East* ; Osteoarthritis