Chordoma is a rare distinctively malignant tumor thought to be histogenetically related to the primitive notochord, It is locally infiltrative but does not metastasize until late. The usual initial symptom is pain or some symptom caused by involvement of the nervous system. Involed in the order of frequency are the sacro-coccygeal area, the spheno-occipital area, and the other vertebral area. This case is a sacro-coccygeal chordoma that is confirmed by histologic examination. The lesion was treated by complete excision.
Chordoma ; Nervous System ; Notochord

No abstract available.
Shoulder*

No abstract available.
Birth Weight* ; Leukocytes* ; Parturition* ; Zinc*

PURPOSE: Most urologists, to our knowledge, recommend prostatic biopsy if serum prostate specific antigen(PSA) concentrations are between 4 and 10ng/ml(gray zone), even in the abscence of abnormal digital rectal examination(DRE). But the detection of prostate cancer has not been frequent in patients with negative DRE and gray zone of serum PSA. So, we investigated the detection rate of prostate cancer to evaluate the effectiveness of biopsy, and provide the clinical data which is needed to make an appropriate guideline for management in those patients in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 58 patients with negative DRE and serum PSA greater than 4ng/ml, in whom transrectal systemic biopsy was done between January 1, 1996 and July 31, 1998. Additionally we analysed 38 patients with negative DRE and serum PSA more than 4ng/ml in a Korean literature. We calculated the detection rate of prostate cancer in patients with gray zone of serum PSA and serum PSA greater than 10ng/ml, respectively. RESULTS: Prostate cancer was detected in 5 patients out of the 58 patients(8.6%), including 1 patient(3.7%) out of 27 patients with gray zone of serum PSA and 4(12.9%) out of 31 patients with serum PSA greater than 10ng/ml. Prostate cancer was detected in 4 patients out of the 38 patients in the literature(10.5%), including 1 patient(5.0%) out of 20 patients with gray zone of serum and 3 patients(16.7%) out of 18 patients with serum PSA greater than 10ng/ml. Combining the results of our current study with that of other Korean literature, total number of patients was 96, and 9(9.4%) of them proved to harbor prostate cancer, including 2 patients(4.3%) out of 47 patients with gray zone of serum PSA and 7 patients(14.3%) out of 49 patients with serum PSA greater than 10ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The detection rate of prostate cancer in Korean with negative DRE and gray zone of serum PSA is significantly lower than that in North American. Therefore it may not be effective to perform biopsy in all of those patients in Korea. Needed are Korean criteria of prostatic biopsy to detect prostate carcinoma in those patients, which can be acceptable in Korean.
Biopsy* ; Digital Rectal Examination* ; Humans ; Korea ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of undercorrected refractive error in South Korea. METHODS: We analyzed 36,162 participants for estimating prevalence using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2008-2012). Undercorrected refractive error was defined as an improvement of at least 2 lines in best corrected visual acuity compared with the presenting visual acuity in the right eye. Proportion of undercorrected refractive error by occupation was presented, and associated sociodemographic factors were evaluated by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of undercorrected refractive error among all participants and among adults was 8.5% (n/N, 6,954/36,162) and 18.8% (n/N, 3,980/19,884), respectively. The proportion of undercorrected refractive error was higher among those with did not wear spectacles or contact lenses (23.1%) than among spectacle or contact lens wearers (8.1%). The proportion of participants who gained more than four or more lines of best corrected visual acuity was 7.2% (n = 2,606) for the all age group. In terms of occupation, farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (22.8%, 570/2,499) and laborer (20.2%, 497/2,457) were more likely to have undercorrected refractive error. Age groups of 10s, 70s, or 80s (30s as a reference group), female sex, lower income, lower education level, and living without a spouse were associated with undercorrected refractive error. CONCLUSIONS: People of older age, female sex, and lower socioeconomic status were more likely to have undercorrected refractive error. This suggests that a public-health approach is needed for preventing visual impairment via proper vision correction.
Adult ; Agriculture ; Contact Lenses ; Education ; Eyeglasses ; Female ; Forestry ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupations ; Prevalence* ; Refractive Errors* ; Risk Factors* ; Social Class ; Spouses ; Vision Disorders ; Vision, Low ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Ingrown toenail is one of the most common nail complaints. It occurs mostly on the great toes, where is an excessive lateral nail growth into the nail fold, leading to painful irritation, inflammation, and growth of the granulation tissue. Many treatments have been described, but these classic treatment modalities may lead to severe damage of the nail fold or frequent relapses. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of super elastic wire (SE-wire, Machiwire(R)), a non-invasive treatment for ingrown toenails. METHODS: Fifteen patients with ingrown toenail were treated with super elastic wire. Objective assessment was evaluated by use of the width index (width of the nail tip/width of the nail root) and height index (height of the nail tip/width of the nail root). Subjective assessment was evaluated by use of a visual analogue scale declared by patients. In addition, wound complications and recurrence were described. RESULTS: The width index and height index were improved (width index: 75.0%-->90.0%, height index: 76.5%-->27.7%). Pain was relieved in 100% of the cases. For subjective assessment, all of the patients were satisfied (more than "satisfactory": 100%). There were two relapsed cases during 5 to 12 month period (mean time: 9 months). CONCLUSION: We recommend super elastic wire method as an alternative treatment for ingrown toenail, because it is simple, easy to perform, noninvasive, effective, and well-tolerated.
Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nails ; Nails, Ingrown ; Recurrence ; Toes

PURPOSE: The platelet number alone does not give a complete picture of platelet maturity and function, therefore, the platelet indices have been the subject of intensive study in recent years, but they have not been firmly established in the neonates. METHODS: Blood samples collected in K2 EDTA bottle from femoral vein of 176 neonates (54 healthy fullterm, 96 sick fullterm, 10 sick preterm, 9 healthy preterm and 7 healthy small for gestational age) were analyzed with CELL-DYN 1600. RESULTS: 1) Platelet counts (PC) and platelet indices of 70 healthy neonates correlated neither with gestational age, nor with birth weight. 2) Significant correlations were found between PC and plateletcrit and between PC and mean platelet volume with the correlation coefficients being 0.937 and -0.284 respectively. Other indices did not show any significant correlation. 3) There were no significant differences of PC and platelet indices between healthy neonates and sick neonates, between healthy fullterm and sick fullterm, between healthy preterm and sick preterm, between healthy fullterm and healthy preterm, and between healthy fullterm and healthy small for gestational age. 4) Sick fullterm neonates suffering certain diseases showed altered indices, compared with healthy fullterm neonates. In diarrhea, PC, plateletcrit and platelet distribution width were higher than those in healthy fullterm neonates. In hyperbilirubinemia and urinary tract infection, PC and plateletcrit were higher, whereas in sepsis, platelet distribution width was lower. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that PC and platelet indices of healthy neonates did not correlate with gestational age, nor with birth weight, and show some significant correlations between PC and platelet indicies. Further studies will be needed in clinical application of platelet indices to each neonatal disease.
Birth Weight ; Blood Platelets* ; Diarrhea ; Edetic Acid ; Femoral Vein ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mean Platelet Volume ; Platelet Count* ; Sepsis ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of visual acuity (VA) and ocular condition on falls. METHODS: We analyzed 28,899 Korean adults using cross-sectional data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2012). Associations between best corrected VA based on better or worse seeing eye and ocular condition and falls were identified using multivariable logistic regression. We included sociodemographic factors and comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, acute myocardial infarction/angina, and stroke as independent variables. VA was divided into 1.0, 0.8, 0.5-0.63, and <0.5. RESULTS: Among 28,899 subjects, falls occurred in 511. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, low VA based on the better seeing eye was significantly associated with falls (VA 1.0 as a reference group; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.72 in VA of 0.8; aOR = 1.86, 95% CI, 1.07-3.24 in VA of 0.5-0.63; and aOR = 1.21, 95% CI, 0.58-2.54 in VA of <0.5; p = 0.025 for trend). There was no association between VA based on the worse seeing eye and falls. Early age-related macular degeneration was associated with falls in univariable analysis (OR = 2.24) and age- and sex-adjusted analysis (aOR = 1.52), but not in multivariable analysis. In terms of age subgroups, subjects with VA of 0.5-0.63 were more likely to have experienced falls compared with subjects with VA of 1.0 (aOR = 5.83, 95% CI, 1.58-21.54) among subjects 50 years of age or younger. An increasing trend of falls with decreasing VA among subjects between 50 and 70 years of age was observed (p = 0.033 for trend). However, no such association was observed in elderly subjects ≥70 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: VA should be considered for preventing falls because lower VA is associated with increased risk of falls.
Accidental Falls* ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis ; Comorbidity ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Macular Degeneration ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Stroke ; Vision, Low ; Visual Acuity*

Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease which results when man serves as the intermediate host of Taenia Solium, the pork tape warm; the larvae, cysticercus, develop in various body tissue. We have recently experienced a case of cysticercosis in the scrotum diagnosed by excision & biopsy.
Biopsy ; Cysticercosis* ; Cysticercus ; Larva ; Parasitic Diseases ; Scrotum* ; Taenia solium

Primary aldosteronism is characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, low plasma renin activity, elevated plasma aldosterone level and can be suspected in the patients with hypertension and unexplained hypokalemia. Small adrenal cortical adenomas are responsible for this syndrome in most cases. The incidence of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis ranges from 1.9 to 6.2 % in Japan. Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis usually subsides following treatment of hyperthyroidism and has good prognosis. A 56 year-old man presented with hyperthyroidism, hypertension and recurrent hypokalemia. During the treatment of hyperthyroidism, he repeatedly experienced weakness of both lower extremities. Hormonal evaluation was performed and he was found to have a 2*2*1.5 cm sized right adrenal tumor by abdominal computerized topography(CT). After right adrenalectomy, hypokalemic periodic paralysis was improved. Both thyroid and adrenal function should be comprehensively investigated in periodic paralysis. In conclusion, physicians must be aware of the possibility of primary aldosteronism in hyperthyroid patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis. We report a case of aldosteronoma complicated with hyperthyroidism and literatures are reviewed.
Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; Aldosterone ; Alkalosis ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Hypokalemia ; Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis ; Incidence ; Japan ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Paralysis ; Plasma ; Prognosis ; Renin ; Thyroid Gland