No abstract available.

There were two cases of posterior urethral ruptured patient combined with severe pelvic bone disruption. They were treated with primary urethral end to end anastomosis and the results were good. We recommend the primary end to end anastomosis of posterior urethral rupture in some instances those who are ready for good exposure of posterior urethra because of wide pelvic bone disruption favorable patient`s condition and excellent skill of surgeon.
Humans ; Pelvic Bones ; Rupture* ; Urethra

Twenty isolates of Hantavirus were isolated from patients and reserovirs from 1988 to 1994 in Korea. Isolation rate was 1.9% (10/538) in patients, 6.2% (5/81) in Apodemus sp., 2.6% (1/38) in Rattus sp. and 0.6% (4/677) in bats. Reciprocal mean IFA titers ranged from 27.5 to 1,024 at the specimen collection. According to the growth rate and reaching peak titer of infectivity, the isolates were grouped as rapid, intermediate, and slow growing groups. All isolates were confirmed as Hantaan type by the nested RT-PCR on the Gl region of the M segment. Comparison of nucleotide sequence (Nt: 2101 - Nt: 2280) of the G2 region revealed that the sequence homology between Hantaan 76/118 virus and the isolates was more than 90%. Several nucleotide positions of the isolates showed high variation. The variation rate of patientisolates was about one-half when compared with that of rodentisolates. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis Hantaan viruses isolated were divided into two genogroups. These results indicate that Hantaan virus is highly dominant serotype in Korea and the virologic property and genogroup are not correlated.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Chiroptera ; Genotype ; Hantaan virus* ; Hantavirus ; Humans ; Korea* ; Murinae ; Rats ; Sequence Homology ; Specimen Handling

Augmentation of the body contour by localized injection of hard and soft paraffin rose to a zenith of popularity in the early 1900s, whereafter the severe destructive consequences of such injections became widely recognized. However in Korea, these injections are still performed much by nonmedical person. Paraffin or other mineral oil injection into body is no more a useful method to change body contour. We reviewed 26 cases of sclerosing lipogranuloma of penis with complications in recent 13 years after mean 18.5 months from previous injection of paraffin or vaseline. We conclude that the public should be informed of detrimental effects of paraffin injections and that the best treatment of penile paraffinoma is complete excision and appropriate penoplasty.
Adult ; Aged ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body/*pathology/surgery ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Paraffin/*adverse effects ; Penile Diseases/*pathology/surgery ; Sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Qualitative oculomotor abnormalities have been reported in parkinsonian patients for many years, but conflicting results have been obtained. This study was performed to evaluate the correlation between the severity of the disease and the abnormalities of the ocular movements in idiopathic parkinson's disease. METHODS: We gave the vestibular function tests in patients with idiopathic parkinson's disease and normal controls. Eye movement recordings were made with automated electronystagmography and rotation test was performed. A total of 46 patients (mean age : 61.2+/-6.7) and 24 controls (mean age : 60.5+/-4.3) were studied. The severity of the disease was divided into two groups by modified Hoehn & Yahr staging ; H-Y stage 1 and 2 as a mild group and stage 3 and 4 as a severe group. RESULTS: Saccadic latency and accuracy, pursuitic gain and velocity, vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) suppression by vision were significantly altered in patients, whereas mean velocity of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and VOR gain in darkness were normal. Alteration of saccadic latency and accuracy, pursuitic gain and velocity, VOR suppression by vision were profound in the severe group compared with a mild group and controls, but the above parameters did not differ between a mild group and controls. In a hemiparkinson's group, saccadic latency and accuracy, pursuitic gain, OKN mean velocity and gain was not different between the both sides. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that severe Parkinson's disease damages nigrostriatal or other specific pathways which were involved in the regulation of the saccadic, pursuitic and pursuitic-mediated visual fixation system. In a hemiparkinson's group asymmetric damage of dopaminergic innervation which was involved in the regulation of ocular movements was not found.
Darkness ; Electronystagmography ; Eye Movements ; Humans ; Nystagmus, Optokinetic ; Parkinson Disease* ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Vestibular Function Tests

A survey was conducted by the staff of the College of Medicine and School of Public Health, Seoul National University in cooperation with Seoul Special City from 1 December 1967 through 28 February 1968, on such events as delivery, death, abortion and pregnancy. The survey directed to a total population of 47,811 residing in 9,157 households led us to the following findings: 1. Two year averages of crude birth rate, crude death rate and natural increase rate were 30.1, 5.6 and 24.5, respectively. 2. Of all deliveries, home and hospital deliveries constituted 61.1 per cent and 35.5 per cent, respectively. 3. Deliveries other than hospital deliveries were found to be attended more often by mother-in-laws(26.5 per cent) than by doctors or midwives(23.4 per cent). 4. About 52 per cent of all women having experiences in pregnancy during the last two years had an experience of consulting a doctor at least one time throughout whole period of pregnancy. 5. In most cases scissors were used to cut umbilical cords, of which 71.0 per cent were not sterilized and only 28.3 per cent sterilized. 6. In many cases placenta was incinerated(48,2 per cent) and on many other occasions it was thrown away into water(28.3 per cent). 7. Cement page(37.4 per cent), gauze and absorbent cotton(29.8 per cent)were found to be most frequently used to receive new-born babies. 8. In 1966 8.8 per cent of the women had at least one abortion induced and in 1967 the percentage was 9.2 per cent. 9. Nearly all(95.8 per cent) of the induced abortions reportedly were done at doctor's clinics. 10. Of all the abortions induced 65.3 per cent were done by specialists in obstetrics, 30.3 per cent by general practitioners and 2.7 per cent by midwives. 11. Those who experienced spontaneous abortions were 1.9 per cent of all women both in 1966 and 1967. 12. About 9.2 per cent of women investigated were found to be currently pregnant. 13. Age specific death rate turned out to be highest among those under 1 year of age. 14. Ten major causes of death in their order of frequency were: 15. Places of death can be classified into homes(75.3 per cent) and hospitals(13.2 per cent). 16. Method of disposing of corpses comprised burials(54.2 per cent) and cremations(44.6 per cent). 17. Infant, neonatal and hebdomadal mortality rates have been computed at 32.2, 18.9 and 13.7, respectively. 18. Infants were found to have died either at homes(81.5 per cent) or at hospitals(18.5 per cent). 19. Birth registrations had been done for about 18.5 per cent of the dead infants.
Abortion, Induced ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Birth Rate ; Cadaver ; Cause of Death ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; General Practitioners ; Humans ; Infant ; Midwifery ; Mortality ; Obstetrics ; Parturition* ; Placenta ; Population Growth ; Pregnancy ; Public Health ; Seoul* ; Specialization ; Umbilical Cord

Here we report the case of a 20-year-old female patient previously diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and overt hypothyroidism, and who had been taking synthetic thyroxine (100micro/day) for eight months. She experienced intermittent dizziness and generalized weakness, and was diagnosed as having severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). We prescribed prednisolone treatment and continued synthetic thyroxine administration. Two years and five months later, she developed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and was diagnosed with Evans' syndrome. Thereafter, laparoscopic splenectomy was performed because her autoimmune hemolytic anemia was refractory and dependent on steroid therapy. The HLA genotypes of the patient were HLA-A*020101/A*2602, HLA-B*270502/B*5401, HLA-Cw*0102/Cw*020202, HLA-DRB1*0404/DRB1*0405, and HLA-DQB1*0302/DQ B1*0401. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is often associated with other nonendocrine autoimmune diseases, and antithyroid antibodies are frequently observed in Evans' syndrome (coexistence of AIHA and ITP). However, there is no report of Evans' syndrome developing in patients with overt hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This case suggests that three autoimmune diseases (AIHA, ITP, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis) might share a common immunogenetic pathway in pathogenesis.
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic/blood/*complications ; Humans ; Hashimoto Disease/*complications/radionuclide imaging ; Female ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/blood/*complications ; Adult

Our previous work has identified miR-125b as a negative regulator of melanogenesis. However, the specific melanogenesis-related genes targeted by this miRNA had not been identified. In this study, we established a screening strategy involving three consecutive analytical approaches—analysis of target genes of miR-125b, expression correlation analysis between each target gene and representative pigmentary genes, and functional analysis of candidate genes related to melanogenesis—to discover melanogenesis-related genes targeted by miR-125b. Through these analyses, we identified SRC homology 3 domain-binding protein 4 (SH3BP4) as a novel pigmentation gene. In addition, by combining bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation, we demonstrated that SH3BP4 is a direct target of miR-125b. Finally, we found that SH3BP4 is transcriptionally regulated by microphthalmia-associated transcription factor as its direct target. These findings provide important insights into the roles of miRNAs and their targets in melanogenesis.
Computational Biology ; Mass Screening ; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor ; MicroRNAs ; Pigmentation*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of soft shell technique (SST) to reduce corneal endothelial damage during cataract surgery. METHODS: Cataract surgery was performed in thirty five eyes using SST with Healon and Viscoat , and in thirty five eyes with Healon alone as a control group. The corneal parameters such as corneal thickness, cell density, hexagonality, and the coefficient of variance were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean central corneal thickness in the control group was 533.1 +/- 34.9micrometer before surgery and 549.1 +/- 34.3micrometer at one week after surgery. The difference in corneal thickness was statistically significant (p<0.01). However, in the SST group, the change in corneal thickness before and after surgery was not statistically significant (529.5 +/- 36.3micrometer, 536.0 +/- 36.9micrometer, respectively). There were statistically significant changes in cell density after surgery in both groups. The results for the control group were 2478.5 +/- 319.7/mm2 before surgery and 1861.9 +/- 109.1/mm2 at 3 months after surgery. The result for the SST group were 2571.2 +/- 256.5/mm2 before surgery and 2107.2 +/- 374.1/mm2 at 3 months after surgery. The rate of endothelial cell loss at 3 months after surgery was smaller in the SST group (19%) than in the control group (25%). The coefficient of variance and hexagonality were normalized at one week after surgery in SST group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SST is effective in protecting corneal endothelial cells during cataract surgery, providing better results in the early postoperative period.
Cataract* ; Cell Count ; Endothelial Cells ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Postoperative Period

Interleukin (IL)-6 is an autocrine growth factor for mesangial cells. It is not known whether high glucose influences IL-6 production in mesangial cells. Angiotensin II (AGII) is involved in the progression of renal diseases including diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of high glucose in concert with AGII on IL-6 production in human mesangial cells and the modulation by blocking AGII. After 48 hr of culture, IL-6 mRNA expression was analyzed by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Quantitative determination of IL-6 concentrations in the culture supernatants of mesangial cells was performed using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay kit. Incubation of mesangial cells with high glucose (450 mg/dL) reduced the ratio of PCR products for IL-6 to beta-actin on densitometric results, while AGII (10(-7)M) increased it. The IL-6 secretion in the supernatant was also increased by AGII and decreased by high glucose. The IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 secretion in combination of high glucose and AGII were higher than those in high glucose and similar with those in control media. The addition of losartan (10(-6)M) or captopril (10(-6)M) to high glucose had no additional effects on IL-6 production. These results suggest that whereas AGII increases IL-6 production, high glucose decreases it. The IL-6 production of mesangial cells in diabetic milieu may be complicated and depend on the local effects of high glucose and/or AGII.
Angiotensin II/*pharmacology ; Captopril/pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression/drug effects ; Glomerular Mesangium/cytology/*metabolism ; Glucose/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-6/*biosynthesis/genetics/secretion ; Losartan/pharmacology