No abstract available.
Intussusception*

Premed education in the college of medicine at the Catholic University of Korea aims to promote student creativity and excellence in accordance with the mission of the college: to have a sense of calling, leadership, and competency. The Catholic Medical College premed curriculum includes 75 credits which are composed of 65 credits for required courses and 10 credits for elective courses. It consists of courses in basic science, medical science, liberal arts and humanities (premedical OMNIBUS). It also involves community programs in ‘Vision and Mission,’ ‘Leadership Training,’ and ‘Academic Conference.’ In addition, students are allowed self-directed choice of their courses and learning for one quarter.
Creativity ; Curriculum ; Education ; Education, Premedical ; Humanities ; Humans ; Korea ; Leadership ; Learning

This study examines a systematic and effective approach to career guidance in medical education, with a particular focus on the 6-year integrated career guidance education framework implemented at the College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea. Based on the “New SLICE” educational development principles, this framework comprehensively addresses the needs of medical students in career planning and development. It is structured into three phases: understanding yourself, exploring options, and choosing a specialty. The first phase, understanding yourself, helps students to recognize their strengths, weaknesses, aptitudes, and potentials, thereby setting the direction for future career choices. This phase includes various psychological tests and Self-Development and Portfolio courses. The second phase, exploring options, enables students to engage in related activities such as research and practical training, providing direct and indirect experiences across various fields. This phase offers courses including Medical Field Experience, Career Guidance through the Learning Community & Advisory Professors, and Student Participation in Professor Research Projects. The final phase, choosing a specialty, involves students making decisions based on in-depth self-assessment and exploration of majors, with a capstone project being a significant component. Maximizing the efficiency of career decision-making requires integration between the basic medical curriculum and postgraduate education. Including the period up to residency entrance in the framework is necessary for effective career guidance education.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic features and assess the diagnosticvalue of sonography in the evaluation of children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BetweenOctober 1993, and Febuary 1998, 67 children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura underwent abdominal ultrasonography,which in 13 was used for follow up. Bowel wall thickness and location, pattern of color Doppler signal in thethickened bowel wall, the size and location of enlarged mesenteric lymph node and the presence of ascites wereevaluated. RESULTS: In 42 cases(63%), sonographic findings were positive, and indicated mesentericlymphadenopathy(n=21), small bowel wall thickening(n=20), and ascites(n=17). Thickened bowels were demonstrated atthe ileum in 11 cases, the jejunum in five, the duodenum in one, and combined wall thickening at the duodenum andjejunum in two ; thickening of the duodenum and ileum was seen in one case. Thickness varied from 3 to 10mm(mean :6.5 mm). On follow-up sonography, regression of bowel wall thickening was observed earlier than that of mesentericlymphadenopathy or ascites, and correlated well with improved abdominal symptoms. CONCLUSION: Abdominalultrasonographic manifestations of Henoch-Schonlein purpura were bowel wall thickening, mesenteric lymphadenopathyand ascites. Sonography was a simple and useful method for the evaluation of gastrointestinal manifestation ofHenoch-Schonlein purpura.
Ascites ; Child ; Duodenum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileum ; Jejunum ; Lymph Nodes ; Purpura ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch* ; Ultrasonography

Juvenile dermatomyositis is an uncommon autoimmune disease with classic heliotrope discoloration of eyelids, erythematous skin rash of joints and proximal muscle weakness. Quite different from adults, malignancy is rarely accompanied in juvenile dermatomyositis. However vasculitis, muscle atrophy, calcification and gastrointestinal involvement are often observed in juvenile dermatomyositis. A six year old boy was admitted with chief complaints of general weakness and skin rash. Muscle biopsy was performed which was consistent with dermatomyositis. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, steroid, methotrexate and physiotherapy. We report a case of juvenile dermatomyositis.
Adult ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Biopsy ; Dermatomyositis* ; Exanthema ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Joints ; Male ; Methotrexate ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscular Atrophy ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: It is well known that renal TGFbeta expression is related to the development of diabetic nephropathy. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a potent antioxidant and cofactor of mitochondrial respiratory enzymes, can improve the insulin resistance and the vascular endothelial dysfunction, and suppresses the development of diabetic vascular complications. This study was undertaken to investigate whether ALA could reduce urinary protein excretion and renal TGFbeta protein expression in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus animal model, Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat. METHODS: Obese 30 male OLETF rats were randomly divided to 3 groups at the age of 30 weeks. The rats in the Control group fed normal rat chow while the rats in the ALA group were fed with rat chow containing ALA (0.5% of food weight). Ten rats in the Pair-fed group were fed with normal rat chow, but were given the same amount of food as consumed by the ALA group. During 5 weeks of ALA feeding, food intake and body weight were checked in metabolic chamber. Blood glucose levels, HbA1c and urinary protein excretion were measured at 30 weeks and 35 weeks of age, and renal TGFbeta protein expression at 35 weeks of age was measured by Western blot and represented by relative unit (RU). Immunohistochemical staining for TGFbeta protein in renal tissue was also examined at 35 weeks of age. RESULTS: Food intake, body weight, blood glucose levels, HbA1c and urinary protein excretion among the Control, ALA and Pair-fed groups at 30 weeks of age were not different. At 35 weeks of age, food intake was significantly decreased in the ALA group than the Control group (Control group vs. ALA group, 27.7 +/- 1.1 g/day vs. 22.4 +/- 1.4 g/day, P < 0.001), and body weight was significantly decreased in the ALA group than the Control and Pair-fed groups (Control group: 694.4 +/- 10.3 g, ALA group: 600.4 +/- 7.4 g, Pair-fed group: 685.4 +/- 11.6 g, P < 0.001). Blood glucose levels were significantly decreased in the ALA group than the Control and Pair-fed groups (Control group: 157.7 +/- 4.6 mg/dL, ALA group: 130.7 +/- 4.8 mg/dL, Pair-fed group: 153.7 +/- 3.3 mg/dL, P < 0.001) although blood glucose levels from 30 weeks to 34 weeks of age and HbA1c at 35 weeks of age were not different among the groups. Urinary protein excretion and renal TGFbeta protein expression were significantly decreased in the ALA group than the Control and Pair-fed groups (urinary protein excretion, Control group: 5.033 +/- 0.254 mg/mgCr, ALA group: 3.633 +/- 0.303 mg/mgCr, Pair-fed group: 4.977 +/- 0.339 mg/mgCr, P < 0.001; renal TGFbeta protein expression, Control group: 7.09 +/- 0.17 RU, ALA group: 4.14 +/- 0.26 RU, Pair-fed group: 7.00 +/- 0.29 RU, P < 0.001). In the ALA group at 35 weeks of age, urinary protein excretion and renal TGFbeta protein expression were positively related in the Control, ALA and Pair-fed groups (Control group, r = 0.847, P = 0.002; ALA group, r = 0.954, P < 0.001; Pair-fed group, r = 0.858, P = 0.002). TGFbeta staining in glomeruli was observed in all groups but was decreased in the ALA group at 35 weeks of age. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ALA may prevent the increase of food intake, body weight, blood glucose, urinary protein excretion and renal TGFbeta protein expression in obese type 2 diabetic rat model. The effect of ALA on diabetic nephropathy presented as proteinuria and renal TGFbeta expression in diabetic patients needs to be further clarified.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Eating ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Proteinuria ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF ; Thioctic Acid ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by degeneration of motor nerves in the absence of sensory abnormalities. Recently, mutations in the small heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) gene were found to cause dHMN type II or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2F (CMT2F). The authors studied 151 Korean axonal CMT or dHMN families, and found a large Korean dHMN type II family with the Ser135Phe mutation in HSP27. This mutation was inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, and was well associated with familial members with the dHMN phenotype. This mutation site is located in the ?-crystallin domain and is highly conserved between different species. The frequency of this HSP27 mutation in Koreans was 0.6%. Magnetic resonance imaging analysis revealed that fatty infiltrations tended to progressively extend distal to proximal muscles in lower extremities. In addition, fatty infiltrations in thigh muscles progressed to affect posterior and anterior compartments but to lesser extents in medial compartment, which differs from CMT1A patients presenting with severe involvements of posterior and medial compartments but less involvement of anterior compartment. The authors describe the clinical and neuroimaging findings of the first Korean dHMN patients with the HSP27 Ser135Phe mutation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the neuroimaging findings of dHMN type II.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/*genetics/physiopathology/radionuclide imaging ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; *Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*genetics ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscular Atrophy/physiopathology/radionuclide imaging ; *Mutation, Missense ; Neural Conduction/genetics ; Pedigree ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/*genetics ; alpha-Crystallins/genetics

BACKGROUND: Inferior myocardial infarctions account for 40-50% of all acute myocardial infarctions and are generally viewed as having a more favorable prognosis than anterior wall infarctions. However, nearly 50% of patients suffering inferior infarction will have complications such as heart block, concomitant precordial ST-segment depression and right ventricular infarction or distinguishing features associated with an increased mortality that will substantially alter an otherwise favorable prognosis. METHODS: Clinical characteristics, electrocardiograms, and angiographic findings of coronary artery were viewed in 47 patients with inferior myocardial infarction. Significant ST-segment change was defined as > or =0.1mV horizontal or down sloping depression in acute inferior myocardial infarction patients with ST-segment elevation on leads II, III, aVF measured with reference to the TP segment, 80ms after J point. A group=no precordial ST-segment depression. B group=sum of ST-segment depression in leads V1 to V3 equal to or more than the sum of ST-segment depression in leads V4 to V6. C group=maximal precordial ST-segment depression in leads V4 to V6. RESULTS: 1) Incidence of multi-vessel disease in group A and in group B were 23% and 22%, respectively, compared with 60% for those of group C(p<0.05). 2) Incidence of Killip class III and IV rates in patients with group A and B were 8% and 12%, respectivly, compared with 47% for those patients with group C(p<0.05). 3) No significant difference of sex, age, peak CK level were found among three groups(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction with the maximal ST-segment depression in leads V4 to V6 would be at high risk for congestive heart failure and multi-vessel disease.
Coronary Vessels ; Depression* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Block ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction* ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: Reciprocal ST-segment depression in precordial leads is a common finding in acute inferior myocardial infarction. The responsible mechanism and the significance of this finding, however, are still controversial. METHODS: From January 1991 to December 1994, 38 patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction were treated at the Department of Internal Medicine in Kyung Hee University Hospital. Clinical characteristics, serial electrocardiograms, and angiographic findings of coronary artery and left ventriculography, echocardiography were reviewed. Reciprocal ST-segment depression was defined as ST-segment depression>or=1.0mm in two or more adjacent precordial leads(V1-V3) in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction showing ST-segment elevation in II, III, aVF. Coronary angiography and echocardiography were performed within 24 hours from admission. In this study, angiographic distribution score was used to define the perfusion territory causing inferior ischemia. RESULTS: 1) The summation of ST-segment elevation in II, III, aVF leads was significantly more higher in group H than group A (P<0.05). 2) However, the angiographic distribution score, peak CK levels, in-hospital complications and ejection fraction showed no difference between two groups (P>0.05). 3) There were no evidence of anterior wall motion abnormality in two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the S'I'- segment depression on the precordial leads in acute myocardial infarction can be explained mainly by benign reciprocal electrical change.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Depression* ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction* ; Internal Medicine ; Ischemia ; Myocardial Infarction ; Perfusion

Malignant salivary gland tumors only represent 0.08% of all childhood tumors and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common histologic type. Although there are many reports describing second malignant neoplasm (SMN) in patients treated for childhood cancer, salivary gland tumors rarely appears. In Korea, there has been no report about MEC that developed in children as a SMN. We report a MEC in a 4 years and 8 months old female child that developed after completing treatment for yolk sac tumor of lower abdomen. The primary tumor presented with metastasis at the time of diagnosis, and therefore, the child underwent high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation along with surgery and radiotherapy. Three years and five months after completing treatment, MEC developed in her submandibular gland. She was treated with surgery and radiotherapy and is in disease free state for 5 months at the time of this writing.
Abdomen ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Radiotherapy ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; Salivary Glands ; Submandibular Gland ; Writing