Proper education about dermatology in medical college would have physicians appropriately diagnose and treat common dermatoses without referring patients to dermatologists. However, physicians who are not dermatologists have difficulty in diagnosing and treating common dermatoses. We have made up a questionnaire about treatment and a slide test for clinical diagnosis of common dermatoses in order to evaluate the knowledge of physicians about common dermatoses, which reflects indirectly the current status of medical education of dermatology in Korea and can be used as a basic data for modifying directions for education in medical college. Total 654 physicians answered the questionnaire, including 125 just graduated general physicians, 111 general physicians who had just finished internship and 418 medical specialists. 11 data from dermatologists were analyzed as a control for evaluation. The result showed that 84%(545) of them have difficulty in diagnosing dermatologic diseases. The probable causes answered by them are lack of easy illustrative textbook for general physician(48%), inadequate education of dermatology in their medical colleges(27%) and so on. In the field of therapy in the questionnaire, only 53% of them had proper knowledge about indication of topical steroids, 56% about acne therapy, 22% about treatment of tinea pedis, 35% about scabies and 41% about urticaria. The average score was 53%. The score of family medicine group and urologist group was 69% and 66% each, which were significantly higher than that of other major groups except 98% of dermatologist group. In the slide test for clinical diagnosis, the average score was 71%. The score of family medicine group which had received postgraduate education on dermatology in their resident training was 84%, also significantly higher than that of other major groups except 100% of dermatologist group. The percentage of correct responders about tinea faciei is only 13%, tinea versicolor 42%, tinea cruris 49%, impetigo 53%, pityriasis rosea 60%, atopic dermatitis 67%, psoriasis 72% and fixed drug eruption 74%, etc. The average score was 71%. In conclusion, this study showed that physicians who are not dermatologists have difficulty in diagnosing and treating even common dermatoses. We think it is important to put stress on the common dermatoses in the field of dermatologic education in medical college. Moreover we could find the importance and need of postgraduate education on dermatology in the resident training of primary care physicians such as not only family medicine doctors but also internists and pediatricians.
Acne Vulgaris ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Drug Eruptions ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Impetigo ; Internship and Residency ; Korea ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Pityriasis Rosea ; Psoriasis ; Scabies ; Skin Diseases* ; Specialization ; Steroids ; Tinea ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea Versicolor ; Urticaria ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A retrospective analysis was performed on the 968 cases of fetal or pediatric autopsies over five year period (1990-1994), at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Age/mode distribution of cases were artificial abortus(30.6%), spontaneous abortus(12.0%), stillbirth(21.9%), neonates(29%), infants(2.8%) and children(0.9%). Male/female ratio was 1.21. Overall incidence of congenital anomalies was 60.8% and 34.0% of all cases had anomalies involving multiple organ systems. Percentage of cases with any anomaly was 71.6% in artificial abortus, 35.3% in spontaneous abortus, 59% in still births, 65.5% in neonates and 38.9% in infant and children. Common organ systems involved were the cardiovascular system (39.0%), musculoskeletal system (23.6%), nervous system (22.6%), gastrointestinal system (19.9%), and urinary system (14.6%). From these results, we found that the congenital anomalies were most significant diseases of the perinatal period and the cardiovascular anomalies were the most common anomalies of them.
Autopsy* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Child ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Musculoskeletal System ; Nervous System ; Parturition ; Perinatal Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul*

A retrospective analysis was performed on the 968 cases of fetal or pediatric autopsies over five year period (1990-1994), at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Age/mode distribution of cases were artificial abortus(30.6%), spontaneous abortus(12.0%), stillbirth(21.9%), neonates(29%), infants(2.8%) and children(0.9%). Male/female ratio was 1.21. Overall incidence of congenital anomalies was 60.8% and 34.0% of all cases had anomalies involving multiple organ systems. Percentage of cases with any anomaly was 71.6% in artificial abortus, 35.3% in spontaneous abortus, 59% in still births, 65.5% in neonates and 38.9% in infant and children. Common organ systems involved were the cardiovascular system (39.0%), musculoskeletal system (23.6%), nervous system (22.6%), gastrointestinal system (19.9%), and urinary system (14.6%). From these results, we found that the congenital anomalies were most significant diseases of the perinatal period and the cardiovascular anomalies were the most common anomalies of them.
Autopsy* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Child ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Musculoskeletal System ; Nervous System ; Parturition ; Perinatal Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Laser induced prostatectomy(LIP) has recently been considered as safe alternative to conventional transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP) in the surgical treatment of BPH. However, the value of LIP remains incompletely defined. We herein have performed a prospective study to compare TURP and LIP in treatment efficacy, safety and costs to define the value of LIP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 113 patients with BPH who were candidates of TURP were randomized to undergo TURP or LIP and were adequately followed up for more than 1 year. There were no significant differences in preoperative clinical characteristics between 55 patients who underwent TURP and 58 patients who underwent LIP. For the LIP procedure, Nd:YAG was used in 42 patients and diode laser in 16 patients, respectively. 37 patients were treated by contact LIP only, and 21 with hybrid procedures of contact LIP and noncontact LIP using side firing laser fiber or interstitial laser fiber. Seven patients underwent LIP under local anesthesia at the outpatient department. RESULTS: International prostate symptom score(IPSS) and peak urinary flow rate(Qmax) were significantly improved at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after LIP as well as after TURP. There were no significant difference between TURP group(85.4%) and LIP group(87.9%) in treatment success rate as defined by improvement of IPSS and Qmax as well as patient's content for the surgical outcome. Nine(16.4%) and two(3.6%) of the patients who underwent TURP and none of the patients who LIP underwent developed ignificant bleeding and electrolyte imbalance, respectively. There were no significant difference in postoperative incidence of retrograde ejaculation, infection and urethral stricture between the two groups. Compared to TURP, the LIP procedure required significantly shorter hospitalization(6.8 vs 4.5 days) and catheterization(4.1 vs 2.6 days, all p<0.0l). There was no significant difference in total treatment cost between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: LIP may be comparable to TURP in terms of short term treatment efficacy and cost effectiveness. LIP may be better than TURP in terms of safety and shortened hospitalization and catheterization. Further studies are necessary on long-term outcomes of LIP."
Anesthesia, Local ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Ejaculation ; Fires ; Health Care Costs ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Lip ; Male ; Outpatients ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethral Stricture

No abstract available.
Humans ; Male*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We had previously demonstrated by immunohistochemical study (IHS) that nm23-H1 gene may play an important role in disease prognosis as well as its participation in metastasis of urothelial cancer. The purpose of present study was 1) to reexamine the role of nm23-H1 gene in urothelial cancers at molecular level, 2) to identify the molecular mechanism of decreased immunoreactivity for nm23-H1 protein in metastatic urothelial cancers, and 3) to identify whether IHS is reliable in studying the expression of nm23-H1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied expression level and mutation profiles of nm23-H1 gene in 25 fresh surgical specimens of urothelial cancer by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)-Southern blotting analysis, and PCR of genomic DNA followed by single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analysis. The results of RT-PCR-Southern blotting were comparatively analyzed with those of IHS. RESULTS: mRNA transcript levels of nm23-H1 gene were significantly decreased in tumor tissues with metastasis as compared with those without metastasis. The transcript levels of nm23-H1 gene were also significantly decreased in metastatic tumor tissues as compared with primary tumor tissues. Point mutation of nm23-H1 gene was detected in only 1 of 13 urothelial cancer tissues with metastasis, whereas, mutation was observed in none of those without metastasis. The results of IHS corresponded with those of RT-PCR-Southern blotting analysis in 23 of 25 specimens. CONCLUSIONS: The nm23-H1 gene may play an important role in metastasis of urothelial cancer. Decreased transcription at mRNA level may be a major molecular mechanism of loss of immunoreactivity for nm23-H1 protein in urothelial cancer. IHS used in the present study may be a clinically useful method to study the expression of nm23-H1 and to predict metastasis potential and prognosis of urothelial cancers.
DNA ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Urologic Neoplasms*

Alpasia cutis congenita is an anomaly characterized by absence of localized areas of the integument. The most common type of aplasia cutis congenita is Aplasia cutis congenita limited to the scalp, although other areas of the body may also be involved. We experienced a case of aplasia cutis congenita in a male newborn infant. The skin defects were extensive with symmetrical involvement of lower extremities. The multiple bullae were found on the both fingers and toes. No similar conditions and other associated congeital anomalies were found in the family membes of this particular case. The light microscopic examinaton of the denuded skin areas how absence of epidemis and the demis contain atrophic and hypoplastic adnexa. The bullae have a split within the dermis below lamina densa on electron microscopy. The skin defects were healed by supportive therapy for 4weeks.
Dermis ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Fingers ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Scalp ; Skin ; Toes

PURPOSE: The ictal perfusion patterns of cerebellum and basal ganglia have not been systematically investigated in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Their ictal perfusion patterns were analyzed in relation with temporal lobe and frontal lobe hyperperfusion during TLE seizures using SPECT subtraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three TLE patients had interictal and ictal SPECT, video-EEG monitoring, SPGR MRI, and SPECT subtraction with MRI co-registration. RESULTS: The vermian cerebellar hyperperfusion (CH) was observed in 26 patients (78.8%) and hemispheric CH in 25 (75.8%). Compared to the side of epileptogenic temporal lobe, there were seven ipsilateral hemispheric CH (28.0%), fifteen contralateral hemispheric CH (60.0%) and three bilateral hemispheric CH (12.0%). CH was more frequently observed in patients with additional frontal hyperperfusion (14/15, 93.3%) than in patients without frontal hyperperfusion (11/18, 61.1%). The basal ganglia hyperperfusion (BGH) was seen in 11 of the 15 patients with frontotemporal hyperperfusion (73.3%) and 11 of the 18 with temporal hyperperfusion only (61.1%). In 17 patients with unilateral BGH, contralateral CH to the BGH was observed in 14 (82.5%) and ipsilateral CH to BGH in 2 (11.8%) and bilateral CH in 1 (5.9%). CONCLUSION: The cerebellar hyperperfusion and basal ganglia hyperperfusion during seizures of TLE can be contralateral, ipsilateral or bilateral to the seizure focus. The presence of additional frontal or basal ganglia hyperperfusion was more frequently associated with contralateral hemispheric CH to their sides. However, temporal lobe hyperperfusion appears to be related with both ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheric CH.
Basal Ganglia* ; Cerebellum* ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Perfusion ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Insulinoma is a rare tumor, occurring more often in women and in the older age range. Eighty percent of patients have a single benign tumor, usually 2 cm in diameter, located with about equal frequency in body, head or tail of pancreas and amenable to surgical cure. About 10% have multiple tumors. The remaining 10% of patients have metastatic malignant insulinoma. The symptom of insulinoma is characterized by the periodic attack of hypoglycemia of blood sugar level below 50mg%, by fasting or exertion, and rapid relief of symptom by oral or intravenous administration of glucose. Symptom often lead to misdiagnosis as a neurologic or psychiatric disorder. A case described by authors was 44-year old female with the chief complaints of the loss of consciousness, epileptic seizure although she has been treated by anticonvulsants. Serum blood sugar and insulin level during fasting suggested insulinoma but abdominal computed tomography shows no definitive mass in pancreas. Celiac angiography revealed insulinoma. She transferred to the department of General Surgery and was performed enucleation. Microscopic findings shows the islet cell tumor of pancreas. A brief review of the literature was made.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Administration, Intravenous ; Angiography ; Anticonvulsants ; Blood Glucose ; Diagnostic Errors ; Epilepsy ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Head ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulinoma* ; Pancreas ; Tail ; Unconsciousness

PURPOSE: Proliferation of bile duct-like structures and fibrosis is a hepatic cellular reaction observed in most forms of human liver disease and in a variety of experimental conditions associated with liver injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the activation of Ito cells and bile duct proliferation in the rat after common bile duct ligation (CBDL). METHODS: Hepatic morphological abnormalities were examined in rats whose bile ducts had been irreversibly ligated for 15, 21, 24 and 28 days. The liver was examined by immunohistochemical staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin, the known marker of activated Ito cells, and light and electron microscopes. RESULTS: After CBDL, the bile canalicular proliferation and interstitial fibrosis were gradually increased in the periportal areas extended to hepatic sinusoids. Ito cells positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin were frequently observed in the periductular space and in perisinusoidal space of Disse. Ito cells and myofibroblasts were gradually increased in the interstitial fibrosis until the 28th day after CBDL. Ito cells and myofibroblasts had microfilaments with dense body at the periphery of the cell. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Ito cells may be fibroblastic or myogenic. It has also been postulated that during the development of hepatic fibrosis, Ito cells become myofibroblasts or fibroblast like cells.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Actins ; Animals ; Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Common Bile Duct* ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Myofibroblasts ; Rats*