No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The aims of present study were to document the incidence of cytomegalovirus infection in neonatal and infantile periods especially in high-risk patients of associated infection by nested PCR of DNA from leukocytes and to evaluate the effectiveness of nested PCR in the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus infection. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes of 204 neonates and infants during the period from June 1994 to March 1995, and nested PCR was performed. The cases were divided into six groups according to clinical profiles; Group IA-healthy fullterm babies, group IB-fullterm babies with suspected or definite perinatal infection, group IIA-healthy preterm babies, group IIB-preterm babies with suspected or definite perinatal infection, group III-infants with clinical features of viral infection and abnormal liver function tests, group IV-IgM seropositive babies with clinical evidence of cytomegalovirus infection. RESULTS: In group IA(n=70), 2 cases were positive for PCR amplification (2.9%). All of the cases in group IB(n=64), group IIA(n=15), and group IIB(n=20) were negative for cytomegalovirus infection. Only one case(3.3%) among group III(n=30) showed positive reaction, while all of the five cases(100%) in group IV(n=5) were positive. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in our analysis were 1.2% (2/169), and it was similar to that of western countries. Nested PCR was proved to be a both sensitive and specific diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection and it seems to be useful in the screening of congenital cytomegaloviral infection in the newborn period. Future analysis of samples including non-blood origin from adult women and newborns will be helpful in the epidemiologic analysis of cytomegalovius infection in this period.
Adult ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukocytes ; Liver Function Tests ; Mass Screening ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

Myofibroma and myofibromaiosis are uncommon, benign, mostly self-limiting, probably hamartomatous proliferation of myofibroblasts. These tumors are most often present at birth or before the age of 2 years with multiple ot solitary lesion. Adult cases are rare and most,ly showed as a solitary lesion. We present a case of solitary myofibroma that developed on the vertex of scalp in a 51-year-old man. The lesion was a mild tender and intermittent pruritic firm, pedunclated 1 1cm sized tumor. The iumor was diagnosed as myofibroma by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry.
Adult* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy ; Middle Aged ; Myofibroblasts ; Myofibroma* ; Parturition ; Scalp

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sometimes, the endoscopic stent insertion may be done without fluoroscopic guidance. This study was performed to evaluate the difference in success rate of endoscopic stent insertion with or without fluroscopic guidance. A total of hundred and sixty three patients with upper gastrointestinal obstruction were included. METHODS: The group I comprised 82 patients in which the stent insertion was done without fluoroscopy. The group II included 81 patients in which stent was inserted under the fluoroscopy. RESULTS: The locations of obstruction are at esophagus and cardia (group I /group II, 44/40 patients), at pylorus and duodenum (15/34 patients) and at post-operative stenosis of gastro-jejunal anastomosis (23/7 patients). The statistical difference of success rate were not found between the two groups [79/82 (96.3%) in group I, 80/81 (98.2%) in group II, p=0.620]. Among group I, three patients (3.7%) were failed due to incomplete guidewire insertion. These patients were the two cases of jejunal stenosis of esophago-jejunal anastomosis and one case of duodenal obstruction with carcinomatosis peritonei. However, in these cases, the stents were successfully inserted under the fluoroscopic guidance. CONCLUSION: The success rate of the endoscopic stent insertion with or without the fluoroscopic guidance is not different. But in cases of inaccurate guidewire insertion, especially in patients with pyloric obstruction, the endoscopic stent insertion under the fluoroscopic guidance may be more safe and successful.

Disposal of a homicide victim by dismemberment is rare, but individual cases are on record in most major medicolegal departments. Recognition of postmortem mutilation may be of importance in the interpretation of certain murders committed by sexual perverts and other mentally deranged individuals and sometimes performed for the sole reason of easier disposal of the body. Postmortem dismemberment is usually readily recognizable as such; The edges of the injuries are dry and lack evidence of bleeding. The joints may be disarticulated without fracture, or the use of an axe or saw may be evident from examination of bones. Parallel horizontal or oblique furrows in the bone surface are caused by skipping of the saw prior to establishing depth. Such patterns on the bone may assist in identifying the particular saw involved. So we report 25 dismembered corpses that autopsied in National Institute of Scientific Investigation. This paper can help in attempting to establish not only the first criminal investigation steps but also the medicolegal approach methods in unidentified and dismembered deaths.
Autopsy ; Cadaver* ; Criminals ; Hemorrhage ; Homicide ; Humans ; Joints

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, especially toenail onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection and has historically been regarded as a cosmetic rather than medical problem by many patients, even by physicians. Recently, however, there are several reports that this is a refractory disease which may cause a deleterious effect on patients' quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of toenail onychomycosis on QOL in Korea and to assess the changes of QOL after treatment. METHODS: Total 1004 patients with toenail onychomycosis which was confirmed by clinical findings and KOH preparation were enrolled at 47 dermatologic centers in Korea, and interviewed with standardized QOL questionnaire before and after systemic antifungal treatment. Responses to the questionnaire were scored by f-point scale (0~4) and averaged, and were analyzed for 5 dimensions of emotional impact, social impact, symptom and functional impact, patients' views concerning treatment, and relationship with doctor. RESULTS: 1. Before and after treatment, the most serious impact was emotional dimension showing 1.90 and 1.30 in average score (AS), and social (AS: 1.14 and 0.83) and symptom and functional impact (AS: 1.05 and 0.92) was also affected. 2. In female rather than male, statistically more significant impact on patients' QOL was observed in all dimensions. 3. After treatment, 3 of 5 dimensions were improved significantly - emotional dimension (AS: from 1.90 to 1.30), social dimension (AS: from 1.14 to 0.83), patients' view concerning treatment(AS: from 1.34 to 1.02) 4. The degree of patients' satisfaction at the therapeutic effect was very high - 62.4% (immediately after. treatment) and 65.8% (9 months after initiation of treatment) of patients answered excellent or good. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that toenail onychomycosis has significant Impact on the overall QOL of patients. Also the effect of antifungal therapy on patients' QOL were satisfactory. Therefore, both doctor and patient should pay more attention to the treatment of onychomycosis.
Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Quality of Life* ; Social Change ; Surveys and Questionnaires