Unilateral absence of the articular process at a lumbar vertebra is a rare anomaly. The etiology of the congenital absence of articular process is not precisely determined yet, but it was explained as some of the possible embryologic bases. Absence of the articular process at the level of L5-Sl have been reported a few, but anomaly above L4 is rare. We are reporting a case of absence of articular process at the level of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
Spine

PURPOSE: Recently, the clinical performance examination (CPX) using standardized patients has been introduced to several Korean medical schools. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the correlation of CPX scores with the scores of other clinical clerkship assessments and written examinations. METHODS: We evaluated the correlation of the scores of CPX, which was administered to third-year medical students (n=230) at Seoul National University College of Medicine in January 2005, with the scores of a slide examination in internal medicine, an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology, and the written examinations in internal medicine and general surgery. RESULTS: CPX scores showed a mild correlation with the scores of the slide examination in internal medicine and OSCE in pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology (r=0.19, 0.28, 0.30). CPX scores were also mildly correlated with written examination scores in internal medicine but not associated with those in general surgery. CONCLUSION: Considering the mild correlation of CPX scores with scores of other clinical clerkship assessments and written examinations, CPX should be affirmatively considered as an examination complementary to previous examinations.
Clinical Clerkship* ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Pediatrics ; Schools, Medical ; Seoul ; Students, Medical

OBJECTIVES: Vaginal birth or trial of labor after previous cesarean section has become one of the most remarkable changes in obstetric practice. The safety and efficacy of a trial of labor and vaginal birth after previous cesarean are well documented. The purpose of this report is to predict the likelihood of vaginal birth in patients undergoing a trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery using factors known at the time of hospital admission. METHOD: In this retrospective study, 120 women who attempted vaginal birth at Kyung-Hee University Hospital from March 1997 to March 1999. An attempt to identify possible prognostic factors for success of such a trial was made and we evaluated the variables of significant predictive value and the patients' characteristics in the success group and failure group of women who attempted VBAC. RESULT: 87 cases(72.5%) in 120 cases succeeded in VBAC and 33 cases(27.5%) failed. In this comparative groups in VBAC, there was significant difference in CPD index(cephalopelvic disproportion index) and Bishop score, but no significant difference in gestational age, the estimated fetal weight by sonography and newborn birth weight. CONCLUSION: In this study, Bishop score and CPD index and age may be useful and valid predictor of success in VBAC and this information could be particularly valuable. The CPD index may prove most important in determining if a vaginal birth should occur after a cesarean section because it can clearly identify some patients who need a repeat cesarean section.
Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Cesarean Section, Repeat ; Female ; Fetal Weight ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Trial of Labor ; Vaginal Birth after Cesarean*

The combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. Anti-viral therapy is commonly associated with side effects such as headache, fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. However, anti-viral therapy can continue because these side effects are mostly mild and can be improved with supportive management. Anti-viral therapy should be stopped promptly if serious side effects, such as interstitial pneumonitis or hemolytic anemia occur, although those serious side effects are rare. There were a few case reports of interferon-related interstitial pneumonitis worldwide. In Korea, one atypical case report of interstitial pneumonitis has been reported, which followed the combination therapy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. We present a case of interstitial pneumonitis and pancytopenia following the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Arthralgia ; Fever ; Headache ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons ; Korea ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Pancytopenia ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recombinant Proteins ; Ribavirin

The combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. Anti-viral therapy is commonly associated with side effects such as headache, fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. However, anti-viral therapy can continue because these side effects are mostly mild and can be improved with supportive management. Anti-viral therapy should be stopped promptly if serious side effects, such as interstitial pneumonitis or hemolytic anemia occur, although those serious side effects are rare. There were a few case reports of interferon-related interstitial pneumonitis worldwide. In Korea, one atypical case report of interstitial pneumonitis has been reported, which followed the combination therapy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. We present a case of interstitial pneumonitis and pancytopenia following the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Arthralgia ; Fever ; Headache ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons ; Korea ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Pancytopenia ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recombinant Proteins ; Ribavirin

Granular cell tumor (GCT) may occur in any site of the body. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is uncommon. The esophagus is the gastrointestinal site most frequently affected, and occurrence of granular cell tumor in the stomach is extremely rare. We recently experienced a case of granular cell tumor in the stomach, presenting as a submucosal tumor, confirmed by endoscopic mucosal resection. So we report this case with review of the related literature.
Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Stomach*

We investigated whether β-carotene (β-CA) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of β-CA or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at 43℃ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and HIF-1α mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by β-CA treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that β-CA, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.
Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Baths ; beta Carotene ; Caspase 3 ; Ellagic Acid ; Fever ; Fruit ; Germ Cells ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Infertility, Male ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxidoreductases ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Testis ; Testosterone ; Vegetables ; Water ; Weight Loss

We investigated whether β-carotene (β-CA) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of β-CA or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at 43℃ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and HIF-1α mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by β-CA treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that β-CA, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.

Adenocarcinoma is the most common malignant gastric neoplasm, contrary to a gastric carcinoid which is relatively uncommon. The occurrence of an adenocarcinoma and a typical carcinoid tumor is rare and are morphologically classified into two subgroups. The first type is a composite- type tumor, which is characterized as a randomly assorted adenocarcinoma and a typical carcinoid tumor. The second type is a collision-type tumor, which is a double tumor with a "side by side" or "overlay" pattern. To the best of our knowledge, only 2 cases of the collision type tumors have been reported in the Korean literature. We have encountered a collision tumor which occurred in the antrum of the stomach and which invaded the regional lymph nodes by means of a highly malignant gastric carcinoid. The following report is a description of the collision tumor case as well as a literature review.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Lymph Nodes ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of standardized patients'(SP) rating according to the order of examinees in clinical performance examination. METHODS: In the clinical performance examination which was administered in 2005 at Seoul National University College of Medicine, each SP evaluated 16 students consecutively. For all 16 SPs(2 SPs per station), accuracy of rating was evaluated by comparing the individual records of each SP to the 'recording keys' made by two SPs from reviewing a video recording of performances by examinees. RESULTS: The average number of items incorrectly rated by SP was 3.8(range, 0~12), 2.8 in female SPs and 4.8 in male SPs(p<0.001). No statistical correlation was observed between the number of errors and the order of examinees(p=0.843). Even after stratification by gender or age of the SPs or domains of examination, the number of items incorrectly rated did not differ significantly according to the order of examinees. CONCLUSION: An increase in SP's rating error with time after the start of examinations was not observed within the 16 consecutive encounters in clinical performance examination. The effect of SP's fatigue on the accuracy of simulation as an examination progresses remains to be studied.
Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Seoul ; Video Recording