BACKGROUND: This study proposed a desirable direction for the future development of the Korean Journal of Family Medicine (KJFM) by comparing with the overseas SCI journals, Family Medicine (FM) and The Journal of Family Practice (JFP) based on the statistical viewpoints. METHODS: All of the original articles published in KJFM from January 1981 to June 2011, FM from January 1998 to June 2011, and JFP from January 1978 to June 2011, were reviewed and compared in terms of content, data size, research design, and statistical method. RESULTS: Of 3,226 total original articles, KJFM published 1,549, FM 322, and JFP 1,355, respectively. Both JFP and KJFM mainly focused on biomedical topics (67.2% and 61.7%), while FM focused on education (55.9%). Most of the studies in three journals used the data size of between 100 to 300 cases. The most frequently used research design was cross-sectional, FM 66.8%, JFP 58.4%, and KJFM 72.4%, respectively. The statistical methods in KJFM were gradually diversified. CONCLUSION: The quality of the original articles in KJFM has been improved over the years, but still has conducted based on the relatively weak research designs. Under the circumstances that the higher ranked SCI journals demand the prospective design and large size of data, and most researchers in Korea could not use the large scaled prospective data, we need to collaborate to accumulate the small sized data sets and try to make a registry. More refined statistical method such as a propensity score matching analysis for retrospective data could be an alternative.
Family Practice ; Humans ; Korea ; Propensity Score ; Research Design

No abstract available.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing* ; Immunization* ; Mice*

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical and pathologic features of each type of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,which is divided into three types according to gross appearance, and to determine the efficacy of CT in detectingthis tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pathologic and CT features of 53 surgically proven cases of intrahepaticcholangio-carcinoma were reviewed. On the basis of their gross appearance, the tumors were divided into threetypes, as follows: mass forming (n=33), periductal infiltrating (n=6), and intraductal growth type (n=14). CTscans were analyzed for sensitivity of detection and correlation between a tumors appearance and itshistopathology. RESULTS: The most common histopathologic feature of mass forming and periductal infiltrating typewas tubu-lar adenocarcinoma, while in the intraductal growth type, papillary adenocarcinoma (100%) was common.With regard to pattern of tumor spread, intrahepatic and lymph node metastasis were more common in the massforming and periductal infiltrating type than in the intraductal growth type. CT findings including intra-hepaticmass, ductal wall thickening or intraductal mass associated with segmental dilatation of intrahepataic bile ducts,corresponded with these morphologic types. CONCLUSION: This classification according to gross appearance is ofconsiderable value when interpreting the pathologic features of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. CT seems to be auseful modality for the detection of tumors and may be consistent with their gross morphologic findings.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; Bile ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Classification ; Dilatation ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: To describe the CT and ERCP findings of mass-forming chronic pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and ERCP features were assessed in 13 patients suffering from mass-forming chronic pancreatitis. Diagnosis was on the basis of surgery (n=5), percutaneous needle biopsy (n=3), and clinical follow-up (n=5). Contrast-enhanced CT was available for all patients: five underwent dynamic study and ERCP was performed in 12. On CT and ERCP, both groups were evaluated with regard to the presence and degree of pancreatic ductal dilatation (greater or less than 50 % of total gland width), double duct sign, enhancement pattern, pancreatic parenchymal calcification (site and distribution pattern), mass identification, the direction of infiltration, pancreatic parenchymal atrophy, configuration at the site of obstruction in the pancreatic and common bile duct, lymphadenopathy, vascular encasement, and vascular engorgement or increased collateral vessels in the peripancreatic space. RESULTS: Seven of 13 patients had suffered chronic alcoholism. Serum CA19-9 levels were normal in all patients except one. Common CT and ERCP findings of mass-forming chronic pancreatitis included pancreatic duct dilatation (92.3%), double duct sign(69.2%), inhomogeneous enhancement of the mass (69.2%), and the presence of calcification (61.5%). Patterns of pancreatic duct dilation were irregular in five patients (38.4%) and smooth in three (23.1 %).In all patients, duct dilatation was less than 50 % of total gland width. Enhancement patterns of the pancreatic mass were inhomogeneous (69.2%), a nonenhancing low attenuation mass (15.3%), and homogeneous enhancement (15.3 %). Configuration at the site of obstruction in the pancreatic duct was abrupt termination in two patients (15.4 %) and smooth termination in two (15.4 %). The common bile duct teminated abruptly in three patients (23.1%), and in four (30.8 %) smooth narrowing was abserved. CONCLUSION: Common findings of mass-forming chronic pancreatitis were duct dilatation of less than 50 % of total gland width, double duct sign, inhomogeneous enhancement of the mass, and the presence of calcification. These were combined with observation of clinical findings such as chronic alcoholism and CA19-9 levels, which are useful indicators for differentiating mass-forming chronic pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer.
Alcoholism ; Atrophy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Common Bile Duct ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis, Chronic* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This single center cohort study aimed to test the hypothesis that use of a cryopreserved arterial allograft could avoid the maturation or healing process of a new vascular access and to evaluate the patency of this technique compared with that of vascular access using a prosthetic graft. Between April 2012 and March 2013, 20 patients underwent an upper arm vascular access using a cryopreserved arterial allograft for failed or failing vascular accesses and 53 using a prosthetic graft were included in this study. The mean duration of catheter dependence, calculated as the time interval from upper arm access placement to removal of the tunneled central catheter after successful cannulation of the access, was significantly longer for accesses using a prosthetic graft than a cryopreserved arterial allograft (34.4 ± 11.39 days vs. 4.9 ± 8.5 days, P < 0.001). In the allograft group, use of vascular access started within 7 days in 16 patients (80%), as soon as from the day of surgery in 10 patients. Primary (unassisted; P = 0.314) and cumulative (assisted; P = 0.673) access survivals were similar in the two groups. There were no postoperative complications related to the use of a cryopreserved iliac arterial allograft except for one patient who experienced wound hematoma. In conclusion, upper arm vascular access using a cryopreserved arterial allograft may permit immediate hemodialysis without the maturation or healing process, resulting in access survival comparable to that of an access using a prosthetic graft.
Adult ; Arteries/*transplantation ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Cohort Studies ; *Cryopreservation ; Female ; Hematoma/diagnosis ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Vascular Access Devices ; Veins/pathology

This single center cohort study aimed to test the hypothesis that use of a cryopreserved arterial allograft could avoid the maturation or healing process of a new vascular access and to evaluate the patency of this technique compared with that of vascular access using a prosthetic graft. Between April 2012 and March 2013, 20 patients underwent an upper arm vascular access using a cryopreserved arterial allograft for failed or failing vascular accesses and 53 using a prosthetic graft were included in this study. The mean duration of catheter dependence, calculated as the time interval from upper arm access placement to removal of the tunneled central catheter after successful cannulation of the access, was significantly longer for accesses using a prosthetic graft than a cryopreserved arterial allograft (34.4 ± 11.39 days vs. 4.9 ± 8.5 days, P < 0.001). In the allograft group, use of vascular access started within 7 days in 16 patients (80%), as soon as from the day of surgery in 10 patients. Primary (unassisted; P = 0.314) and cumulative (assisted; P = 0.673) access survivals were similar in the two groups. There were no postoperative complications related to the use of a cryopreserved iliac arterial allograft except for one patient who experienced wound hematoma. In conclusion, upper arm vascular access using a cryopreserved arterial allograft may permit immediate hemodialysis without the maturation or healing process, resulting in access survival comparable to that of an access using a prosthetic graft.
Adult ; Arteries/*transplantation ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Cohort Studies ; *Cryopreservation ; Female ; Hematoma/diagnosis ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Vascular Access Devices ; Veins/pathology

BACKGROUND: The natural history of bacillary tuberculosis was studied in India and results showed that at the end of the 5-year period, 49% of the patients were dead, 33% were cured and 18% remained sputum-positive. The aim of this survey is to observe the natural course of the patients with intractable tuberculosis disease who were incurable with all drug regimens of the national tuberculosis programme(NTP). METHOD: Of the patients who have been found as intractable cases in Kang-Weon Province by the supervisory medical officer during the period from January 1,1987 to December 31,1992, 179 were eligible for this study. Sputum examination was done for those who were survived until October in 1993 at the Kang-Weon provincial laboratory of KNTA. 49 out of 179 patients were transferred to the private sectors and retreated with the combination of prothionamide, cycloserine, ofloxacin, enviomycin, etc. They seemed to have been bacteriologically cured, and so they were excluded from the study. Finally 130 patients were analyzed by modified life table method to calculate the fatality rate and the survival rate during the period of 7 years. RESULTS: 1) 80.8% of intractable cases were male and 19.2%,female. 2) More than 94% of intractable cases showed moderately or far advanced Tb findings on their X-rays at the time of registration at health centres. 3) The cumulative case-fatality rate was 19.74% at the end of 1-year period and has risen to 34.55% by the end of 4-year period(increasing by 4.9% a year on an average). The case-fatality rate has shown no appreciable rise since then until the end of 7-year period. 4) The case-survival rate was 80.26% at the end of 1-year period and has decreased to 65.45% by the end of 4-year period. And then there was no appreciable change in the survival rate until the end of 7-year observation. CONCLUSION: The case-survival rate of intractable cases was higher than that of untreated pulmonary tuberculosis patients and they may have risk of spreading multidrug resistant organisms. It is time we made an effort to improve case-management qualitatively.
Cycloserine ; Enviomycin ; Humans ; India ; Life Tables ; Male ; Natural History ; Ofloxacin ; Private Sector ; Prothionamide ; Sputum ; Survival Rate ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Brown tumor refers to a change of skeletones that develops as a complication of hyperparathyroidism. As osteoclast is activated to stimulate reabsorption and fibrosis of bone, it causes a cystic change of the bone. Parathyroid carcinoma is being reported as a tumor that induces primary hyperparathyroidism. It causes excessive secretion of the parathyroid hormone and increases the blood parathyroid hormone and calcium. Bone deformation due to brown tumor is known to be naturally recovered through the treatment for hyperparathyroidism. However, there is no clearly defined treatment for lesions that can induce pathological fractures developing in lower extremities. We experienced a case where brown tumor developed in the proximal femur of a 57-year-old female patient due to parathyroid carcinoma. In this case, spontaneous fracture occurred without any trauma, and it was cured by performing intramedullary nailing fixation and parathyroidectomy. We report the treatment results along with a literature review.
Calcium ; Female ; Femur* ; Fibrosis ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Fractures, Spontaneous* ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica ; Osteoclasts ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroid Neoplasms* ; Parathyroidectomy ; Skeleton

HCMV infection can evoke the broad spectrum of symptoms, which may be caused by the infection of responsible cell types. It is important to identify the cell types to be infected and replicated with HCMV infection for characterizing the property of HCMV infection and symptoms. Bone marrow stroma consists of heterogeneous cells, which have many cellular functions. This study was performed to verify the infectivity of HCMV to osteoblasts using the osteogenic sarcoma cell line, Saos-2, and the effect of HCMV infection to them on the cellular function. Immediate-early antigens, IE1 and IE2, were detected from 1 day postinfection (d.p.i.), and early (ppUL44) and late (gB) antigen were detected from 2 d.p.i. by the immunoperoxidase staining. All the antigens were expressed as far as observed (9 days). It was found that the virus titer in the culture supernatant and the cell pellet were 150 to 2,200 pfu/ml and 50 to 800 pfu/ml, respectively, after 4 days when the cells were infected with 2 m.o.i. Alkaline phosphatase production in Saos-2 cells infected with the different amount of HCMV was decreased to 8 to 15%, 31 to 47%, and 11 to 52% on 4, 6, and 11 d.p.i., respectively, as compared with mock-infected cells. This result suggested that HCMV could replicate in some bone marrow stromal cells and disturb the cellular function such as production of alkaline phosphatase.
Alkaline Phosphatase* ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Line* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Humans* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Osteosarcoma* ; Permissiveness ; Viral Load

The Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) has developed a web-based system to provide an integrated database with information updates about microbial resources. This integrated database consists of 5 major functions and contains general information, which includes identification numbers, culture media composition, image information, DNA sequences, patent information, and general forms for ordering and depositing microorganisms. In 2008, KACC started providing characterization information. KACC maintains 9,801 cultures of microorganisms, including 3,296 strains of bacteria, 4,734 fungi, 784 actinomycetes, 64 yeasts, and 923 others.
Actinobacteria ; Bacteria ; Base Sequence ; Culture Media ; Fungi ; Yeasts