The mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the orbit is so rare that only a few cases have been reported in Korea and world-wide. We experienced that a patient whose complaints were proptosis and diplopia caused by orbital tumor. After tumor removal, it was histologically diagnosed as mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. So we report a case of mesenchymal chonrosarcoma of the orbit with a review of the literature.
Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal* ; Diplopia ; Exophthalmos ; Humans ; Korea ; Orbit*

BACKGREOUND: The sympathetic investigations during thoracic sympathectomy are essential to an adequate sympathectomy that will lead to sufficient and lasting relief of palmar hyperhidrosis. The measurement of palmar skin temperature has been used as an indicator of success of transcutaneous chemical thoracic sympathectomy. We measured intraoperative palmar skin temperature to know whether it can be used as a same purpose in the endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy under general anesthsia. METHODS: Fifteen patients (18 to 25 years old) with palmar hyperhidrosis underwent endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy under general anesthesia. The palmar skin temperature was measured with a skin probe of a thermometer applied on the both index finger tips. The palmar skin temperature was monitored continuously from the beginning of anesthesia to the complete arousal. RESULTS: The palmar skin temperature increased significantly by about 3 degrees C just after induction. There was no significant difference in the palmar skin temperature between just before sympathectomy and soon after sympathectomy during the endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative measurement of palmar skin temperature can not indicate a definite sympathectic denervation during the endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy under general anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arousal ; Denervation ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Skin Temperature* ; Skin* ; Sympathectomy* ; Thermometers

BACKGROUND: Antituberculous therapy is set a short-term therpy used isoniazid(INH), rifampin(RFP), ethambutol(EMB), pyrazinamide(PZA) from 1970s' and treatment rate has been very improved. But drug interruption or irregular medication due to side effects and resistance of drug are serious problem to retreatment cases, specially. Ofloxasine(OFX), developed from Quinolone at 1980's is effective not only other respiratory infectious disease but also pulmonary tube rculosis. And this is useful drug instead of injection agents for retreatment patients who have side effects to other drugs, lived far distance from medical clinics. So, we will evaluate theffectiveness as four oral drags involving OFX. METHOD: A retrospective study was made through the regular follow up of smear positive cases,who treated by four drag, namely, prothionamide (PTA) cycloserine(CS), OFX, paraminosalicylic acid(PAS). RESULTS: 1) Out of 66case with positive sputum AFB smear, 42(64%)cases achieved the negative conversion. 2) Considering the negative conversion in all group, 34 case (52%) of sputum conversion occured within first 6 months, on the extent of diease was minimal, moderate, far advavanced pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum AFB smear negative response to treatment was 100%, 78% , 46% respectively. 3) The roentgenological improvement occured in 38(58%), extent of diease was minimal, moderately, far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, Roentgenological improvement to retreatment was 75%, 64%, 46%. 4) When the duration of patients illness was less than 1 year, 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years and more than 5 years, sputum AFB smear negative response to retreatment was 100%, 88%, 80%, 52%. 5) On side effects, major problems are gastrointestinal troubles, mild liver function abnormality, psychotic problemes, and skin problem(urticaria, itching sensation). CONCLUSION: The duration & extents of patients illness was shorter & minimal, sputum AFB smear negative response rate was better. Radiologic response is better as shorter duration and minimal extent of diease. But, as diease is longer duration & far advanced, sputum negative conversion & Roentgenological improvement is poor and limited. The adverse reaction was mainly observed gastrointestinal troubles(indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and are well controled by symptomatic management in most patients, as regard to tolerance to the secondary drugs.
Abdominal Pain ; Aminosalicylic Acid* ; Communicable Diseases ; Cycloserine* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Nausea ; Prothionamide ; Pruritus ; Retreatment* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Antituberculous therapy is set a short-term therpy used isoniazid(INH), rifampin(RFP), ethambutol(EMB), pyrazinamide(PZA) from 1970s' and treatment rate has been very improved. But drug interruption or irregular medication due to side effects and resistance of drug are serious problem to retreatment cases, specially. Ofloxasine(OFX), developed from Quinolone at 1980's is effective not only other respiratory infectious disease but also pulmonary tube rculosis. And this is useful drug instead of injection agents for retreatment patients who have side effects to other drugs, lived far distance from medical clinics. So, we will evaluate theffectiveness as four oral drags involving OFX. METHOD: A retrospective study was made through the regular follow up of smear positive cases,who treated by four drag, namely, prothionamide (PTA) cycloserine(CS), OFX, paraminosalicylic acid(PAS). RESULTS: 1) Out of 66case with positive sputum AFB smear, 42(64%)cases achieved the negative conversion. 2) Considering the negative conversion in all group, 34 case (52%) of sputum conversion occured within first 6 months, on the extent of diease was minimal, moderate, far advavanced pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum AFB smear negative response to treatment was 100%, 78% , 46% respectively. 3) The roentgenological improvement occured in 38(58%), extent of diease was minimal, moderately, far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, Roentgenological improvement to retreatment was 75%, 64%, 46%. 4) When the duration of patients illness was less than 1 year, 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years and more than 5 years, sputum AFB smear negative response to retreatment was 100%, 88%, 80%, 52%. 5) On side effects, major problems are gastrointestinal troubles, mild liver function abnormality, psychotic problemes, and skin problem(urticaria, itching sensation). CONCLUSION: The duration & extents of patients illness was shorter & minimal, sputum AFB smear negative response rate was better. Radiologic response is better as shorter duration and minimal extent of diease. But, as diease is longer duration & far advanced, sputum negative conversion & Roentgenological improvement is poor and limited. The adverse reaction was mainly observed gastrointestinal troubles(indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and are well controled by symptomatic management in most patients, as regard to tolerance to the secondary drugs.
Abdominal Pain ; Aminosalicylic Acid* ; Communicable Diseases ; Cycloserine* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Nausea ; Prothionamide ; Pruritus ; Retreatment* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* ; Vomiting

Congenital glioblastoma multiforme is relatively rare accounting for 2-9% of all congenital brain tumors. We deseribe a case of congenital glioblastoma multiforme which occurred in the lateral ventricle. T1-weighted images revealed high signal intensity, with areas of internal low signal intensity, while T2-weighted images showed low signal intensity with focal internal high-signal portions. Post-contrast T1-weighted images depicted a lateral ventricular mass which extended to adjacent brain parenchyme and had a serpentine signal void representing internal vessel.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Glioblastoma* ; Lateral Ventricles

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) behave more aggressively than other endometrial carcinomas and have a propensity for intraabdominal spread, simulating the behavior of ovarian carcinoma. Because of high relapsing rate, and high mortality rate of UPSC, many gynecologist studied about its treatment regimen and recommended many treatment method. Many investigators recommended that patients with UPSC should undergo a staging laparotomy and they suggested the surgery should include at least total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, paraaortic lymphadenectomy, peritoneal washing and peritoneal cytology, By and large, adjuvant systemic Platinum based chemotherapy or, paclitaxel based chemotherapy and adjuvant whole abdominal irradiation or pelvic irradiation was prescribed. We experienced two cases of the UPSC stage IIIc and stage IV diagnosed after explolaparotomy. We present these cases and review the literatures about the optimal treatment regimen of UPSC.
Drug Therapy ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparotomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mortality ; Paclitaxel ; Platinum ; Research Personnel

BACKGROUND: Nicotine dependence and its severity are often determined by individuals’ psychosocial factors.This study purposed to analyze how Korean workers’ job stress is related with their nicotine dependence according to demographic and occupational characteristics in order to reduce smoking related to job stress and to establish objective indicators to be used in developing adequate smoking cessation strategies. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 4,639 workers who replied to the questionnaire survey. In addition, 1,948 current smokers were separated from non-smokers and ex-smokers, and the relationship between job stress and nicotine dependence was analyzed with the current smoker group. Nicotine dependence was tested using Fagerström’s Test of Nicotine Dependence, and stress was measured using a questionnaire on subjective stress felt by workers in their daily life and the short form of the Korean Occupational Stress Scale. RESULTS: The smoking rate was 54.1 % among men and 2.5 % among women. Nicotine dependence was significantly different according to interpersonal conflict, organization system and lack of reward (p < 0.05). As multivariate logistic analysis, job control, occupational climate and total stress score were statistical significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Job stress was found to be related with smoking status and nicotine dependence. Based on this result, it is suggested to enhance workers’ welfare for health promotion in workplace by improving their working environment in order to reduce job stress and consequently to decrease the smoking rate.
Climate ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Nicotine* ; Reward ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco Use Disorder*

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder defined by harmatomatous polyps of the gastrointestinal tracts and the occurrence of melanin spots on the lips(oral mucosa), hands and feet. This syndrome is associated with a variety of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal neoplasms, both benign and malignant. A 28-year old male was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain and nausea for two months. He had melanin spots involving his lips, buccal mucosa, hands and feet. A small bowel series showed luminal obstruction at the forth portion of the duodenum. And abdominal CT scan showed target-like mass suggesting intussusception on the small bowel. On laparotomy, there was an annular constricting mass adherent to retroperitoneum with metastasis to preaortic lymph nodes. Palliative duodeno-jejunostomy was performed. The histologic finding disclosed signet-ring cell type adenocarcinoma.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma* ; Adult ; Duodenum ; Foot ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hand ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intussusception ; Laparotomy ; Lip ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Melanins ; Mouth Mucosa ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; Phenobarbital ; Polyps ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate job stress and stress coping strategy among workers in a regional statistics office. METHODS: A total of 133 workers in regional statistics office participated in this study and they were divided into two groups, survey group(n=109) and support group(n=24) depending on relation to statistical survey task. They were asked to respond to Short Form of Korean Occupational Stress Scale(KOSS-SF) and Stress Coping Strategy(SCS) to investigate sociodemographic characteristics, job stress, and stress coping strategy. RESULTS: The proportion of the 133 participants in the sample was 59(44.4%) of men, 74(55.6%) of women. There were no significant differences in KOSS-SF scores in relation to age, sex, education, and marital status, while the KOSS-SF scores were significantly different between the two groups. In regard to the subscales of KOSS-SF, the two groups had significant differences in insufficient job control, interpersonal conflict, job insecurity, and organization system. In addition, the total score of KOSS-SF had a negative correlation with problem-focused coping strategy and social support coping strategy of SCS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that workers of survey group had more job stress compared to those who works in support group in regional statistical office. In addition, in comparison with workers of support group, both men and women of survey group get stressed when they were confronted with interpersonal conflicts. Our results suggest that using problem-focused coping and social support coping strategy lowers job stress.
Education ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Self-Help Groups

OBJECTIVES: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays an important role in metabolizing catecholamines, including dopamine. Also, several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the COMT gene are associated with schizophrenia. Therefore, this study aimed to find the association between COMT gene SNPs and schizophrenia in Koreans. METHODS: Participants were 366 schizophrenia patients and 359 normal controls. To identify the SNPs, we performed genetic analyses in 4 SNP regions, via SNP-ITTM assays. We compared allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies between the two groups. Moreover, we built subgroups, based on onset age, and compared individual allele and genotype frequencies among these subgroups. RESULTS: In female patients, genotype frequencies showed a significant difference in rs2020917 among the 4 SNPs (p=0.0224), but haplotype frequencies showed no such difference among the 4 SNPs between patients and controls. We noted a significant difference in rs1544325 allele frequencies according to onset age. Also, in female patients, rs1544325 allele and genotype frequencies varied significantly according to onset age. CONCLUSION: This study found no genetic association between the COMT gene's 4 SNPs and schizophrenia in Koreans. However, our findings suggest genetic components for sex-specificity and onset age in Korean schizophrenics.
Age of Onset ; Alleles ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; Catecholamines ; Dopamine ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Schizophrenia