No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

BACKGROUND: Recently malaria infection became one of the most important parasitic diseases in Korea. After the re-emergence of malaria in a young soldier in 1993 near the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ), three to four thousand people have been infected per year in the last few years and the cases of infection have been increasing threefold each year. Microscopic examination of a thick blood smear is a conventional and confirmatory method for diagnosis. However, it requires labor-intensive procedures and its interpretation is quite subjective. Faster and more reliable methods are needed for the diagnosis of malaria. METHODS: We evaluated 155 patients who were diagnosed as malaria. We performed point-of-care rapid diagnostic methods recently introduced: two antibody detection tests manufactured by Korean companies and one antigen (Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase, pLDH) detection test. The results were compared with those of microscopic examinations of thick blood smears. RESULTS: Sensitivities of two antibody detection assays and one antigen detection assay in acute attacks of malaria were 64.7%, 72.5%, and 96.1%; and, specificities were 88.5%, 89.4%, and 95.1%, respectively. Overall accuracy for all samples were 80.6%, 83.9%, and 95.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Antibody detection tests for malaria have limitations in sensitivity and accuracy to replace microscopic examination of blood film. Antigen tests detecting pLDH could replace conventional microscopic examinations of blood film, especially in emergency situations in cases that require prompt medication.
Diagnosis* ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Korea* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Malaria* ; Military Personnel ; Parasitic Diseases ; Plasmodium

No abstract available.
Animals ; Coal* ; Dust* ; Lung* ; Rats* ; Silicon Dioxide*

PURPOSE: This study investigated various factors relatied to wandering behavior of Korean elders with dementia (KED). METHODS: A sample of 160 ambulatory residents with dementia from 14 long term care facilities was used to examine demographic, individual, cognitive, physical health, and environmental characteristics by comparing wanderers (N=108) to nonwanders (N=52). Subjects were evaluated by Korean versions of the Mini-mental State Exam (K-MMSE), the Physical and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-PIADL), and the Revised Algase Wandering Scale Nursing Home version (KRAWS-NH) along its six dimensions. Demographic and environmental data were also obtained. Independent sample ttests, Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact tests, and ANCOVAs were used to examine differences between wanderers and nonwanders. RESULTS: Wanderers were significantly (p<.05) older and had more limitations in K-PADL and K-IADL. The degree of overall wandering and certain features of wandering were significantly different (p<.05) by total number of residents in the facility, type of bedroom (i.e., "Ondol"), and color of bedroom and living-room walls (i.e., sky blue). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study may be useful in understanding wandering behavior of KEDs and thus developing more culturally specific management strategies.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dementia/*psychology ; Demography ; Female ; Homes for the Aged ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Homes ; *Wandering Behavior

PURPOSE: We evaluated plasma coagulation parameters sequentially and the influence of antithrombin III adjuvant treatment in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. METHODS: Twenty-nine cases with acute lymhoblastic leukemia who had been treated with L-asparaginase at Pusan National University Hospital were enrolled in this study. The coagulation parameters were checked before and on every week of L-asparaginase administration. The patients whose level of antithrombin III was below normal range were given antithrombin III done adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: In the twenty-nine cycles of chemotherapies, nine cycles were treated with antithrombin III adjuvant therapy and others were not treated with the therapy. The PT and aPTT levels showed no changes during L-asparaginase treatment. After one week of L-asparaginase treatment, the fibrinogen and antithrombin III levels were decreased markedly. Antithrombin III level in patients under antithrombin III adjuvant treatment had increased significantly. On the other hand, antithrombin III level in patients not on antithrombin III adjuvant treatment showed low levels until finishing L-asparaginase. We observed only one case of sudden cerebral thrombosis in the non-antithrombin III adjuvant treatment. CONCLUSION: Antithrombin III adjuvant treatment can correct hemostatic parameters partially and may prevent thromboembolic events in patients with L-asparaginase.
Antithrombin III* ; Busan ; Child* ; Drug Therapy ; Fibrinogen ; Hand ; Humans ; Intracranial Thrombosis ; Leukemia ; Plasma ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Reference Values

No abstract available.
Asbestos*

The term body composition describes the percentages of fat, bone, and muscle in the human body; it reflects the nutritional or growth status in children and adolescents. Further, its evaluation is clinically important to assess the nutritional abnormalities, growth failure, progress of chronic diseases, or treatment measures for these conditions. Body composition parameters such as total body fat and fat distribution are risk factors for metabolic disease not only in adults but also in children and adolescents. Inadequate bone mineral acquisition and failure to achieve peak bone mass is a risk for subsequent osteoporosis. Therefore, measuring the body composition is important to ascertain the natural course of metabolic diseases and to develop strategies for their prevention because the body composition of children and adolescents is predictive of their body composition as adults. This article will review the basic concept and methods of measuring body composition. This review also deals with the evaluation of body composition in Korean children and adolescents. Because the body composition of individuals differs with age, body weight, puberty, sex, race, and ethnicity, it is important for pediatricians to know the characteristics of the body composition change in Korean children and adolescents.
Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Continental Population Groups ; Humans ; Metabolic Diseases ; Muscles ; Osteoporosis ; Puberty ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Vibration*

PURPOSE: This is a mixed method study to understand the experience regarding the job satisfaction of Physician Assistant (PA) male nurses. METHODS: First, factors influencing job satisfaction were analyzed using quantitative approach and job adaptation processes by qualitative research was done through interviews. Finally both of the collected data were comprehensively compared. RESULTS: The factors which had the greatest influence on job satisfaction in the regression analysis were job stress (β=-.49, p<.001) and job identity (β=.46, p<.001) and the explanatory power explaining these variables was 58% (Adj. R²=.58). The results of qualitative research were categorized using the same four variables with qualitative research variables. Five themes in job satisfaction, three themes in job identity, five themes in job stress and six themes in job value were identified by content analysis. CONCLUSION: This finding identified that the job stress and job identity were important variables related to job satisfaction. Therefore, the factors influencing job identity have to be strengthened, and a systematic management and interest to develop them are necessary.
Humans ; Job Satisfaction* ; Male* ; Methods ; Nurses, Male* ; Physician Assistants* ; Qualitative Research