BACKGROUND: Discrepancies exist in the existing researches regarding the association between social capital and self-efficacy, and most of these researches have been done in developed countries. The aims of this study were to assess the independent association between individual social capital and self-efficacy and to assess the associations between individual social capital, self-efficacy and self-rated health. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Gyeongnam health survey (6,500 persons) conducted in 2008. A self-administered questionnaire was additionally administered to gather information on demographic variables, health behaviors, chronic diseases, self-efficacy, social capital, and self-rated health status. Total study population was 3,843 as those with chronic diseases were excluded. RESULTS: In males, trust was positively associated with confidence and preference to task difficulty, and participation was negatively associated with confidence and positively associated with regulation and preference to task difficulty. In females, trust was positively associated with confidence and preference to task difficulty and negatively associated with regulation. Participation was positively associated with preference to task difficulty. In males, the odds for self-rated health status was better for persons with confidence (95% confidence interval, CI 1.088-1.705), trust (95% CI 1.172-1.821) and participation (95% CI 1.268-2.117). In females, the odds for self-rated health status was better for those with confidence (95% CI 1.250-1.803), preference of task difficulty (95% CI 1.019-1.683) and participation (95% CI 1.024-1.555). CONCLUSIONS: High social capital measured at an individual level may promote self-efficacy and health status.
Chronic Disease ; Developed Countries ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Self Efficacy ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Free Tissue Flaps* ; Maxilla*

The persons with internal organ impairments are a vulnerable group, having very complex medical conditions. This type of disability may affect one or more of the body's systems, including respiratory, neurological, circulatory, urological, and gastrointestinal systems. These persons differ from those with other disabilities, since numerous chronic health disabilities may fluctuate in severity. In addition, it is often the case that they are burdened by high medical costs, which in turn leads to poverty. Korean health care system should be reorganized to address the needs of the persons with internal organ impairments more effectively. Most importantly, development of medical security system is needed.
Delivery of Health Care ; Disabled Persons ; Humans ; Poverty

The Kallmanns syndrome is the most common form of isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in which anosmia or hyposmia resulting from agenesis of hypoplasia of the olfactory lobes is associated with LHRH deficiency, This syndrome is genetically heterogeneous and can be trans-mitted as an X-linked, autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive trait. The hypogonadotropic hypogonadism results in absent or incomplete pubertal development and may be associated with anosmia or hyposmia, mid-line defect(color blindness, cleft-lip or
Blindness ; Cryptorchidism ; Epiphyses ; Femur Neck ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Growth Plate ; Head ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Kallmann Syndrome ; Male ; Olfaction Disorders ; Olfactory Cortex ; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses

Inflammatory and ischemic bowel disease commonly involve a longer segment than a maligant lesion. The characteristic findings of inflammatory bowel disease are mucosal nodular hypertrophy and luminal narrowing. It has recently been reported, however, that the features of mucinous adenocarcinoma are similar to those of inflammatory bowel disease with long segmental involvement. After a brief review of the literature, we describe two cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon associated with inflammatory disease. Because of long segmental involvement of the ascending colon, mucosal nodular hypertrophy and luminal narrowing, one of these was thought to be multiple villous adenoma with colitis, but was confirmed as mucinous adnocarcinoma. The other case, thought to be tuberculous enterocolitis, was comfirmed as tuberculous enterocolitis associated with mucinous adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Adenoma, Villous ; Colitis ; Colon, Ascending* ; Enterocolitis ; Hypertrophy ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Mucins* ; Phenobarbital

An 11-year-old girl was diagnosed with encephalitis due to Epstein-Barr virus(EBV). She was admitted to our hospital due to convulsion and decreased consciousness after several days of fever, sore throat and headache. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed lymphocyte-dominant pleocytosis and markedly elevated levels of protein. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) finding was normal, except for marked leptomeningeal enhancement. Even though she had signs and symptoms of infectious mononucleosis, EBV infection could not be considered as the underlying cause of the encephalitis until IgM for the viral capsid antigen of EBV had been detected in her blood. After treatment with acyclovir, a high dose of methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin, the neurological symptoms improved rapidly. She has not suffered from any neurological complications in the four months since being discharged. EBV infection should be considered as the main etiology in cases of childhood encephalitis, although there is no evidence of infectious mononucleosis existed.
Acyclovir ; Capsid ; Child ; Consciousness ; Encephalitis ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Fever ; Headache ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; Leukocytosis ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Methylprednisolone ; Pharyngitis ; Seizures

OBJECTIVES: To analyze differences in health behaviors among the social strata in Korea by using the 1995 National Health and Health Behavior Survey Data. METHODS: Study participants numbered 2,352 men and 1,016 women aged between 15-64 years old, with housewives, students and non-waged family workers excluded. Health behaviors in this study were defined according to the recommendations of the Alameda 7 study. The measure of health behaviors was based on the Health Practices Index(HPI; 0-5 range, with the exclusion of snacking between meals and regularly eating breakfast) developed by the Alameda County research. The significance of the relationship between social strata and HPI was assessed by considering the adjusted means from the multi-variate model. RESULTS: For men, incidence rates of never having smoked, no/moderate use of alcohol, regular exercise, and regular 7-8 hours sleep per night were higher in the upper social strata. Meanwhile, for women, incidence rates of never having smoked, no/moderate use of alcohol, appropriate weight, regular exercise, and regular 7-8 hours sleep per night were higher in the upper strata. HPI varied significantly among social strata in both sexes (p<0.001), a result which held true when adjusted for age, education, income, social insurance type, marital status and region. CONCLUSIONS: Health behaviors assessed by Health Practices Index(HPI) varied significantly among social strata for both sexes. Therefore, the existing gap in health behaviors among social strata can be corrected more effectively by target oriented health promotional activities.
Eating ; Education ; Female ; Health Behavior* ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Male ; Marital Status ; Meals ; Smoke ; Snacks ; Social Security

This study was conducted to estimate the socioeconomic costs of overweight and obesity in a sample of Korean adults aged 20 yr and older in 2005. The socioeconomic costs of overweight and obesity include direct costs (inpatient care, outpatient care and medication) and indirect costs (loss of productivity due to premature deaths and inpatient care, time costs, traffic costs and nursing fees). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, stroke, colon cancer and osteoarthritis were selected as obesity-related diseases. The population attributable fraction (PAF) of obesity was calculated from national representative data of Korea such as the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) cohort data and the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Direct costs of overweight and obesity were estimated at approximately U$1,081 million equivalent (men: U$497 million, women: U$584 million) and indirect costs were estimated at approximately U$706 million (men: U$527 million, women: U$178 million). The estimated total socioeconomic costs of overweight and obesity were approximately U$1,787 million (men: U$1,081 million, women: U$706 million). These total costs represented about 0.22% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 3.7% of the national health care expenditures in 2005. We found the socioeconomic costs of overweight and obesity in Korean adults aged 20 yr and older are substantial. In order to control the socioeconomic burden attributable to overweight and obesity, effective national strategies for prevention and management of obesity should be established and implemented.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis/economics ; Cardiovascular Diseases/economics ; *Cost of Illness ; Diabetes Mellitus/economics ; Dyslipidemias/economics ; Female ; Health Care Costs/statistics & numerical data ; Health Expenditures ; Hospitalization/economics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/economics ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity/*economics/*psychology ; Republic of Korea ; Socioeconomic Factors

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of hepatitis A infections among young adults has recently increased in South Korea. Although universal vaccination has often been suggested to mitigate the problem, its rationale has not been well-understood. Estimating the societal costs of hepatitis A infections might support the development of intervention strategies. METHODS: We classified hepatitis A infections into eight clinical pathways and estimated the number of occurrences and cost per case for each clinical pathway using claim data from National Health Insurance and several national surveys as well as assumptions based on previous studies. To determine the total costs of a hepatitis A infection, both direct and indirect costs were estimated. Indirect costs were estimated using the human-capital approach. All costs are adjusted to the year 2008. RESULTS: There were 30,240 identified cases of hepatitis A infections in 2008 for a total cost of 80,873 million won (2.7 million won per case). Direct and indirect costs constituted 56.2% and 43.8% of the total costs, respectively. People aged 20-39 accounted for 71.3% of total cases and 74.6% of total costs. Medical costs per capita were the lowest in the 0-4 age group and highest in the 20-29 age group. CONCLUSIONS: This study could provide evidence for development of cost-effective interventions to control hepatitis A infections. But the true costs including uncaptured and intangible costs of hepatitis A infections might be higher than our results indicate.
Cost of Illness ; Critical Pathways ; Hepatitis A* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; National Health Programs ; Republic of Korea ; Vaccination ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether the impacts of orthodontic treatment of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life and happiness are positive with middle and high school students. METHODS: Subjects were 157 orthodontic patients and 83 non-orthodontic in malocclusion patients. Questionnaires were collected with the self-administered method, and consisted of the general characteristics, self-esteem, social support appraisal scale(friends, family, teacher), Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) and oxford happiness questionnaire (OHQ). RESULTS: A physical factor was lower in the orthodontic treatment group (5.8±2.48) than in the non-orthodontic treatment group (7.7±2.10)(p<0.001), and OIDP was lower in the orthodontic treatment group (7.0±1.79) than in the non-orthodontic treatment group (7.8±1.80)(p=0.002). A feeling of happiness was higher in the orthodontic treatment group(4.6±0.81) than in the orthodontic treatment group (4.3±0.89) (p=0.009). As results of multiple regression analysis, OIDP was affected of orthodontic treatment(β=−0.0222, p=0.001) and OHP was affected of orthodontic treatment(β=0.087, p=0.030) and OIDP(β=0.116, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment of malocclusion may positively affects happiness in teenager. Support policy for orthodontic treatment of malocclusion is necessary for adolescents.
Adolescent ; Happiness* ; Humans ; Malocclusion* ; Methods ; Quality of Life