No abstract available.
Animals ; Brain* ; Corpus Striatum* ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptides* ; Rats*

This is a clinical study of 44 cases of acute laryngitis treated in the department of pediatric, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital from Jan. through Feb. 1976, when influenza was nation wide. We observed following results; 1) Among the 44 sases, 23 cases were male and 21 cases were female. There were no sex differences. 2) Families of 26 cases (60%), had influenza at the same time, 40 cases(90%) had preceding U.R.I. and 29cases (66%) had D.P.T. vaccinations more than 3 times. 3) 36cases (82%) were between 7months to 6years of age. 4) The common clinical manifestations were coughing, 40 cases (90%), difficult respiration, 36 cases (82%), retraction of chest wall, 33 cases (75%), hoarseness, 34 cases (77%), and fever, 42 cases(95%). 5) Laboratory findings were as follews; Leukocytosis (over 12,000/mm3) was 13 cases (29%), and leukopenia (under 4,000/mm3) was 2 cases (5%). Pharyngeal culture revealed; no growth, 24 cases (55%), normal flora, 19 cases (43%), and staphylococcus aureus, coagulase + 1case (2%). 6) 29 cases (66%) were improved with cold mist, O2 supply & racemic epinephrine nebulization with IPPB, & 15 cases(34%) required tracheotomy. 7) The complications were1 case of interstitial pneumonia , 1csae of staphylococcal pueumonia & 1 case of pseudomonas pneumonia. The mortality rate was 9%(4 cases). 8) Although we did not do viral studies in these patients (viral study was unable to do in Busan area), in view of the influenza epidemics at the same, time age distribution, clinical manifestations and other laboratory results, we considered that the etiologic agent was probably influenza virus.
Age Distribution ; Busan* ; Coagulase ; Cough ; Female ; Fever ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Breathing ; Laryngitis ; Leukocytosis ; Leukopenia ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Male ; Mortality ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Pneumonia ; Protestantism ; Pseudomonas ; Racepinephrine ; Respiration ; Sex Characteristics ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Thoracic Wall ; Tracheotomy ; Vaccination

Background: The purpose of this study is to explain the factors influencing the incurrence of catastrophic health expenditure of national health insurance households using panel data observed over a long period. Methods: The study targeted 3,652 households who had no censoring during the 11-year survey period (2007–2017) and householders whose insurance type was consistently maintained as national health insurance. Generalized estimating equations were adopted to identify factors affecting the occurrence of catastrophic health expenditure at 20%, 30%, and 40% threshold levels. A subgroup analysis was conducted by categorizing groups depending on the existence of the elderly in the household. Results: For the last 11 years, the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure in the households without the elderly decreased slightly at all threshold levels, but the households with the elderly seemed to be increased. At baseline, household type showed a statistically significant relationship with all other variables. The results of generalized estimating equations analyses show that household income was not significant at all threshold levels in the households without elderly. On the other hand, in the households with the elderly, the 2nd (odds ratio [OR], 1.33–2.05) and 3rd quintile groups (OR, 1.25–2.55) were more likely to have catastrophic health expenditure compared to the 1st quintile of household income group. Conclusion As the amount of health expenditures relative to the ability to pay is increasing in households with the elderly, the application of an intervention followed by consistent monitoring is needed. This study found that there were differences in influencing factors according to the presence of the elderly in the households. In particular, in households with the elderly, interesting results have been drawn regarding the occurrence of catastrophic health expenditure in the near-poor, so additional research is required.

The incidence of cardiac metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is about 1-4% and especially metastasis to right atrium (RA) is very rare, with an incidence of only 0.7-3% in a postmortem series. But, most RA tumors associated with HCC are intracardiac metastasis and the occurrence of synchronous primary RA myxoma and HCC is extremely rare. We report one case that a cardiac mass was primary RA myxoma initially misdiagnosed as occult HCC with intracardiac metastasis.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Heart Atria ; Incidence ; Myxoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infection with Helicobacter pylori is the most important cause of chronic active gastritis. One means of evolution of chronic active gastritis is the development of atrophic gastritis, a condition almost universally associated with extensive intestinal metaplasia. But Helicobacter pylori is not usually found in areas of intestinal metaplasia. Recently Genta RM developed a staining technique that allows simultaneous visualization of Helicobacter pylori and gastric morphology, including intestinal metaplasia. Therefore, the evaluation of the frequency of Helicobacter pylori adherence to intestinal metaplasia using the Genta stain is herein reported. METHODS: The study was conducted on 69 gastric biopsy specimens with intestinal metaplasia. Slides from each specimen were stained using the Genta stain to identify the adherence of bacteria and types of intestinal metaplasia. RESULTS: In 56 (81%) of 69 patients, incomplete intestinal metaplasia was found. In 9 (16%) of 56 patients with incomplete intestinal metaplasia, H. pylori was attached in the area of intestinal metaplasia. But in all of the intestinal metaplasia, H. pylori was not attached in the area of the intestinal metaplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The common subtype of intestinal metaplasia was incomplete metaplasia. Although in small cases, H. pylori was attached only to the area of the incomplete type of intestinal metaplasia.
Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Gastritis ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Metaplasia*

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally transmitted disease causing acute or subacute, bilateral optic atrophy mainly in young men. It is found to be a mitochondrial disorder with the primary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations at 11778, 3460, and 14484. The incidence of each mutation is reported to be race-dependent. Point mutations at mtDNA nucleotide position 11778 and 14484 have been reported in Korean patients with LHON, however there has been no report of mtDNA mutation at nucleotide position 3460. Molecular genetic analyses at four primary sites (11778, 14484, 15257, and 3460) of mitochondrial DNA using the polymerase chain reaction, restriction enzyme digestion, and direct sequencing were performed in a 35-yr-old man with severe visual loss. A point mutation in the mtDNA at nucleotide position 3460 was identified and a conversion of a single alanine to a threonine was confirmed. To our knowledge, this is the first report confirming mtDNA mutation at nucleotide position 3460 in Korean patients with LHON. Detailed molecular analyses would be very helpful for the correct diagnosis of optic neuropathy of unknown etiology and for genetic counseling.
Adult ; *DNA, Mitochondrial ; Humans ; Male ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber/*genetics ; *Point Mutation

BACKGROUND: The North Korean defectors are suffering from multiple psychologic and physical health problems. However, because of their emotional maladaptation, noncooperation and suspiciousness and distrust toward others, it is difficult for South Korean doctors to build effective therapeutic relationships with them. Therefore, we made efforts to clarify the characteristics of North Korean defectors in symptom expressions and illness behaviors which would help South Korean doctors to gain rapport. METHODS: We performed qualitative study with focus group interview. Three focus groups were composed of 14 North Korean defectors and group interviews were performed twice for each group. The contents of each interview were analyzed and conclusions were drawn by extracting and arranging significant findings. RESULTS: The North Korean defectors showed psychologic symptoms such as anxiety, depression and various somatic symptoms. Among them, 'Laeng-Dol ('cold mass) and 'Jeog' mean subjective mass-feeling, such as globus sensation. And 'Tag-Gi-Byeong ('chicken heart disease')' means recurrent chest pain. These expressions reflect their anxious, depressive, and somatizing tendency. Among illness concept, 'Laeng-Byeong' ('cold related disease') means that they consider the cold weather to be the cause of various somatic symptoms. Characteristic illness behaviors include continuous complaining of recurrent symptoms, distrusting medical staffs and institutions, self-diagnosis, self- prescription, and reliance upon folk remedies. These illness behaviors were precipitated by the current breakdown of health-care system and economic crisis of the North Korea. CONCLUSION: South Korean doctors should be able to understand these characteristics of the North Korean defectors in order to build effective therapeutic relationship with them.
Anxiety ; Chest Pain ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Depression ; Focus Groups ; Heart ; Humans ; Illness Behavior* ; Interviews as Topic ; Medical Staff ; Medicine, Traditional ; Prescriptions ; Sensation ; Weather

BACKGROUND: The North Korean defectors are suffering from multiple psychologic and physical health problems. However, because of their emotional maladaptation, noncooperation and suspiciousness and distrust toward others, it is difficult for South Korean doctors to build effective therapeutic relationships with them. Therefore, we made efforts to clarify the characteristics of North Korean defectors in symptom expressions and illness behaviors which would help South Korean doctors to gain rapport. METHODS: We performed qualitative study with focus group interview. Three focus groups were composed of 14 North Korean defectors and group interviews were performed twice for each group. The contents of each interview were analyzed and conclusions were drawn by extracting and arranging significant findings. RESULTS: The North Korean defectors showed psychologic symptoms such as anxiety, depression and various somatic symptoms. Among them, 'Laeng-Dol ('cold mass) and 'Jeog' mean subjective mass-feeling, such as globus sensation. And 'Tag-Gi-Byeong ('chicken heart disease')' means recurrent chest pain. These expressions reflect their anxious, depressive, and somatizing tendency. Among illness concept, 'Laeng-Byeong' ('cold related disease') means that they consider the cold weather to be the cause of various somatic symptoms. Characteristic illness behaviors include continuous complaining of recurrent symptoms, distrusting medical staffs and institutions, self-diagnosis, self- prescription, and reliance upon folk remedies. These illness behaviors were precipitated by the current breakdown of health-care system and economic crisis of the North Korea. CONCLUSION: South Korean doctors should be able to understand these characteristics of the North Korean defectors in order to build effective therapeutic relationship with them.
Anxiety ; Chest Pain ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Depression ; Focus Groups ; Heart ; Humans ; Illness Behavior* ; Interviews as Topic ; Medical Staff ; Medicine, Traditional ; Prescriptions ; Sensation ; Weather

BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block is usually performed at the transverse process of C6, because the vertebral artery is located anterior to the transverse process of C7. The purpose of this study is to estimate the location of the transverse process of C6 using the cricoid cartilage in the performance of stellate ganglion block. METHODS: We reviewed cervical lateral neutral-flexion-extension views of 48 patients who visited our pain clinic between January and June of 2010. We drew a horizontal line at the surface of the cricoid cartilage in the neutral and extension views of cervical lateral x-rays. We then measured the change in the shortest distance from this horizontal line to the lowest point of the transverse process of C6 between the neutral and extension views. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the shortest distance from the horizontal line at the surface of the cricoid cartilage to the lowest point of transverse process of C6 between neutral position and neck extension position in both males and females, and between males and females in both neutral position and neck extension position. The cricoid cartilage level was 4.8 mm lower in males and 14.4 mm higher in females than the lowest point of transverse process of C6 in neck extension position. CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners should recognize that the cricoid cartilage has cephalad movement in neck extension. In this way, the cricoid cartilage can be still useful as a landmark for stellate ganglion block.
Cricoid Cartilage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Pain Clinics ; Stellate Ganglion ; Vertebral Artery

BACKGROUND: The radial arteries are being used more often for coronary artery bypass grafting. We tried to the endoscopic radial artery harvest to reduce the cosmetic problems and neurologic complications of the conventional open harvesting and report the techniques and early results. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The 86 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between May 2003 and April 2005 had their nondominant radial artery endoscopically removed through a 2 cm incision at the wrist. The radial pedicle was dissected and was divided at antecubial area through a 5 mm counterincision. RESULT: The 23 patients complained of neuralgias on territory of superficial raidal nerve but no one complained of neuralgias on territory of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. There was no functional impairment of the hand. There was no wound complication except a localized hematoma. All patients were contacted by telephone after postoperative 7.9+/-3.6 months. The 4 patients still complained of neuralgia. All the patients were satisfied with the aesthetics of the wounds. The multidetectional tomography was done on the 66 patients for the estimation of early patency of radial artery. There were 2 cases of stenosis and a case of occlusion. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic radial artery harvest had no functional impairment of the hand, lesser rate of neurologic complications and outstanding aesthetics. The results of early patency of the radial artery was similar to conventional methods. Therefore, we think that endoscopic radial artery harvest is the optimal procedure.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Endoscopy ; Esthetics ; Hand ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Radial Artery* ; Telephone ; Wounds and Injuries ; Wrist