While there have been not a few reports on the seroepidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Korea, most of them, however, have had several limitations; operational definition of HBV infection, validity of detection methods of HBV serologic markers, size of the study population, and confirmation of the vaccination history against HBV, etc. In order to avoid such limitations, authors randomly selected 1,495 healthy adults among the 217,511 insured (target population) of Korean Medical Insurance Corporation, living in seoul, and tested HBV(HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc) of all the subjects were tested, 392(26.2%) of interview failure cases 742 nonvaccinee were excluded from the actual population. Finally, the serologic markers tested of 742 nonvaccinee (study population) only were analyzed for the seroepidemiologic observation of the natural infection of HBV. The seroepidemiological characteristics of HBV infection in Korea were as follows ; 1 Point prevalence of HBs antigenemia was 11.7(9.1-14.3)% in male, which was slightly higher than that of female, 9.5(3.7-15.3)%. This level was one of the highest among those of Asian-Pacific countries. Decreasing tendency of HBsAg prevalence after the age of 50 was observed, which seems to be due to selective attrition of HBV chronic carriers among the healthy adults and/or to the limited-lasting duration of the HBs antigenemia, in part. 2. Point prevalence of anti-HBc(78.8% in male, 50.9% in female) was higher than that of anti-HBs(65.2% in male, 46.6% in female), respectively. And both of them were higher in male than in female. Increasing tendency of the prevalence of both antibodies was observed by age, which seems to be largely due to recurrent infection in adults and to some cumulative effect, in part, of their relatively longer-lasting duration. 3. The level of HBV infection defined by positive for at least one of the 3 serologic markers of HBV by RIA method was 84.7(81.8-87.6)% in male and 61.2(51.9-70.5)% in female, which was also one of the highest among those of Asian-Pacific countries. The proportion of susceptible population to HBV infection among healthy adults was 15.3% in male and 38.8% in female. 4. The relative frequency of current or past infection and chronic carrier among HBV infected person was estimated. The currently or past infected was estimated 75.7% in male and 71.8% in female, and chronic carrier state, 13.8% in male and 14.1% in female. The analysis of the geometric mean of the antibody titer in anti-HBs positive sera indicated also to be compatible with the above findings, suggesting that active, even though inapparent, infection of HBV occur so frequently among healthy adults in Korea.
Adult* ; Antibodies ; Carrier State ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Radioimmunoassay ; Seoul* ; Vaccination

The aim of this study was to assess the degree of association between individual stress and the amount of smoking among male senior students of a medical college. The questionnaire survey was conducted twice for collecting the data on stress level in terms of BEPSl score, smoking amounts, alcohol intake, and residence type in 1992 and 1993. Among the 223 responders, 39.9% were smokers. In the smokers, the association between stress level and smoking amount was significant after controlling for alcohol intake and residence type (P < 0.l). Especially in the group of living without family, the association was more significant (p=0.06). Therefore, it is recommendable that the stress management program is called upon for the student smokers to reduce smoking amount.
Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

No abstract available.
Fever ; Humans ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset* ; Urticaria*

In the treatment of mandibular condylar fractures, arthrocentesis, lavage and selective intermaxillary fixation were performed after closed reduction. In this lavage group, the physiotherapy performed for 3-6 months after injury. in control group, continuous intermaxillary fixation was done for 1-3 weeks, and physiotherapy followed in the same method of the lavage group. In the comparative study of the both groups, the following results are shown. 1. Compared to control group, the lavage group had a slightly superior result at range of motion, joint pain and occlusal deviation, from I day after arthrocentesis to 6 months after injury. 2. The significant differences between both groups were seen at range of motion and joint pain in 1 month after injury. 3. At 6 months after injury, the differences between both groups were not significant at range of motion, joint pain and occlusal deviation. From this study, in the mandibular condylar fracture, the arthrosentesis, lavage and selective intermaxillary fixation after closed reduction can improve symptoms such as joint pain and occlusal deviation, also increase range of motion. in this therapeutic way, intracapsular hemarthrosis which can cause TMJ ankylosis or dysfunction can be removed effectively. in addition, patient's discomfort such as swallowing disturbance, speech disturbance and emotional stress can be reduced signuficantly.
Ankylosis ; Arthralgia ; Deglutition ; Hemarthrosis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Stress, Psychological ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Therapeutic Irrigation* ; Treatment Outcome*

We successfully closed the isolated patent ductusarteriosus(PDA) in 2 female patients using the Rashkind Double-Disc Occlusion system. nonsurgical closure of PDA usin plug was introduced by Porstmann in 1968 through transfemoral artery catheter and using umbrella by Rashkind in 1977 througth venous site. There has been continued improvement and simplification of the equipment as well as in the implantation technique. Nowaday, a multicenter study was conducted to test the safety and effectiveness of this interventioal method in States. Successful closure rate was high but some problems were reported such as embolization, abnormal deployment and residual shunt. Residual shunt was visualized by aortography in our both cases immediately after intervention but continuous murmur could not be heard in both cases. Oxygen step-up disappeared immediately after occluder implantation in both cases. Complete occlusion was expected with thrombus in near future.
Aortography ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Female ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Neurothekeoma* ; Scalp*

For the study of its stability when the screw has been fixed after sagittal split ramus osteotomy(SSRO) of the mandible, the methods of screw arrangement are classified into two types, triangular and straight. The angles of screws to the bone surface are classified as perpendicular arrangements, the 60degrees anterioinferior screw, known as triangular, and the most posterior screw, called straight arrangement, thus there are four types. The finite element method model has been made by using a three dimensional calculator and a supercomputer. The load directions are to the anterior teeth, premolar region, and molar region, and the bite force is 1 Kgf to each region. The distribution of stress, the von-Mises yield strength, and safety of margin refer to the total sum of transformed energy have been studied by comparison with each other. The following conclusion has been researched : 1. When shear stress is compared, in the triangular arrangement in the form of "giyeok", the anterosuperior screw is seen at contributing to the support of the bone fragment. In the straight arrangement, substantial stress is seen to be concentrated on the most posterior angled screw. 2. When the von-Mises yield strength is compared, it seemed that the stress concentration on the angled anteroinferior screw is higher, it shows a higher possibility of fracture than any other screw. In the straight arrangement, stress appeared to be concentrated on the most posteriorly angled screw. 3. When the safety margins of the transfomed energy are compared, the energy conduction is much greater in the case of the angled screw than in the case of the perpendicular screw. The triangular arrangement in the form of "giyeok" shows a superior clinical sign to that of the straight arrangement. Judging from the above results, when the screw fixation is made after SSRO in practical clinical cases, two screws should be inserted in the superior border of mandibular ramus and a third screw of mandibular inferior border should be inserted in the form of triangular. All screws on the bony surface should be placed perpendicularly-90 degrees angles apparently best promote bony support and stability.
Bicuspid ; Bite Force ; Mandible ; Molar ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus* ; Tooth

Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Hair ; Humans ; Membranes ; Odors ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Vestibuloplasty ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Danazol* ; Panniculitis*

BACKGROUND: The multifactorial hypothesis is proposed as a working hypothesis which encompass both the genetic and environmental factors known to participate in the etiology of congenital heart anomalies. So, at the moment, it is believed that avoidance of suspected environmental factors in early pregenancy is most certain preventive measure of congenital heart anomalies. This study has been undertaken in order to find the possible environmental risk factors for congenital heart anomalies in Korea. METHOD: A total of 320 mothers of infants with congenital heart anomalies diagnosed at Seoul National University Hospital were included in this study as case group. And 413 mothers of healthy infants, who visited well baby clinic at the hospital during the same period of 2 years from 1987, comprised the control group. Data related to environmental risk factors including drug use during the first trimester of pregnancy, any other confounders were collected by direct interview using questionmaires. RESULT: There were positive associations for lower educational level of mother, indoor smoking habit of father, number of pregnancy, and of experience of previous abortion of mother, and multiple(or twin) birth. Relative risk estimates for the first trimester exposure to anti-emetics and herb medicine were 2.1(p<0.006) and 1.4(p<0.044), respectively. Data showed a positive association between anti-inflammatory drug exposure and congenital anomalies of pulmonary valve(OR=22.7, p<0.01), and between anti-histamine exposure and coarctation of aorata(OR=12.7, p<0.017). CONCLUSION: Environmental factors such as smoking habit of father, certain drugs used in early pregnancy, plays a role in the etiology of congenital heart anomlaies. Further studies, designed to focus on specific drug and to differentiate the effect of the suspected drug and to differentiate the effect of the suspected drug form that of the underlying conditions prompting its use, should be called upon.
Abortion, Induced ; Antiemetics ; Case-Control Studies* ; Fathers ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea* ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking