OBJECTIVES: To investigate the total cholesterol levels and related factors in a rural adult population. METHODS: 3,207 adults( 1,272 men and 1,935 women) were examined in 1997. Their heights, weights, and fasting serum total cholesterol levels were measured, and their body mass indices were calculated. A questionnaire interviewing method was used to collect risk factor data. RESULTS: The mean value of total cholesterol were 190.5 mg/dl, and 198.8 mg/dl, and the age-adjusted prevalence rates for hypercholesterolemia (above 240 mg/dl) were 13.7% and 10.2%, in men and women, respectively. From simple analyses, age, educational level, coffee intake, amount of meat and food intake, waist circumference, waist-hip circumference ratio(WHR), and body mass index(BMI) were significant risk factors in men (p<0.05) relating to serum total cholesterol levels. In women, age, educational level, hypertension history, diabetes history, herbal drug history, amount of food intake, alcohol consumption, waist circumference, WHR, BMI, and menopausal status were significant risk factors (p<0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, waist circumference (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), and coffee intake (p<0.05) proved to be significant risk factors in men. Whereas, menopausal status (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), herbal drug history (p<0.01), amount of food intake (p<0.05), waist circumference (p<0.05), and alcohol consumption (p<0.05) were significant risk factors in women. Conclusions : The significant risk factors, for both men and women, relating to the serum total cholesterol were waist circumference and BMI. Thus, for the reduction of serum total cholesterol level, it is recommended that health education for the control of obesity should be implemented.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cholesterol* ; Coffee ; Eating ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Linear Models ; Male ; Meat ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference ; Weights and Measures

While retinal detachment is not rarely associated with posterior staphyloma and macular hole, very few cases of retinal detachment with equatorial scleral staphyloma are reported until recentily. In the course of retinal detachment surgery, an equatorial staphyloma is found unexpectedly and makes surgical treatment difficult. We experienced a 70 year old woman who had retinal detachment due to a hole at the 1 o'clock equator. During the retinal detachment surgery, a large equatorial staphyloma was noted right over the retinal hole. Scleral surface buckling procedure and graft using the preserved human sclera were performed. After the follow up period of 6 months, retina was still reattached.
Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde* ; Sclera ; Transplants

Pulmonary histiocytosis X is a rare granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology that alters the interstitium of the lung. When confined to the lung, it is known as primary pulmonary histiocytosis X or eosinophilic granuloma of the lung. The chest radiograph shows characteristic nodular, reticular, and cystic abnormalities, which are most apparent in the upper and middle lung zones, but spare the costophrenic angles, The CT demonstrates innumerable small cysts with thin walls, and fine nodules. Recently we experienced pathologically proven primary pulmonary histiocystosis X in 35 years old male patients who had recurrent pneumothorax.
Eosinophilic Granuloma ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Pneumothorax ; Radiography, Thoracic

As the number of diabetic patient increases, it is important to manage diabetic retinopathy. Clinically sufficient pupillary dilatation should be obtained for fundoscopic examination and laser photocoagulation theraphy of diabetic patient but we experienced insufficient and delayed pupillary dilatation after instillation of mydriatics. In order to examine abnormality of pupillary dilatation and its relationship to the stage of diabetic retiniopathy, the course of pupillary diameter was measured with Haab's pupillometer after instillation of one drop of 1% Mydriacyl(R) and 2.5% Mydfrin(R) in 72 patients with diabetes mellitus (40-69 years old) and 11 normal controls (40-69 years old). The following results were obtained. After instillation of 1% Mydracy(R), the maximum pupillary diameter was smaller in diabetic retinopathy group than in controls. As the severity of diabetic retinopathy was increased, maximum pupillary diameter was decreased. After instillation of 2.5% Mydfrin(R), the delay of the average time to reach maximal mydriasis in diabetic group was larger than that in controls. This delay was proportional to the severity of diabetic retinopathy. Therefore it was considered that the abservation of the course of pupillary diameter after instillation of mydriatics would be useful for diagnosis of the severity of diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation* ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Mydriasis ; Mydriatics*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Funnel chest is one of the most common anomaly of chest wall, which is manifested by depression of sternum and costal cartilage. Popular operative methods were Ravitch operation and Wada operation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From 1983 to 1996, 21 cases of funnel chest were corrected surgically in the department of thoracic surgery, National Medical Center. Investigated age and sex distribution, combined anomaly,clinical symptom, degree of correction and complication, postoperative satisfaction. We used 2 different surgical methods, one was Wada & its variants(17 cases), the other was Ravitch and it variants(4 cases). Most of operative indications were cosmetic problems. RESULT: The pre-operative Welch index was 4.188, but this index decreased to 3.46 after the operations.(p=0.046) The degree of correction was higher in Wada & it variant operation than the modified Ravitch operation.(p=0.54) Their results were satisfactory in 20 patients, while unsatisfactory in 1 patient because of a k-wire fracture. There was no recurrence of chest wall depression or postoperative death during the OPD follow up period. CONCLUSION: We recommend Wada operation in symmetric and small degree of depressive chest wall deformity in preand post school age.
Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Depression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Funnel Chest* ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Sex Distribution ; Sternum ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thoracic Wall

While retinal detachment is not rarely associated with posterior staphyloma and macular hole, very few cases of retinal detachment with equatorial scleral staphyloma are reported until recentily. In the course of retinal detachment surgery, an equatorial staphyloma is found unexpectedly and makes surgical treatment difficult. We experienced a 70 year old woman who had retinal detachment due to a hole at the 1 o'clock equator. During the retinal detachment surgery, a large equatorial staphyloma was noted right over the retinal hole. Scleral surface buckling procedure and graft using the preserved human sclera were performed. After the follow up period of 6 months, retina was still reattached.
Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde* ; Sclera ; Transplants

Spinal instrumentation using pedicle screws offers several advantages such as 1) achievement of rigid fixation through the pedicles which is the strongest structure of spine, 2) nearly anatomic reduction by direct force on the deformed sites of fracture and 3) preservation of mobile segments by short segment fixation. The authors analysed 14 cases of unstable thoracolumbar and lumbar fracture treated by pedicle screw fixation from May 1988 to June 1989. Mean follow up was 14 months(8M.-20M.) and following results were obtained. 1. Most of the cases were male(13 cases) and their age ranged from 26 to 55 with an average of 36. 2. According to Denis classification, there were 7 cases of burst fracture, 5 cases of fracture-dislocation, 1 case of seat belt injury and unclassified one case. 3. After operation, the height of anterior column was reduced from 61% to 86%, posterior column, from 134% to 105%, local kyphosis, from 17.4% degrees to 3.4 degrees and anterior translation, from 6mm to 1.2mm. 4. In comparision of preoperative and postoperative moter index between fracture-dislocation and burst fracture, the former changed from 3.2 to 21.8 and the latter, from 40.2 to 48.6. 5. Significant neurologic recoveries were observed in all cases except one complete paraplegia. 6. There was no significant complication and minimal loss of correction was noted.
Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Kyphosis ; Paraplegia ; Pedicle Screws ; Seat Belts ; Spine

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effects of an oral vitamin supplementation on cognitive function in the elderly, 254 elderly people(experiment group) who were received an oral vitamin supplement for one-year was compared with 292 elderly who were treated as the control group in Koje city during the study period(from February 1997 to March 1998). METHODS: The cognitive function was tested by mini-mental state examination Korea(MMSE-K). Multiple regression analysis was done to control other confounding variables such as gender, age, educational level, smoking, alcohol, a past 15-day medical history, satisfaction for living cost, family number, cognitive function of the baseline survey. RESULTS: In the baseline survey, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 31%(mild impairment 12.5% and severe impairment 18.5%). There was a significant difference(0.76) in cognitive change in the elderly between two groups, 0.68 improved in the experiment group and 0.08 worsen in the control group(p<0.01). In multiple regression analysis, the significant variables were an oral vitamin supplementation, a past 15-day medical history, family number, cognitive function of baseline survey(p<0.05). The improvement of cognitive function was observed in those who do not have a past 15-day medical history, have a large family number, and have a low cognitive function of the baseline survey. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that an oral vitamin supplementation was effective in improving the cognitive function in the elderly and more effective in the cases with abnormal cognitive function.
Aged* ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamins*

Occupational dermatosis is one of the most prevalent occupational disorders. However, the extent of the occupational dermatoses including incidences and prevalencies of each disease entity, and etiologic materials are not yet well stated in Korea. Authors reviewed the literatures on the statistic data and reports on the occupational dermatoses, and surveyed on the occupational dermatoses in two factories, and surveyed the physicians responsible to the occupational dermatoses with formed questionnaire. The results are as follows; 1. Among medical journals published since 1964, there were 31 articles on the occupational dermatoses. Of 31 articles, 18 were case reports and all others were review articles. Of 18 case reports, 9 were epidemiologic survey. The Workers' Periodic Health Examinations revealed that prevalence of the occupational dermatoses was highest(4.36 per 10,000 workers) in 1974, but number of the cases reported were decreased sharply since 1978 with some tendency to increase since 1987. There were 2,240 reported cases of occupational dermatoses between 1966 and 1992, which is 1.90% of all the reported occupational diseases. Skin infection and injuries due to chemicals were most frequent and there were 6 cases of skin cancer. 2. In an epidemiological survey on the dermatoses among 995 workers in a metal product manufacturing factory and 225 workers with acne, 130 workers with scar, 123 workers with deformity of toe nails. Scars, photosensitivity dermatitis, deformity of finger and toe nails, and acne were more prevalent in the metal product manufacturing factory(p<0.05). In the metal product manufacturing factory, workers treating organic solvents and oils had more dermatoses than those without treating the materials(p<0.05). On the skin patch performed on 16 workers in the metal product manufacturing factory, there were 8 cases of irritation dermatitis and 5 cases of contact dermatitis. Prevalence of contact dermatitis in the metal product manufacturing factory was 1.3%. 3. On the questionnaire survey, 34 dermatologists, 29 doctors of preventive medicine, and 22 family physician replied. The proportion of occupational etiology among all dermatoses assumed by the physicians were below 9%, and the most important occupational dermatosis in Korea was contact dermatitis. Main etiologic materials related to the occupational dermatosis were organic solvent, acid and alkali, and metals. The reason for the scarcity of report of occupational dermatoses were difficulty in diagnosis and physician's ignorance of the occupational etiology. They replied that to prevent the occupational dermatosis in the workplace, the use of protective devices was most important, and development of diagnostic criteria on the occupational dermatoses is urgent. Above results shows us that there is many workers with occupational dermatoses, but they are mostly unreported. Measures to prevent and manage the occupational dermatoses are not satisfactory at present. Hence, authors suggest measures for the precises diagnosis, report and prevention of the occupational dermatoses. a. Dernatikigustm orevebtuve physician, and industrial hygienist should work as a team to examine the high risk group and establish the preventive measures. b. Disease entities, diagnostic criteria of occupational dermatoses should be listed, criteria for the compensation and job fitting at recruitment should be established, and manual for the proper treatment and effective prevention of each occupational dermatosis should be developed. c. Patch test antigens against each occupational category should be developed and it should be available to any physicians responsible. d. To facilitate the diagnosis of occupational dermatoses by the doctors responsible for the Workers' Periodic Health Examination, development of standardized questionnaire, education on the techniques of the patch test, and cooperation with the dermatologist in diagnosis of occupational dermatoses is essential.
Acne Vulgaris ; Alkalies ; Cicatrix ; Compensation and Redress ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Fingers ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Metals ; Occupational Diseases ; Oils ; Patch Tests ; Physicians, Family ; Prevalence ; Preventive Medicine ; Protective Devices ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin Neoplasms ; Solvents ; Toes