No abstract available.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Prevalence*

No abstract available.
Occupational Diseases*

Authors presented the serial changes of brain MRI findings in two cases of cryptococcal meningitis. The MRI findings of the first patient (53-year-old female) consisted of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces, leptomeningeal enhancement, cryptococcomas and hydrocephalus. Dilated Virchow-Robin spaces were noted on the first MR obtained 33 days after symptom onset. The size and number of dilated Virchow-Robin space gradually decreased since 119 days after symptom onset (62 days after treatment). Faint leptomeningeal enhancement was found at cerebellar region on the first MRI, which became more distinct and intense on the day 119, probably due to improper treatment. The leptomeningeal enhancement decreased on the day 156. Mild hydrocephalus was noted on MRI obtained 70 days after symptom onset, which markedly aggravated on the day 119. It decreased after steroid therapy alone. Enhancing crytococcomas of variable size were noted at the right temporal lobe and cerebellum on MRI of the day 119, which decreased in size and number on the day 156. On the day 295 MRI showed nearly disppearance of the dilated Virchow-Robin space, but faint leptomeningeal enhancement, cerebellar crytococcomas and hydrocephalus still remained. The MRI findings of the second patient (36-year-old female) showed the findings similar to those of the first patient. Initial MRI obtained 18 days after symptom onset showed no abnormal findings. Dilated Virchow-robin spaces were noted on the day 36 (13 days after treatment onset), which nearly disappeared on the day 109. Enhancing cryptococcomas in both basal ganglia and cerebral cortex and leptomeningeal enhancement were noted on MRI of the day 136. Both cryptococcomas and leptomeningeal enhancement decreased in size and enhancing degree on the day 157. Hydrocephalus was noted on the day 109.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Cortex ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; Temporal Lobe

Authors presented the serial changes of brain MRI findings in two cases of cryptococcal meningitis. The MRI findings of the first patient (53-year-old female) consisted of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces, leptomeningeal enhancement, cryptococcomas and hydrocephalus. Dilated Virchow-Robin spaces were noted on the first MR obtained 33 days after symptom onset. The size and number of dilated Virchow-Robin space gradually decreased since 119 days after symptom onset (62 days after treatment). Faint leptomeningeal enhancement was found at cerebellar region on the first MRI, which became more distinct and intense on the day 119, probably due to improper treatment. The leptomeningeal enhancement decreased on the day 156. Mild hydrocephalus was noted on MRI obtained 70 days after symptom onset, which markedly aggravated on the day 119. It decreased after steroid therapy alone. Enhancing crytococcomas of variable size were noted at the right temporal lobe and cerebellum on MRI of the day 119, which decreased in size and number on the day 156. On the day 295 MRI showed nearly disppearance of the dilated Virchow-Robin space, but faint leptomeningeal enhancement, cerebellar crytococcomas and hydrocephalus still remained. The MRI findings of the second patient (36-year-old female) showed the findings similar to those of the first patient. Initial MRI obtained 18 days after symptom onset showed no abnormal findings. Dilated Virchow-robin spaces were noted on the day 36 (13 days after treatment onset), which nearly disappeared on the day 109. Enhancing cryptococcomas in both basal ganglia and cerebral cortex and leptomeningeal enhancement were noted on MRI of the day 136. Both cryptococcomas and leptomeningeal enhancement decreased in size and enhancing degree on the day 157. Hydrocephalus was noted on the day 109.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Cortex ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; Temporal Lobe

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of body fatness indicators and serum lipids (total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, myocardial infarction(MI) index) to find anthropometric indicators of body fat distribution that are strongly associated with serum lipids. 347 adult male workers of an industry in Kyungpook province were selected and data on the general characteristics were obtained using questionnaire from June 26 to June 29, 1991. Serum lipids were tested with 5 ml fasting blood and height, weight, circumferences of waist, hip and mid-thigh, five subcutaneous fat thickeness(biceps, triceps, supscapular, suprailiac, thigh) were mea sured using Ultrasound type A TATT. Waist circumference, waist/hip circumference ratio and subcutaneous fat thickness of suprailiac area are significantly increased with increasing age, but thigh circumference is significantly decreased (P< 0.05). These results suggest that central obesity is closely related to age and waist circumference may be the best indicator of body fatness or body fat distribution in men. In younger age group(below 40 year old), the result of canonical correlations analysis suggests that circumferences(0.501) was slightly closely related to serum lipids than subcutaneous fat thickness(0.493), however, in older age group (above 40 year old), subcutaneous fat thickness(0.528) were more strongly associated with serum lipids than circumferences(0.419). Weighted canonical analyses suggest that biceps and suprailiac areas in younger age group and sub scapular area in older age group are stronger indicators of serum lipids among .subcutaneous fatness measurements. Of the circumferences, waist is the most strongest indicator of serum lipids in both age groups. Therefore, it is recommended that circumference of waist and subcutaneous fat thickness of subscapular area should be measured to estimate the degree of central obesity for preventing cardiovascular disease in men.
Adipose Tissue* ; Adult ; Body Fat Distribution* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hip ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Thigh ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography ; Waist Circumference ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Percutaneous biliary drainage is an effective new nonsurgical method for combined external/internal catheterdecompression of obstructed extrahepatic bile ducts. Molnar and Stockum, and more recently others, have reportedsucdess utilizing this approach to establish biliary drainage in patients with obstructive jaundice. Percutaneousbiliary drainage was performed in 9 patients with obstructive jaundice. Internal drainage was accomplished in 4patients (44.4%), and external drainage in 5 patients (55.6%). Major complications occurred in 2 patients; bileleakage, one; sepsis, one. Minor complications occurred in 7 patients; mild or high fever, 5 cases; transienthemobilia, 2 cases. The catheter management problems encoutered including pain, catheter dislodgement ormigration, lumen occulusion, and external bile leakage.
Bile ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Fever ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Methods ; Sepsis

The authors reported the cases of 23 patients with aneurysms measuring 2.5 cm or greater in diameter found during 7 years period in which we performed 596 operations for aneurysm of the 23 patients, 14 were treated by direct operation, 3 by internal carotid ligation with or without bypass surgery, 2 by trapping, 1 by wrapping and the other 3 by conservative therapy. The overall incidence of giant aneurysms was 3.9% but varied according to location; 9 cases were located on the internal carotid artery; 8 were on the anterior communicating artery; 5 were on the middle cerebral artery. 14 patients had hemorrhagic attacks, 7 had mass effects from the aneurysm, and 2 had ischemic events. Overall favorable outcome was 65% and the mortality was 13%. Based on the review of the literature, the appropriateness of surgery and surgical methods are discussed.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Ligation ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Mortality

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Risk Factors*

Otitis media (OM) is one of the most common pediatric infectious diseases. The burden of OM is known in many countries, but data for Korea has not been collected. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the disease burden of OM in both children and adults. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment database study was analyzed to estimate the clinical and economic burden of OM and acute OM (AOM) for 2004. OM was defined as all cases coded H65, H66, or H67 and AOM cases coded H65, H65.0, H65.1, H65.9, H66, H66.4 or H66.9. For AOM, repeated visits within 30 days were considered to be one episode. Age specific incidence, and direct and indirect costs were estimated. A survey on pediatricians and otolaryngologists who most frequently diagnosed OM was carried out. The objective was to evaluate the accuracy of the claims made for OM and to examine the diagnosis and treatments of OM. A total of 5,964,587 claims for OM and 2,924,532 AOM episodes were reported. The incidence of outpatients presenting AOM was 60.9/1,000. The incidence of AOM was highest in children aged 1 year (736.9/1,000). The overall hospitalization rate due to AOM was 2.8/10,000, with a peak of 29.4/10,000 (1 year). The total cost incurred by AOM in Korea was estimated to be around 606.3 billion Korean won (KRW; 1,000 KRW is approximately US$1.00). The total cost of admissions was approximately 22.9 billion KRW, and the average cost of admission per person was about 1,690,000 KRW in a year. The cost of outpatient visits was 583.4 billion KRW, and 199,000 KRW per person. According to a survey of pediatricians and otolaryngologists on the accuracy of the OM diagnostic code, treatment, and prescription habits, the first-line diagnosis of AOM seemed to be fairly accurate. OM, including AOM, causes a considerable clinical and economic burden in Korea.
Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Outpatients ; Prescriptions

In 38 of 70 patients who underwent lumbar spinal surgery, we performed a randomized, prospective double-blind study of the effect of caudal block with morphine sulfate on postoperative pain levels. Age, sex, clinical features, postoperative analgesic consumption, pain score, adverse effects and patient satisfaction on discharge were recorded. The consumption of parenteral analgesics on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days was significantly lower in the morphine sulfate group(p<0.05), than in the control group. Caudal block with morphine sulfate also led to marked reductions in pain levels and thus increases patients satisfaction during the postoperative period(p<0.05). Transient respiratory depression occurred in three of 38 patients(7.9%), but further treatment was not needed. Seventeen patients(44.7%) developed urinary retention, but this recovered spontaneously. The present study demonstrates that caudal block with morphine sulfate leads to a highly significant reduction in pain during postoperative periods and a corresponding reduction in the need for additional postoperative analgesics, in addition, patients are more satisfied.
Analgesics ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Morphine* ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Urinary Retention