To determine the hepatitis B virus infection rate of medical school students and appropriate time for immunization with hepatitis B vaccine, 385 students in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades of Medical School of Kyungpook National University who had not been vaccinated and volunteered to participate in this study were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc with radioimmunoassay method (Abbortt Lab. kit). A questionnaire was administered to ask the history of transfusion, acupuncture and surgery. HBsAg positive students were retested 16 months after the initial test. Overall HBsAg positive rate was 6.8% and the age adjusted rate for male (7.2%) was higher than that for female (4.9%). Anti-HBs positive rate was 35.8% (36.1% for male, 37.9% for male) and anti-HBc positive rate was 45.5% (46.5% for male, 44.7% for femaleP. Overall hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection rats was 49.1% and the infection rate for male (50.3%) was slightly higher than that for female (46.5%). HBsAg positive rate and infection rate were increased as the grade increased but it was attributed to the age distribution of the students. HBsAg positive rate for 20 years old students was 1.7%; 21 years, 6.6%; 22 years, 6.1%; 23 years, 12.2%; and 24 years and older, 6.4%. HBV infection rate showed an increasing trend as age increased; 45.8% for 20 years, 41.5% for 21 years, 49.5% for 22 years, 55.5% for 23 years and 59.6% for 24 years and older. The age differences in HBsAg positive rates and HBV infection rates did not reach the statistical significance level of 0.05. However, these findings and similar age differences in HBsAg positive rates and HBV infection rates observed in other study suggest that there is a significant age differences. Study of the same age group in other schools and different social classes is warranted to confirm the age difference. Clarification of the reason for such differences would provide a clue to identify the major route of HBV transmission in this age group. Among 26 HBsAg positive students in the initial test, only one student was active hepatitis patient. Out of 24 students who had follow-up test after 16 months 22 students were positive for HBsAg and two students became HBsAg negative and anti-HBs positive. It is obvious that nearly one-half of the medical school students were infected with HBV before 20 years of age and the HBV infection occurs in medical school. Thus, it is recommended to test all the students for HBV infection soon after the admission to the medical school and immunize all the susceptible students with hepatitis B vaccine and give booster as they start to practice at a hospital.
Acupuncture ; Age Distribution ; Animals ; Daegu* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunization ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Schools, Medical* ; Social Class ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: There has been little research regarding the effectiveness of oseltamivir for influenza B infections. We sought to identify the different clinical manifestations between patients treated with and without oseltamivir. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the medical records of 72 inpatients or outpatients from two medical centers diagnosed with influenza B infections by either a rapid antigen test or multiplex reverse transcriptase PCR between January 2012 and July 2012. We compared gender, age, past medical history, admission period, total fever duration, fever duration after hospitalization, post-oseltamivir medication peak temperature, laboratory test, chest X-ray, antibiotic medication, and the presence of concomitant viral or bacterial infections. RESULTS: The number of subjects in our study was 72 who were diagnosed with influenza B pneumonia, acute bronchitis, acute bronchiolitis, croup, and mean age was 3.6+/-2.8 year old. The demographic characteristics and clinical manifestations of oseltamivir and the non-oseltamivir groups, including hospitalization period (4.18+/-2.10 vs 4.79+/-1.49 days, P=.17) and total fever duration (5.32+/-2.07 vs 6.41+/-3.25 days, P=.09), demonstrated no significant differences. Notably, the oseltamivir group did have significantly reduced usage of antibiotic treatment than the non-oseltamivir group (P=.04). When we limited our patient group to patients under the age of three, similar results were seen. The group prescribed oseltamivir within 48 hours of fever onset had less antibiotic usage, in addition to a shorter fever duration. CONCLUSION: Oseltamivir appeared to have no benefit in improving the clinical course. However, if it is prescribed within the first 48 hours of symptoms, it may be more effective.
Bacterial Infections ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Croup ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, University* ; Humans ; Influenza B virus* ; Influenza, Human ; Inpatients ; Medical Records ; Oseltamivir* ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thorax

Feto-maternal hemorrhage, the presence of fetal red blood cells in the maternal circulation, occurs in up to 75% of pregnancies. But its volume is usually very small. Feto-maternal hemorrhage of more than 30 ml of whole blood is relatively rare. The key features that lead to early diagnosis are the maternal history, fetal monitoring, the clinical and laboratory findings of anemia and a negative Coombs' test. Diagnosis is confirmed by Kleihauer-Betke test. Perinatal problems include fetal distress, neonatal anemia, hypovolemic shock, and death. The fetal outcome depends on the amount and rate of bleeding. The initial hemoglobin level was a better predictor than the volume of bleeding. We present two cases of severe neonatal anemia associated with massive feto-maternal hemorrhage, which was confirmed by Kleihauer-Betke test.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans

We encountered a case of Sweet's syndrome associated with myelodysplastic syndrome in a 60-year-old woman. The clinical presentation strongly suggested Sweet's syndrome. A skin biopsy specimen taken from her skin lesion on the leg showed an infiltration of numerous neutrophils in the subcutis instead of the dermis which is the main area of neutrophilic infiltration in Sweet's syndrome. Among infiltrating cells, many neutrophils(8%) showed nuclear segmentation anomalies, that is, hyposegmentation(pseudo-Pelger-Huet anomaly) or hypersegmentation. Peripheral blood neutrophils had similar anomalies. This subcutaneous variant of Sweet's syndrome, Sweet's panniculitis, is rare and nuclear segmentation anomalies of neutrophils are probably a good clue to underlying myelodysplastic syndrome.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Neutrophils* ; Panniculitis ; Skin ; Sweet Syndrome*

A retrospecive clinical observation was done on 325 cases of hypertension admitted to Department of internal Medicine of Seoul Red Cross Hospital from January, 1979 to December, 1982. The following results have been obtained. 1) The observed patients were 157 males and 168 females, and the prevalence rate of malignant hypertension among 325 hypertensions was 16 cases (4.9 percent). Among 16 cases of malignant hypertension 9 cases were male and 7 cases were female. Most frequently in 50, 60 and 40 years of age in this order each sex. 2) The average admitted dates are 7 days. 27 cases (8.3percent) were readmitted above 2 times after one discharged. 3) The most freqeuntly observed duration of Known hypertension 37.9 percent was 6-10 years and the next frequently observed duration 37.4 percent was 3-5 years. 4) The highest percentage of malignant hypertension had systolic blood pressure between 190-209mmHg and diastolic blood pressure between 150-169mmHg. 5) The highest percentage of seasonal number was spring (31.1 percent) and the next autumn, summer, winter in this order and the prevalence rates of hypertention are increased average 1.9% of each year. 6) The 78.5 percent of the patients were found that their blood pressure were abnormaly high when they were examined with related symptoms on admission, and they major symptorms were headache and dizziness. 7) The physical examination on admission, tachycardia (56percent), tachypnea (15.1percent), semicoma to coma (12.9 percent) in this order. 8) The status of treatment in hypertension on admission was as follows; imtermittent treatment 54.5 percent, no treatment 31 percent and continuous treatment 14.5 percent in this order. 9) In the chest X-ray on admission, the most frequent finding was cardiomegaly, and normal finding was the next frequency. The pulmonary Tbc was noted in 12.6 percent. 10) According to the degree of fundoscopic abnormality by K-W classification stage III was 68.8 percent and stage IV was 31.2 percent. 11) Electrocardiogram abnormalities were 44.9 percent, and 87.5 percent of malignant hypertension revealed electrocardiographic abnormalities and left ventricle hypertrophy was observed in 70.5 percent. 12) Hypercholesterolemia 78 percent, Hypernatremia 69.8 percent, Hypokalemia 22.8 percent, serum chloride 34.5 percent (<95m Eg/l), BUN 53.8 percent (>20mg/dl) and creatinine 45.8 percent (>3mg/dl) on admission. 13) Proteinuria was observed in 87.5 percent of malignant hypertension. 14) Marked improved for clinically was 24 percent and mortality rate was 5.2 percent, most common cause of death are cardiovascular accident (64.7percent) and renal failure (23.5percent).
Blood Pressure ; Cardiomegaly ; Cause of Death ; Classification ; Coma ; Creatinine ; Dizziness ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Headache ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypernatremia ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Hypertrophy ; Hypokalemia ; Internal Medicine ; Male ; Mortality ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Proteinuria ; Red Cross ; Renal Insufficiency ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Tachycardia ; Tachypnea ; Thorax

PURPOSE:This study was designed to know the clinical significance and risk factors of hyperkalemia in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI). METHODS:We compared the incidence of hyperkalemia and its associated ECG abnormalities and mortality rate according to birth weight (102 of less than 1,000 g vs. 328 of 1,000 to 1,500 g) in 430 VLBWI who were born from Jan. 2000 to July 2004, retrospectively, and also compared the several parameter according to serum potassium (35 of hyperkalemia vs. 11 of normokalemia) in 49 selected VLBWI who need mechanical ventilation for respiratory distress without oliguria within 72 hours of life to know the risk factors of hyperkalemia. RESULTS:Overall incidence of hyperkalemia in VLBWI was 21.1%, and was significantly higher in below 1,000 g than in 1,000 to 1,500 g (32.4% vs. 17.7%, P<0.05). Hyperkalemia associated ECG abnormalities, life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia, and death were also significantly higher in below 1,000 g. There were no significant differences in maternal or infant's characteristics, laboratory findings and clinical conditions between hyperkalemic vs. normokalemic group. The incidence of cardiac arrhythmia and mortality rate were also significantly higher in hyperkalemic group. CONCLUSION:Early onset nonoliguric hyperkalemia is often associated with life- threatening cardiac arrhythmia and death in VLBWI, especially less than 1,000 g. Although perinatal risk factors were not found in this study, prospective study is needed to establish the preventive strategy and to improve the outcome.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Birth Weight ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia* ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Mortality ; Oliguria ; Potassium ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of fulguration of Hunner's ulcers (HUs) in painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) that is refractory to conservative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with refractory PBS/IC and treated with fulguration between 2011 and 2013 were identified through screening of medical records. To evaluate treatment outcomes, voiding diaries, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and two IC symptom questionnaires (pelvic pain and urgency/frequency scale [PUF] and O'Leary-Sant IC symptom index and IC problem index [OS]) were used. Fulguration was deemed to be successful if the VAS score was <2 or less than half of the preoperative VAS score. RESULTS: In total, 27 patients with PBS/IC in whom conservative treatments had failed were enrolled. Two months after fulguration, decreases were observed in the mean 24-hour urinary frequency (from 16.0 to 10.2), 24-hour urgency episodes (8.0 to 1.8), and the VAS (5.8 to 1.2), PUF symptom (15.1 to 7.0), PUF bother (8.4 to 2.7), OS symptom (15.1 to 7.2), and OS problem (13.8 to 6.0) scores. At 5 and 10 months, all variables had worsened. At 2, 5, and 10 months, the success rates were 94.1%, 70.0%, and 33.3%, respectively. Four patients underwent one repeat fulguration on average 11.3 months after the first fulguration. Repeat fulguration was not significantly associated with any clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: In PBS/IC that was refractory to medication or other conservative treatments, HU elimination by fulguration effectively improved symptoms. However, this effect decreased gradually over time.
Cystitis ; Cystitis, Interstitial* ; Electrocoagulation ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Ulcer* ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The symptoms of dizziness are common in the emergency department, accounting for 1~2% of all emergency department visits. Central vertigo, especially stroke is a leading concern when these symptoms occur in isolated condition. However, no method is available to discriminate isolated central vertigo from peripheral vertigo. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the simple prediction method of central vertigo among patients presenting with the symptoms of dizziness in the emergency department. METHODS: A three-year retrospective study with symptoms of dizziness was performed in a university teaching hospital between 1st January 2005 and 31st December 2007. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of all clinical parameters was performed for a model comprising 10 variables to form a St. Mary's dizziness prediction score. RESULTS: A total of 1058 patients were enrolled. Among central vertigo patients, 70 were ischemic stroke, 8 vertebrobasilar insufficiency, 3 hemorrhagic stroke and 1 had a brain tumor. The odds ratio of the predictor variables were (1) 2.13 for men, (2) 7.18 for disequilibrium, (3) 3.49 for headache, (4) 7.17 for falling tendency, (5) 2.96 for risk factor score 1, and (6) 8.71 for risk factor score 2. Each of these variables was assigned a score 1 or 2 to obtain a total of 8. The risk of central vertigo was 2.64%, 25.60%, and 84.21% for the low, intermediate, and high risk groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: St. Mary's dizziness prediction score is a simple and relatively reliable tool for accessing the symptoms of dizziness and diagnosing isolated central vertigo in the emergency department.
Accounting ; Brain Neoplasms ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dizziness ; Emergencies ; Headache ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ; Vertigo

PURPOSE: Though caustic injury of the upper digestive tract can lead to severe sequelae, there are few clinical studies on this subject. This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical characteristics, the endoscopic findings and the risk factors of the upper digestive lesions in patient with caustic ingestion injury. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 137 patients who ingested caustic materials and who visited to our emergency room from January, 2000 to June, 2009. RESULTS: The most common ingested agent was sodium hypochlorite (44.5%), followed by acetic acid (19.7%), hydrochloric acid (11.7%) and lye (8.0%). Ingestion for suicidal attempt (62.0%) was more frequent than accidental ingestion (30.7%). Grade IIa injury was the most frequent finding on endoscopy of the esophagus and Grade I injury was the most frequent finding on endoscopy of the stomach. For the late sequelae, there were 9 cases (6.6%) of esophageal stricture and 2 cases (1.5%) of gastric outlet obstruction. The initial signs and symptoms did not correlate with the development of stricture, but leukocytosis, and grade III injury were related to the risk of developing stricture. CONCLUSION: Caustic injury of the upper gastrointestinal tract is frequently observed on early endoscopy and it can cause significant late sequelae such as stricture. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate these patients with regular follow up endoscopic examinations for the management of late sequelae.
Acetic Acid ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Leukocytosis ; Lye ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Stomach ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue in Korea and to describe demographic, clinical, and psychological differences among those with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), those with idiopathic chronic fatigue, and healthy controls. METHODS: 1,526 persons aged 18-76 years who visited Korea university hospital health management center for general check-up between December 1998 and August 1999 were participated in the study. The questionnaire made according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria was administered to the recruited persons and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were diagnosed by questionnaire, physical examination and laboratory tests. The Korean version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess depression. RESULTS: Of the 1,526 persons studied, 433 (29.4 %) reported severe fatigue lasting at least 6 months. Of the 202 persons with unexplained chronic fatigue, 31 persons (2.0% of the study population) were classified as CFS cases. The prevalence of CFS was 2.81% in women, 1.49% in men respectively (p<0.05). When CES-D cut-off score of 25 was used, 30.43% of persons with CFS and 5.93% of persons without chronic fatigue had scores suggestive of depression. CFS patients had higher mean scores on CES-D than persons without chronic fatigue (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Persons who met the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome were found in 2.0%. The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in our study were high, compared with previous studies in other countries. CFS patients had higher mean scores on CES-D than persons without chronic fatigue.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires