Recently, NAG activity has gained increasing importance as and aid in the diagnosis of renoparenchymal diseases. Elevation of urine NAG activity has been found to be an indicator of renoparenchymnal diseases. To evaluate the diagnostic value of the NAG activity test in the renal disease, we carried out clinical study on 31 cases of renal disease patients who had been admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Chung-Ang University Hospital between March 1992 and February 1993. We analyese by two data: (1) Stastical Package for the Social Science. (2) Students'T test. The results were as follows 1) The urine NAG activity significantly increased (p<0.05) to 69.9+/-5165.69U/hr/mg Creatinine (U/hr/mg Cr) in the renal disease group compared to 3.6+/-1.91U/hr/mg Cr in the control group. 2) The serum NAG activity was 11.69+/-5.18U/L in the renal disease group and 10.58+/-4.04U/L in the control group. There was no significant difference in the serum NAG sctivity between two groups. 3) In the renal disease group, the serum NAG activity was 10.78+/-3.32U/L in male 12.53+/-6.47U/L in female. There was no significant difference between both sexes. In the renal disease, the urine NAG activity was 33.62+/-30.67U/hr/mg Cr in male and 114.05+/-241.62U/hr/mg Cr female. There was no significant difference between both sexes (p<0.05). 4) In the renal disease group, the urine NAG activity increased 314.73+/-420.39U/hr/mg Cr in the 2 years old group but there was no significant difference of urine NAG activity compared to above 2 years old group . 5) The urine NAG activities were 93.1+/-0193.04U/hr/mg Cr in the poteinuria subgroup and 13.3+/-47.62U/hr/mg Cr in the nonproteinuria subgroup and 3.66+/-1.91U/hr/mg Cr in the control group. There was no significant difference between the proteinuria subgroup and the nonproteinuria subgroup. but there was significant difference between nonproteinuria subgroup and control grouop(p<0.005).
Child, Preschool ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Proteinuria ; Social Sciences

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by alopecia, acral and periorificial dermatitis and diarrhea. True acrodermatits enteropathica requires lifelong zinc replacement whereas transient acrodermatitis enteropathica, an acquired disorder with identical clinical features, requires only transient zinc replacement. Although premature and milk-fed infants are particularly vulnerable to development of both conditions, there have been some reports of acrodermatitis enteropathica in full-term breast-fed infants. We report a case of transient acrodermatitis enteropathica in a 5-month-old, full-term, breast-fed male baby with identical history in his 2 elder siblings. The patient presented with a 5-month history of diarrhea, hair loss and crusted erythematous patches on periorificial areas, and fingers and toes. His serum zinc levels were within lower normal limits in 2 consecutive tests. His mother was also checked for zinc levels, which was normal in serum but was markedly reduced in breast milk. Diarrhea and skin lesions disappeared promptly with oral zinc supplementation and did not recur after 11 weeks of treatment.
Acrodermatitis* ; Alopecia ; Dermatitis ; Diarrhea ; Fingers ; Hair ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Siblings* ; Skin ; Toes ; Zinc

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of health status and types of health management on depression in middle-aged women. METHODS: A convenience sample of 188 participants was recruited from health centers in S city. Using a structured questionnaire, data was collected and analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression using SPSS/WIN 23 program. RESULTS: Results of the regression analysis showed that perceived current health status (β=−0.55, p < .001), no caregiver (β=0.47, p < .001), chronic diseases lasting more than three months (β=0.36, p < .001), perceived health status compared to peer group (β=0.32, p < .001), walking for health (β=−0.20, p=.002), caregiver except family (β=0.18, p=.001), and gastrointestinal disease (β=0.10, p=.022) influenced depression in middle-aged women. Overall, approximately 69.7% of total variance explained this model (adjusted R2=0.678, F=57.21, p < .001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that it is more important to understand the level of perceived health status in middle-aged women. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop programs that include various health management methods and strengthen the health care with the help of families and neighbors in order to manage depression in middle-aged women.
Caregivers ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Peer Group ; Walking

The morbidity of spondylolisthesis tends to increase in accordance with the popularization of sports and increase of mean life span by the development of medicine. We had applied surgical treatment for 39 cases of spondylolisthesis during the period of 8 yrs. from Jan. 1976 to Dec. 1983 at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Police Hospital, among them 35 cases were followed up for mean 27 months. Twenty eight cases with posterolateral spinal fusion were isthmic spondylolisthesis and seven cases with posterior spinal fusion and facetectomy were degenerative type. We analysed them with clinical aspects and surgical treatment for 35 cases. The results were as follows: 1. The most common clinical symptoms were low back pain (96.7%) and tenderness (93.5%). 2. The degree of slipping was Grade I by Meyerding's classification in all cases and mean 12.5% by Taillard method. 3. In the 7 cases of isthmic spondylolisthesis, the degree of slipping increased on standing lateral view. And in these cases the clinical symptoms were aggrevated at welking. 4. In the degenerative spondylolisthesis with posterior spinal fusion and facetectomy, we found mean 70% spontaneous correction of slipping commpared with preoperative. 5. In postoperative evaluation we gained 94.3% above good according to Gill's criteria and no pseudarthrosis.
Classification ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Police ; Pseudarthrosis ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylolisthesis ; Sports

BACKGROUND: Cicletanine bydrochloride is a newly developed anti-hypertensive agent. The presence of a furopyridine group characterizes its uncommon chemical structure as an antihypertensive molecule. This clinical trial was performed to confirm the efficacy and safety of cicletanine for the treatment of hypertension as a monotherapy. METHODS: In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral cicletanine, a now class of antihypertensive durgs, the furopyridines, on essential hypertension, a single daily dose of 50mg to 100mg cicletanine was administered in 46 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure in the range of 95mmHg-115mmHg. The patients were asked to cut off other anti hypertensive agents for 10 weeks prior to this clinical trial. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 4 weeks. The complete blood count, blood chemistry done by SMA-12, serum electrolytes and urinalysis were performed at the 12th week of therapy. RESULTS: 1) Baseline blood pressures after 2 weeks of placebo at sitting and standing positions were 158.7+/-16.1/102.9+/-6.2 and 148.7+/-14.5/102.7+/-6.7mmHg, respectively. The overall slope which represents the tendency of blood pressure decline over the treatment period with cicletanine for all the patients in each position are as follows ; -0.726(SE : 0.150) for sitting systolic blood pressure(BP), -0.390(SE : 0.080) for sitting diastolic BP, -0.214(SE : 0.183) for standing systolic BP and -0.341(SE : 0.139) for standing diastolic BP. 2) The slope of sitting systolic BP line in cicletanine 100mg treated group was significantly stiffer than that of cicletanine 50mg treated group(-0.445 vs -1.021, p=0.0336). 3) There were no significant interval changes in heart rate over the treatment period. 4) There were no significant interval changes in blood chemistry, electrolytes, hematologic findings and urinalysis over the treatment period. 5) Several side effects were observed in six patients(epigastric discomfort in 4, easy fatigue and insomnia in one patient, respectively). CONCLUSION: Treatment with cicletanine was well-tolerated and the incidence of side effects was relatively low. Because of its unique anti-hypertensive mechanism and moderated antihypertensive effects, cicletanine may be well suited in the treatment of hypertension combined with other classes of antihypertensive agents.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Electrolytes ; Fatigue ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Urinalysis

BACKGROUND: The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have been found to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of essential hypertension. Fosinopril is the first angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor from a new class of agents containing phosphorus. This drug is known to be metabolized to almost and equal extent by the hepatic and renal pathways. METHODS: This study was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral fosinopril, a new class of phosporus-containing angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on essential hypertension. A single daily dose of 10mg to 20mg fosinopril was administered in 21 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure in the range of 95mmHg-115mmHg while off all other anti-hypertensive agents for 10 weeks. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 4 weeks. The complete blood count, blood chemistry by SMA-12, serum electrolytes and urinalysis were performed at 12th week of therapy. RESULTS: 1) Baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressures after 2 weeks of placebo at sitting position were 158.8+/-15.7 and 99.4+/-6.3mmHg respectively. There was a statistcally significant reduction of blood pressure after 4 week treatment of fosinopril which was maintained up to 12 weeks of follow-up(158.8+/-15.7-99.4+/-6.3mmHg vs 139.3+/-18.2/86.6+/-10.3mmHg, p<0.05). 2) The proportion of responders defined by diastolic blood pressures less than 90mmHg or decline more than 10mmHg at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment with fosinopril were 90.5, 95.2, and 95.2% respectively. 3) THere were no significant changes in blood chemistry, serum electrolytes, hematologic findings and heart rate over the treatment period. 4) Three patients experienced severe non-productive cough that required to discontinue the medication. CONCLUSION: In patients with mild to moderate hypertension, once-daily fosinopril(10mg and 20mg) provided significant anti-hypertensive effects without serious side effects. The 10mg dose was effective in majority of patients and may be considered as a starting dose.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Cough ; Electrolytes ; Fosinopril* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Phosphorus ; Urinalysis

BACKGROUND: The measurement of the hardness of a skin lesion is an important component of cutaneous examination in evaluating the progression of diseases such as scleroderma. Current methods to assess hardness have not gained wide acceptance because they tend to be cumbersome, time consuming, and costly. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to obtain the normal range of skin hardness according to anatomical sites, age groups and sex, and to show the differences among them. METHODS: Ten different anatomical locations of 123 normal Korean individuals (61 males and 62 females) were measured with a durometer. RESULTS: 1. Skin hardness between the two sexes showed significant difference in extensor upper arm, extensor forearm, back, posterior thigh and calf. Excluding the extensor upper arm, male skin was generally harder than female. Shin and calf were significantly harder and flexor upper arm and abdomen were significantly softer than other areas. 2. The tendency of the hardness was similar in each age group. Shin was significantly harder than all other areas in 11-20, 21-30, and 51-60 age groups. Although flexor upper arm and abdomen showed statistically significant softness in 51-60 and >60 age groups, they tended to be softer than other areas in all age groups. 3. Although statistical significance was not seen among all the age groups, age group <11 tended to be harder than other age groups in flexor upper arm, extensor upper arm, flexor forearm and abdomen. CONCLUSION: Skin hardness measured with a durometer showed variation according to sex, age and location. The durometer is an effective, reliable and easy tool especially for the follow-up of the changes in skin hardness in an individual.
Abdomen ; Arm ; Female ; Forearm ; Hardness* ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Skin* ; Thigh

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of health status and health management on activities of daily living (ADL) in older, urban-dwelling Koreans. METHODS: A total of 206 subjects were recruited from one senior welfare center, six senior citizen centers, and subjects' home in two cities. Data was collected with self-reported questionnaires in order to measure health management, health status, and ADL. Data was analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple linear regression using SPSS/WIN 22.0. RESULTS: ADL in this subject were different depending on their age, education, marital status, type of family, and average monthly living expenses. Multivariate analysis showed that age (beta=-0.35, p<.001), exercise ability (beta=0.20, p<.001), diabetes (beta =-0.17, p<.001), osteoarthritis (beta=-0.15, p<.001), caregiver (beta=0.14, p=.005), frequency of health management (beta =-0.13, p=.006), smoking (beta=-0.11, p=.019), hypertension (beta=-0.10, p=.027), and type of family (beta=-0.10, p=.036) were significantly associated with ADL. Overall, approximately 60.2% of total variability in ADL could be explained by the 11 variables in this model (R2=0.602, F=32.06, p<.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that individualized health care should be continued for older, community-dwelling Koreans in order to improve their ADL. Moreover, we need to develop self-care programs and encourage them to participate in those programs.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Caregivers ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Exercise ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Linear Models ; Marital Status ; Multivariate Analysis ; Osteoarthritis ; Self Care ; Smoke ; Smoking

No abstract available.
Plasma* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Stomach Neoplasms*