No abstract available.
Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*

PURPOSE: Though web-based tests have many advantages, they do not become the main test form in medical education because of their many technical or operational limitations. We have developed a new web-based test system to overcome these limitations and, ultimately, to replace conventional paper and pencil tests. METHODS: We developed a web-based test system using a windows 2000 server, mySQL, visual basic 6.0 and ASP script as developing tools. We applied this system to formal examinations. The system was modified and optimized based on users' demands and problems identified during testing. RESULTS: Since web-based testing was first administered in 2003 to the third-year students during their clinical practice examinations, it has been used in 51 examinations at the College of Medicine in Chungbuk National University. In 2004, it was used in more than a half of the regular examinations at our medical college. At the beginning, lecturers were reluctant to adopt a new test system because of unfamiliarity and fear of additional workload. Shortly, however, they found that they were able to handle the multimedia contents more easily and obtain much information from results analysis without additional work. Examinees also favored web-based tests in presenting multimedia data but had some difficulties in focusing on the test. Overall, examinees' preference for web.based tests was comparable to conventional tests. According to user demand, we improved this test system by verifying question formats and making test analysis. CONCLUSION: Web-based tests can replace paper and pencil tests in medical education. Improvement of this testing system is expected with serious and continuous concerns from examiners.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Education, Medical* ; Humans ; Multimedia ; Viperidae

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine the relationship between community-based social support and psychosocial distress in workers. METHODS: The study subjects were 596 workers recruited from 11 companies in Chungju city. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, job stress, work-based social support, community-based social support and level of psychosocial distress. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that workers with no chronic disease, exercise and sufficient sleep had a higher score of psychosocial distress than those with chronic disease, no exercise, and not enough sleep. Coworker's work-based social support and community-based social support were negatively associated with psychosocial distress. The R square value of total independent variables on psychosocial distress was 0.409, and that of community-based social support on psychosocial distress was 0.052. CONCLUSION: This study showed that community-based social support served as a protective factor against psychosocial distress in some workers. We recommend the establishment of a worksite stress reduction program in occupational level as well as community-based social support.
Chronic Disease ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Questionnaires ; Workplace

Ninety forensic (judicial) autopsies were performed in Chungju and Eomseong provinces during 3 years (1998-2000). On the other hand, postmortem external examinations for administrative purposes were done in only 2 bodies during the same period. In this paper the reasons for small proportion of the postmortem external examination for administrative purposes compared with that for judicial autopsies were discussed. The following results might offer us significant suggestions for improving the postmortem investigation and examination system in Korea. 1. Reconsideration on the importance of postmortem external examination. 2. Reestablishment of the definitions and a guiding principle in postmortem investigation system for judicial and administrative purposes. 3. Education on the necessity for augmentation of medicolegal autopsy rate among postmortem investigation cases for administrative purposes.
Autopsy ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Education ; Hand ; Korea

PURPOSE: Perceived barriers to exercise were investigated for adults. METHOD: A total 1266 subjects were selected by a quota sampling method with age, gender, and residence. Perceived barriers were categorized under 4 groups: knowledge, psychological, physical, and external factors. All 23 items of perceived barriers were responded on a dichotomous (yes/no) scale. RESULT: Mean number of perceived barriers was 4.61 and 87.9% subjects perceived at least one barrier which prevented involvement in exercise. External barriers ranked highest, followed in order by psychological, knowledge, and physical barriers. Most factors of perceived barriers were found to be different by age, gender, and residence, in that, the younger, female, living in Daejeon subjects were found to respond with more barriers than the older, male, living in Chungju or Seoul. CONCLUSION: Perceived barriers to exercise are differenct by age, gender, and residence. Therefore, it is recommended that age, gender, and residence of subjects must be considered in order to develop exercise programs and public campaigns.
Adult* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Seoul

We investigated the diversity of the foliar endophytes of Korean ginseng. Endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy leaves of mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and field-cultivated ginseng (FCG) at 4 sites in Chungbuk Province. A total of 24 species of fungal endophytes were identified using molecular approaches. Additionally, the diversity of these endophytic fungi was compared between MCG and FCG. The major isolated endophytes were Edenia gomezpompae and Gibberella moniliformis in the MCG and FCG samples, respectively. The results suggest that ginseng endophytes have different community structures in different environments, and this understanding may prove useful in ginseng cultivation.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Endophytes ; Fungi* ; Gibberella ; Moniliformis ; Panax*

PURPOSE: Although intermittent exotropia is the most common strabismus of children in Korea, no previous studies have documented the natural course of intermittent exotropia. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the natural course of intermittent exotropia in Korean children. METHODS: Sixty-two children with intermittent exotropia at the Department of Ophthalmology Chungbuk National University Hospital were selected for this study. Children who were operated or followed up during less than 2 years were excluded. We compared their angle of deviation at near and far measured by alternative prism cover test at the first and the last examination. RESULTS: The mean age was 5.1 (1.0-14.5) years at the first examination, and 8.6 (4.0-19.0) years at the last examination. At the first examination, the mean angle of deviation was 22.2 PD at near, and 24.4 PD at far. At the last examination, the angles at near and far were 27.0 PD and 27.1 PD. There was statistically significant increase of the angle at near (p<0.05). Increase of near angle was more frequent than that of far angle (30.6:14.5%). In 19 children who had increase of over 10 PD in angle of deviation at near, the difference between at near and far at the first examination was greater than other 43 children (6.9:0.1 PD, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that intermittent exotropia in children may show increase of near angle over the time, especially in the cases with markedly larger far angle than near angle at the initial examination.
Child* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Exotropia* ; Humans ; Korea ; Ophthalmology ; Strabismus

PURPOSE: It is known that size of the prostate increases with age, but there is no guideline of size of the prostate to be applied to Korean men. This study reports the size change of prostate with age in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the prostatic size, 645 volunteers(539 normal group and 106 BPH group) from Chungbuk province underwent transrectal ultrasonography (Scanner 200, Pie Medical, Netherlands). Size of the prostate was estimated as a weight by the elliptical method. RESULTS: The mean prostate weight was 22.4+/-8.4gm(range 7~83gm). The relationship between prostate volume and age was statistically significant in 645 volunteers(r=0.17, p<0.0005). Also, between normal group and benign prostatic hyperplasia group, there was significant correlation with age(r=0.16, P<0.0005), while results were insignificant with size(r=0.13, p>0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Size and rate of growth of the prostate were smaller compared to the western society, nevertheless, prostate size increased with age. For accurate and reasonable age-specific size of the prostate of Korean male, community based multicenter study will be needed with more accurate measurement techniques such as step-section planimetry for the prostatic volume estimation.
Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Ultrasonography

A total of 190 ticks collected from the Chungju area of Korea was examined for the presence of Spotted Fever Group(SFG) Rickettsia using a PCR assay. Twenty-five (13.2%) Haemaphysalis ticks were found positive of the groEL gene of SFG Rickettsia. The prevalence rate of R. japonica in these 25 Haemaphysalis ticks was 72% (18 out of 25 SFG Rickettsia). The prevalence rate of R. conorii and new SFG rickettsia in these 25 Haemaphysalis ticks was 4% (1 out of 25 SFG Rickettsia) and 24% (6 out of 25 SFG Rickettsia), respectively. These results suggest that R. japonica was the highest infection frequency among in Haemaphysalis ticks SFG Rickettsia, and that R. conorii and new SFG Rickettsia are also present in the Chungju area.
Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Fever* ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Rickettsia* ; Ticks*

PURPOSE: To avoid a unnecessary lumbar puncture, we tried to find a useful tool for prediction of meningitis in infants. METHODS: One hundred and twenty four patients underwent a lumbar puncture at Chungbuk National University Hospital from Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2011. We divided them into 2 groups by the evidence of meningitis, and compared laboratory findings and clinical manifestations. RESULTS: There were 30 patients for meningitis group and 94 patients for control group. Meningitis group revealed lower serum monocyte percentage (meningitis group 10.1+/-4.7%, control group 12.2+/-5.0%, P=0.049) than control group. Other laboratory findings and clinical manifestations showed no statistically significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: Serum monocyte percentage could help to predict meningitis in young infants, but it is not enough to replace a lumbar puncture. We therefore think that it requires a more accurate non-invasive diagnostic tool to detect meningitis.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Humans ; Infant* ; Meningitis* ; Monocytes* ; Spinal Puncture