BACKGROUND: The population is aging and life expectancy is increasing. It is important to evaluate the functional ability of elderly for optimal care for elderly. This study was conducted to assess functional disability of elderly and to find out the factors having an effect on the disability. METHODS: It surveyed 1,541 individuals aged 65 years and older in Cluing-Yang province. Six ADL categories (bathing, dressing, feeding, transferring, toileting, and walking) were assessed and related factors were analyzed. RESULTS: ADL was independent in 85.2% of elderly and dependent in 14.8% of elderly. 55.1% of dependent elders were living without family. Bathing was the most common disable AI)L category. The factors having an effect on the disability of ADL were brain disease, self-rated health status, dyspnea, constipation, heart disease, diabetic mellitus, and living status. CONCLUSION: In a rural area, special prevention programs for brain disease, heart disease, and diabetic mellitus and a rehabilitation health service may improve ADL status of elders.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Aged* ; Aging ; Bandages ; Baths ; Brain Diseases ; Constipation ; Dyspnea ; Health Services ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Rehabilitation

Endoscopic technique have become very popular in plastic and reconstructive surgery. They have provided advantages over previously closed techniques by minimizing scars, soft tissue manipulation and access with excellent visualization and magnification. More than twenty cases of facial bone surgery were performed over the past 3 years by endoscopic assistance. Our series consist of 3 cases of frontal bone contouring, 1 zygoma contouring, 3 fracture of zygoma, 9 fracture of orbit, 4 rhinoplasty for deviated nose. To accomplish this technique, a rigid 4 mm, 30 degree down angled endoscope was used. The frontal bone or zygomatic arch is approached endoscopically through two or three small incisions on the temporoparietal scalp. All endoscopic instrument are then manipulated through these incisions. The approach for zygoma complex, maxilla and mandible needs intraoral incision. Recontouring by a power bur and osteotomy using a small saw are done with endoscopic visual assistance. Rigid fixation requires an additional small incision over the plate for trocar method. The other technique was same with routine standard rhinoplasty procedures. The duration of follow-up ranged 3 months to 27 months. The postoperative course were satisfactory with fewer complication than conventional technique. The extra-time need for the endoscopic procedures was about 1 hour Endoscopically assisted facial bone recontouring, osteotomy and plate fixation can be performed with adequate visualization and direct manipulation of all facial bone. Complications usually associated with extensive incisions and pool visualization may be avoided. This technique may prove to be ideal for aesthetic surgery for facia skeleton with smaller scars and less morbidity.
Cicatrix ; Endoscopes ; Facial Bones ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Bone ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Nose ; Orbit ; Osteotomy ; Plastics ; Rhinoplasty ; Scalp ; Skeleton ; Surgical Instruments ; Zygoma

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is histologically characterized by marked cellular pleomorphism of lipid-laden neoplastic astrocytes and bizarre giant cells showing mitotic figures and high cellularity. Inspite of its ominous-looking microscopic features, howerver, the prognosis is usually favorable. This tumor develops mainly in the supratentorial area of young people and frequently involves the leptomeninges. We experienced a case of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma in 18 year-old-male. In addition to the cellular pleomophism, the prominent reticulin fibers surround the individual tumor cells or the tumor cells nests. Immunohistochemical staining and electron microscopy revealed glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) expression and pericytoplasmic basal lamina in the tumor cells.

It is difficult to treat the complete cleft lip because of wide cleft and malaligned alveolar process, outward rotation of greater(medial) alveolar segment, and severe nasal deformity. Lip adhesion without presurgical orthopedic appliance was performed on 8 consecutive infants with unilateral complete cleft of the primary palate before denfinitive lip repair with Millard I procedure. Among 8 patients, 6 patients had complete unilateral cleft lip with alveolar cleft only and 2 patients were accompanied with complete cleft palate. All patients had more than a 10-mm-wide lip cleft with alveolar arch discrepancy. Lip adhesions were performed at 1-2 months of age and definitive repair was done at 5-6 months of age. Lip adhesions were performed by Randall's method and cheiloplasty was done by Millard I technique. Satisfactory results of lip and nose were obtained aesthetically in 8 cases after an average follow-up of 32 months. The vertical height of the medial and lateral lip segment were a symmetric appearance, while the vermilion tubercle, philtrum, and Cupid's bow were natural. Disadvantages included increased operating time and the sacrifice of same-lip tissue. In conclusion, preliminary lip adhesion can have better functional, esthetic and emotional results since the disadvantages are minor compared to the advantages.
Alveolar Process ; Cleft Lip* ; Cleft Palate ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Lip* ; Nose ; Orthopedics ; Palate

BACKGROUND: Whole body 131I scan is routinely performed in the postoperative evaluation of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma to detect recurrence and functioning metastasis. Previous reports suggested that posttreatment whole body scan had higher rate of detecting metastatic lesions that were not visualized by pretreatment images. We observed the frequency of discordance of the two scans and analysed the clinical significances. METHODS: Forty-one patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma underwent radioactive iodine-131 whole body scans after administration of diagnostic dose (4 mCi) and then therapeutic dose (100~200 mCi of iodine-131). The median age of the patients was 46.9 +/- 15.7 years (range, 17~76). RESULTS: In 16 of the 41 patients (39.0%), pretreatment scan showed additional uptakes that were not seen in the pretreatment scan. Serum thyroglobulin was elevated in 13 of the 16 patients. Of the 22 patients who had been received radioactive iodine therapy previously, eight patients showed new additional lesions in the therapeutic scans but there was no significance according to the history of radioactive iodine therapy, Addisional uptakes after therapeutic dose were noted in neck area in 9 cases, lung in 2 cases, bone in 4 cases and mediastinum in one case. Diffuse hepatic uptake was definitely seen in 7 cases and there were 2 cases whose scans showed liver uptake without any thyroid uptake. CONCLUSION: Posttreatment whole body scan is more sensitive to detect residual tissues and metastasis compared to the usual pretreatment diagnostic whole body scan, and it is suggested that posttreatment whole body scan should be routinely performed after 'I therapy in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma for exact evaluation.
Humans ; Iodine ; Liver ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Whole Body Imaging

From May 1988 to January 1997 authors had experienced 13 cases of recurred blepharoptosis. Previous operative procedures were frontalis muscle suspension in 10 cases and levator resection in 3 cases. Follow up period ranged from 11 months to 9 years. We have treated recurred blepharoptosis using frontalis myofascial flap, orbicularis oculi muscle flap and levator resection in accordance with the postoperative levator function and degree of ptosis of patient and considering previous operative technique. The results were that 12 patients have gained the levator excursion over 7 mm and reduced the height difference between both palpebral fissures less than 2 mm after reoperation (good in 6 cases and satisfactory in 6 cases). From these results we might conclude that the frontalis myofascial flap technique is a good secondary blepharoptosis operation for patient with less than 2 mm of levator function, orbicularis oculimuscle flap technique with 2-4 mm of levator function, levator resection with over than 4 mm of levator function. The expert technique and experience are also important factor for the treatment of recurred blepharoptosis.
Blepharoptosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Reoperation ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

PURPOSE: The isoflavones in soy are likely to contribute to the historically low incidence of breast cancer among Asian women who consume traditional diets. The possible role of isoflavones in controlling the expression of p27(kip1) and p57(kip2) has not been previously explored. In this study, the ability of the isoflavone, genistein, to regulate the expression of p27(kip1) and p57(kip2) in breast cancer cells was evaluated. METHODS: The effects of genistein was examined on the expression of p27(kip1) and p57(kip2) at the mRNA level, using the MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cell lines. RESULTS: By genistein treatment, p27(kip1) mRNA increased significantly in comparison to the control group. In particular, p27(kip1) mRNA level in 10 micrometer and 50 micrometer genistein treated- groups increased about two-folds more than the control. p57(kip2) mRNA was not different from control group. p57(kip2) mRNA decreased slightly only in the 50 micrometer genistein treated-group. PPAR-gamma mRNA level increased slightly according to the concentration-dependent manner of genistein, but it was not significantly different. Conclusions: These results suggest that the up-regulated p27(kip1) by genistein might contribute to cancer prevention or inhibition.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Line ; Diet ; Female ; Genistein* ; Humans* ; Incidence ; Isoflavones ; RNA, Messenger

The extensive knowledge of accurate anatomical morphology and acceptable proportion of the eyelid and orbit should be needed for plastic surgeons. The normal morphological and functional values of eyelids and orbits are variable according to races, sex and ages, and there are a few articles concerning them in Korea yet. The author measured eigt items of morphological and functional values of eyelids in Koreans and statistically analyzed them in 498 individuals including 234 males and 264 females. We divided them into nine age-related groups and measured the values. Especially, we subdivided 10 to 19 year-old group into three subgroup concretely because most of the values in the 10 to 19 year-old group reach the peak level of growth. The mean values in adults were recorded as follows: The horizontal dimension of the palpebral fissure was 27.0 +/- 1.8 mm in males and 26.8 +/- 1,7 mm in females and the vertical dimension of the palpebral fissure was 8.0 +/- 1.0 mm in female. The slant of the palpebral fissure was 7.9 +/- 2.4 degrees in males and 8.8 +/- 2.3 degrees in females and the height of the opened upper eyelid was 12.4 +/- 2.4 mm in males and 12.0 +/- 1.9 mm in females. The height of double fold in closed eye was 6.6 mm in males and 6.5 mm in femals and the intercanthal distance was 38.4 +/- 3.0 mm in males and 38.2 +/- 2.8 mm in females. The interpupillary distance was 64.6 +/- 2.9 mm in males and 63.6 +/- 2.9 mm in females. A double fold was seen in 36.1% of Korean. The average height of the double fold in closed eye was about 6.5 mm. The epicanthus present in 58.6% of Korean eyes and the most commom type was epicantus tarsalis. The growth of eyelids reached the peak level at teenager in a great portion. After the peak level, the changing pattern of eyelids could be divided into 3 groups; the first one was increasing more, the second was stationary, and the third was decreasing gradually. The peak levle of growth reached at 10 to 13-year-old in the vertical dimension of the palpebral fissure, at 14 to 16-year-old in the intercanthal distance, at 17 to 19-year-old in the horizontal dimension of the palpebral fissure.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Continental Population Groups ; Eyelids* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Orbit* ; Vertical Dimension ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The increasing implementation of organ transplantation requires an unequivocal diagnosis of brain death for moral and legal reasons. Among instrumental investigations, angiographic demonstration of absent intracranial blood flow is considered to be the most reliable test in diagnosing brain death. This test should be easily accessible since most brain dead patients are vitally unstable and have various life-supporting equipments besides their beds. To investigate the usefulness of an intracranial CT angiography (CTA) for the diagnosis of brain death, we performed CTA in comatose patients who were either clinically brain dead or not. METHODS: Fourteen comatose patients (11 male and 3 female, aged from 17 to 63 years) with various brain insults were included in this study. Eleven patients were clinically brain dead. Among the remaining three patients, one showed subtle withdrawal movements in one extremity to noxious stimuli with absent brainstem reflexes, and the other two showed multifocal myoclonic seizures. CT scanning was performed with a table speed of 2 mm/sec, twenty seconds after beginning an injection of contrast media. The data were reformatted by maximum intensity projection (MIP) and shaded surface display (SSD) after the reconstruction of a 1 mm interval. A portable electroencephalography (EEG) was also taken serially in clinically brain dead patients except one. RESULTS: Intracranial arterial blood flow was preserved in those who showed either a seizure, abnormal posture or intact brainstem reflexes. On the other hand, intracranial arteries were not visualized in all brain dead patients with electrocerebral silence (ECS) on their EEG with the exception of one patient whose EEG was difficult to determine a ECS due to excessive mechanical artifacts. However, in the clinically brain dead patients, the intracranial arterial flow was preserved in those who suffered from widespread brainstem and cerebellar infarction or whose EEG demonstrated periodic lateralizing epileptiform discharges or a burst suppression pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial CTA seems to be a safe and noninvasive procedure for the determination of brain death that produces fast, reliable, and easy-to-interpret results. It can be used as an alternative method to the EEG when the EEG is not possible or difficult to interpret due to artifacts.
Angiography* ; Arteries ; Artifacts ; Brain Death* ; Brain Stem ; Brain* ; Coma ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Extremities ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Organ Transplantation ; Posture ; Reflex ; Seizures ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Recently technetium-99m sestamibi (99mTc MIBI), which dose not require withdrawal of thyroid hormone, has been used for imaging of thyroid carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical usefulness of Tc MIBI scintigraphy after total thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma. The results were compared with those of standard 131I scintigraphy. METHODS: One hundred twelve patients with a median age of 44 years (range, 14-76 years) were included in the study. After optimal endogenous thyroid stimulating hormone stimulation (>50 mIU/mL), whole body scintigraphy using 4 mCi of 'I and 20 mCi of Tc sestamibi were done simultaneously. Concomitantly serum thyroglobulin and anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels were checked. If abnormal findings on any of the scintigraphic methods or high levels of thyroglobulin (> 10ng/mL) were detected, diagnostic imaging studies were done to confirm the existence of the disease. And high dose (150-200 mCi) 'I was administered as therapy and then whole body scans were performed again after the therapy. The presence or absence of thyroid cancer was established by pathologic, radiologic, and/or high dose I scan findings. RESULTS: In 11 patients, Tc MIBI scan revealed positive accumulations which were not found on 131I scan, of whom 6 had elevated thyroglobulin levels. In these cases, 5 cases were interpreted to have normal thyroid remnant and 6 cases showed pathologic findings (2 lung, 1 lymph node, 1 lung and lymph node, 1 local recurrent cancer, and 1 false positive accumulation of 99mTc MIBI). Metastasis or residual cancer were confirmed histologically in 1 and radiologically in 4 cases. Negative 99mTc MIBI scans, despite of positive I scans, occurred in 9 patients, of whom 2 had abnormal thyroglobulin levels. Seven cases were interpreted to have thyroid remnant, 2 cases were confirmed to have lung metastasis, and another one was misinterpreted due to breast shadow. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these results suggest that 99mTc MIBI scan may have similar sensitivity and specificity for the detection of residual or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The 99mTc MIBI scan, especially in cases of negative 131I scan despite of abnormal thyroglobulin levels, can be used as a very useful complementary diagnostic tool.
Breast ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin ; Whole Body Imaging