An epidemiological study on brugian filariasis was carried out in endemic areas including Cheju Island in Korea, with a brief review of literatures.The results showed that the incidence among residents has remarkably decreased in Cheju Island, which was the main endemic area. Reviewing available informations on the prevalence of filariasis reported in recent years and also judging from the present socio-economic conditions which enable people to practice personal protection against mosquitos, it can be said with confidence that filariasis has almost disappeared from Cheju Island and inland areas. The disease is considered to remain at a low level of endemicity in Hugsan Islands. Certainly mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment carried out in Cheju Island in the 1960s and 1970s and remarkable economic growth followed by improved living standard and altered life-style of inhabitants could all have combined effects on the disappearance of this mosquito-borne diseae in this island. If the present trends go on, the possibility of resurgence of filariasis in Cheju Island is hardly postulated.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Brugia malayi ; filariasis ; epidemiology

Background: Some epidemiological studies have indicated that weather and air pollution can cause adverse health conditions and that these effects can exhibit regional variation. The prevalence of headache is so high and it is a common cause of morbidity. Therefore, this study evaluated whether weather and air pollution were associated with the prevalence of headaches. Methods: A symmetric bidirectional case-crossover design was applied, using conditional logistic regression models to determine the association between headaches and weather and air pollution. From January 2006 to August 2007, a total of 245 patients with headaches were recruited. Headache subtypes were classifi ed as migraine, tension-type headaches, and others. Meteorological data (average temperature and relative humidity) and values related to air pollutants (CO, NO2 , O3 , SO2 , and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm) were obtained. Results: Higher average temperatures were associated with the total number of headaches (hazard ratio 1.124-1.130; P<0.001). With regard to headache subtype, O3 seems to provoke headaches, especially those related to tension and those listed as other headache varieties. Conversely, other pollutants, especially CO and SO2 , showed the opposite association. Conclusions: These fi ndings indicated that temperature and some air pollutants are able to affect headaches, suggesting that weather and air pollution levels seem to have an effect on the risk of headache.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Leprosy*

The possibility of a central origin should be considered for late-onset concomitant esotropia. Concomitant esotropia has been reported to occur with spinocerebellar ataxia types 1, 2, and 3, but not with other degenerative cerebellar ataxia disorders. We report on a 28-year-old woman with ataxia in whom a detailed ophthalmologic examination revealed concomitant esotropia. She was subsequently diagnosed with dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). We suggest that the presence of concomitant esotropia could be used to differentiate DRPLA from other hereditary ataxias.
Adult ; Ataxia ; Atrophy ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Esotropia ; Female ; Humans ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; Spinocerebellar Degenerations

Peripartum cardiomyopahty(PPCM) is an uncommon myocardial disease arising in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months after delivery, in the absence of obvious cause and without prior evidence of heart disease. The risk of recurrence of PPCM is considered low when left ventricular size and function return to normal. But we experienced a case of peripartum cardiomyopathy recurred in subsequent pregnancy despite the return to normal heart size and function. This case was summarized here with a brief review of the related literatures.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Peripartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Recurrence

A 35-year-old multigravida woman received triple marker screening tests in 16weeks 2days of gestation. MSAFP and MShCG values were increased, whereas MSuE3 value was decreased. So we performed amniocentesis for karyotyping and confirmed male fetus with 47,XYY,inv(9)(p11:q13). A neonatal survey showed the incidence of XYY male to be approximately 1:1000, the majority of cases are phenotypically normal. XYY males are taller than normal and show delayed mental development. A pericenteric inversion of chromosome 9 that extends from p11 to q13 is considered a normal chromosome variant, but the carrier is at high risk to produce abnormal offspring. As she did not want to terminate her pregnancy, she delivered vaginally in 39weeks 6days of gestation. As a result of physical examination, the neonate showed a normal phenotype. We report it with brief review.
Adult ; Amniocentesis ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Female ; Fetus* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Phenotype ; Physical Examination ; Pregnancy

Cystic lymphangioma of the broad ligament is very rare benign cystic lesion. They rarely present in adult life. We present the case of a 37-year-old female with a history of chronic recurrent left lower abdominal dull pain over a period of several months. Clinical presentation of these tumors varies greatly from an asymptomatic mass to serious complications. The therapy of choice is a complete excision, unless vital structures were involved. Once excised, the prognosis is excellent. Our patient had complete excision of her lesion with a good outcome.
Adult ; Broad Ligament* ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Antibodies ; Neuromyelitis Optica

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics, recurrence features, and treatment results of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and to determine the clinical predictive factors associated with recurrence. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical, radiologic, laboratory, and recurrence features. We also evaluated treatment methods and outcomes, and clinical predictive factors associated with recurrence in 55 patients with AIP. RESULTS: AIP may be misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer due to the following characteristic features: (1) clinical findings similar to those of pancreatic cancer including weight loss (60.0%), obstructive jaundice (54.5%), and recent-onset diabetes (29.1%) as the major symptoms; (2) a preponderance in elderly men (mean, 57.7 years old; male, 81.8%); (3) pancreatic mass in computer tomography (21.8%). Serum IgG/IgG4 was elevated in 67.4% of cases. Other organ involvements were noted in 43.6% of cases. All patients (52/52) received steroid treatment have shown complete resolution or marked improvement in the presenting manifestations for which steroids were instituted. After median observation period of 32.8 (1-106) months, 9 patients (3-year cumulative recurrence rate, 20.0%) recurred. There was no significant clinical predictive factor for the recurrence of AIP. However, elevated serum IgG4 preceded recurrence in all patients whose serum IgG4 levels were checked at recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: It is reasonable to understand AIP as a pancreatic lesion reflecting systemic disease, so called 'IgG4-related fibroinflammatory disease'. Steroid trial may be a practical diagnostic tool and a therapeutic one. Recurrence was not uncommon after the steroid treatment and serum IgG4 could be a monitoring marker for the recurrence in clinical practice.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Autoimmune Diseases/*diagnosis/therapy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatitis, Chronic/*diagnosis/pathology/therapy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome