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

No abstract available.

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.
Child* ; Humans ; Leprosy*

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

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

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an uncomfortable procedure that requires adequate sedation for its successful conduction. We investigated the efficacy and safety of the combined use of intravenous midazolam and propofol for sedation during ERCP. METHODS: A retrospective review of patient records from a single tertiary care hospital was performed. Ninety-four patients undergoing ERCP received one of the two medication regimens, which was administered by a nurse under the supervision of a gastroenterologist. Patients in the midazolam (M) group (n=44) received only intravenous midazolam, which was titrated to achieve deep sedation. Patients in the midazolam pulse propofol (MP) group (n=50) initially received an intravenous combination of midazolam and propofol, and then propofol was titrated to achieve deep sedation. RESULTS: The time to the initial sedation was shorter in the MP group than in the M group (1.13 minutes vs. 1.84 minutes, respectively; p<0.001). The recovery time was faster in the MP group than in the M group (p=0.031). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to frequency of adverse events, pain experienced by the patient, patient discomfort, degree of amnesia, and gag reflex. Patient cooperation, rated by the endoscopist as excellent, was greater in the MP group than in the M group (p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of intravenous midazolam and propofol for sedation during ERCP is more effective than midazolam alone. There is no difference in the safety of the procedure.
Amnesia ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Conscious Sedation ; Deep Sedation ; Humans ; Midazolam* ; Organization and Administration ; Patient Compliance ; Propofol* ; Reflex ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Healthcare

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To date, it has been difficult to determine the optimal stenting duration of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) in a benign biliary stricture. The purpose of this study was to identify the histopathological changes in a bile duct resulting from long-term placement of a FCSEMS. METHODS: An FCSEMS was inserted into the common bile duct of 12 canines, and the animals were divided into four groups. Posteuthanasia, necropsy was performed to examine the histopathological changes in the bile ducts after 1, 3, 6, and 9 months. RESULTS: The results of necropsy showed that the covered membranes of the FCSEMSs were intact and easily removed from the bile ducts in 11 of the canines. Severe epithelial hyperplasia of the stented bile duct and epithelial ingrowth into the stent occurred in one animal (from the 3-month group). On histopathological examination, mild inflammatory changes were observed in the stented bile ducts, and there was no significant difference between the four groups. Among the 12 animals, five had de novo stricture. CONCLUSIONS: An FCSEMS can be inserted into the bile duct without severe histopathological changes up until 9 months. However, a de novo stricture and severe epithelial hyperplasia relating to the stent insertion might occur.
Animals ; Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dogs ; Hyperplasia ; Membranes ; Stents*