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*

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

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

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 papillectomy is reported to be relatively safe and reliable for complete resection of benign tumors of the major duodenal papilla. We evaluated methods and treatment outcome of the patients who have undergone endoscopic papillectomy. METHODS: Medical records of 22 consecutive patients with tumor of the major duodenal papilla (10 women, 12 men; mean age 55.8+/-2.8 yrs) who have undergone endoscopic papillectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Endoscopic papillectomy was defined the successful when complete excision of the tumor was achieved. RESULTS: Mean duration of follow-up was 8.4+/-2.4 months (range 1-43 months). Endoscopic papillectomy was successful in 16 patients (72.7%), but incomplete resection occurred in 6 patients. Only one patient showed recurrence. Histopathologic evaluation after endoscopic papillectomy revealed adenoma (n=11, 50%), high-grade dysplasia (n=3, 13.6%), adenocarcinoma (n=2, 9.1%), carcinoid (n=1), chronic inflammation (n=3, 13.6%), papillary adenomatous hyperplasia (n=1), and cavernous lymphangioma (n=1). The mean size of the resected lesions was 10.3+/-1.2 mm (range 2-20 mm). There was no factor which could predict the endoscopic success statistically. A pancreatic duct stent was placed in 11 patients (50.0%) and was removed after 3 to 39 days. There were 8 (36.8%) procedure-related complications: bleeding (n=4), papillary stenosis (n=1), perforation (n=1), cholangitis (n=1), and asymptomatic liver function abnormality (n=1). There was no pancreatitis or mortality. All the complications resolved with conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic papillectomy in selected patients seemed to be highly successful and safe. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the long-term efficacy.
Adult ; Aged ; Ampulla of Vater/*surgery ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/diagnosis/*surgery ; English Abstract ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Benign biliary strictures (BBSs) have been endoscopically managed with plastic stent placement. However, data regarding fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) in BBS patients remain scarce in Korea. METHODS: Forty-one patients (21 men, 65.9%) with BBSs underwent FCSEMS placement between February 2007 and July 2010 in Asan Medical Center. Efficacy and safety were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were considered to have resolution if they showed evidence of stricture resolution on cholangiography and if an inflated retrieval balloon easily passed through the strictures at FCSEMS removal. RESULTS: The mean FCSEMS placement time was 3.2 (1.9-6.2) months. Patients were followed for a mean of 10.2 (1.0-32.0) months after FCSEMS removal. The BBS resolution rate was confirmed in 38 of 41 (92.7%) patients who underwent FCSEMS removal. After FCSEMS removal, 6 of 38 (15.8%) patients experienced symptomatic recurrent stricture and repeat stenting was performed. When a breakdown by etiology of stricture was performed, 14 of 15 (93.3%) patients with chronic pancreatitis, 17 of 19 (89.5%) with gall stone-related disease, 4 of 4 (100%) with surgical procedures, and 2 of 2 (100%) with BBSs of other etiology had resolution at FCSEMS removal. Complications related to stent therapy occurred in 12 (29%) patients, including post-ERCP pancreatitis (n=4), proximal migration (n=3), distal migration (n=3), and occlusion (n=2). CONCLUSIONS: Temporary FCSEMS placement in BBS patients offers a potential alternative to plastic stenting. However, because of the significant complications and modest resolution rates, the potential benefits and risks should be evaluated in further investigations.
Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Diseases/*therapy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing/etiology ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Gallstones/etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis/etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; *Stents/adverse effects ; Time Factors