Background: Health disparity is defined as a difference in the accessibility of medical resources among regions or other factors. In South Korea, there might be a disparity because of the low proportion of public medical institutions. This study aimed to investigate the geographic distribution of rehabilitation treatment and examine the factors associated with the rates of rehabilitation treatment in Korea. Methods: We used administrative claims data in 2007, 2012, and 2017 from the National Health Insurance Database in Korea. We defined physical therapy and occupational therapy as rehabilitation treatments and analyzed the rate of rehabilitation treatments for administrative districts in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Interdecile range and coefficient of variation were used to investigate the geographic distribution of rehabilitation treatment over time. We applied multiple random intercept negative binomial regression to examine the factors associated with rehabilitation treatment. A total of 28,319,614 inpatient and outpatient claims were submitted for 874 hospitals that provided rehabilitation treatment in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Results: The increase in the mean rates of physical therapy inpatients and outpatients was greater than those for occupational therapy inpatients and outpatients from 2007 to 2017. Both physical therapy and occupational therapy were concentrated in the Seoul Capital Area and other large urban areas. More than 30% of the districts received no rehabilitation treatment. The interdecile range and coefficient of variation for physical therapy declined more than those for occupational therapy from 2007 to 2017. The deprivation index was negatively correlated with physical therapy inpatients, physical therapy outpatients, occupational therapy inpatients, and occupational therapy outpatients. Furthermore, a 1-unit increase in the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people was associated with 1.42 times higher physical therapy inpatient, 1.44 times higher physical therapy outpatient, 2.14 times higher occupational therapy inpatient, and 3.30 times higher occupational therapy outpatient treatment. Conclusion To reduce the geographic inequality in rehabilitation treatment, it is necessary to narrow the gap between the supply and demand of rehabilitation services. Providing incentives or direct provisions from the government might be an alternative.

Objectives: The purpose of this animal research was to compare bone regeneration in augmented rabbit maxillary sinuses treated with demineralized particulate human-tooth graft and anorganic bovine bone by immunohistochemical analysis. Materials and Methods: Piezoelectric bilateral sinus augmentation was performed in eight adult rabbits. In the control group, anorganic bovine was grafted in the maxillary sinus following elevation of the sinus membrane. In the experimental group, demineralized human particulate tooth bone was grafted in the sinus. Bone regeneration in augmented sinuses was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis using various markers of osteoprogenitor cells. Results: The number of bromodeoxyuridine-labeled cells was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at eight weeks. The immunoreactivity of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen was increased slightly in the experimental group relative to the control group at eight weeks. Other bone markers were expressed equally in the two groups. Conclusion In the rabbit maxillary sinus, higher osteoinduction was correlated with demineralized human particulate tooth bone grafting than with anorganic bovine grafting.

Objectives: The purpose of this animal research was to compare bone regeneration in augmented rabbit maxillary sinuses treated with demineralized particulate human-tooth graft and anorganic bovine bone by immunohistochemical analysis. Materials and Methods: Piezoelectric bilateral sinus augmentation was performed in eight adult rabbits. In the control group, anorganic bovine was grafted in the maxillary sinus following elevation of the sinus membrane. In the experimental group, demineralized human particulate tooth bone was grafted in the sinus. Bone regeneration in augmented sinuses was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis using various markers of osteoprogenitor cells. Results: The number of bromodeoxyuridine-labeled cells was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at eight weeks. The immunoreactivity of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen was increased slightly in the experimental group relative to the control group at eight weeks. Other bone markers were expressed equally in the two groups. Conclusion In the rabbit maxillary sinus, higher osteoinduction was correlated with demineralized human particulate tooth bone grafting than with anorganic bovine grafting.

OBJECTIVES: It is well known that Acute Leukemic patients with Hyperleukocytosis (ALH, leukocyte count>or=100,000/micro L) have poor prognosis. This is indebted in fatal complications arising from cerebral and pulmonary leukostasis. To investigate the factors influence on the prognosis of these patients, we have analyzed age, sex, laboratory findings and complications and their relationship to remission rate. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation was done from January 1985 to March 1994 on fifty-four patients with ALH. We excluded secondary leukemias transformed from chronic myelogeneous leukemia, relapsed acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome in this study. The prognostic factors associated with early death were also evaluated. RESULTS: 1) Hyperuricemia and incidence of central nervous system and respiratory symptoms were higher in acute myelogeneous leukemia (AML) with hyperleu-kocytosis than in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), 2) Twenty-two of fifty-four patients had complete remission by remission induction chemotherapy. Remission rate was 41%, median duration of remission was 26 weeks and 1 year survival rate was 11%. 3) There were no differences in remission rate between male and female and higher WBC group (WBC>or=200,000/micro L) and lower WBC group (WBC 100,000~200,000/micro L). 4) The group with better performance status (ECOG score1-2), younger (age below 40) and higher hemoglobin level (Hb>or=10g/dL) had higher remission rate. The group of AML and with hepatomegaly had lower remission rate than the group of ALL and without hepatomegly. 5) Early death rate of AML was higher than that of All. Infection was the most common cause of early death in both AML and ALL. 6) Early death rate between the two groups managed with and without leukapheresis was not different. CONCLUSIONS: This result reveals that acute leukemia with hyperleukocytosis is grave disease, especially the patients with poor performance status (ECOG score: 3-4), older age above 40 and severe anemia (Hb<10g/dL) have poor prognosis, The group of AML and with hepatomegaly showed worse prognosis than the group of ALL and without hepatomegaly.
Anemia ; Central Nervous System ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; Incidence ; Leukapheresis ; Leukemia* ; Leukocytes ; Leukostasis ; Male ; Mortality ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow scintigraphy using Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody has been reported to be able to evaluate bone marrow status. We have performed antigranulocyte antibody scan and hematopoietic activity in order to identify bone marrow status in patients with hematologic diseases. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients were enrolled in this study from October 1995 to May 1997. Images were acquired at four and twenty-four hour after injecion of 20mCi 99mTc labeled antigranulocyte antibody (BW 250/183). Patients were divided into four groups according to scintigraphic findings, those with increased marrow uptake (marrow expansion), decreased uptake, focal defect and normal findings. RESULTS: Leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes frequently showed bone marrow expansion. Seventeen of 21 patients (81%) with AML, and all of ALL and biphenotypic leukemias showed bone marrow expansion. Five of 6 with CML, all Hodgkin's diseases and 3 of 4 MDS also showed marrow expansion. In contrast, all aplastic anemia patients showed decreased marrow uptake, and extra-axial noted in 2 patients with aplastic anemia. All of ten patients with multiple myeloma and 2 of 4 (50%) with Hodgkin disease showed focal marrow defects. Three of 11 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 4 of 21 with AML also showed focal marrow defects. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow scintigraphy using antigranulocyte antibody has clearly demonstrated the distribution of bone marrow in various hematologic diseases. Thus, it seems to be a useful method in the assessment of bone marrow status in patients with hematologic disease.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Bone Marrow ; Hematologic Diseases* ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Multiple Myeloma ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Radionuclide Imaging

Primary lymphoma of the central nervous system is a rare disease, occurring spontaneously and/or in conjunction with immunosuppressive state. Its incidence is increasing according to the increment of organ transplantation and AIDS. Recently we experienced a case of primary lymphoma occurred in central nervous system after renal transplantation in a 58-year-old women who had complained of persistent headache and left hemiparesis. CT scan of the brain showed two hyperdense mass lesions in right frontal and right basal ganglia areas. Immunohistochemical stain of the excised mass lesion revealed that tumor cells were derived from B cells. The patient was treated with discontinuance of immunosuppressive drug and irradiation, but expired due to pneumonia.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Incidence ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System* ; Organ Transplantation ; Paresis ; Pneumonia ; Rare Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

In the elderly, myasthenia gravis (MG) can present with bulbar symptoms, which can be clinically difficult to diagnose from other neurological comorbid conditions. We describe a case of a 75-year-old man who had been previously diagnosed with dysphagia associated with medullary infarction but exhibited aggravation of the dysphagia later on due to a superimposed development of bulbar MG. After recovering from his initial swallowing difficulties, the patient suddenly developed ptosis, drooling, and generalized weakness with aggravated dysphagia. Two follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans displayed no new brain lesions. Antibodies to acetylcholine receptor and muscle-specific kinase were negative. Subsequent electrodiagnosis with repetitive nerve stimulation tests revealed unremarkable findings. A diagnosis of bulbar MG could only be established after fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) with simultaneous Tensilon application. After application of intravenous pyridostigmine, significant improvement in dysphagia and ptosis were observed both clinically and according to the FEES.
Acetylcholine ; Aged ; Antibodies ; Brain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Deglutition* ; Diagnosis ; Edrophonium* ; Electrodiagnosis ; Fees and Charges ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Phosphotransferases ; Pyridostigmine Bromide ; Sialorrhea ; Stroke

PURPOSE: This study examined the changes in intracavernous pressure, expression of nitric oxide synthase(NOS), and content of penile smooth muscle in castrated rats and testosterone-supplied castrated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were used for this study and divided into control, castrated, and testosterone-supplied castrated groups. Castration was performed by bilateral orchietomy under general anesthesia, and testosterone propionate 3 mg/kg was injected subcutaneously daily for a week beginning 4 weeks after orchiectomy. Intracavernous pressure was measured by stimulating the cavernous nerve at 10 volts, 2.4 mA. Expression of NOS was measured by immunohistochemical staining for NADPH diaphorase, and content of penile smooth muscle was measured by H&E staining of the corpus cavernosum. The stained area-to-tissue ratio was calculated by computer scanning for each case. RESULTS: Compared with the control group(3.45+/-0.25 ng/ml), the serum testosterone level of the castrated group (0.78+/-0.34 ng/ml) was lower. Serum testosterone level was restored in the testosterone-supplied castrated group. Compared with the(67.2+/-14.3 cmH2O) was decreased (p <0.05). There was no significant difference between the testosterone-supplied group(94.7+/-11.4 cmH2O) and control group, so intracavernosal pressure was restored by testosterone treatment. Immunohistochemical staining for NOS showed that NADPH diaphorase was stained as brown nerve fiber. Compared with the control group(37.5+/-2.8%), the NOS activity of the castrated group(7.5+/-2.1%) was significantly decreased(p <0.05). NOS activity was slightly increased in the testosterone-supplied group(47.5+/-2.4%) compared with the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Thus, testosterone treatment restored NOS activity after castration. By H&E staining, the content of penile smooth muscle was 76.5+/-2.8% in the control group, but significantly lower in the castrated group(46.2+/-3.4% p <0.05). Smooth muscle content was slightly decreased in the testosterone-supplied group(63.8+/-4.7%) compared with control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Thus, smooth muscle content was restored by testosterone treatment after castration. CONCLUSIONS: Decline of factors involved in erectile function can be restored by testosterone replacement after castration.
Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Castration ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; NADPH Dehydrogenase ; Nerve Fibers ; Nitric Oxide ; Orchiectomy ; Penile Erection* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone Propionate ; Testosterone*

OBJECTIVE: To define the risk factors that influence the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with acute or subacute brain lesions and to determine the usefulness of D-dimer levels for VTE screening of these patients. METHODS: Medical data from January 2012 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Mean D-dimer levels in those with VTE versus those without VTE were compared. Factors associated with VTE were analyzed and the odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. The D-dimer cutoff value for patients with hemiplegia was defined using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Of 117 patients with acute or subacute brain lesions, 65 patients with elevated D-dimer levels (mean, 5.1+/-5.8 mg/L; positive result >0.55 mg/L) were identified. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of VTE was 3.9 times higher in those with urinary tract infections (UTIs) (p=0.0255). The risk of VTE was 4.5 times higher in those who had recently undergone surgery (p=0.0151). Analysis of the ROC showed 3.95 mg/L to be the appropriate D-dimer cutoff value for screening for VTE (area under the curve [AUC], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-0.8) in patients with acute or subacute brain lesions. This differs greatly from the conventional D-dimer cutoff value of 0.55 mg/L. D-dimer levels less than 3.95 mg/L in the absence of surgery showed a negative predictive value of 95.8% (95% CI, 78.8-99.8). CONCLUSION: Elevated D-dimer levels alone have some value in VTE diagnosis. However, the concomitant presence of UTI or a history of recent surgery significantly increased the risk of VTE in patients with acute or subacute brain lesions. Therefore, a different D-dimer cutoff value should be applied in these cases.
Brain Diseases ; Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Venous Thromboembolism* ; Venous Thrombosis

This study examined the mechanism of action of a local anesthetic, lidocaine.HCl. Energy transfer between the surface fluorescent probe, 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid, and the hydrophobic fluorescent probe, 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl) propane, was used to determine the effect of lidocaine.HCl on the thickness (D) of the synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV) isolated from the bovine cerebral cortex, and liposomes of the total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from the SPMV. The thickness (D) of the intact SPMV, SPMVTL and SPMVPL were 1.044+/-0.008, 0.914+/-0.005 and 0.890+/-0.003 (arbitrary units, n=5) at 37degrees C (pH 7.4), respectively. Lidocaine.HCl decreased the thickness of the neuronal and model membrane lipid bilayers in a dose-dependent manner with a significant decrease in the thickness, even at 0.1 mM. The decreasing effect of lidocaine.HCl on the membrane thickness might be responsible for some, but not all of its anesthetic action.
Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates ; Cell Membrane ; Cerebral Cortex ; Energy Transfer ; Lipid Bilayers ; Liposomes ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Phospholipids ; Propane