BACKGROUNDS: Though K-ADL was developed and validated, weighting each item of K-ADL is needed to evaluate the severity of functional disability as a whole. METHODS: Nominal group technique was used to weight individual items of K-ADL. Relevant experts were recruited; one specialist in geriatrics, one expert in elderly health service, one doctor expert in questionnarie, one nurse and two social welfare workers and one caregiver who work in nursing home for elderly, one nurse working at dementia care center. At the first round, each expert assigned the weights of each item. At the second round, those experts met, discussed, and re-evaluated each weighting. Using the newly developed weighted score, we measured its validity compared to brain-disability grade and three experts' decision of severe dysfunction. RESULTS: For inability to perform task, 7 points were given to 'dressing'and 'washing face', 6 points to 'bathing', 9 points to 'feeding', 8 points to 'transfer and toileting'. If any assistance is needed, 7 points were scored to 'dressing', 4 points were scored to 'washing face', 'feeding', 'transfer' and 'toileting', 2 points were scored to 'dressing'. Correlation coefficient between weighted K-ADL sum and brain-disability grade was -0.665(p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: We assigned differential weighting to each of K-ADL and found that summing weighted K-ADL was excellent in some validity test.
Aged ; Caregivers ; Dementia ; Geriatrics ; Health Services ; Humans ; Nursing Homes ; Social Welfare ; Specialization ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Vibrio parahaemolyticus belonged to the new 03:K6 serotype was demonstrated an unusual potential to spread and an enhanced propensity to cause infection in the worldwide. Recently, increased numbers of V. parahaemolyticus 03:K6 had been isolated in Korea, and we analyzed the prevalence and molecular genetic characteristics of V. parahaemolyticus 03:K6 isolates. METHODS: V. parahaemolyticus were isolated from clinical specimens of patients with diarrhea in Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, from 1998 to 2005. The serovars of isolates were determined by slide agglutination test with specific antisera. All isolates were examined for the presence of tdh/trh genes. AGS-PCR method detecting the new 03:K6 clone was used in this study. We analyzed clonality of these isolates by infrequent restriction site-polymerase chain reaction (IRS-PCR). RESULTS: Thirty-six strains were isolated from 1998 to 2005. The main serotype of isolates were 03:K6 (24/36: 67%), All of them have tdh gene but not trh gene and an unique toxRS gene of the new 03:K6. The morphotypes of 03:K6 isolates show a same pattern of IRS-PCR, but can easily be differentiated from non-03:K6 and 04:K68 isolates. CONCLUSION: The 03:K6 was a main serotype of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from 1998 to 2005 and they show same molecular characteristics.
Agglutination Tests ; Clone Cells ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Korea ; Molecular Biology* ; Prevalence* ; Seoul ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Head* ; Neck* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Krukenberg Tumor*

Dengue fever is an important health problem for international travelers to all endemic areas. The steadily increasing numbers of tourists visiting endemic areas raise the risk of exposure, and imported dengue cases are increasingly observed in nonendemic area. Dengue has a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, often with unpredictable clinical evolution and outcome. While most patients recover following a self-limiting, non-severe clinical course, a small proportion progress to severe disease such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. Therefore, it is important to suspect dengue fever in every febrile patient returning from the tropics. Whenever it is suspected, a quick diagnosis and adequate managements are essential to avoid complications. We report two cases of imported dengue fever in Korean children presenting with fever, headache, nausea, and rash.
Child ; Dengue ; Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Nausea ; Philippines

In a small island community with a population of less than 100 residents, nine persons died and five experienced severe illness during the period from November 1986 to May 1988. Their initial symptoms were sore throat and fever. Renal failure and hepatitis developed which one week after the onset. Oral mucosal ulcer developed in some cases. After one week, progressive respiratory failure and dyspnea developed evidently and severe respiratory distress and hypoxia preceded those fatal cases. Chest X-ray findings revealed bilateral diffuse multiple cystic lesion with occasional multiple large emphysematous bullae. Based on these features paraquat poisoning was diagnosed and route of poisoning was investigated. In three sources of drinking water, trace amount of paraquat was detected in November 1988, six months after the incidence of recent fatal case. In November 1988, soybean sauces and soybean pastes from 12 households were found contaminated with high concentration of paraquat, the cause of this mass poisoning has been suggested.
Anoxia ; Drinking Water ; Dyspnea ; Eating ; Family Characteristics ; Fever ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ointments ; Paraquat* ; Pharyngitis ; Poisoning* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Soybeans ; Thorax ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Blood Donors* ; Humans ; Phenotype*

Left atrial myxoma is well-known mimicker of systemic vasculitis. In general, however, these patients showed some symptoms and signs of cardiovascular disease. We experienced a patient with left atrial myxoma who first presented as vasculitis without any symptoms and signs suggesting cardiovascular disorders. A 45 year-old lady showed tender skin nodules, livedo reticuiaris-like skin lesions, severe constitutional symptoms, multiple cerebral infarctions, and elevated ESR and globulin. Skin biopsy findings were thought to be consistent with polyarteritis nodosa. Echocardiography was performed as a routine test for evaluating suspected vasculitis patients and it revealed left atrial myxoma. However, we were not able to detect any auscultation abnormality, even after echocardiography, After echocardiography, we found the tumor emboli in skin biopy specimen with deeper section. This case demonstrated the importance of suspecting the possibility of left atrial myxoma when performing diagnostic work-up for vasculitis.
Auscultation ; Biopsy ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cerebral Infarction ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Skin ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: HBsAg carriers are 6-12% of population in Korea. The patients knowledge on hepatitis B and regular follow-up tests are important, because HBsAg carriers have infectivity and the disease may progress without symptoms. We surveyed their knowledge on the hepatitis B and the frequency of follow-up blood test and sonogram. METHODS: From March 1993 through September 1994, 630 patients who were diagnosed as HBsAg positive and Anti-HBs negative in a health promotion center of college hospital were surveyed by mailing questionnaire. The questionnaire included the result of HBV viral marker test, transmission routes, complications, and prevention methods of Hepatitis B, frequency of follow-up test, and doctors recommendation. RESULTS: Of the 490 questionnaires excluded the 140 questionaires returned due to wrong address, 100 were answered, making the reply rate 20.4%. As for the result of HBV marker test, 64% answered their HBV marker as HBsAg positve, 10% answered HBsAg negative, and 26% answered I dont know. 65% answered that they are HBV carrier. As for the mode of transmission, 59% answered that HBV is transmitted by blood, 57% from carrier mother at birth, 29 % by sexual intercourse. 76% of responders know that vaccination is needed for preventing vertical transmission. When making score on their knowledge, significant differences were showed according to education, income and doctors recommendation about regular follow-up test. The number of persons who took regular blood test every 6 to 12 months were 56(56%), and the number of persons who took regular abdominal ultrasonogram were 39(39%). The number of patients who were recommended regular follow-up by doctor was 76%. In this group, 51 persons(67.0%) took regular blood test and 35 persons(35%) took regular sonogram so this frequency is significantly higher than the other group(each 20.8%, 16.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge on hepatitis B in HBsAg positive patients is relatively low and the frequency of regular follow-up test is significantly higher in the group who took doctors recommendation. So it is very important that HBsAg carriers must be educated about the infectivity, preventive methods, and regular follow-up for early detection of complication like hepatocellular cancer.
Biomarkers ; Coitus ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Health Promotion ; Hematologic Tests ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Neoplasms ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Postal Service ; Ultrasonography ; Vaccination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Ebstein Anomaly*