BACKGROUND: The life span of leprosy was shorter than general populations prior to sulfone therapy. OBJECTIVE: This study set out to determine the life length of leprosy patients in comparison with general populations. METHODS: The subject of this study was the dead leprosy patients from January 1970 to December 1991, registered in Taegu Fatima hospital Leprosy Clinic, Korea. The data were obtained by analyzing medical records of dead leprosy patients and simutaneously life tables. After the age of onset(Xi), the life expectancy of Xi in the life table(Ex) and the age of death(X) were examined, and then a real life expectancy(rEx) was computed by X-Xi-Ex (rEx=X-Xi-Ex). RESULTS: The average life span of leprosy patients was 60.80+/-14.11 years in comparison with 67.04years of general populations. In regard to real life expectancy, patients were -4.98+/-13.5years; that is, the patients' life expectancy is shorter tan general populations by about 5yerars. For the span of life by disease type was 59.26+/-13.9years, PB type 62.42+/-14.1(p>0.1). For those whose age of onset occured before(n=77) and after (n=244) 20-years: average life span 54.57+/-14.9, 62.77+/-13.2(p<0.01) : real life expectancy -6.53+/-17.3, -4.49+/-12.1(p>0.1). In MB type between before(n=40) and after(n=124) age 20 : average life span 52.40+/-13.9, 61.47+/-13.2(p<0.01) : real life expectancy -83+/-17.3, -5.71+/-12.1(p>0.1). In PB type between before(n=37) and after(n=119) age 20 : average life span 56.92+/-15.7, 64.13+/-13.2(p<0.05); real life expectancy -4.59+/-17.1, -3.15+/-12.1(p>0.1). For those whose death year occured before(n=158) and after(n=163) 1981: average life span 58.31+/-13.99+/-13.85(p<0.01): real life expectancy -8.48+/-11.97, -1.59+/-14.15(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The average life span of leprosy patients was shorter than general populations was shorter than general populations by about 5years.(
Age of Onset ; Daegu ; Humans ; Korea ; Leprosy* ; Life Expectancy ; Life Tables ; Medical Records ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

This study was to evaluate stressful events approximately 3 weeks prior to the onset of alopecia, and neuroticism of patients, by questionnaires to 59 patients and 37 controls. Questionnaires are composed of two parts ; social readjustment rating scale proposed in Korea (Stress Score) and Eysenck's Mausley personality inventory (Neuroticism Score). The results are as follows: 1. By age and sex distributions of patients, the majority occured between 20 and 39 years of age (approximately 80%), mean age was 32.39+/-10.3 years old, and female patients outnumbered male patients by 36:23 ratio. 2. For stress score, patients group was higher than control, 94.80+/-75.7, vs 53.33+/-67.0 (p<0.01). 3. For neuroticism score, patients group was higher than control, 14.39+/-6.6 vs 10.00+/-6.5 (p<0.01). 4. The stress core by sex in patients group was higher in male than female patients, 114.78+/-72.4 vs 80.44+/-75.8 (p=0.08). Neuroticism core was higher in female patients 16.33+/-6.5 vs 11.35+/-5.7 (p<0.01). 5. The comparision of stress score between male patients and male controls was higher in patients, 11.478+/-72.4 vs 48.18+/-57.2 (p<0.01), and neuroticism score was higher in patients, 11.35+/-5.6 vs 7.65+/-5.2 (p<0.05). The comparision of stress score between female patients and female controls was higher in patients, 80.44+/-75.8 vs 57.50+/-75.6 (p=0.14), and neuroticism core was higher in patients, 16.33+/-6.5 vs 12.2+/-6.7 (p<0.05).
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Change Events ; Male ; Personality Inventory ; Sex Distribution ; Surveys and Questionnaires

An 80-year-old woman was admitted because of ag avation of preexisting dyspnea and was refened to the dermatology deparbnent for evaluation of three tender nodules on her extremitiom. A chest X-ray and CT scan suggested pulrnonaxy tuberculosis wikh an endobromchial sprtad, Her past medical histary showed congeative heart failure, treated pulmonery tuberculosis and corticstertoid medication for arthralgia. Acid-fast bacilli were observed in tissue smears and a biopsy specimen. Mycobacterium tubereulosis was recovered from cultures. We suggest that this case was a tuberculous gumma following pulmonary tuberculosis and that a tissue or pus smear for acid-fast bacilli is a very useful diagnostic toal in tuberculous gumma because tubercle bacilli are copious in numbcr.
Aged, 80 and over ; Arthralgia ; Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Mycobacterium ; Suppuration ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: Chicken pox and herpes zoster are caused by the varicella-zoster virus(VZV). To investigate the epiderniologial relationship between clinical isolates of VZV, it is essential to distinguish different isolate. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to classify the VZV strains according to R5 tandem direct reiterations(TDR) copy numbers and Pst I endonuclease cleavage site mutation, and to analyze the distribution pattern of VZV strains isolated in Korea. METHODS: Strains of VZV were isolated from 61 patients with herpes zoster who had not been immunized with a live vaccine of VZV. Copy numbers of R5 TDR which was located in variable region IV were measured by PCR. The presence of a Pst I cleavage site in a middle portion of the long unique region of VZV genome was analyzed by PCR thereafter restriction enzyme digestion(PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: VZV strains isolated in Korea contained one to three copy numbers of R5 TDR. Of 61 isolates, 43(70%) comtained 2 copies of R5 TDR, while 11(18%) isolates contained only one copy and 7(12%) isolat s contained 3 copies. About 16% of the strains examined did not have a PstI cleavage site, although the majority of strains retained this site. VZV strains could be classified into 6 strains on the basis of the copy number of R5 TDR and PstI cleavage site, in which the strain with 2 copies of R5 TDR and PstI cleavage site positive was the most frequent type (36 out of 61 isolates) in Korea. Four batches of live attenuated vaccine(Biken) that is now used in Korea showed 2 copy numbers of R5 TDR and PstI site negative. CONCLUSION: The copy number of R5 TDR and the presence of PstI cleavage site seems to be a reliable marker for dicrimination of VZV strains in Korea. This discrimination can be used to study the molecular epiclemiology of VZV and as a criterion for identification of vaccine-related isolates.
Chickenpox* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Genome ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid*

No abstract available.
Neuroma*

External fixators are popular in treatment of the open fractures of long bones, especially tibia, associated with soft tissue injury, because they prevent further injury to the injured soft tissue and bone. Over the past ten years, bilateral frame external fixtors such as Hoffmann system had been used for lower extremity lesions. But they had many disadvantages like that bilateral frames were less rigid in A-P plane bending moment mechanically, therefore unilateral frame external fixators such as Monofixateur have been introduced recently. The Monofixateur was able to fix the fracture rigidly and compress, distract and neutralize the fracture site and could be used as a static and dynamic stabilizer. We have treated 19 cases using Monofixateur of the Gotzen type for open fractures of lower extremity from October 1984 to Febrary 1987. The summary of the results obtainained from this study are as follows : 1. Monofixateur was easy to use, simple and light. It provided a rigid stability to fracture. 2. It was possible to allow static stabilization on the unstable fracture, whereas dynamic stabilization on the stable fracture. 3. Application was easier than any other type of external fixators from the view point of using a few screws and unilateral frame, therefore it could prevent further soft tissue injury and was easy to secondary operation. 4. It was possible to use for short fracture fragment of the proximal or distal fractures of the long bone. 5. The fracture healing time averaged 32.5 weeks and there were marked differences of the fracture healing time between open type I, II and III fractures. 6. There was little complication such as pin tract infection and ankylosis of the joint.
Ankylosis ; External Fixators ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Open ; Joints ; Lower Extremity ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tibia

We report a case of gastro-colic fistula caused by ectopic gastric mucosa developed at transverse colon. Fistula was detected by colonofiberscopy. And fistulous tract was proved by barium enema. Meckel's diverticulum scan finding was similar to that of GI bleeding; e.g. injected radioactivity was secreted into the lumen and moved along the lumen. There was no bleeding. And there was no diverticulum in the colon. Absence of diverticular pouch may explain this unusuaal GI bleeding-like scan finding rather than focal collection of radioactivity, which is typical of ectopic gastric mucosa found in the Meckel's diverticulum. Ectopic gastric mucosa was confirmed by colonfiberscopic biopsy. We suggest GI bleeding-like pictures should be included differential diagnosis of Tc-99m-O4 (ectopic gastric mucosa or Meckel's diverticulum) scan.
Barium ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diverticulum ; Enema ; Fistula* ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Hemorrhage ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Radioactivity ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m*

PURPOSE: Piccolo et al. advocated the usefulness of Tc-99m-MDP breast scan in differential diagnosis of breast mass with high accuracy. But there are little or no follow-up studies about it as we know. We studied Tc-99m-MDP uptake pattern and lesions/background ratio in patients complaining palpable breast lesions to evaluate the clinical usefulness of Tc-99m-MDP scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 34 patients were studied with physical examination, mammogram and Tc-99m-MDP scan prospectively. Anteroposterior and both lateral view of breast were obtained 5 minutes after iv injection of 740 MBq Tc-99m-MDP. Breast uptake pattern of Tc-99m-MDP was analyzed by a grade system: 0=no uptake, grade 1=bilateral diffuse uptake, grade 2=asymmetric faint uptake, grade 3=focal hot uptake. 20 cases were pathologically confirmed by excision biopsy or aspiration biopsy. 14 cases were normal in physical examination and mammo-grain. RESULTS: Pathologic results showed 7 carcinomas, 6 benign solid tumors, and 7 fibrocystic changes. Grade 3 pattern of Tc-99m-MDP uptake was noted in 4/7 carcinomas, 3/6 benign solid tumors, and 1/7 fibrocystic changes. Grade 2 pattern was 2/7, 0/7, 3/7 respectively. The average L/B ratio was 1.66 in carcinomas, 1.68 in benign solid masses, 1.20 in fibrocystic diseases, 1.05 in normal patients. L/B ratio was higher in carcinoma and benign mass groups than in fibrocystic change and normal control groups(p=0.005). But there was no statistical difference between L/B ratio of malignant mass group and benign mass group. CONCLUSION: Tc-99m-MDP scan is not suitable to routine clinical use for breast mass diagnosis. It might be used in limited conditions when whole body bone scan is planned.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammography ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate*

PURPOSE: This study is to investigate the job stress and presenteeism of nurses with work shift. METHODS: The data were collected through questionnaires from 281 clinical nurses working for a university hospital located in D city from 13 to 28 of February, 2009. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe verification test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression using SPSS/WIN 16.0. RESULTS: The mean score of job stress was 3.47. Work overload and psychological burden scored the highest point as the sub-category of work stress factor. Work performance loss out of presenteeism showed 26.89 and perceived productivity, 79.79. Also 94.7% of respondents answered they had health problems. A significantly positive correlation was found among job stress, work performance loss and health issue. To determine the factors affecting persenteeism, work performance loss was associated with work overload and perceived productivity with interpersonal relationship conflict. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of the study, job stress is positively correlated with work performance loss, and health problems. Therefore, health problems of nurses with work shift need to be considered and plans to manage their job stress affecting presenteeism need to be developed at an earlier stage.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Efficiency ; Linear Models

STUDY DESIGN: We report two cases of symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) associated with long-term use of steroid medication OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Spinal epidural lipomatosis is a condition in which excess adipose tissue is deposited circumferentially about the spinal cord in the epidural space. It can present neurologic symptoms including back pain, radiculopathy or cauda equina. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most helpful dignostic means and should be used initially if suspected. Treatment is decompressive laminectomy and debulking of fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two cases of lumbar epidural lipomatosis with neurologic symptoms were discussed and evaluated by physical examination, postmyelography CT and MRI. RESULTS: Two cases were treated with decompressive laminectomy and debulking of fat. Increased accumulation of the fatty tissue was seen predominently in posterior and posterolateral epidural space of the spinal canal, displacing and compressing the lumbar spinal cord anteriorly. Both gross and histologic evaluation revealed overgrowth of unencapsulated normal appearing fat consistent with spinal epidural lipomatosis. One case was demonstrated gradual improvement in symtoms after operation but the other was died due to medical problems. CONCLUSION: The authors reviewed the literature and reported the results of operative treatment of patients with lumbago, radicular pain and intermitent claudication caused by epidural lipomatosis of lumbar spine and degenerative spinal stenosis.
Adipose Tissue ; Back Pain ; Cauda Equina ; Diagnosis ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lipomatosis* ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Physical Examination ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine