One of the primary goals of epidemiology is to quantify various aspects of a population’s health, illness, and death status and the determinants (or risk factors) thereof by calculating health indicators that measure the magnitudes of various conditions. There has been some confusion regarding health indicators, with discrepancies in usage among organizations such as the World Health Organization the, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the CDC of other countries, and the usage of the relevant terminology may vary across papers. Therefore, in this review, we would like to propose appropriate terminological definitions for health indicators based on the most commonly used meanings and/or the terms used by official agencies, in order to bring clarity to this area of confusion. We have used appropriate examples to make each health indicator easy for the reader to understand. We have included practical exercises for some health indicators to help readers understand the underlying concepts.

One of the primary goals of epidemiology is to quantify various aspects of a population’s health, illness, and death status and the determinants (or risk factors) thereof by calculating health indicators that measure the magnitudes of various conditions. There has been some confusion regarding health indicators, with discrepancies in usage among organizations such as the World Health Organization the, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the CDC of other countries, and the usage of the relevant terminology may vary across papers. Therefore, in this review, we would like to propose appropriate terminological definitions for health indicators based on the most commonly used meanings and/or the terms used by official agencies, in order to bring clarity to this area of confusion. We have used appropriate examples to make each health indicator easy for the reader to understand. We have included practical exercises for some health indicators to help readers understand the underlying concepts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Epidemiology ; Exercise ; Reproduction ; World Health Organization

The prognostic value of the left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been questioned even though it is an accurate marker of left ventricle (LV) systolic dysfunction. This study aimed to examine the prognostic impact of LVEF in patients with AMI with or without high-grade mitral regurgitation (MR). A total of 15,097 patients with AMI who received echocardiography were registered in the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) between January 2005 and July 2011. Patients with low-grade MR (grades 0-2) and high-grade MR (grades 3-4) were divided into the following two sub-groups according to LVEF: LVEF < or = 40% (n = 2,422 and 197, respectively) and LVEF > 40% (n = 12,252 and 226, respectively). The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE), cardiac death, and all-cause death during the first year after registration. Independent predictors of mortality in the multivariate analysis in AMI patients with low-grade MR were age > or = 75 yr, Killip class > or = III, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide > 4,000 pg/mL, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein > or = 2.59 mg/L, LVEF < or = 40%, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, PCI was an independent predictor in AMI patients with high-grade MR. No differences in primary endpoints between AMI patients with high-grade MR (grades 3-4) and EF < or = 40% or EF > 40% were noted. MR is a predictor of a poor outcome regardless of ejection fraction. LVEF is an inadequate method to evaluate contractile function of the ischemic heart in the face of significant MR.
Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/mortality/*pathology/surgery ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart/radiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency/*pathology ; Myocardial Infarction/mortality/*pathology/surgery ; Myocardium/pathology ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke Volume/*physiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/*surgery ; Ventricular Function, Left/physiology

BACKGROUND: In this report, we present the annual data of the intensive care unit (ICU) module of the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (KONIS) from July 2013 through June 2014. METHODS: We performed a prospective surveillance of nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTIs), bloodstream infections (BSIs), and pneumonia (PNEU) in 166 ICUs of 94 hospitals using the KONIS. Nosocomial infection (NI) rate was defined as the number of infections per 1,000 patient-days or device-days. RESULTS: A total of 2,843 NIs were found during the study period: 861 UTIs (846 were urinary catheter-associated), 1,173 BSIs (1,021 were central line-associated), and 809 PNEUs (498 were ventilator-associated). The rate of urinary catheter-associated UTIs was 1.21 per 1,000 device-days (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.13-1.29), and the urinary catheter utilization ratio was 0.84 (95% CI=0.839-0.841). The rate of central line-associated BSIs was 2.33 per 1,000 device-days (95% CI=2.20-2.48), and the utilization ratio was 0.53 (95% CI=0.529-0.531). The rate of ventilatorassociated PNEUs (VAPs) was 1.46 per 1,000 device-days (95% CI=1.34-1.60), and the utilization ratio was 0.41 (95% CI=0.409-0.411). In hospitals with more than 900 beds, although the ventilator utilization ratio was highest, the rate of VAPs was lower than in hospitals with 300-699 or 700-899 beds. CONCLUSION: BSIs were the most commonly reported nosocomial infections. Although device utilization ratios had increased, nosocomial infection rates did not differ significantly from those during the previous period (July 2012 through June 2013).
Cross Infection* ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Pneumonia ; Prospective Studies ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical baseline factors that affect failure of medical treatment(and especially surgical treatment) for benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) in spite of long-term medication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 802 men who were over 50 years of age with BPH were enrolled for this study. Patients were allocated to a medication group and a surgical treatment group(after having at least a 12 month duration of medication). We compared the differences between the two groups for their initial International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS), the uroflowmetry, the prostate volume, the postvoid residual urine and the serum prostate specific antigen(PSA). RESULTS: 397 patients had surgical treatment following medication due to BPH progression(acute urinary retention, aggravating LUTS) and 405 patients were given maintenance medical treatment during follow-up. Statistically significant differences were found in the IPSS(23.3+/-6.6 vs. 12.7+/-8.4), the prostate volume(53.5+/-28.1ml vs. 38.3+/-12.6ml), the maximal flow rate(7.8+/-4.7ml/sec vs. 12.7+/-5.4ml/sec), the postvoid residual urine volume(92.7+/-144.4cc vs. 36.5+/-147.1cc), and the PSA(6.1+/-7.6ng/ml vs. 2.8+/- 2.8ng/ml) between the surgical and medication groups. According to the area under the curve(AUC), the IPSS, prostate volume, maximal flow rate, postvoid residual urine volume and PSA are important in descending order. According to the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve- based prediction of the surgical intervention, the best cutoff value for the IPSS and prostate volume were 17(area under ROC curve: 0.83) and 40ml (area under ROC curve: 0.68), respectively. Conclusions: The results show that BPH patients with more severe IPSS (>or=17) and a larger prostate volume(>40ml) have a higher risk of surgical intervention, and this suggests that the IPSS and prostate volume may be useful predictors at the initial visit for surgical intervention.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Treatment Failure ; Urinary Retention

This study is an analysis of types of patients and distribution of implant site and survival rate of Xive(R) implant. The following results on patient type, implant distribution and survival rate were compiled from 324 implant cases of 140 patients treated at the periodontal dept. of Yonsei University Hospital and G dental clinic between February 2003 and April 2006. 1. There are no dissimilarities between men and women, with patients in their 30, 40, 50s accounting for 80% of patients and accounted for 82% of implant treatments; the largest share of patients and implant treatments. 2. Mn. posterior area accounted for 57% of implant treatments followed by Mx. posterior area(29%), Mx. anterior area(8%) and Mn. anterior area(6%). 3. Partial edentulous patients treated by single crown and bridge-type prosthesis accounted for 96% and fully edentulous patient accounted for the remaining 4%. 4. The major cause of tooth loss is periodontal disease, followed by dental caries, trauma and congenital missing. 5. The distribution of bone quality for maxillae was 54.2% for typeIII, followed by 30.8% for type II, 15% for typeIV and 0% for typeI. As for mandible, the distribution was 63% for typeII, followed by 34% for typeIII, 2.5% for typeI and 0.5% for typeIV. 6. The distribution of bone quantity for maxillae was 55% for type C, followed by 35% for type B, 8% for type D and 2% for type A. As for mandible, the distribution was 60% for type B, followed by 32% for type C, 7% for type A and 0% for type D. 7. The majority of implants were those of 9.5-13 mm in length(95%) and regular diameter in width(82%). 8. The total survival rate was 98%. The survival rate was 97% in the maxillae region and 99% in the mandible region. 9. The survival rate in typeI was 83%, in typeII was 99%, in typeIII was 97% and in typeIV was 100%. As for the bone quantity, the survival rate in type A and D(100%) was most, followed by type B(99%) and type C(96%). The results showed that Xive(R) implant could be used satisfactorily compare for the other implant system. But we most to approach carefully in certain extreme condition especially with poor bone quality and quantity.
Crowns ; Dental Caries ; Dental Clinics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Periodontal Diseases ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies* ; Survival Rate* ; Tooth Loss

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the reproducibility of the quantitative assessment of segmental wall motion and systolic thickening provided by an automatic quantitation algorithm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tc-99m-MIBI gated myocardial SPECT with dipyridamole stress was performed in 31 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (4 with single, 6 with two, 11 with triple vessel disease; ejection fraction 51+/-14%) twice consecutively in the same position. Myocardium was divided into 20 segments. Segmental wall motion and systolic thickening were calculated and expressed in mm and % increase respectively, using AutoQUANTTM software. The reproducibility of this quantitative measurement of wall motion and thickening was tested. RESULTS: Correlations between repeated measurements on consecutive gated SPECT were excellent for wall motion (r=0.95) and systolic thickening (r=0.88). On Bland-Altman analysis, two standard deviation was 2 mm for repeated measurement of segmental wall motion, and 20% for that of systolic thickening. The weighted kappa values of repeated measurements were 0.807 for wall motion and 0.708 for systolic thickening. Sex, perfusion, or segmental location had no influence on reproducibility. CONCLUSION: Segmental wall motion and systolic thickening quantified using AutoQUANTTM software on gated myocardial SPECT offers good reproducibility and is significantly different when the change is more than 2 mm for wall motion and more than 20% for systolic thickening.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Dipyridamole ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Perfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: Many of the enzymes handling environmental factors are polymorphic and may confer variable susceptibility to renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Among those, the author studied genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6 (B & T) and CYP1A1 in RCCs and controls in Korean. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using 132 RCCs and 94 controls, first PCR products were obtained in 104 RCCs and 94 controls with CYP2D6, and 74 RCCs and 56 controls with CYP1A1. Res triction enzyme - BstN I/EcoN I for CYP2D6 (B & T), and NCo I for CYP1A1-digestion was followed to analyze constitutive DNA. RESULTS: In both RCCs and controls, no mutant allele of CYP2D6 (B & T) was detected and the susceptibility for occurrence of RCC was unable to evaluate. With CYP1A1 RFLP, homozy gous wild type (WW) was seen in 68 (52.3%; 37 RCCs, 31 controls), heterozygous mutant type (WM) in 54 (41.5%; 32 RCCs, 22 controls) and homozygous mutant type (MM) in 8 (6.2%; 5 RCCs, 3 controls). The odds ratios (95% CI) of RCC susceptibility for CYP1A1 genotype were 1.15 for WM and 1.36 for MM. Even though not significant statistically, higher tendency in MM presented. CONCLUSION: There is no association between susceptibility for the occurrence of RCC and genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6 (B & T) and CYP1A1.
Alleles ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6* ; DNA ; Genotype ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

No abstract available.
Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive technique for various cardiac surgeries has become widely accepted since it has been proven to have distinct advantages for the patients. We describe here the results of our experiences of minimal incision in cardiac surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From February 1997 to November 1998, we successfully performed 31 cases of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Male and female ratio was 17:14, and the patients age ranged from 1 to 75 years. A left parasternal incision was used in 9 patients with single vessel coronary heart disease. A direct coronary bypass grafting was done under the condition of the beating heart without cardiopulmonary bypass support(MIDCAB). Among these, one was a case of a reoperation 1 week after the first operation due to a kinked mammary artery graft. A right parasternal incision was used in one case of a redo mitral valve replacement. Mini-sternotomy was used in the remaining 21 patients. The procedures were mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty in 6 patients, mitral valve replacement 5, double valve replacement 2, aortic valve replacement 1, removal of left atrial myxoma 1, closure of atrial septal defect 2, repair of ventricular septal defect 2, and primary closure of r ght ventricular stab wound 1. The initial 5 cases underwent a T-shaped mini-sternotomy, however, we adopted an arrow-shaped ministernotomy in the remaining cases because it provided better exposure of the aortic root and stability of the sternum after a sternal wiring. RESULT: The operation time, the cardiopulmonary bypass time, the aorta cross-clamping time, the mechanical ventilation time, the amount of chest tube drainage until POD#1, the chest tube indwelling time, and the duration of intensive care unit staying were in an acceptable range. There were two surgical mortalities. One was due to a rupture of the aorta cannulation site after double valve replacement on POD#1 in the mini-sternotomy case, and the other was due to a sudden ventricular arrhythmia after MIDCAB on POD#2 in the parasternal incision case. Postoperative complications were observed in 2 cases in which a cerebral embolism developed on POD#2 after a mini-sternotomy in mitral valve replacement and wound hematoma developed after a right parasternal incision in a single coronary bypass grafting. Neither mortality nor complication was directly related to the incision technique itself. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive surgery using parasternal or mini-sternotomy incision can be used in cardiac surgeries since it is as safe as the standard full sternotomy incisions.
Aorta ; Aortic Valve ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheterization ; Chest Tubes ; Coronary Disease ; Drainage ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intracranial Embolism ; Male ; Mammary Arteries ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Myxoma ; Postoperative Complications ; Reoperation ; Respiration, Artificial ; Rupture ; Sternotomy ; Sternum ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries ; Wounds, Stab