To clarify the characteristics of HBV-associated renal lesions, renal biopsies obtained from 22 HBsAg seropositive patients(M:F=32:1) were studied. Other than two(age 4 and 12), all were adults(17-77 y.o.). Twelve of the patients had nephrotic syndrome(NS), 5 NS and hematuria(H), 10 proteinuria and H, one gross H, one microscopic H, and 4 normal urinalysis at the time of biopsy. Light microscopy showed minimal change lesion(MCL) in 9 cases, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis(MSPGN) in 6, MPGN type I in 7, MPGN type III in 6, and mebranous nephropathy(MGN) in 5 cases. There were variable immunofluorescent(IF) findings of 25 cases studied; IF staining were predominant with IgG in 10 cases, with IgA in 5 and with IgM in 2 cases. Complements tended to be more strong for C1 &/or C4 than C3. In electron microscopic(EM) studies of MCL group, rare mesangial deposits were noted(3/5). In MSPGN, aside from mesangial deposits, there were occasional subendothelia(2/4) or subepithelial(1/4) deposits. In MPGN type I, in addition to the usual EM features of MPGN, some subepithelial deposits were also observed in 5 cases. In MGN, 3 out of 4 showed subendothelial deposits. Among 7 cases stained for HBsAg all were negative with IF and 2 were positive with PAP method. It is concluded that clinico-pathological findings of HBV-associated nephropathy are variable and partly show lupus-like features, different from primary glomerulopathy.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

This study was conducted to assess the bone mineral density (BMD) and the anthropometric measurements, life style, and other environmental factors affecting BMD in Korean adolescents. Subjects were 167 high school students (83 male students, 84 female students) in Seoul. BMD was measured in the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), femoral trochanter (FT), and Ward's triangle (WT) by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The questionnaire was used to assess the anthropometric measurements, life style, and other environmental factors. Bone mineral density of LS, FN, FT and WT were 0.967, 0.960, 0.795, 0.761 g/cm2. The BMD of LS was not different by sex but the male students's BMD of FN, FT and WT were higher significantly than the female students (LS: 0.976 vs. 0.958, FN: 1.040 vs. 0.880, FT: 0.842 vs. 0.749, WT: 0.827 vs. 0.695 g/cm2) Female students's BMD of LS, FN, WT, and FT was positively correlated with weight but male students's BMD of WT was not correlated with weight. The factors such as the life style, activity and exercise have significant influence on BMD. This study confirms that the major factor affecting BMD was body weight and the factors such as the life style, activity and exercise is related to accumulation of BMD. The classification of sexual characteristics is needed for further studies on BMD of adolescents.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adolescent* ; Body Weight ; Bone Density* ; Classification ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Male ; Seoul ; Spine ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A total of 4757 apparently healthy aged persons over 65 years of age was surveyed for geriatric hypertension. A single blood pressure measurement was taken in the sitting position. Mean systolic blood pressure rose significantly with age in female but didn't in male and mean diastolic blood pressure didn't change with age in both sex. The prevalence of pure systolic hypertension, i.e., a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 mmhg and a diastolic blood pressure less than 95mmhg, increased with age. The prevalence was slighty lower for female than it was for male, being 7.0% for female and 8.0% for male. The prevalence of classical hypertension-defined as diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95mmhg - was 42.7% for female and 48.2% for male and it rose with age in female. The prevalence of both pure systolic and classical hypertension was 49.7% for female and 56.1% for male.
Blood Pressure ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Korea* ; Male ; Prevalence

Background and OBJECTIVE: There has been a few case reports of anaphylaxis due to honeybee in Korea. In order to observe the clinical feature of bee sting anaphylaxis. Moderials and methods: Six patients living in Kyunggi province area were referred under history of anaphylaxis after the bee sting. Atopy was defined by skin prick test result to common inhalant allergen. Serum specific IgE antibody to each bee antigen was detected by radioimmunoassay to identify the causative bee. RESULTS: All six cases were female. Three had atopy and four had combined allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and urticaria. The etiologic bees consisted of yellow jacket (6 cases), paper wasp (4 cases), yellow hornet (3 cases), white faced hornet (1 case) and honey bee (1 case). Four cases had experienced anaphylaxis after ant bite and they showed positive result on specific IgE to imported fire ant. Specific immunotherapy against causative bee venom was begun using bee venom extracts from Bayer (USA) based upon results of specific IgE anti-body to bee venom. CONCLUSION: The yellow jacket is the most common cause of bee venom anaphylaxis in this area. Further studies will be needed to evaluate possible cross-reactivity between bee and ant venom.
Anaphylaxis* ; Ant Venoms ; Ants ; Asthma ; Bee Venoms* ; Bees* ; Bites and Stings ; Female ; Fires ; Gyeonggi-do ; Honey ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunotherapy ; Korea ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rhinitis ; Skin ; Urticaria ; Wasps

This study was designed to identify how customers considered menu selection attributes on menu choice, and so the instrument for measuring that question was developed and menu selection behavior types were analyzed by customers' characteristics. Cronbach's alpha to assess the internal reliability of the developed scales was 0.8361, which indicated to be highly reliable. Construct validity was assessed by principal components factor analysis with a Varimax rotation to identify underlying dimensions of menu selection and then four factors explaining 55.618% of the total variance were found. These factors were labeled as 'quality of meals', 'attractiveness of meals', 'healthfulness of meals' and 'variety of meals', respectively. As a result of analysis on menu selection factors, 'quality of meals'(3.82 out of 5) was the highest consideration followed by 'variety of meals'(3.51), 'healthfulness of meals'(3.49) and 'attractiveness of meals'(3.34), so that menu marketing approaches in the perspective of quality of meals would do lead customers' selection rates, customer satisfaction and then sales highly. Frequent visitor selected menu indifferently but customers who were interested in food and menu highly, who perceived meals' quality highly, and who were satisfied with overall foodservice did with concern. On the basis of these results of study for the target of food court-style B & I foodservice operation, which was introduced as an ideal model in future foodservice market by the concept of 'customer's selection right', the following study related with customers' meal patterns and perception of foodservice by menu selection attributes would be able to predict the chances for success of food court-style foodservice operations.
Commerce ; Marketing ; Meals ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Leydig Cell Tumor*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Leydig Cell Tumor*

The purpose of the study was to find the sociopsychological factors predicting the intention of compliance with the dietary regimen in diabetes with a questionnaire. Data were collected from 282 adult noninsulin-dependent diabetics in Seoul, Kyoggida, and Kyongsangbukdo in Korea. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted with predictor variables from theories of the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Model, The Theory of Reasoned Action, and Social Support. The behavioral intention of compliance with the prescribed diet was the independent variable. Subjects norm self-efficacy knowledge about diet therapy, outcome expectation, relationship with medical team, threat of deterioration of disease, and social support were the independent variables, The mean score of behavior intention was high ie 35.3 out to 42. Subjective norm and self-efficacy were the significant variables to predict the intention of dietary compliance. These variables comprised 39% of the common variance. To increase dietary compliance by influence of the referents and improve self-efficacy significant referents must be included and concrete and practical methods to follow the dietary regimen must be provided in nutrition education.
Adult ; Compliance* ; Diet ; Diet Therapy ; Education ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The purpose of this study was to find the sociopsychological factors influencing the compliance of dietary regimen in diabetes by using focus group interviews. The data were collected from fifty three diabetes patients in eleven focus groups from September 1997 to March, 1998 in Seoul and Suwon Korea. The interviews were tape-recorded and the contents of the interviews were analysed by researchers. The subjects knew the causes, complications, and therapies of diabetes although they were incorrect at times . Patients had a wide range of outcome expectations from very optimistic to pessimistic. They recognized diabetes as a disease which needs life-time care, and they though that good care could provide a normal life. One the other hand they thought diabetes could lead to death through complications, and cause financial problems as well as social isolation. As for self-efficacy they recognized the importance of compliance to diet regimen but they thought the diet therapy was very difficult and were not very willing to follow it. They felt medical professionals, especially doctors, were influential for the therapies. However they frequently felt counselling provided by doctors was insufficient in time and content and led to attitude problems. They felt support from families and others was often insufficient and inadequate. Nutrition education fostering outcome expectation, social support, and self-efficacy is needed to increased compliance. The most influential referents were medical professional including doctors, nurses, dieticians, so their role in diet therapy should by emphasized.
Compliance* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Diet Therapy ; Education ; Focus Groups* ; Foster Home Care ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Nutritionists ; Seoul ; Social Isolation

Many patients whose chief complaint is headache caused by accident such as traffic accident, falling, or assaults visit to emergency center. Majority of these patients has mild or moderate symptoms, and there is no need to treat surgically. However, the fact that head injury can cause SIADH(syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone) is likely to be overseen. Acute hyponatremia might have been associated with death or permanent brain damage. Hyponatremia is best handled by early recognition and correction of a downward trend in the serum sodium. Unfortunately, this is often difficult in the head-injured patient, where hyponatremia may occur fairly rapidly and is confused by symptoms of head injury. when moderate to severe hyponatremia occurs, it is important to determine its etiology and expeditiously initiate corrective action. There has not been any reported case of the occurrence of symptomatic SIADH after mild head injury in Korea yet. The authors report the experience of three cases of symptomatic SIADH after mild head injury with review of the literatures.
Accidents, Traffic ; Brain ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Emergencies ; Head* ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyponatremia* ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Korea ; Sodium