BACKGROUND: The elderly is known to have many different clinical laboratory data compared with the young adults. But, in Korea, such study is lacking. METHODS: We gathered 98 healthy elderly cases and 98 healthy young adult controls who have taken periodic health examination from January 1993 to May 1996 at one hospital and we compared the mean of various clinical laboratory data between the two groups. RESULTS: In both sexes, cholesterol, ESR, glucose were significantly higher in the elderly t,han in the controls and direct bilirubin was significantly lower in the elderly than in the controls(P<0.05). In men, albumin, calcium, hemoglobin were significantly lower in the elderly than in the controls and MCV was significantly higher in the elderly than in the controls(P<0.05). In women, alkaline phosphatase, LDH, triglyceride, GOT, GPT, T3,TSH, phosphate were significantly higher in the elderly than in the controls and total bilirubin, protein, uric acid were significantly lower in the elderly than in the controls(P<0.05). WBC count, platelet count, neutrophil count(%), lymphocyte count(%), eosinophil count (%), monocyte count(%), MCH, MCHC, BUN, creatinine, HDL were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Many clinical laboratory data are different between the elderly and the young adults, and some clinical laboratory data have sexual differences.
Aged* ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bilirubin ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Count ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid ; Young Adult*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Blastocyst* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Glucose* ; Mice*

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the prevalence and functional impairment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome(PMS) in young women. METHODS: A total of 1063 female college students were recruited from two urban areas(Seoul and Suwon) of Korea. Questionnaires for sociodemographic data and risk factors of PMDD, attitude about menstruation, and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool(PSST) were applied. RESULTS: The prevalence of severe moderate to severe PMS and PMDD were 16.9% and 11.7%, respectively. There were differences in the alcohol and coffee consumption, severity of menstrual cramp, and family history of PMS among the moderate to severe PMS, PMDD, and no/mild PMS groups. Although some participants did not fulfill diagnostic criteria for PMDD, they showed significant functional impairment. Participants with negative attitude about menstruation reported premenstrual symptoms more frequently than those with positive or ambivalent attitude about menstruation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PMS and PMDD were prevalent and associated with functional impairment in young females. Some participants reported significant functional impairments although they did not meet the full DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PMDD. Negative attitude about menstruation was associated with more premenstrual symptoms experiences.
Coffee ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Menstruation ; Muscle Cramp ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Gastroenteritis*

This rare venous congenital anomaly has been diagnosed preoperatively in a 35-year-old female with complaint of the right flank pain. Herein a case of retrocaval ureter is presented with brief review of literatures.
Adult ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Retrocaval Ureter*

In our series with old electrical burn around the the wrist, there are several characteristics: for example, bad scarring in palm and volar aspect of wrist and distal forearm, large multiple defects of the flexor tendons, low median and ulnar nerve palsy, and occasionally insufficient blood supply. Between 1992 and 1995, we treated 8 cases of 7 patients with staged reconstruction. 4 patients with bilateral involvements had below-elbow amputee of contralateral upper extremity. The common approachs in each were soft tissue coverage, staged tendon reconstructiuon, and opponensplasty. The length of time between the injury and tendon reconstruction was 9 months on an average. Soft tissue coverage consisted of: 1. free tissue transfer (n=3), 2. abdominal (n=3) or groin (n=2). Total numbers of flexor tendon reconstruction were 26. Among them, staged reconstruction using silicone prosthesis were done in 18 tendons and primary tendon graft following tenolysis were done in 8 tendons. The time between first and second stage tendon reconstruction was 4.13 months. In all cases, opponen-splasty using extensor indicis proprius (n=4), extensor pollicis longus (n=2), and extensor digiti mini- mi (n=l), were performed. Good functional improvement of the hand were obtained in all cases. Patient s satisfaction were much better than the degree of functional improvement of the hand.
Amputees ; Burns* ; Cicatrix ; Forearm ; Groin ; Hand ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Silicones ; Tendons ; Transplants ; Ulnar Neuropathies ; Upper Extremity ; Wrist*

Hot flashes are related to hormonal changes of the menopause. Hot flashes occur in women with natural or premature menopause due to surgery and chemotherapy. In addition, tamoxifen for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer precipitates or exacerbates hot flashes. Hormonal replacement therapy has been recognized as a primary treatment for hot flashes. However, this therapy is generally not recommended in patients with breast cancer. Several evidences suggest that some antidepressants may be effective in reducing hot flashes. We report a case of 43-year-old female depressed patient receiving tamoxifen, who suffered from severe hot flashes and perspiration. The patient had undergone a modified radical mastectomy and chemotherapy for breast cancer. Her hot flashes were remarkably reduced in intensity and frequency during mirtazapine treatment. This report suggests that mirtazapine could be an effective agent for hot flashes caused by tamoxifen treatment in depressed women with breast cancer. Further studies would be needed to determine the optimal dose and duration of mirtazapine treatment in menopausal women with or without breast cancer.
Adult ; Antidepressive Agents ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Hot Flashes* ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Menopause ; Menopause, Premature ; Tamoxifen*

OBJECTIVES: Perceived stress scale is a self-report inventory to estimate the degree of individual perceived stress in daily life. The aim of this study was to introduce this scale and test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of PSS. METHODS: The total of 154 female hospital workers were included in this study. The survey questionnaires were conducted for demographic information. All participants were required to complete PSS, Hamilton Anxiety scale and Beck Depression Inventory. Reliability and validity studies were conducted and internal consistency was examined. RESULTS: The mean score of the PSS reported in this sample was 20.69+/-4.56. The overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.819, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.66. PSS had a significant positive correlation with the HAM-A(r=0.49, p<0.01), and the BDI(r=0.55, p<0.01). Factor analysis yielded 2 factors with eigenvalues of 3.924 and 2.608, accounting for 65 percent of variance. Factor 1 represented "stress" and factor 2 represented "control of stress". CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the PSS is appropriate for estimating the perceived stress levels. These results support the use of PSS in large sections of the population in Korea.
Accounting ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: A suprapubic approach to the suburethral polypropylene (SPARC) procedure was reported as a new technique for urethral support in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. The safety and efficacy of the SPARC procedure were evaluated in women with stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 women (mean age 48.6) with stress urinary incontinence underwent the SPARC procedure under general anesthesia between October 2002 and May 2004. The preoperative evaluations included: the patients history, a physical examination, urinalysis, an urodynamic test and incontinence staging for the Stamey grade. 2 and 5 women had previously experienced failed anti-incontinence surgery and pelvic surgery, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 8.01 months, with all patients assessed for the procedural outcome, subjective satisfaction and complications. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period, hospital stay and operation time were 8.01 months (3-15), 3.7 days (2-6) and 23 minutes (18-45), respectively. The success rate was 94%. There were no significant perioperative and postoperative complications. 3 patients (6%) had bladder perforation during the operation that necessitated an indwelling Foley catheter (mean period 7.3 days). 3 patients (6%) each had postoperative cystitis and immediate voiding difficulty that necessitated an indwelling Foley catheter (mean period 3.0 days) and bladder training, but without cutting or releasing of the tapes. 7 patients (14%) had postoperative de novo urge symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The SPARC procedure is a simple, safe and effective treatment for female stress urinary incontinence in terms of the short operation time and hospital day, and low complication and relatively high success rates. However, a longer follow-up will be necessary to determine its long term effect and efficacy.
Anesthesia, General ; Catheters ; Cystitis ; Female* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Physical Examination ; Polypropylenes ; Postoperative Complications ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress ; Urodynamics