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.
Gastroscopy* ; Humans

Steatocystoma multiplex, a cutaneous disorder involving the appearance cysts on the trunk and upper arms, is often inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The authors present mammographic and US findings of steatocystoma multiplex in a 35-year-old woman with breast masses. On mammograms, multiple uniform thin walled round or oval shaped oil cysts were seen in the peripheral portion of the breasts and axilla, and on US, well-defined or smooth ill-defined round or oval shaped nodules were seen in the subcutaneous layer of the breasts and axilla ; compared with subcutaneous fat, there was iso- or slightly increased echogenicity.
Adult ; Arm ; Axilla ; Breast ; Female ; Humans ; Steatocystoma Multiplex ; Subcutaneous Fat

No abstract available.
Heart Valve Prosthesis* ; Heart Valves*

One hundred and thirty trimethoprim-resistant R plasmids derived from of Escherichia coli isolated from clinical specimens and feces of healthy collegians were examined for incompatibility, EcoRI endonuclease restriction fragment pattern, and Southern hybridization with DHFR I, II, III, V, and VII probe. 1. Most trimethoprim-resistant R plasmids were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and kanamycin, and showed multiple drug resistance and various antimicrobial resistance patterns. 2. Trimethoprim-resistant R plasmids ranged from 90 to 50 kilobase and 42.3% of R plasmids tested were classified to incompatibilty group Inc FI, Inc FII or Inc FIV, 3. Among 48 random selected R plasmids from various origin, 14 R plasmids (including 9 of 14 Inc FII plasmids and 3 of 14 Inc FI plasmids) hybridized with DHFR VII oligonucleotide probe but others did not respond to any of DHFR probes used. 4. Most R plasmids showed various EcoRI endonuclease fragments and different reaction sites by Southern hybridization. Six plasmids showed identical or nearly identical molecular weight, EcoRI endonuclease fragment patterns and different sites of Southern hybridization. But 2 Inc FII plasmids derived from urine and feces showed identical pattern. These findings, if confirmed by further studies, suggest that normal flora E. coli can act as reservoir of resistant genes and, consequently, as a factor in the dissemination of these genes among enteric pathogens and need to be examined further.
Ampicillin ; Chloramphenicol ; Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Feces ; Gentamicins ; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline ; Kanamycin ; Molecular Biology* ; Molecular Weight ; Plasmids ; R Factors ; Tetracycline ; Trimethoprim Resistance* ; Trimethoprim*

Eighty-nine isolates of Enterobacter spp. from two university hospitals were analyzed by phenotypic and genotypic characteristics for epidemiologic investigation. Most strains were isolated from sputum, urine, wound, pus and catheter tip. Most isolates of Enterobacter spp. were resistant to ampicillin, cefazolin and cefoxitin and 39% of E. cloacae isolates were also resistant to other cephalosporins and aminoglycoside antibiotics except amikacin but all strains were highly susceptible to imipenem and ciprofloxacin. Twenty-six antimicrobial resistance patterns were obtained from E. clacae, but E. aerogenes showed only 4 patterns. Fourty-two plasmid profiles were identified, but plasmid was not detected from 28.4% of E. cloacae and 58% of E. aerogenes. Six biotypes from E. cloacae and three biotypes from E. aerogenes were obtained by carbohydrate metabolism. Fourteen strains of E. cloacae carried conjugative R plasmids and these plasmids were further analyzed. Among them, ten plasmids showed identical antibiogram, molecular weight, and pI value by isoelectric focusing and nearly identical restriction endonuclease fragment pattern. Their parental strains had identical antibiogram, biotype, plasmid profile, and were isolated from 4 different specimens including 6 catheter tips of different patients. But most clinical isolates showed various types of combination and seemed to be different strains. These results indicate that the epidemic strain were present in this hospital and the combination of antibiogram and plasmid analysis can be used to discriminate the epidemic strains of multi-resistant E. cloacae.
Amikacin ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Catheters ; Cefazolin ; Cefoxitin ; Cephalosporins ; Ciprofloxacin ; Cloaca ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; Enterobacter* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Weight ; Parents ; Plasmids ; R Factors ; Sputum ; Suppuration ; Wounds and Injuries

It is very important to collect information on the nutritional status of the Korean population for the development of health promotion programs including nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status of various population living in selected areas for model nutritional work. Seven hundred eighty households(30 households per each area)from 26 areas participated in this study from November 1 to November 20, 1996. Dietary intake data for two consecutive days were collected at household level by a weighting method. The mean energy intake of the subjects(1,934 kcal) was higher than that resulted from the '95 Korean National Nutrition Survey(1,839 kcal). The proportion of energy derived from cereals was 60.1%. The proportion of total protein intake from animal sources was 49.4%. These results were similar to those found in the '95 Korean National Nutrition Survey. Most nutrients(except iron, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin C, and crude fiber) were higher than the result of the '95 Korean National Nutrition Survey. However, the average iron intake was about 68% of the result of '95 Korean National Nutrition Survey. This may be due to the adjustment of iron content in rice(3.7mg/100g-->0.5mg/100g) included in nutrient database for calculating nutrient intakes. The mean energy contribution from carbohydrate, protein, and fat were 64.2%, 16.4% and 19.4%, respectively. Significant differences of nutrient intakes were noted among some areas, which may be due to different food intake patterns according to the needs of the particular area. Therefore, the result of this study indicates that there are significant differences in food and nutrient intakes among the areas, suggesting that nutritional improvement programs may need to be developed differently by areas.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Edible Grain ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Family Characteristics ; Health Promotion ; Iron ; Korea* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status* ; Riboflavin

To explore the relationship between economic status and food and nutrient intake patterns, the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey result was analyzed. Dietary intake data of 6,978 Korean adults of 20 years and older who participated in the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey were used along with their demographic data. Economic status of the subjects was classified into the following 4 groups based on the self-reported average monthly income of household with reference to the minimum monthly living expenses (MLE) in 2001: low<100% MLE < or = middle<200% MLE < or = high<300% MLE < or = higher. Individuals in the higher income class had significantly higher mean intake for most of the nutrients including energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C, and a higher percentage of energy intake from fat. In addition, they consumed more animal foods including meats, eggs, fish/shellfish, milk/dairy products and fats. On the other hand, the mean intakes of individuals in the lower economic class for calcium, vitamin A, and riboflavin were lower than 75% of RDAs. And, there was a predominant difference in contribution of fat to total energy intake among the groups of different economic status. These results showed that household income is an important factor influencing the food and nutrient intake patterns of the Korean adult population. Although individuals at different age classes may respond differently to a change in economic status, developing and implementing nutrition policy and intervention programs for those nutritionally vulnerable groups should consider the economic status as an important factor to customize and differentiate the content of the program.
Adult* ; Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Eggs ; Energy Intake ; Family Characteristics ; Fats ; Hand ; Humans ; Meat ; Niacin ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Ovum ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin A

To delineate the relationship between the nutrient intake from diet and the serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism, 56 postmenopausal women of 50 to 77 years of age were recruited. The biochemical markers including osteocalcin, calcium, phosphorus, estradiol and free testosterone were measured in fasting blood. Bone mineral density(BMD) was measured also by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the nutrient intake of earth individual subject was estimated by 24-hour recall of 3 days. The age of the subjects was 64.8 +/- 7.7 years, and the BMDs of the subject were 0.86 +/- 0.26g/cm2(Lumbar spine), 0.60 +/- 0.10g/cm2 (Femoral neck), 0.49 +/- 0.10g/cm2(Trochanter), and 0.41 +/- 0.14g/cm2(Ward's triangle). There were no significant differences among age and nutrient intake level groups due to the small sample size. The biochemical markers showed certain degree of relationship with nutrient intake levels. The results were compared among 3 groups with different nutrient intake level classified by the percentage of Recommended Daily Allowances(RDA) for Koreans as follows low < 75% RDA, 75% RDA < or = adequate< 125% RDA, high > or = 125% RDA. The low energy and low riboflavin groups showed significantly higher serum osteocalcin levels than those of the high intake groups(p<0.05). On the other hand, there was a trend for serum Ca level to be higher with high nutrient intake. In this case, protein and thiamin were the only nutrients that reached a statistical significance(p<0.05). And the groups with low intake for protein and Ca showed significantly lower serum free testosterone levels than that of other intake groups(p<0.05). This study suggests an important role of nutrient intake levels on blood biochemical markers of bone metabolism.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Biomarkers* ; Calcium ; Diet ; Estradiol ; Fasting ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Metabolism* ; Osteocalcin ; Phosphorus ; Postmenopause ; Riboflavin ; Sample Size ; Testosterone

PURPOSE: To improve the understanding of divergence paralysis by identifying its clinical characteristics. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review analysis of patients diagnosed with divergence paralysis that were followed up for at least 6 months. Clinical features, including disease onset, course, neurological examinations, and imaging studies were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included in the present study and the average age was 55.6 years. Thirteen patients had an acute onset and 2 had an insidious onset. The initial distance deviation ranged from 4 to 14 prism diopters (PD) of esotropia (mean, 8 PD esotropia) and near deviation ranged from 6 PD exophoria to 10 PD esophoria (mean, 1.2 PD esophoria). None of the patients developed additional neurological disorders associated with divergence paralysis during the follow-up period. Eleven of 13 patients with primary divergence paralysis continued to depend on the prism glasses with the same diopters. In the 2 patients with secondary divergence paralysis, distant diplopia disappeared as the underlying disease improved. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the majority of divergence paralysis was not associated with neurological diseases and the patients had an acute onset. Primary divergence paralysis lasted for an extended period. However, secondary divergence paralysis was resolved quickly as the underlying disease improved.
Diplopia ; Esotropia ; Exotropia ; Eyeglasses ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurologic Examination ; Paralysis* ; Retrospective Studies