BACKGROUND: HBsAg carriers are 6-12% of population in Korea. The patients knowledge on hepatitis B and regular follow-up tests are important, because HBsAg carriers have infectivity and the disease may progress without symptoms. We surveyed their knowledge on the hepatitis B and the frequency of follow-up blood test and sonogram. METHODS: From March 1993 through September 1994, 630 patients who were diagnosed as HBsAg positive and Anti-HBs negative in a health promotion center of college hospital were surveyed by mailing questionnaire. The questionnaire included the result of HBV viral marker test, transmission routes, complications, and prevention methods of Hepatitis B, frequency of follow-up test, and doctors recommendation. RESULTS: Of the 490 questionnaires excluded the 140 questionaires returned due to wrong address, 100 were answered, making the reply rate 20.4%. As for the result of HBV marker test, 64% answered their HBV marker as HBsAg positve, 10% answered HBsAg negative, and 26% answered I dont know. 65% answered that they are HBV carrier. As for the mode of transmission, 59% answered that HBV is transmitted by blood, 57% from carrier mother at birth, 29 % by sexual intercourse. 76% of responders know that vaccination is needed for preventing vertical transmission. When making score on their knowledge, significant differences were showed according to education, income and doctors recommendation about regular follow-up test. The number of persons who took regular blood test every 6 to 12 months were 56(56%), and the number of persons who took regular abdominal ultrasonogram were 39(39%). The number of patients who were recommended regular follow-up by doctor was 76%. In this group, 51 persons(67.0%) took regular blood test and 35 persons(35%) took regular sonogram so this frequency is significantly higher than the other group(each 20.8%, 16.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge on hepatitis B in HBsAg positive patients is relatively low and the frequency of regular follow-up test is significantly higher in the group who took doctors recommendation. So it is very important that HBsAg carriers must be educated about the infectivity, preventive methods, and regular follow-up for early detection of complication like hepatocellular cancer.
Biomarkers ; Coitus ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Health Promotion ; Hematologic Tests ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Neoplasms ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Postal Service ; Ultrasonography ; Vaccination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ambroxol on preventing the infantile respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) in preterm birth at the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Taegu Catholic Medical Center during the period from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1996. Total of 68 cases were evaluated including 16 ambroxol group and 52 control group. The result were as follows : 1. In the comparison of preventing IRDS, there was 0 case of IRDS in ambroxol group and 7 cases of IRDS in control group (13.46 %). There was a significant difference between two groups (p<0.05). 2. The side effects of ambroxol after administration were nausea in 5 cases, headache in 3 cases, and chest discomfort in 4 cases, but these were not serious and self controlled. 3. There was no significant difference in neonatal morbidity between two groups (p > 0.05).
Ambroxol* ; Daegu ; Gynecology ; Headache ; Nausea ; Obstetrics ; Premature Birth ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn* ; Thorax

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Although staged operations have been thought a main treatment for obstructive left colon cancer, their disadvantages make one-stage operations popular. We tried to identify technical feasibility and oncologic safety of one-stage operation with intra-operative lavage (IOL) for the treatment of obstructive left colon and rectal cancer. METHODS: From June 1996 to May 1999, of 456 colorectal cancer patients, 25 with obstructive left colon or rectal cancer underwent surgery. In 18 of those, we intended to do a one-stage operation with IOL. Male (n=14) were predominant to female (n=4). Mean age was 61.2 (29~78) years. Lesions were located on the sigmoid colon in 8, rectum in 4, descending in 3, and rectosigmoid junction in 3 cases. Operative technique: Lymphovascular division was initiated at the origin of IMA followed by mobilization of the left colon up to the splenic flexure and distal transverse colon. Thereafter antegrade irrigation of the proximal colon with warm normal saline was done by using a corrugated tube. Anastomoses were made by hand or stapler in end-to-end or side-to-end fashion. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 221 (185~360) min. No significant post-operative complications occurred except for two wound infections and one pulmonary atelectasis. There was one unexpected conversion to Hartmann's procedure due to intra-operative fecal soilage during the lavage. Within 18 months follow-up period, 4 recurrences occurred with two of them expiring. CONCLUSIONS:: One-stage operation for the treatment of obstructive left colon cancer with IOL could avoid colostomy or reoperation, and, was technically feasible, safe, and oncologically acceptable.
Colon* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Colostomy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Operative Time ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Therapeutic Irrigation* ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The main cause of recurrence of varicosity after endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) is incomplete occlusion of the sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ) or the sapheno-popliteal junction (SPJ). To reduce the recurrence and complications of EVLT, we have tried to ligate the SFJ or SPJ under ultrasonic guidance. METHOD: Two separate parallel punctures were made under ultrasonic guidance 1 cm inferior to and alongside the SFJ or SPJ with using a 16 gauge needle. A hook was passed through beneath the saphenous vein and it was pulled out through the puncture holes. A black silk thread was passed through backward with the hook and then the thread was tied. Low energy EVLT was then performed in a continuous fashion with using a 980 nm multidiode laser. RESULT: Between December, 2007 and February, 2008, 21 patients (males: 14, females: 7, 28 legs, mean age: 45 years old) with including 20 great saphenous veins (GSV) and 8 small saphenous veins (SSV) were managed using our protocol. The mean energy density (ED) was 9.8J/cm for the GSV and 9.5J/cm for the SSV. The pullback speed on the fiber was 69.5 sec at the GSV and 28sec at the SSV. No recurrence was noted. The complications were bruise (7 limbs/24%), fibrotic cord (4 limbs/14%), pain (8 limbs/31%), inguinal pain and paresthesia (1 limb/3%) and hematoma (4 limbs/14%). These complications were well controlled without any further problems. CONCLUSION: During EVLT, ultrasound (US) guided ligation of the SFJ is cosmetically satisfactory and effective in reducing the amount of required endovenous laser energy. The complication rate and severity were not reduced, but they under control.
Contusions ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Leg ; Ligation ; Needles ; Paresthesia ; Punctures ; Recurrence ; Saphenous Vein ; Silk ; Ultrasonics ; Varicose Veins

An intraosseous epidermal cyst is a rare benign cystic lesion. It is thought to result from congenital factors or trauma and can lead to bone destruction because the cyst develops at the soft tissue around the bone. Radiological findings of intraosseous epidermal cysts are a well-defined radiolucent lesion, with cortical expansion. It is important to differentiate an intraosseous epidermal cyst with other disease developed at distal phalanx because its clinical and radiological findings are similar. We report two rare cases of intraosseous epidermal cysts that developed at the distal phalanx.
Epidermal Cyst*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

We report a 72-year-old female patient with spontaneous rupture of the left external iliac vein. She visited our hospital for abdominal and back pain. She had the abnormal finding of hemoperitoneum. We performed an emergency operation with diagnosis of left ovarian cyst rupture though she suffered from spontaneous rupture of the left external iliac vein. This case provides insight to the experience of spontaneous rupture of the left external iliac vein.
Aged ; Back Pain ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Ovarian Cysts ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous