Background: Maintaining a usual source of care (USC), which is crucial for primary healthcare, encompasses initial contact, comprehensive services, coordinated care, and ongoing support. However, limited research exists on the relationship between USC and medication adherence in patients with hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the association between USC and medication adherence among patients with hypertension. Methods: Data from the 2nd Korea Health Panel Survey 2020 were analyzed. The final sample consisted of 3,318 participants aged 19 years or older diagnosed with hypertension. USC was categorized into three groups: no USC, place only (without a regular doctor), and regular doctor. Medication adherence was assessed using detailed items (dose, frequency, time, no stop) and a 4-point Likert scale. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with control for relevant variables. Results: Compared to the no USC group, the regular doctor group had significantly higher odds ratios (ORs) for overall perfect/high medication adherence rates: 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–2.03) and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.14–2.20). Similar results were observed for each adherence item, including prefect dose (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.73– 2.63), frequency (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.53–2.28), time (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.43–2.07), and no stop (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.09–2.23)/high frequency (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.21–5.01), time (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.19–4.44). However, the place only group showed no significant differences in medication adherence except for perfect adherence to dose (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06–1.71). Conclusion These findings provide evidence supporting the need for healthcare policies that encourage having a regular doctor in South Korea, which has a healthcare system with limited primary care.

OBJECTIVES: There have been several studies documenting the changing level of the conus throughout infancy and childhood, but there is only a little detailed study that documents the range of conus positions in a living adult population, especially in Korean, without spinal deformity. METHODS: we made a sequential study of magnetic resonance images of the lumbar spine to determine the variation in position of the conus medullaris in 650 living korean adults population without spinal deformity who checked MRI to identify the cause of low back pain. The study population consisted of patients over the age of 16 years. A T1-weighted, midline, sagittal image was reviewed for identifying the postion of conus. This location was recorded in relation to the upper, middle, or lower third of the adjacent vertebral body or the adjacent intervertebral disc. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 305 men(47%) and 345 women(53%) with a mean age 45.9 years(range, 16-79 years). The conus existed commonly at the middle third of L1(131cases, 20.2%), at the L1-2 intervertebral space(129cases, 19.8%), and the lower third of L1(123cases, 18.9%). The mean position of conus was the lower third of L1(range, middle third of T12 to middle third of L3). Conclusions:The mean position of conus was at the lower third of L1(range, middle third of T12 to middle third of L3). This results was same as that of foreign study. Our results of living korean adult population could allow for safe clinical procedures such as lumbar puncture, spinal anesthesia, and help to explain the differences among observed neurologic injuries from fracture-dislocation at the thoracolumbar junction.
Adult* ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Conus Snail* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spinal Puncture ; Spine

Reports on primary malignant melanoma arising from parotid gland are extremely rare. We report a case of malignant melanoma which was presented in the parotid gland with no other primary lesions detectable. The main clinical presentation was a progressively enlarging, asymptomatic mass in the parotid gland. The 29-year-old patient underwent a total parotidectomy and right modified radical neck dissection type I. The patient was subsequently treated by postoperative high-dose radiotherapy. The most common symptom of primary malignant melanoma in the parotid gland is a progressively enlarging, asymptomatic, firm, and fixed mass. Radical excision is the treatment of choice. The role of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy remains unclear. Although rare, primary malignant melanoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of parotid gland tumor. We report the case with a review of the literature.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Melanoma* ; Neck Dissection ; Parotid Gland* ; Radiotherapy

Osteogenic sarcoma arise from primitive bone forming mesenchyme which is transformed into neoplastic osteoid and bone. Most osteogenic sarcomas originate in long bone, only rarely do they occur as primary tumor of the spine. A case is presented in which a patient who had suffered from paraplegia and self voiding difficulty. It was diagnosed as osteogenic sarcoma of the 5th thoracic spine which was operated and confirmed by microscopically, and is discussed with a brief review of the literatures.
Humans ; Mesoderm ; Osteosarcoma* ; Paraplegia* ; Spine*

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Egg Yolk* ; Humans* ; Ovum* ; Rotavirus*

No abstract available.

The persistent primitive trigeminal artery is the most common of the carotid-basilovertebral anastomoses and is located in the most cephalic portion of them. Embryologically arising from the internal carotid artery in the 4mm embryo, it supplies the longitudinal neural artery. Failure of regression of the trigeminal artery in the 14mm embryo results in the persistent primitive trigeminal artery. It is associated with a vascular anomaly in 25% of the cases, such as aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, agenesis or hypoplasia of the internal carotid artery, and moyamoya disease. The authors present a case of persistent primitive trigeminal artery aneurysm presenting with the abducens nerve palsy. The clinical features of the persistent primitive trigeminal artery aneurysm are discussed, with the review of literature.
Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Aneurysm* ; Arteries* ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Embryonic Structures ; Equipment and Supplies ; Moyamoya Disease

No abstract available.
Meningioma* ; Skull Base* ; Skull*

A series of clinical studies on the psychiatric aspects of hemodialysis and kidney transplantation were done with Korean patients, kidney donors, their families and unit nurses. All subjects were interviewed and evaluated for their psychiatric reactions and symptoms and for the underlying causes. Depression was the most common reaction, although the clinical features were somewhat different between groups studied. In addition, a unique and episodic psychotic syndrome was found in four patients. Depression and psychotic episodes seemed to reflect the psychodynamic components such as instinctual frustration, physical, familial and financial loss, dependency on a machine, sensory deprivation and the so-called fear of death and fear of life. These seemed to follow the unique features of hemodialysis and transplantation. The main defense mechanism seemed to be denial. The possible role of psychiatrists was discussed for evaluation, treatment, and prevention of these reactions and for the support of the family and the treatment team.
dult ; Aged ; Female ; Human ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Age ; Renal Dialysis/psychology* ; Transplantation, Homologous/psychology*

Since Winslow and Edwards24) reviewed 20 cases of the arteriovenous fistulas involving temporal artery described in the world wide literatures up to 1934, several authors have added the cases sporadically, but the arteriovenous fistula of the superficial temporal artery is unusual to the head and neck surgeons. Recently we experienced one case of huge traumatic arteriovenous fistula involving the superficial temporal artery and present it here.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Head ; Neck ; Temporal Arteries*