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*

Angiographic diagnosis of lesions of the posterior fossa requires detailed knowledge of the normal anatomy of both arteries and veins of the brainstem and cerebellum. For this perfuse we measured normal distribution of the vertebrobasilar vessels from three base lines namely clival line, Twining line and foramen magnum line. In the measurement are also included some of the methods which were published in the past. This paper is based on the results of the measurements on 18 cases of normal vertebral angiogram among 77 cases of serial vertebral angiography performed at Catholic Medical center from October 1972 to August 1975. The result obtained were as follows: 1) Distance from the most posterior portion of the pericallosal artery to the clival line is 6.55+/-0.68 cm. 2) Distance from the most posterior portion of the arcuate portion of the lateral posterior choroidal artery to the clival line is 5.16+/-0.61 cm. 3) Distance from the posterior portion of the quadrigeminal portion of the medial posterior choroidal artery to the clival line is 4.87+/-0.67 cm. 4) Distance from the most posterior portion of the distal segment of the medial posterior choroidal artery to the clival line is 4.47+/-0.49 cm. 5) Distance from the bifurcation portion of the basilar artery to the clival line is 1.22+/-0.26 cm. 6) Distance from the forward convexity of the basilar artery to the clival line is 0.15+/-0.11 cm. 7) Distance from the choroidal point to the clival line is 2.99+/-0.51 cm. 8) Distance from the posterior medullary portion of the PICA to the clival line is 2.58+/-0.45 cm. 9) Distance from the tuberculum sellae to the Torcular Herophilli(Twining line) is 10.96+/-0.52 cm. 10) Distance between the tuberculum sellae to the point on the Twining line crossed by a perpendicular line drawn from the choroidal point is 6.61+/-0.40 cm. 11) Distance from the superior portion of the anterior culminate segment of the superior cerebellar artery to the Twining line is 3.28+/-0.48 cm. 12) Distance from the supratonsilar portion of the PICA to the Twining line is 0.97+/-0.42 cm. 13) Distance from the colliculocentral point to the clival line is 3.74+/-0.37 cm. 14) Distance from the crural portion of the anterior pontomesencephalic vein to the clival line is 1.65+/-0.33 cm. 15) Distance from the crural portion of the anterior pontomesencephalic vein to the colliculocentral point is 2.51+/-0.35 cm. 16) Distance from the copular point to the clival line is 3.99+/-0.51 cm. 17) Distance from the copular point to the line drawn from the anterior margin of the foramen magnum is 1.63+/-0.38 cm. 18) Distance from the highest point of the lateral posterior choroidal artery to the Twining line is 4.74+/-0.37 cm. 19) Distance from the highest point of the medial posterior choroidal artery to the Twining line is 4.35+/-0.34 cm. 20) Distance between two bisected points of the anterior culminate segment of the superior cerebellar artery by a line drawn parallel to the Twining line at 1cm from the top of the anterior culminate segment is 2.86+/-0.29 cm.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellum ; Choroid ; Diagnosis ; Foramen Magnum ; Normal Distribution* ; Pica ; Veins

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

Immotile cilia syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by specific ultrastructural defects of cilia and associated impairment of ciliary motion and mucociliary clearance. Disorders of ciliary structure or function result in chronic sinopulmonary diseases manifested as chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, nasal polyposis, and ultimately bronchiectasis. In addition, situs inversus, dextrocardia, and infertility can be associated with dysfunctional ciliary activity. We experienced a case of immotile cilia syndrome presenting with recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic sinusitis, otitis media, and bronchiectasis. She was diagnosed by lack of dynein inner arm on electron microscopy. Treatment included chest percussion, bronchodilators, antibiotics, and surgical intervention. She has been followed up at regular intervals. We report this case with related literatures.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arm* ; Bronchiectasis ; Bronchitis ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Cilia ; Ciliary Motility Disorders* ; Dextrocardia ; Dyneins* ; Infertility ; Microscopy, Electron* ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Otitis Media ; Percussion ; Pneumonia ; Sinusitis ; Situs Inversus ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Epidural Abscess*

PURPOSE: In order to help identifying the subgroups of primary megaureter who neck operation, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of the patients who had primary megaureters without vesicoureteral reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the initial differential renal function, UTI rate and the incidence of breakthrough infection of each group. Every patient had abdominal renal ultrasonograms and diuretic renograms during his/her follow-up period and the calyceal changes and differential renal functions were assessed. RESULTS: Those who underwent operation in their neonatal period did not have considerable postoperative problems. Those with primary obstructive megaureters who underwent operation had severe calyceal dilatation at the initial evaluation. However, there were severe calyceal dilatation in the nonobstructive-nonrefluxing group, too. Those who had poor differential renal function at the initial evaluation had a greater chance to have surgical correction. Those who were classified as primary obstructive megaureter and underwent operation had a higher rate of urinary tract infection than the counterpart who had consevative care. CONCLUSIONS: In order to differentiate those who need operation, we think that the differential renal function, the calyceal morphology, The diuretic renogram curve and urinary tract infection all act as combined factors altogether and not a single factor acts as a contributing factor. That is, if the diuretic renogram cutie is obstructive and there is urinary tract infection in the initial evaluation or if there is severe calyceal dilatation and decline of the differential renal function, we think that surgical correction should be under consideration. In contrast, if the diuretic renogram cutie is not obstructive and there are other factors combined, we think that conservative treatment should be the choice only if there is no breakthrough infection.
Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*