Accessibility to medical facilities and personnels has been known as one of important determinants of medical care utilization. This study attempted to identify the effects of medical accessibility in terms of geographical distance and occupational opportunity to the medical utilizations. Two-year-experiences of Yonsei University Health Insurance Cooperatives were used as the sources of data. Out patient utilization patterns of 713 members sampled from 4,352 members of Health Insurance Cooperatives were analyzed in order to identify the effects of medical accessibilities. Findings: 1. Average clinic visit rate of Yonsei Health Insurance is 1.66 per person per year. 2. The utilization rates of geographically more accessible group were 33% higher than that of less accessible group. 3. No marked difference in clinic visit rate were observed between medical and non-medical personnel and their family members. 4. Clinic visit rates among occupationally accessible group were slightly higher than those of less accessible. The utilization rate was more sensitively changed by the insurance policy changes in occupationally accessible group.
Ambulatory Care ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health* ; Occupations

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) account for only 3.4% of symptomatic metastases to the spinal cord. The survival of patients with ISCM is characteristically short, often no longer than 2 months, due to a rapid neurologic deterioration and the presence of widespread metastases, including metastases to the brain. We report two cases of ISCM arising from primary sphenoid sinus carcinoma and primary lung cancer along with a review of the literature. The case of ISCM from the primary sphenoid sinus is the third case of secondary syringomyelia due to ISCM in the world literature, and ISCM from the primary lung cancer is the first case reported in Korea. One case showed a slow progression of symptoms and a longer survival (26 months after the radiotherapy to the spine), and the other showed a rapid deterioration of symptoms with a shorter survival. More effective palliation can be achieved if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage when the neurologic deficits are still reversible.
Brain ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Radiotherapy ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Spinal Cord* ; Syringomyelia

Multiple factors including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were evaluated for a case-control study in Chonnam area to investigate the causative entity of COPD. Data on the multiple causative factors from hospital records and interview survey were analyzed in three groups of COPD(64 cases as case group), normal lung (83 cases as control group 1) and non-COPD lung disease (45 cases as control group 2). Smoking status, history of adulthood pulmonary infection and frequent history of URI, socioeconomic status, and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 1. Drinking status, physical height of the subjects and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 2. If control group 1 was used, odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 5.68(95%confidence interval, 95% CI:2.59-12.45) and 4.81 (95% CI:1.89-10.53) when adjusted by age and smoking status. If control group 2 was used. Odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 4.22 (95% CI:1.69-10.56) and 4.59 (95% CI:1.64-12.86) when adjusted by alcohol and adulthood respiratory infection status. In summary, there results suggested that GERD might play a causative role in the development of COPD.
Case-Control Studies ; Drinking ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hospital Records ; Jeollanam-do ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class

It is known that the painful sensation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) results in sleep problems in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, it is not known that the painless DPN also is associated with poor sleep quality in T2DM. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between painless DPN and poor sleep quality in T2DM.

It is known that the painful sensation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) results in sleep problems in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, it is not known that the painless DPN also is associated with poor sleep quality in T2DM. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between painless DPN and poor sleep quality in T2DM.

No abstract available.
Cognition*

No abstract available.
Ileum*

We designed a new electrophoresis apparatus. This was consisted of the body into which agarose could be poured directly and the cover from which the platinium electrodes were suspended. After running the nucleic acid in this electrophoresis, we observed the band of nucleic acid on the ultraviolet transilluminator without touching the agarose gel, keeping the cover with the electrodes and discarding the gel in body. We compared the variuos types of the electrophoresis apparatus. In the electrophoresis apparatus which body was consisted of the flat bottom, the migration of dyes was the fastest among studied types. The high migration velocity of dyes was due to high electric current.
Coloring Agents ; Electrodes ; Electrophoresis* ; Running ; Sepharose

Enlargement of the gingival caused by phenytoin. An anticonvulsant used in the treatment of epilepsy, occurs in some of the patients receiving the drug. Its incidence varies from 3 to 62 percent, with the greater frequencies in younger patients. The hyperplasia is usually generalized throughout the mouth, but is more severe tendency in the maxillary and mandibular anterior regions. 18 year old male patient was admitted to our Department of Dentistry with the complaint of generalized painless gingival swelling. After the consult of the N.M. and laboratory study, the gingivectomy and gingivoplasty was performed. The periodontal pack and tin foil was applied on the attached gingival to protect a surgical site and bleeding control. We obtained a good result of improved esthetics and function.
Dentistry ; Epilepsy ; Esthetics ; Gingival Hyperplasia* ; Gingivectomy ; Gingivoplasty ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Male ; Mouth ; Phenytoin* ; Tin

No abstract available.
Humans ; Seoul*