BACKGROUND: Obesity is known to influence on physical, mental, functional health problems but there have been no study of relationship between body mass index (BMI) and quality of life (QOL) in Korean elderly. METHODS: A total of 216 elderly who had been attending two geriatric welfare facilities in Seoul answered the Korean version of obesity-related quality of life (KOQOL) questionnaire. Height, weight, waist circumference were measured. Body fat (%) was measured with HTM20 by impedance technique. Sociodemographic and medical factors were interviewed. QOL was assessed using KOQOL (ver.1) after excluding two sexual life related questions and one work related question. The total score is 48 points. The higher is the score, the poorer is the QOL. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, BMI, age, history of diabetes mellitus, history of osteoarthritis were associated with KOQOL score. Especially, BMI was significantly associated with KOQOL score after adjusting for waist circumference, body fat (%) (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The more BMI increases, the worse the obesity related QOL is in Korean ambulatory elderly.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Obesity ; Osteoarthritis ; Quality of Life ; Waist Circumference ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Synthetic genes encoding the gag p24 and the part of the envelope protein gp41 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) were cloned and overexpressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli, using an expression vector carrying 77 promoter and the poly-histidine leader sequence. The overexpressed p24 fusion protein was purified by centrifugation, Ni-affinity chromatography and CM-sepharose chromatography The overexpressed gp41 fusion protein was purified by centrifugation, C4 chromatography and DEAE-sepharose chromatography. The purified fusion proteins showed a high level of purity and immunoreactivity in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis. These results suggest that this prokaryotic expression-purification method is suitable for obtaining a large amount of the viral antigen which may be useful for screening of antibodies to HIV-1 in human blood samples.
Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography ; Clone Cells ; Electrophoresis ; Escherichia coli ; Genes, Synthetic ; HIV* ; HIV-1* ; Humans* ; Mass Screening

A 26-year old woman had tender erythematous grouped papules and plaque(10 cm in diameter) with underlying deep seated rodules on the right shoulder for 2 years. A biopsy specimen showed vascular tufts composed of endothelial cells in the mid and lower dermis, which was diagnostic of acquired tufted angioma. After 4-months of cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, most of the lesions had disappeared as well as her subjective symptom.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Cryotherapy* ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Nitrogen ; Shoulder

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESWL) is becoming treatment of choice for most upper tract calculi, and especially EDAP made piezoelectric E. S. W. L. can treat kidney, upper ureter and lower ureter stones. We present the results of 245 consecutive treatments performed between May, 1987 and February, 1988 with piezoeletric shock wave lithotriptor. 1. The oldest patient was age of 78 and the youngest patient was age of 15 and there was no contraindication due to other systemic disease. 2. No anesthesia were required and only narcotics were given for pain that induced from shock wave, but one, 18 years old female with renal stone was treated with ketamine. 3. Response rate revealed that complete response was 174 cases (71%), partial response was 63 cases (25.7%) and non-response was 8 cases (3.3%). 4. In complete response cases, average requirement of shock wave storages were noted that renal stone was 323, upper ureter stone was 562 and lower ureter stone was 377 and then the shock wave storage was increase depend upon the location of the stone, such as kidney, lower ureter stone and upper ureter stone in priority. 5. Staghorn calculi, multiple renal stones, caliceal diverticular stones, renal stones with migration into the ureter while treatment, impact ureter stones, ureter stones with larger than 2.5 cm and obesity were poor response factors. 6. We adopted push up (9 cases), double J stent (6 cases), stone basket (6 cases), URS.(2 cases) and nephrostomy (1 cases) as auxiliary procedure. 7. Chemical composition of treated stones were that calcium oxalate and phosphate mixed stone8 were 50.6%, calcium oxalates 33.5%, struvites 10.5%, uric acid 3.9% and calcium phosphate 1.3%. 8. We experienced 11 cases (4.4%) of complications: 5 cases of stone street, 3 cases of post ESWL flank pain, 1 case of high fever, 1 case of sepsis and 1 case of perirencal hematoma. 9. As a result, we suggest that we should consider stone size, location, situation of patient and history of stone surgery for good effectiveness from treatment with E.S.W.L.
Adolescent ; Anesthesia ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Calculi ; Female ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Kidney ; Lithotripsy* ; Narcotics ; Obesity ; Oxalates ; Sepsis ; Shock* ; Stents ; Ureter ; Uric Acid ; Urinary Calculi ; Urolithiasis*

A basic problem in evaluating upper urinary tract gross hematuria is the large number of diagnostic possibilities. The causation may be suspected after the initial history and physical examination, and can be confirmed with appropriate studies. We have retrospectively studied of 60 patients who confirmed upper urinary tract hematuria through the cystoscopy in period from Oct. 1971 to Dec. 1987. We have performed relatively precise clinical studies such as urinalysis, urine culture, urine cytology, blood clotting disorders, intravenous pyelography, renal arteriography and others and then we have obtained following results. 1. Disease distributions Calculous disease 12 cases (20.0%) Malignant disease 11 cases (18.3%) Vascular disease 7 cases (11.7%) Glomerulonephropathy 4 cases ( 6.6%) Unexplained hematuria 2l cases (35.0%) etc. 2. Cystoscopy, intravenous pyelography and renal arteriography are valuable essential procedures for diagnosis of upper urinary tract bleeding. 3. Cystoscopy, intravenous pyelography and angiography will bring the percentage of patients with a clear diagnosis up to about 70 per cent, especially excretory urography and cystoscopy must always be done.
Angiography ; Blood Coagulation ; Cystoscopy ; Diagnosis* ; Hematuria* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Tract* ; Urography ; Vascular Diseases

No abstract available.
Cholesteatoma* ; Facial Paralysis*

This review examines the critical issues of declining total fertility rates (TFRs) and aging populations in East Asia with special focus on South Korea. It provides a comprehensive analysis of TFR trends, aging demographics, and the policy responses of these nations to the low-fertility crisis. This study highlights the intricate tapestry of the factors contributing to these demographic shifts, including economic, social, and cultural influences. It also examines the effectiveness of various prenatal policies implemented across these countries, offering insight into their successes and limitations. Furthermore, it explores the role of immigration as a potential solution to the structural challenges posed by low birth rates. This review underscores the importance of multifaceted strategies for addressing the complex demographic challenges faced by South Korea.

This review examines the critical issues of declining total fertility rates (TFRs) and aging populations in East Asia with special focus on South Korea. It provides a comprehensive analysis of TFR trends, aging demographics, and the policy responses of these nations to the low-fertility crisis. This study highlights the intricate tapestry of the factors contributing to these demographic shifts, including economic, social, and cultural influences. It also examines the effectiveness of various prenatal policies implemented across these countries, offering insight into their successes and limitations. Furthermore, it explores the role of immigration as a potential solution to the structural challenges posed by low birth rates. This review underscores the importance of multifaceted strategies for addressing the complex demographic challenges faced by South Korea.

This review examines the critical issues of declining total fertility rates (TFRs) and aging populations in East Asia with special focus on South Korea. It provides a comprehensive analysis of TFR trends, aging demographics, and the policy responses of these nations to the low-fertility crisis. This study highlights the intricate tapestry of the factors contributing to these demographic shifts, including economic, social, and cultural influences. It also examines the effectiveness of various prenatal policies implemented across these countries, offering insight into their successes and limitations. Furthermore, it explores the role of immigration as a potential solution to the structural challenges posed by low birth rates. This review underscores the importance of multifaceted strategies for addressing the complex demographic challenges faced by South Korea.

This review examines the critical issues of declining total fertility rates (TFRs) and aging populations in East Asia with special focus on South Korea. It provides a comprehensive analysis of TFR trends, aging demographics, and the policy responses of these nations to the low-fertility crisis. This study highlights the intricate tapestry of the factors contributing to these demographic shifts, including economic, social, and cultural influences. It also examines the effectiveness of various prenatal policies implemented across these countries, offering insight into their successes and limitations. Furthermore, it explores the role of immigration as a potential solution to the structural challenges posed by low birth rates. This review underscores the importance of multifaceted strategies for addressing the complex demographic challenges faced by South Korea.