PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in elementary school students according to thebody mass index. METHODS: This study was conducted as cross-sectional descriptive research using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from 6,398 students at 15 elementary schools located in Y City in Korea. The cross-sectional survey used the Korean version of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratios of body mass index. RESULTS: The symptom prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in the last 12 months was 12.4%, 49.5%, and 24.5%, respectively. The symptom prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in the obesity group. The number of those without any asthma symptom in lifetime was significantly smaller in the overweight (OR=0.70, p=.004) and obesity (OR=0.57, p=.005) groups than in the healthy weight group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis prevention programs for elementary school students should include weight control intervention.
Asthma* ; Body Mass Index* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Overweight ; Prevalence* ; Rhinitis*

Coronary restenosis is still regarded as Achilles' Hill of interventional cardiology despite relentless efforts of many investigators. Recent experimental and clinical studies have suggested that both gamma and beta radiation can be reduce restenosis after angioplasty. Currently, intracoronary brachytherapy for the prevention of restenosis has become a new evolving treatment modality in interventional cardiology. This report discusses a physical aspect of gamma and beta radiation, initial clinical results and delivery systems used in intracoronary brachytherapy. We shall take a brief overview of methods and their advantages in intracoronary brachytherapy. Future work should provide further insight for the best way of treating restenosis.
Angioplasty ; Beta Particles ; Brachytherapy ; Cardiology ; Coronary Restenosis ; Humans ; Research Personnel

No abstract available.
Humans ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Nephrotic Syndrome*

This study was performed to observe the effectiveness of thymectomy in the management of myasthenia gravis. Twenty-seven myasthenic patients were undergone thymectomy at Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital between January 1981 and December 1990. The most prevalent age group was the 3rd decade and the myasthenic syrnptom developed below thirty in most. Seven patients had remission and 10 patients fared better after thymectomy. There was no significant effect with age and duration of the disease in the result of thymectomy. Those with less severe group had better response than more severe group and non-thymoma group had higher remission rate without statistical significance than thymoma group. There were better response and more complications in the group with maximal thymectomy than simple thymectomy. This study demonstrated that the effect of thymectomy was better in less severe, nontymoma and maximal thymectomy group in myasthenia gravis.
Humans ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Thymectomy* ; Thymoma

Simple or unicameral bone cysts are metaphyseal lesions of long bones. They usually move away from the physiswith growth to become diaphyseal in location. Involvement of the physis and epiphysis by these cystic lesions isvery rare. This paper reports a case of simple bone cyst of the proximal humerus in a 11- year -old girl which wasshown by MR imaging to extend through the physis into the epiphysis.
Bone Cysts* ; Epiphyses* ; Female ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PURPOSE: To determine and compare the perception among nurses and doctors of the roles and tasks of critical care advanced practice nurses (APNs) in order to establish standardized and formally agreed role criteria for such critical care APNs. METHOD: This study measured and analyzed the necessity of each of the roles and tasks of critical care APNs, as perceived by nurses and doctors, through a survey of 121 participants: 71 nurses in 7 intensive care units (ICUs) at a general hospital in Seoul, and 50 doctors who used ICUs. Data collection utilized a questionnaire of 128 questions in the following fields: direct practice (79), leadership and change agent (17), consultation and collaboration (15), education and counseling (11), and research (6). RESULTS: Both the nurses' and the doctors' groups confirmed the necessity of critical care APNs, with doctors who frequently used ICUs indicating a particularly strong need. As for the priority of each role of critical care APNs, the nurses considered direct practice to be the most critical, followed by education and counseling, research, consultation and collaboration, and leadership and change agent. The doctors also considered direct practice to be the most critical, followed by education and counseling, consultation and collaboration, research, and leadership and change agent. There was a statistically significant difference between how the two groups regarded all the roles, except for the consultation and collaboration roles. As for the necessity of each role of critical care APNs, the nurses considered research to be the most necessary, followed by education and counseling, consultation and collaboration, leadership and change agent, and direct practice. The doctors, on the other hand, considered education and counseling to be the most necessary, followed by research, consultation and collaboration, leadership and change agent, and direct practice. The responses of the two groups to all the roles, except for education and counseling roles, were significantly different. CONCLUSION: Nurses and doctors have different perceptions of the roles and tasks of critical care APNs. Thus, it is necessary for the combined nursing and medical fields to reach an official agreement on a set of criteria to standardize for the roles and tasks of critical care APNs.
Adult ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Cooperative Behavior ; Counseling ; *Critical Care/organization & administration ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education, Nursing, Graduate ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Leadership ; Male ; Medical Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Middle Aged ; Nurse Clinicians/education/*organization & administration ; Nurse Practitioners/education/*organization & administration ; *Nurse's Role ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Professional Autonomy ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: Many chronic schizophrenics are suffered from treatment-refractory hallucinations. As a countermeasure, the combined use of neuroleptics and benzodiazepines has been studied. In this context, the authors tried to evaluate the anti-hallucinatory effect of neuroleptics-clonazepam combination therapy. METHODS: At first, the authors described 3 cases of chronic schizophrenics who reported alleviation of hallucinations, which are resistant to neuroleptic treatment, after adding clonazepam. And then, prospective open study including 6 female chronic schizophrenic inpatients having neuroleptic-refractory hallucinations was done. In addition to existing psychiatric medication, these patients were treated with clonazepam 1.5 mg for 6weeks and evaluated at 5 points ; at baseline, and 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment. The psychopathology was assessed by the items of hallucinatory behavior and anxiety/tension of PANSS and BPRS. Clinical improvement was defined by fall-off of the hallucinatory behavior below the moderate level. The side effects were assessed by UKU Side Effect Rating Scale. RESULTS: All patients completed 6 weeks' trial. At the end of 6 weeks, 2 (33.3%) of 6 patients showed decrement of the hallucinatory behavior below the moderate level, when evaluated by PANSS and BPRS. However, the courses of anti-hallucinatory effect were different in these 2 patients. Another one patient showed that the hallucinatory behavior assessed by BPRS fell to the moderate level, but not when assessed by PANSS. The item of anxiety/tension was unchanged in all 6 patients. Except very mild sedation in one patient, there was no side effect. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that neuroleptics-clonazepam combination therapy is effective against treatment-refractory hallucinations in some schizophrenics and generally safe.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Benzodiazepines ; Clonazepam* ; Female ; Hallucinations* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Prospective Studies ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia

Background: Venipuncture is one of the one of the most commonly performed, minimally-invasive procedures; however, it may lead to peripheral nerve injury. Here, we describe the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of two self-reported cases of nerve injury during venipuncture with the aim of drawing attention to possible needle-related nerve injuries.Case: Two anesthesiologists in our hospital experienced an injury of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous branch of the musculocutaneous nerve during venipuncture. Immediately, they underwent ultrasound examinations and nerve blocks with oral medication, resulting in full recovery. Conclusions Ultrasonography is important for the early and confirmative diagnosis of a nerve injury during venipuncture, and for immediate treatment with a nerve block. Moreover, it is imperative for both the practitioner and the patient to be aware of the possible complication of nerve injury after venipuncture.

BACKGROUND: Through analyzing 1998 National Health Nutrition Survey (NHNS) data, we investigated the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and several basic factors reflecting the status of DM control: health behaviors, HbA1c level and the prevalence of hypertension among DM patients. METHODS: The NHNS selected 200 districts which represented the national population of Korea and surveyed all inhabitants within the districts. National Health Examination Survey (NHES) and National Health Behaviors Survey (NHBS) surveyed all inhabitants within the related districts. We analyzed the prevalence and management status of DM through analyzing the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data of 39,331 responders and NHES data of 10,876 participants. RESULTS: According to NHIS the prevalence of DM was 2.26% for male, 2.03% for female. 11.0% of DM patients exercised more than three times per week. 32.7% were current smokers. 43.1% were drinkers. 30.0% of DM patients had hypertension, but only 15.8% of them controlled blood pressure. From NHES the prevalence of DM was 9.73% for male, 7.95% for female. 10.5% of DM patients exercised more than three times per week. 36.5% were current smokers. 57.4% were drinkers. 45.3% of DM patients had >8% of HbA1c level. 38.1% of DM patients had hypertension, but only 5.3% of them properly controlled blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Considering the results of previous studies, the prevalence of DM have increased rapidly. The level of recognition of patients to control DM, however, was not enough to prevent late complications. Therefore national health policy should be reset to register DM patients and manage them properly.
Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Disease Management ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the role of pre-operative chest computed tomography (CT) compared with abdominopelvic CT (AP-CT) and chest radiography (CXR) for detecting pulmonary metastasis in patients with primary colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 619 patients with primary CRC who simultaneously received a preoperative chest CT (chest CT group), AP-CT with hilar extension, and CXR (CXR group). RESULTS: In the chest CT group, there were 297 (48.0%) normal, 198 (32%) benign, 96 (15.5%) indeterminate, 26 (4.2%) metastasis, and two lung cancers. Eighteen patients (2.9%) in the CXR group who had no pulmonary metastasis were diagnosed with pulmonary metastasis on a chest CT. The sensitivity and accuracy were 83.9% and 99.0% in the chest CT group, respectively, and 29.0% and 91.5% in the CXR group, respectively (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0003). CONCLUSION: Chest CT appears to improve the accuracy of pre-operative staging in patients with CRC and is useful for the early detection of pulmonary metastasis as a baseline study for abnormal lung nodules.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax