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*

The mechanism of apoptosis was first discovered at the end of the 19th century, but it was only recently that its importance was recognized. Not only in a pathologic environment but also in a normal environment, apoptosis has an important role in homeostasis. The number of cells is restricted by apoptosis which is controlled by several SlgBS lll VlVO. In pregnancy, the placenta regulates the maternal-fetal exchange of molecules and functions as a barrier for the protection of the fetus. As the pregnancy proceeds, changes occur in the number and components of placental cells. Observing the placental tissues, apoptosis was found in the syncytiotrophoblasts of early and late pregnancy. In particular, the fact that apoptosis observed in the placenta of late pregnancy supports the hypothesis that pmgrammed cell death is a normal sequence. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is usually accompanied by abnormal placenta and intrauterine growth restriction. In this study, using the TdT-FragEL DNA fragmentation detection kit, the changes in the nucleus by apoptosis in the placental tissues of 23 to 40 gestational weeks in preeclampsia and eclampsia were compared with normal placenta. Apoptosis was observed in the normal term placenta and in pregnancy-induced hypertension patients, regardless of whether vasculopathy was observed in Doppler ultrasound or confirmed by pathology, more apoptoses were observed aside from the number of gestational weeks.
Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; DNA Fragmentation ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Fetus ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Pathology ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts ; Ultrasonography