A retrospective analysis was done on 68 patients with primary superficial bladder cancer between September 1989 and December 1995. We evaluated the predictive value of urine cytology in the recurrence and the progression of superficial bladder cancer. Positive cytology was shown in 52.9% (36/68) and was significantly associated with tumor grade (p=0.001). The recurrence rate in patients with negative cytology was 28.1% (9/32) compared to 77.8% (28/36) in those with positive cytology (p=0;001). No patients of negative cytology had tumor progression while 4 out of 36 (11.1%) patients of positive cytology had progression to invasive or metastatic disease. In conclusion, urinary cytology appears to be a significant prognostic factor in superficial bladder cancer.
Humans ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: Alveolar bone develops with tooth eruption and is absorbed following tooth extraction. Various ridge preservation techniques have sought to prevent ridge atrophy, with no superior technique evident. Collagen has a long history as a biocompatible material. Its usefulness and safety have been amply verified. The related compound, atelocollagen, is also safe and displays reduced antigenicity since telopeptides are not present. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study evaluated whether the Rapiderm® atelocollagen plug (Dalim Tissen, Seoul, Korea) improves tissue healing of extraction sockets and assessed the sequential pattern of bone regeneration using histology and microcomputed tomography in six beagle dogs. To assess the change of extraction socket, hard tissues were examined 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after tooth extraction. RESULT: The experimental groups showed better bone fill with slow remodeling process compared to the control groups although there was no statistical difference between groups. CONCLUSION: The atelocollagen seems to have a tendency to slow bone remodeling in the early phase of healing period and maintain remodeling capacity until late phase of remodeling. Also, use of atelocollagen increased the bone-to-tissue ratio compared to healing of untreated extraction socket.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Bone Regeneration* ; Bone Remodeling ; Collagen ; Dogs* ; Seoul ; Tooth Eruption ; Tooth Extraction ; X-Ray Microtomography

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between substance use and depressive symptoms in a cohort of Koreans aged 45 years and older from a large, population-based study. Using the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, we estimated the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its association with smoking and alcohol use. METHODS: Depressive symptoms were measured using the CES-D 10-item scale. Age, marital status, educational attainment, employment and any disability were the control variables. Because there were gender differences in smoking and alcohol use, we also performed a separate analysis by gender. RESULTS: In the multivariable logistic regression, ex-drinkers were more likely to be depressed than non-drinkers (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.08-1.74 for males; OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.23-2.57 for females). Compared to non-drinkers, males with moderate drinking habits (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.63-0.90) were less likely to be depressed, whereas heavy male drinkers were more likely to be depressed (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.07-1.91). Female smokers were more likely to be depressed than female non-smokers (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.51-2.83). CONCLUSION: This study showed atypical pattern of relationship between smoking and depression and U-shaped relationship between depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption in male population. Both of these findings could be inferred from that these regional characteristics might be cross-sectional finding of chronologic transition result from a rapid rise of late life depression in Korea.
Aging* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cohort Studies ; Depression* ; Drinking ; Employment ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Longitudinal Studies* ; Male ; Marital Status ; Prevalence ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

Septo-optic dysplasia, named by de Morsier in 1956, includes absence of the septum pellucidum, partial or complete agenesis of the corpus callosum, dysplasia of the anterior third ventricle, and bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia. Associated ophthalmologic disorders are nystagmus, poor vIsion, visualfield defect, astigmatism and optic nerve hyopolasia. The authors experienced a case of septo-optic dysplasia which was confirmed by MRI in 30-year-old male.
Adult ; Astigmatism ; Corpus Callosum ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Optic Nerve ; Septo-Optic Dysplasia* ; Septum Pellucidum ; Third Ventricle

Septo-optic dysplasia, named by de Morsier in 1956, includes absence of the septum pellucidum, partial or complete agenesis of the corpus callosum, dysplasia of the anterior third ventricle, and bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia. Associated ophthalmologic disorders are nystagmus, poor vIsion, visualfield defect, astigmatism and optic nerve hyopolasia. The authors experienced a case of septo-optic dysplasia which was confirmed by MRI in 30-year-old male.
Adult ; Astigmatism ; Corpus Callosum ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Optic Nerve ; Septo-Optic Dysplasia* ; Septum Pellucidum ; Third Ventricle

Color doppler ultrasonography is a combination of real-time sonography and doppler sonography for imaging of arterial and venous blood vessels. There is an increased use of scrotal ultrasonography in the clinician's office and emergency room for the investigation of acute scrotum. From March 1992 to Apri1 1994, 61 patients with acute onset of scrotal pain were managed. Eleven of them were testicular torsion, 37 were inflammatory conditions, and one case was appendiceal torsion by color doppler ultrasonography. One of 11 patients with testis torsion was misdiagnosed by color doppler ultrasonography. This patient proved acute epididymitis by exploration. Among the 37 patients who were diagnosed inflammatory condition by color doppler ultrasonography two patients were testis torsion by scrotal exploration. Sensitivity of testicular torsion was 83% and specificity was 91% by color doppler ultrasonography. Color doppler ultrasonography readily demonstrates testicular blood flow and it is the most valuable diagnostic modality in evaluation of the acute scrotum.
Blood Vessels ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epididymitis ; Humans ; Male ; Scrotum* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Testis ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color*

BACKGROUND: The Sewol ferry disaster caused national shock and grief in Korea. The present study examined the prevalence and associated factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among the surviving students 20 months after that disaster. METHODS: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional design and a sample of 57 students (29 boys and 28 girls) who survived the Sewol ferry disaster. Data were collected using a questionnaire, including instruments that assessed psychological status. A generalized linear model using a log link and Poisson distribution was performed to identify factors associated with PTSD symptoms. RESULTS: The results showed that 26.3% of participants were classified in the clinical group by the Child Report of Post-traumatic Symptoms score. Based on a generalized linear model, Poisson distribution, and log link analyses, PTSD symptoms were positively correlated with the number of exposed traumatic events, peers and social support, peri-traumatic dissociation and post-traumatic negative beliefs, and emotional difficulties. On the other hand, PTSD symptoms were negatively correlated with psychological well-being, family cohesion, post-traumatic social support, receiving care at a psychiatry clinic, and female gender. CONCLUSION: This study uncovered risk and protective factors of PTSD in disaster-exposed adolescents. The implications of these findings are considered in relation to determining assessment and interventional strategies aimed at helping survivors following similar traumatic experiences.
Adolescent ; Child ; Disasters* ; Female ; Grief ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea* ; Linear Models ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors ; Shock ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Survivors

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of PTSD among North Korean defectors who visited the National Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea over a period of approximately 10 years by examining their medical records and to examine differences in the medical service usage patterns of patients with and without PTSD. METHODS: Data from North Korean defectors who used outpatient services at the National Medical Center during a period of 10 years and 3 months (January 1 2006 to February 28, 2016) were analyzed. The general characteristics of the defectors were analyzed by frequency analyses, and descriptive statistics were generated. Additionally, independent t-tests and chi square analyses were performed to examine differences between PTSD patients and those without PTSD. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine factors affecting the mental health of North Korean defectors suffering from PTSD. RESULTS: This study assessed the correlations between PTSD, the average number of outpatient visits, and the total revenue. The regression analysis showed a relationship between PTSD and the average number of outpatient visits. There was also a correlation between PTSD and total revenue. The average number of outpatient visits was 41.8 for PTSD patients, whereas it was 33.2 for those without PTSD. The total revenue visit was 953.6 USD for PTSD sufferers and 231.1 USD for those without PTSD. CONCLUSION This study found that the majority of North Korean defectors visit psychiatry departments, and that PTSD patients use outpatient services more frequently and have higher total revenue than those without PTSD. Additionally, patients with PTSD used a greater variety of medical services. Considering the high medical care expenses of North Korean defectors residing in South Korea, future investigations should examine the medical service usage patterns of such patients, especially those diagnosed with PTSD, in greater detail.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes education, also known as diabetes self-management training or diabetes selfmanagement education, is effective in helping patients with diabetes control their illness and maximize their health. However, there is no established institutional strategy in South Korea because economic evaluations of the benefits and costs of diabetes education have been limited. The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) describe economic evaluation methodologies, one of the tools available to help choose wisely from a range of alternatives and implement effective resources; and (2) suggest applications of economic evaluation in terms of diabetes education. METHODS: There are three types of commonly used economic evaluations in diabetes education: cost benefit analysis, cost effective analysis, and cost utility analysis. RESULTS: The understanding of the economic value of diabetes education for people with diabetes has a number of uses: to provide empirical evidence to influence policy-making in diabetes education, to offer proof of the benefits of diabetes self-management, to improve awareness of the importance and necessity of diabetes education, to reduce costs of diabetes management, and to enhance healthcare quality. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed to evaluate the economic benefits and costs associated with diabetes education.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Education* ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Korea ; Quality of Health Care ; Self Care

Ibandronate (a bisphosphonate) is commonly used as an treatment of osteoporosis in combination with vitamin D. Monthly DP-R206-a novel, fixed-dose combination tablet (150 mg ibandronate/24,000 IU vitamin D3)-was recently developed to enhance patient compliance. This open, randomized, two-period crossover study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetics of ibandronate when administered as DP-R206 or 150 mg ibandronate to healthy adult volunteers. Each volunteer was randomly allocated to receive single-dose DP-R206 or ibandronate with a 28-day washout period between treatments. Blood samples were assessed using pharmacokinetic analysis. Plasma ibandronate concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Safety and tolerability assessments were performed throughout the study. In total, 103 participants received the study drugs and 72 participants completed the study. The geometric mean ratios (DP-R206/ibandronate) of the maximum concentration (C(max)) and the area under the plasma concentration time curve from time zero to the last concentration (AUC(last)) values were 0.959 (90% CI: 0.820-1.120) and 0.924 (90% CI: 0.805-1.060), respectively. The frequencies of adverse events (AEs) and drug reactions were similar between treatment groups, and all AEs were recovered without sequalae. Ibandronate pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and safety are comparable when administered to healthy individuals, regardless if administered as DP-R206 or ibandronate.
Adult* ; Cross-Over Studies ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Osteoporosis ; Patient Compliance ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins* ; Volunteers