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OBJECTIVE: To acquire normal values of nerve conduction study of the superficial radial sensory nerve (SRN) distal branches to the second web space (2 WEB) and second digit (2 DIG) and compare them with the results of the conventional method. METHOD: Forty-three healthy adult subjects (25 males, 18 females) were included. Nerve conduction study was performed in both hands. Superficial radial sensory responses were obtained with 2 recording montages: 1) antidromic stimulation, recording electrode placed between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpals with stimulation 10 cm proximally on the lateral forearm (2 WEB); 2) orthodromic stimulation, stimulation at the second digit with recording 10 cm proximally at the snuff box (2 DIG). Each stimulation was performed twice, and onset latency, peak latency, and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude (baseline-to- peak) were measured. Correlations between the values and body mass index (BMI), sex, and finger circumference were tested statistically. RESULTS: The age of the subjects was 36.0+/-10.4 years (range, 23~64 years), and the BMI was 22.6+/-2.8 kg/m2. The onset latency, peak latency and SNAP amplitude of the 2 WEB response were 1.7+/-0.1 ms, 2.2+/-0.2 ms, and 24.6+/- 8.2 micro V, respectively. The onset latency, peak latency and SNAP amplitude of the 2 DIG response were 1.6+/-0.2 ms, 2.2+/-0.2 ms, and 15.2+/-6.0 micro V, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between male and female subjects for both 2 WEB and 2 DIG responses. Weak correlations were found between the nerve conduction values and BMI, sex, and finger circumference. CONCLUSION: Sensory nerve action potentials can be successfully obtained from the distal branches of the superficial radial nerve.
Action Potentials ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Electrodes ; Female ; Fingers ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Metacarpal Bones ; Neural Conduction* ; Radial Nerve* ; Reference Values ; Tobacco, Smokeless

BACKGROUND: It is reported that approximately 10.7% of Korean reproductive women use rhythm method to avoid pregnancy, which is higher in comparison to other countries. However, few surveys on practicing natural family planning methods have been done and awareness of it is also very(low). Our study examined women's interest and related factors in using natural family planning either to become pregnant or to avoid it. METHODS: A questionnaire was given to 1,700 women, ages 18 to 50, who visited general hospitals in Seoul and Kyounggido for health examination from the months beginning July and ending September in 1998. RESULTS: Of the 604 answered questionnaires, 361 were from women who were potentially fertile. Of these women 45.4% indicated that they would likely use natural family planning in the future to avoid pregnancy, and 30.5% indicated that they would likely use natural family planning in the future to become pregnant. Past use of any method of natural family planning to avoid pregnancy was associated with interest in future use of modern methods of natural family planning to avoid pregnancy. Age under 30, past use of natural family planning to become pregnant and the possible desire for future pregnancy were associated with interest in future use of natural family planning to conceive. CONCLUSION: Interest in future use of natural family planning is associated with past use of natural family planning including other factors. Many women who have not used natural family planning showed interest in using natural family planning, either to avoid pregnancy or to conceive. Therefore, clinicians should include modern natural family planning method in all of their discussions with women about family planning options.
Family Planning Services ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Natural Family Planning Methods* ; Pregnancy ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anatomic course of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LABCN) and medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (MABCN) in the forearm. METHOD: We dissected 29 upper extremities of 16 cadavers for LABCN and 20 upper extremities of 15 cadavers for the MABCN. We measured the distance (BT_L) between the biceps tendon (BT) and LABCN on the intercondylar line. The BT is the point at which biceps tendon crosses intercondylar line. The distance (L12) between LABCN and the point of 12 cm distal to BT on the line between BT and radial artery at wrist was measured. The distance (ME_M) between MABCN and medial epicondyle on the intercondylar line was measured. M8 and M10 are the distances between MABCN and the points 8 cm and 10 cm distal to BT on the line from BT to mid-point of flexor carpi radialis and palmaris longus at the wrist respectively. RESULTS: BT_L and L12 were 1.4+/-3.7 mm and 4.4+/-3.7 mm respectively. ME_M, M8 and M10 were 28.6+/-6.9 mm, 18.9+/-8.9 mm and 18.3+/-8.2 mm respectively. The thickness of LABCN and MABCN was 19.1+/-4.9 mm and 13.2+/-4.2 mm respectively. CONCLUSION: The LABCN was emerge just lateral to biceps tendon at the elbow and ran down to radial artery. The anatomic course of MABCN was variable at the elbow and forearm.
Cadaver ; Elbow ; Forearm ; Radial Artery ; Tendons ; Upper Extremity ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find the factors associated with becoming obese children during the past 2 years in 6th grade children of elementary school and then to evaluate the high risk groups for childhood obesity. METHODS: The 738 children from May to June, 2001 in 6th grade of 5 elementary schools in Busan were the subjects of this study. The children's height and weight in 4th grade and 6th grade were obtained from school health records. We calculated the body mass index in 4th and 6th grades and classified into 3 weight groups (normal, at risk for obesity, and obese) according to the age and sex-specific BMI established by the Korean Academy of Pediatrics. If children's weight group in 4th grade was changed to heavier weight group in 6th grade, we defined it as increased group. Otherwise, we defined it as non-increased group. The association between the increase in weight group and parental and children's characteristics were analyzed by x2-test, x2-test for the trend, t-test, ANOVA and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the total, 3.3% of children with normal weight and 16.9% of children at the risk for obesity in 4th grade were transformed to increased group in 6th grade, respectively (P<0.001). Children who had excessive appetite (P<0.001), watched TV greater than or equal to 2 hours per day (P=0.004) or had an obese father (P=0.044) were more likely to become increased group. After adjusting for father's obesity, appetite and TV watching time in children, the odds ratio of transforming to increased group after 2 years in children at risk for obesity or in obese child in 4th grade was 2.5 (95% CI: 1.09~5.55) compared to children with normal weight. Children having excessive appetite were 3.2 times (95% CI: 1.42~7.01) more likely to become the increased group after adjusting for father's obesity, TV watching time and weight in 4th grade. Children watching TV greater than or equal to 2 hours/day was 2.8 times (95% CI: 1.27~6.18) more likely to become increased group after adjusting for father's obesity, appetite and weight in 4th grade. CONCLUSION: The risk of becoming obese was higher in children at risk for obesity or obese children in those with excessive appetite or those who have watched TV> or =2 hours/day for the past two years. These findings suggest promotion of educational plan to prevent childhood obesity.
Appetite ; Body Mass Index ; Busan* ; Child* ; Fathers ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity ; Pediatrics ; Risk Factors ; School Health Services

PURPOSE: To understand awareness, attitude and knowledge levels of muscle health of adults over 18 years old. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study using questionnaires. A total of 401 questionnaires were included for final analysis. Mean and standard deviation of the continuous variables were analyzed and frequency analysis of categorical variables was performed. To identify differences according to general characteristics, t-test was used. RESULTS: Awareness scores about the importance of muscle health and exercises were 8.3 and 13.0, respectively. Attitude score and knowledge score were 12.4 and 15.0, respectively. There were differences in attitude toward muscle health according to gender, age, physical activity, and diet habits. However, there was no difference in attitude toward muscle health according to educational level, smoking, drinking, or sleeping. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to seek a strategy to improve awareness and attitude toward muscle health based on knowledge, not merely to raise knowledge level about muscle health. Since nurses play a central role in health promotion and disease prevention, they should also play an important role in strategic development and application of intervention.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking ; Exercise ; Food Habits ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Muscles ; Smoke ; Smoking

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of the H5N1 subtype have spread since 2003 in poultry and wild birds in Asia, Europe and Africa. In Korea, the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks took place in 2003/2004, 2006/2007 and 2008. As the 2006/2007 isolates differ phylogenetically from the 2003/2004 isolates, we assessed the clinical responses of chickens, ducks and quails to intranasal inoculation of the 2006/2007 index case virus, A/chicken/Korea/IS/06. All the chickens and quails died on 3 days and 3-6 days post-inoculation (DPI), respectively, whilst the ducks only showed signs of mild depression. The uninoculated chickens and quails placed soon after with the inoculated flock died on 5.3 and 7.5 DPI, respectively. Both oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were taken for all three species during various time intervals after inoculation. It was found that oropharyngeal swabs showed higher viral titers than in cloacal swabs applicable to all three avian species. The chickens and quails shed the virus until they died (up to 3 to 6 days after inoculation, respectively) whilst the ducks shed the virus on 2-4 DPI. The postmortem tissues collected from the chickens and quails on day 3 and days 4-5 and from clinically normal ducks that were euthanized on day 4 contained the virus. However, the ducks had significantly lower viral titers than the chickens or quails. Thus, the three avian species varied significantly in their clinical signs, mortality, tissue virus titers, and duration of virus shedding. Our observations suggest that duck and quail farms should be monitored particularly closely for the presence of HPAIV so that further virus transmission to other avian or mammalian hosts can be prevented.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Brain/virology ; *Chickens ; *Coturnix ; *Ducks ; Heart/virology ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/*pathogenicity ; Influenza in Birds/epidemiology/transmission/*virology ; Kidney/virology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lung/virology ; Virus Shedding

Mucormycosis is a rare and fulminating opportunistic fungal infection that occurs almost in immunocom-promised patients. It is also a highly virulent and rapidly progressive disease with poor prognosis. Its incidence has been increasing in recent years. We have experienced a case of solitary duodenal mucormycosis in a 45 year-old male patient. Mucormycosis was diagnosed by pathology & culture and he was treated with amphotericin B and discharged with clinical improvement. We report this case with a literature review.
Amphotericin B ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucormycosis* ; Pathology ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of postpartum bleeding with uterine artery embolization has been well-described so far. However, angiographic differences between early and late postpartum bleeding has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate angiographic differences between early and late postpartum bleeding and therapeutic effect of superselective embolization. METHODS: Medical records and angiographic images of 12 patients (7 early and 5 late) with postpartum bleeding were evaluated. Timing of bleeding, mode of delivery, angiographic findings and treatment outcome were primary variables evaluated. RESULTS: Among 12 patients, 11 patients had been successfully treated with superselective embolization. One patient with amniotic fluid embolism and disseminated intravascular coagulation had expired. Among the early postpartum bleeding, uterine atony was found in every patients except post-cesarean hysterectomy cases. Pseudoaneurysm of uterine artery was found in all patients with late postpartum bleeding. CONCLUSION: Superselective embolization is an effective method to control postpartum bleeding. Pseudoaneurysm of uterine artery is a main cause of late postpartum bleeding.
Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Medical Records ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Treatment Outcome ; Uterine Artery ; Uterine Artery Embolization ; Uterine Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: It is controversial whether indoor pet exposure is either a risk or protective factor developing sensitization to pet allergens or asthma. Therefore, we investigated whether indoor pet ownership entails a risk for the development of asthma and sensitization in childhood. METHODS: The Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC) is a general-population-based birth cohort study that recruited 2,078 mother-baby dyads in Korea between April and July of 2008. Among 1,577 children who were followed up in 2015, 559 underwent skin prick tests, spirometry and bronchial provocation tests using Provocholine. Having a cat or a dog and the prevalence of asthma were evaluated by using self-reported questionnaires and physicians’ medical records. RESULTS: During infancy, the rate of dog ownership was 4.5% (71 of 1,574) and that of cat ownership was 0.5% (8 of 1,574). Of the subjects, 7.9% (n=109) currently had at least 1 dog and 2.5% (n=34) had at least 1 cat. Pet ownership during infancy was associated with sensitization to cats or dogs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–13.98), wheezing within 12 months (aOR, 5.56; 95% CI, 1.65–18.75) and current asthma (wheezing episode in the last 12 months+diagnosed asthma by physicians) (aOR, 6.36; 95% CI, 1.54–26.28). In contrast, pet ownership during the last 12 months was not associated with sensitization to cats or dogs or current asthma. CONCLUSION: Indoor pet exposure during infancy can be critical for developing sensitization to cats or dogs and asthma in childhood. Avoidance of pet exposure in early life may reduce sensitization to cats or dogs and development of asthma.
Allergens ; Animals ; Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Cats ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Dogs ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Methacholine Chloride ; Odds Ratio ; Ownership ; Parturition ; Pets ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors ; Respiratory Sounds ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Spirometry