Dementia as a public health problem looms as an epidemic of the 21st century. The aging population places an increasing number of individuals at risk for dementia. It is predicted that the proportion of the population over 65 years will exceed 14% by 2022 in Korea. This paper aims at summarizing epidemiologic characteristics of dementia in the general population in Korea, which are essential to develop a preventive strategy to this dreadful disease. The prevalence of dementia has been estimated in several studies in Korea and was found to be around 9.5 to 13.0% among individuals aged 65 years and over, which appears a little higher than those reported in other countries. According to the etiologic subtypes, more than half of the cases are reported to be Alzheimer's disease (AD) in most studies, especially in studies conducted in rural areas. These results are similar to those reported in the western countries, with AD being more common. In Asia, it was expected that vascular dementia would be much more common than AD due to the high prevalence of cerebrovascular accidents. Women have a much higher prevalence rate than men in all studies, presumably due to the higher prevalence of AD among the oldest aged 80 and over. These phenomena may be related with the high rate of illiteracy and low level of education among women in this country. Further epidemiologic studies on the subtype and risk factors of dementia are necessary to develop a comprehensive strategy for prevention of this disease in Korea.
Aging ; Alzheimer Disease ; Asia ; Dementia* ; Dementia, Vascular ; Education ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Literacy ; Male ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

PURPOSE: To evaluate the morphologic characteristics and anatomical variation of the foramen ovale(FO) and its relationship with adjacent foramina. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 305 HRCT studies of the temporal bone in patients without having any disease that might alter the foraminal anatomy. This study focused on the variations in presence, shape, size, location and relationship with each other. RESULTS: The shapes of FO were 6 types(ovoid :75.2%, pyriform, elongated, round, polygonal and figure of 8). The average size was 7.4mm 1.3 in long diameter and 4.3mm 0.9 in short diameter. The position of the posterior margin of FO in respective to the line connecting the both mandibular fossa of temporal bone was various(on the line:62.3%, anterior:30.2%, posterior:7.5%). FO had communication with the foramen spinosum (FS) in 4.1% and with the foramen vesalius(FV) in 1.9%. FV was present in 47.5%(bilateral: 26.2%, right:10.2%, left:11.1%). The shapes were round or ovoid. The distance from the midline was 18.9mm 1.7. No data showed statistically significant differences between right and left. There was no inverse relationship between the presence of FV and the size of FO. Three continuous sections in one patient showed variations in the formation of foramen ovale and foramen spinosum ;one pyriform shaped foramen ovale and one foramen spinosum on the lower section, one round shaped foramen ovale and two foramen spinosum on the midsection, assimilation of two foramen spinosum into one elongated foramen spinosum on the upper section. The canaliculus innominatus was observed in 9%. CONCLUSION: Skull base foramina of the middle cranial fossa have various shape, size, location, presence and relationship with each other. It is important to recognize foraminal varients not to misinterprete as disease.
Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Foramen Ovale* ; Humans ; Skull Base* ; Skull* ; Temporal Bone

In recent years, the rate of the spine fracture tends to be on the increase year by year as rate of traffic and industrial accidents are increased. 111 patients with paralysis caused by thoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbar spine injuries were evaluated from January, 1979 to December, 1988 in our study. 1. In patients with paralysis caused by thoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbar spine injuries, most common site of injuries was “thoracolumbar junction” (47.7%) and most common cause was “fall down” (48.7% ). 2. “Burst fracture” was most common type of injuries which were classified by 3-column concept according to Denis & McAfee(52.3%) 3. In early 1980's the operation was performed with Harrington rod, anterior decompression & AIF, posterior decompression & PIF and from 1984, mainly Luque sublaminar wiring, and in 1988, SSI was commonly used. 4. There was no difference in neural recovery between conservative and operative treatments. 5. There was statistic significance in the incidence of complications between conservative and operative treatments(p <0.05). 6. The more severe neurologic damage at injury, the higher incidence in complication(p<0.05). Therefore, although there was no significant difference in neural recovery between conservative and operative treatments in the care of paralysed patients caused by thoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbar spine injuries, rigid internal fixation and rapid mobilization can be recommended for decreasing complications by prologed bed rest and active rehabilitation.
Accidents, Occupational ; Bed Rest ; Decompression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Paralysis ; Rehabilitation ; Spine

No abstract available.
Liver* ; Mortality*

This study is to evaluate therapeutic effects between interferon-a combined chemotherapy and chemotherapy(5-fluorouracil, cisplatin) only in invasive uterine cervical cancer. The study included 35 cases of interferon-a combined chemotherapy group and 50 cases of chemotherapy(5-FU, cisplatin) only group. Then we analyzed the therapeutic effects with respect to size of tumor, number of lymphocyte subsets and NK activity, and SCC Ag(squamous cell carcinoma antigen) level in peripheral blood. (continue)
Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gangwon-do*

In this article by Kim et al. in the page of 263 "Table 2 and 3" shoud be corrected as "Table 2".

The fact that therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has lowered intracranial pressure and protected brain in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is well known throughout past sources and experimental data. In this paper, the result of TH in TBI needs to be confirmed. The result of North American Brain Injury Study; Hypothermia (NAVIS-H) 1 and 2, Eurotherm3235, Japan trauma society study was reviewed throughout randomized controlled study which performed recently. The prognosis was not confirmed throughout TH in NAVIS-H1; however, there was statistical significance among the group of 45 years or less and below 35 degree in celcius which checked when he or she visited initially. Hence, NAVIS-H2 study was preceded. In patient who had surgically removed hematoma, the effects of TH were proved compared to diffuse brain damage in NAVIS-H2 study. This was found in the result of Japan neurotrauma data bank. Eurotherm study has been doing, which leads to collect many data later on. The TBI of TH makes them better prognosis in patients who had surgically removed hematoma and lowered initial body temperature. Later on, it is considered further study is necessary.
Body Temperature ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Japan ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Fluorides*

No abstract available.