No abstract available.
Hepatitis* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B is a worldwidely distributed disease. The hepatitis B prevalence of South East nations is reported to be higher than that of America or Europe. Korea is known to be one of high prevalent nation among Asia-Pacific nations. But hepatitis B prevalence in North Korea, separate from South Korea due to politics and ideology, is not reported. This study was performed using the data of North Korean defectors to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B in North Korea. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 107 persons (98, mals, 9 females) who defected from North Korea and underwent screening exammination in a general hospital from July 1987 to March 1996. Twenty nine persons(25 males, 4 femals) were excluded because of incomplete data. The HBsAg test was carried out by reversed passive hemagglutination(RPHA) and the anti-HBs test was carried out by passive hemagglutination(PHA). The liver function tests were carried out by biochemical quantitative analysis method of Dimension. RESULTS: The study group were 73 males(93.6) and 5 females(6.4%). Mean age was 33.0+/-8.4 years and third decade was the largest as 35 persons(44.9%). The overall HBsAg positive rate was 15.4% and anti-HBs positive rate was 83.9%. Those who need vaccination was 51.4%. The only item amorg liver function tests which was statistically different by the hepatitis B viral marker groups was alkaline phosphatase. Mean total cholesterol was 176.4+/-38.0mg /dL. But no other item of liver function tests was statistically different in abnormal value by the hepatitis B viral marker groups. CONCLUSIONS: The overall HBsAg positive rate of North Korean defectors was much higher than that of South Korean and anti-HBs positive rate was much lower. So HBsAg positive rate of North Korean seems to be higher than that of South Korean. We think that a large study of hepatitis B for North Korean should be performed at every opportunity and take a measure to meet the situations.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Americas ; Biomarkers ; Cholesterol ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Europe ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Politics ; Prevalence* ; Vaccination

Massive pulmonary embolism is a major cause of morbidity and death in hospital. Most episodes of acute pulmonary embolism occurred from multiple emboli. When pulmonary embolism is suspected, the definitive diagnosis is pulmonary arteriography, but high degree of certainty can also be achieved with ventilation-perfusion scanning. The therapeutic modalities available for patients with acute pulmonary embolism are prophylatic and definitive therapy. Prophylatic therapy including anticoagulant with heparin is used to prevent further emboli episodes that might be fatal. Definitive therapy for pulmonary embolism including thrombolytic agents and pulmonary embolectomy attempts to dissolve and remove the resolution of the pathophysiologic sequelae of pulmonary embolism. We experienced a case of acute massive pulmonary embolism which occupied the pulmonary arteries bilaterally. Patient with orthopedic surgery one month before developedd dyspnea and chest tightness. Eventhough continuing enough amount of anticoagulant therapy, rapid hemodynamic deterioration and severe hypoxia occurred progressively. Urgent pulmonary embolectomy was succeeded and he has been followed up at out patient department.
Angiography ; Anoxia ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Embolectomy ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Hemodynamics ; Heparin ; Humans ; Orthopedics ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Pneumoconiosis is a parenchymal lung disease that results from the accumulation of coal dust in the lungs and the consequent tissue reaction. To evaluate the role of various personal factors in pneumoconosis and the significance of some serologic markers for assessing the disease activity related to pneumoconiosis, the Rheumatoid Factor(RF), α1-AT, C-Reactive Protein(CRT), ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen levels were measured. METHOD: All the patients were males, 45-76 years old, and the mean duration of coal dust exposure was 23.2 years. 51 patients were classified as having Simple Pneumoconiosis (SP), 59 had Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF). Fifty eight men with ages ranging from 26-70 years wer used as normal controls. The serum RF and CRT were titrated using an Autochemistry analyzer (HITACHI 7150 : Japan) and the α1-AT and ceruloplasmin levels were measured using a Nephelometer (Behring Nephelometer : Germany) and the fibrinogen levels were estimated by using and Autoanalyzer for hematologic coagulation. RESULT: There was a higher RF level in the SP, and PMF groups than in the control groups but there was no statistical difference. The CRP, α1-AT, and ceruloplasmin levels were also higher in the SP, and PMF groups. However, the fibrinogen concentration was within the normal ranges in both the SP and PMF groups. CONCLUSION: The CWP (Ed note : Define CWP) patients had significantly higher CRP, α1-AT, and ceruloplasmin levels compared to the control group. It is believed that these serologic changes could be used as a marker of the disease activity.
C-Reactive Protein ; Ceruloplasmin ; Coal* ; Dust ; Fibrinogen ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Reference Values ; Rheumatoid Factor

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy between cast immobilization and functional treatment using an ankle brace as a treatment for acute lateral ankle sprain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study reviewed the medical records of 157 acute ankle sprain patients who were treated between 2009 and 2014. A total of 101 cases were included in this study except for cases with a combined injury, and could not be followed up for eight weeks after the first visit. The patients were divided according to the treatment modality: a cast immobilization group (64 cases) and functional treatment group (37 cases). The clinical outcomes were assessed retrospectively based on the medical records of each group. The residual symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and instability, at three weeks after the primary treatment and at the last visit were compared. RESULTS: The residual pain and instability were significantly common in the functional treatment group at three weeks. Five cases (7.8%) of pain and one case (1.6%) of instability were in the cast group whereas nine cases (24.3%) of pain and six cases (16.2%) of instability in functional treatment group (p=0.021, p=0.014). On the other hand, there was no meaningful difference at the last follow-up. Residual pain, swelling, and instability at the last visit were noted in three (4.7%), six (9.4%), and four cases (6.3%) in the cast group, and three (8.1%), three (8.1%), and three (8.1%) were observed in the functional treatment group. Six patients refused cast immobilization. CONCLUSION: Although there was no significant difference at the last follow-up, cast immobilization appears to be more effective than a functional brace in terms of early pain relief and early restoration of ankle stability as a treatment for acute ankle lateral sprain in this study.
Ankle Injuries ; Ankle ; Braces ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Sprains and Strains

A bicuspid aortic valve is one of common congenital cardiac anomaly. But the septic embolism from bicuspid aortic valve into the left anterior descending artery (LAD) resulting in acute inferior myocardial infarction is very rare. A twenty eight year-old man suffered from severe chest pain and fever of four-week's duration. Acute inferior myocardial infarction was diagnosed on electrocardiogram. Transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated vegetation on the bicuspid aortic valve directed into left coronary artery ostium, and diagnostic coronary angiogram revealed round filling defect within the distal LAD. He underwent operation for aortic valve replacement, which indicated vegetated bicuspid aortic valve directed into the ostium of left coronary artery.
Aortic Valve* ; Arteries* ; Bicuspid* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Embolism* ; Fever ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction*

BACKGROUND: The endovascular stent has been applied clinically in acute arterial occlusions after intimal dissection by angioplasty and in the prevention of restenosis. However, subacute stent thrombosis and restnosis remain major concerns in clinical stenting despite intravscular ultrasound guidance and high pressure inflation. Moreover, anticoagulation before and after stent implantation may be required for long periods and complicated by bleeding. A new strategy may be local drug delivery, which maintains sustained local concentration and may limit systemic complications. To evaluate the efficacy of local Nitric Oxide(NO) donor delivery on acute or subacute stent thrombosis and bleeding complications in patients, local NO donor delivery was performed in stented patients. METHOD: NO donor (2.0mg, Molsidomine) was delivered (1.0ml/min over 10min) using the Dispatch Catheter, after predilation of target lesion in 15 patients (8 angina, 7 myocardial infarction, mean age 5311.5 yr.) without heparin or nitrate infusion after stenting. After local NO donor delivery, Palmaz-Schatz stents were placed with standard methods. APTT and CK were checked at 1 hr, 3 hrs and 24 hrs after local NO donor delivery and STENTING. Follow-up coronary angiograms were done 48 hrs after stenting. RESULT: All patients had no hypotensive effects, no ischemic symptoms or no ECG changes during and after locaL NO donor delivery. ARTT and CK values were not changed at 3 and 24 hrs after local NO donor delivery and stenting. This allowed early arterial sheath removal. Follow-up coronary angiograms at 48 hrs showed all stents patent without stent recoil, with TIMI III flow, and without intra-stent thrombus. No target lesion revascularization and 100% event free survival were obsered for one month's clinical follow-up after NO donor delivery and stenting. Conclusion: Local NO donor delivery prior to stenting prevents acute and subacute stent thrombosis, systmic complications of nitrate, and maintains stent blood flow without stent recoil within the first one month after stenting.
Angioplasty ; Catheters ; Disease-Free Survival ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitric Oxide* ; Stents* ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Donors* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis(TML) is a relatively commonly encountered in Korea. However, there were no datas available on TML without other combined tuberculous infections in Korea. We retrospectively analyzed clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, Chest CT scan findings, the duration of treatment, and follow up Chest CT scan findings of 23 cases who had only TML. METHOD: 23 cases from 1991 to 1997 with TML confirmed by biopsy and had no other combined tuberculous infections were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 23 cases, 7 cases were male and 16 female. The male to female ratio was 1:2.4. Mean age was 31 years and the most prevalent age group was the 3rd decade(43%). The most common presenting symptoms were fever(39%) followed by no symptom, cough, swallowing difficulty, and chest discomfort. On simple chest X-ray, mediastinal enlargement were noted in 20 cases(90%). The most frequently involved site was the paratracheal node in 11 cases with the right to left side involvement ratio being 4.6:1. On chest CT scan, the most commonly enlarged node was the paratracheal node(33%) followed by the subcarinal(20%), hilar(13%), tracheobronchial(8%), subaortic(8%), supraclavicular(8%) and ant. mediastinal nodes. 6 cases were dropt out due to incomplete follow up. 13 cases were treated with HERZ regimen and the mean durations of treatment was 14 months. Three cases were treated with a 2nd line drug regimen(Tarivid, Pyrazinamide, Streptomycin plus Ethambutol or Para-aminosalicylic acid) for 18 months. In HERZ groups, one case was recurred after 10 months later and retreatment was done by same HERZ regimen during 12 months. Follow up chest CT scan after completion of treatment were done in 13 cases and that revealed more than a 50% decrease in size in 77% of the cases and no interval change in 23% of the cases. CONCLUSION: In cases of TML without other combined tuberculous infection, the minimal duration of treatment was required 12 months by HERZ regimen and 18 months by a 2nd line regimen or more. Further studies will be needed to confirm the treatment duration for TML without other combined tuberculous infections.
Ants ; Biopsy ; Cough ; Deglutition ; Ethambutol ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Pyrazinamide ; Retreatment ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptomycin ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various phonation patterns yield various voice characteristics. Voice therapy using nasal stimulatory sounds seems to facilitate phonation in voice disodered patients. Under the hypothesis that nasalance may be influenced by the pattern of phonation, we studied the relationship between nasalance and voice disorders by observing abnormal supraglottic movements and vocol cord gaps in phonation. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: There were 143 patients who complained of voice problems and showed abnormal false vocal cord movements under stroboscopy. In addition to the four previously described types of MTD (muscle tension dysphonia), we described two more types of MTD (V: false vocal cord contracted posteriorly, VI: false vocal cord dilated laterally). We measured the vocal cord gaps in phonation and analyzed nasalance. RESULTS: Among those groups showing the pattern of false vocal cord (MTD 1, 2, 4), the vocal cord gaps in phonation were increased and nasalance was significantly decreased in MTD types, III and IV, and showed a tendency to decrease in MTD types, II and V, compared to the normal group. CONCLUSION: The supraglottis has a tendency to contract as the vocal cord gap in phonation increases, and this movement reduces nasalance.
Dysphonia ; Humans ; Phonation* ; Stroboscopy ; Vocal Cords ; Voice ; Voice Disorders

The claustrum, a brain nucleus located between the cortex and the striatum, has recently been highlighted in drug-related reward processing. Methyl CpG-binding protein-2 (MeCP2) is a transcriptional regulator that represses or activates the expression of the target gene and has been known to have an important role in the regulation of drug addiction in the dopaminergic reward system. The claustrum is an important region for regulating reward processing where most neurons receive dopamine input; additionally, in this region, MeCP2 is also abundantly expressed. Therefore, here, we hypothesized that MeCP2 would be involved in drug addiction control in the Claustrum as well and investigated how claustral MeCP2 regulates drug addiction. To better understand the function of human claustral MeCP2, we established a non-human primate model of methamphetamine (METH) - induced conditioned place preference (CPP). After a habituation of two days and conditioning of ten days, the CPP test was conducted for three days. Interestingly, we confirmed that virus-mediated overexpression of MECP2 in the claustrum showed a significant reduction of METH-induced CPP in the three consecutive days during the testing period. Moreover, they showed a decrease in visit scores (frequency for visit) for the METH-paired room compared to the control group although the scores were statistically marginal. Taken together, we suggest that the claustrum is an important brain region associated with drug addiction, in which MeCP2 may function as a mediator in regulating the response to addictive drugs.