No Abstract Available.
Brucella abortus* ; Brucella* ; Immunity, Humoral* ; Jeju-do* ; Recombinant Proteins*

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hazardous drinking (HD) and its association with sociodemographic factors, smoking, social anxiety, self-esteem, and ego-resiliency in medical students. Methods: A total of 408 medical students were included in this study. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire, and HD was assessed by Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). The HD and non-HD group were defined using the AUDIT score 10 for male and 6 for female as a cut-off, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the impact of sociodemographic factors, smoking, social anxiety, self-esteem, and ego-resiliency on HD. Results: A total of 192 participants (47.1%) were identified as having HD. Frequency of smoking and the severity of social anxiety were significantly higher in HD group than non-HD group. Meanwhile, the levels of self-esteem and egoresiliency were significantly lower than HD group than non-HD group. In multiple logistic regression, smoking was associated with a higher risk of HD, whereas ego-resiliency and age were associated with a lower risk of HD. Compared to the high level of subjective socioeconomic status, both middle and low level were associated with a lower risk of HD. Conclusions HD among medical students was quite common and associated with smoking, ego-resiliency, age, and level of subjective socioeconomic status. Strong efforts to improve smoking cessation and ego-resiliency, as well as education for HD in medical schools, is needed to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol.

Acute cerebral infarctions are rare in children, however, they can occur as a complication of a Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection due to direct invasion, vasculitis, or a hypercoagulable state. We report on the case of a 5-year-old boy who had an extensive stroke in multiple cerebrovascular territories 10 days after the diagnosis of MP infection. Based on the suspicion that the cerebral infarction was associated with a macrolide-resistant MP infection, the patient was treated with levofloxacin, methyl-prednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin, and enoxaparin. Despite this medical management, cerebral vascular narrowing progressed and a decompressive craniectomy became necessary for the patient's survival. According to laboratory tests, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical manifestations, the cerebral infarction in this case appeared to be due to the combined effects of hypercoagulability and cytokineinduced vascular inflammation.
Brain ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Diagnosis ; Enoxaparin ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Levofloxacin ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Stroke ; Thrombophilia ; Thrombosis ; Vasculitis

This study was carried out to reveal the epidemiologic characteristics of psoriasis in Korea. Seventeen university hospitals were engaged in this study, and the results were as follows : 1. The number of psoriasis patients during the 10 years from January 1977 to March 1987 was 1.05% of all the outpatients; the male to female-ratio was 1.08:1. 2. In the prospective study, the number of psoriasis patients was 2.3% of all the outpatients in 1987, 2.8% of all the outpatients in 1988 and the male to female ratio was 1.26:1. 3. The most prevalent age of onset was 20-29 years ; 81.1% were living in urban areas; and a family history was obtainable in 19.8% with parents holding the highest rank of 7.8%. 4. The most frequent duration of disease activity was under 5 years in 63.3%; the most common age for the worst condition was 20-29 yrs. The most common area size of skin involvement at the peak of the worst condition was less than 10%. 5. The most common initiating skin lesion began on the scalp in 20.2%, on the nail in 17.2%, pruritus in 63.0% with joint symptoms in 10.8%, and Koebner phenomena in 50.6%. 6. Emotional stress was the most common aggravating factor in 34.4%. The method of treatment that attained the best result was the combination therapy of oral medication and a topical agent. The best treatment modality was said to be the application of ointment with p.o.medication by as many as 28.4% of patients who took the leading rank. Photo-chemotherapy, effective with few complications, was not used much as it was not well-known in Korea until after 1980. Most people had an accurate knowledge of psoriasis.
Age of Onset ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Male ; Methods ; Outpatients ; Parents ; Prospective Studies ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis* ; Scalp ; Skin ; Stress, Psychological

Acute hypoglycemia in children is not an uncommon disease that can be encountered in the Emergency Department. Most cases of childhood hypoglycemia are caused by ketotic hypoglycemia due to missed meals. Often, hypoketotic hypoglycemia can also occur, which suggests hyperinsulinemia or a defect in fatty acid oxidation. Carnitine is essential for long chain fatty acids transfer into mitochondria for oxidation. We present a case of systemic primary carnitine deficiency who presented with seizures due to hypoketotic hypoglycemia.

Acute hypoglycemia in children is not an uncommon disease that can be encountered in the Emergency Department. Most cases of childhood hypoglycemia are caused by ketotic hypoglycemia due to missed meals. Often, hypoketotic hypoglycemia can also occur, which suggests hyperinsulinemia or a defect in fatty acid oxidation. Carnitine is essential for long chain fatty acids transfer into mitochondria for oxidation. We present a case of systemic primary carnitine deficiency who presented with seizures due to hypoketotic hypoglycemia.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the analytical performance of Barozen H (i-SENS Inc., Korea), a new glucometer equipped with networking function for medical institutions, according to the ISO 15197:2003 and ISO/DIS 15197:2011 guidelines. METHODS: We measured the precision of 10 Barozen H glucometers, in terms of repeatability and intermediate precision, and determined their accuracy relative to that of automatic chemistry analyzer AU5421 (Beckman Coulter, USA). Three other glucometers-Precision PCx (Abbott, USA), Glucocard Sigma (Arkray, Japan), and SureStep Flexx (Johnson & Johnson, USA) were also evaluated, and their accuracies and hematocrit interferences were compared. RESULTS: The standard deviation and coefficient of variation of Barozen H for repeatability and intermediate precision were 0.11-0.15 mmol/L and 2.3-3.6%, respectively. With respect to accuracy, in accordance with ISO 15197:2003 criteria, Barozen H yielded 98.0% of results within +/-0.83 mmol/L or +/-20%. Further, per the ISO/DIS 15197:2011 criteria, 95.2% of results were within +/-0.83 mmol/L or +/-15%; Barozen H was the only glucometer satisfying the more stringent ISO/DIS 15197:2011 criteria. Error grid analysis showed that all results from Barozen H were in zone A, indicating its excellent clinical accuracy. Hematocrit, ranging from 20% to 60% did not cause any significant interference. CONCLUSIONS: Barozen H showed excellent analytical performance, and it was the most clinically accurate glucometer tested. It can be expected to provide reliable results satisfying ISO/DIS 15197:2011 as well as ISO 15197:2003 criteria.
Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; Blood Glucose* ; Chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose Oxidase ; Hematocrit ; Point-of-Care Systems

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the analytical performance of Barozen H (i-SENS Inc., Korea), a new glucometer equipped with networking function for medical institutions, according to the ISO 15197:2003 and ISO/DIS 15197:2011 guidelines. METHODS: We measured the precision of 10 Barozen H glucometers, in terms of repeatability and intermediate precision, and determined their accuracy relative to that of automatic chemistry analyzer AU5421 (Beckman Coulter, USA). Three other glucometers-Precision PCx (Abbott, USA), Glucocard Sigma (Arkray, Japan), and SureStep Flexx (Johnson & Johnson, USA) were also evaluated, and their accuracies and hematocrit interferences were compared. RESULTS: The standard deviation and coefficient of variation of Barozen H for repeatability and intermediate precision were 0.11-0.15 mmol/L and 2.3-3.6%, respectively. With respect to accuracy, in accordance with ISO 15197:2003 criteria, Barozen H yielded 98.0% of results within +/-0.83 mmol/L or +/-20%. Further, per the ISO/DIS 15197:2011 criteria, 95.2% of results were within +/-0.83 mmol/L or +/-15%; Barozen H was the only glucometer satisfying the more stringent ISO/DIS 15197:2011 criteria. Error grid analysis showed that all results from Barozen H were in zone A, indicating its excellent clinical accuracy. Hematocrit, ranging from 20% to 60% did not cause any significant interference. CONCLUSIONS: Barozen H showed excellent analytical performance, and it was the most clinically accurate glucometer tested. It can be expected to provide reliable results satisfying ISO/DIS 15197:2011 as well as ISO 15197:2003 criteria.
Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; Blood Glucose* ; Chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose Oxidase ; Hematocrit ; Point-of-Care Systems

STUDY DESIGN: This retrograde study was designed to compare the clinical features and postoperative clinical results of diabetic and non-diabetic patients who had undergone decompression and postero-lateral fusion with instrumentation. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether diabetes affected the outcome of surgery and to identify the clinical features associated with a poor outcome. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Symptoms of peripheral angiopathy and neuropathy as long-term complications of diabetes closely mimic those of lumbar stenosis and there may be a risk of inappropriate surgical intervention in patients with both diabetes and spinal stenosis. In the presence of diabetes, a poor surgical outcome might be expected. But only a few literatures have been documented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 21 diabetic(mean age 58.2 years) and 21 non-diabetic patients(mean age 61.3 years) who had undergone decompression and postero-lateral fusion with instrumentation for lumbar spinal stenosis at a mean of 32 months after operation by reviewing the medical records such as clinical symptoms and results of objective examination(including electrophysiologic study). RESULTS: The preoperative symptoms were similar in the two groups except that abrupt onset of symptoms, the presence of night pain and the absence of any posture-related pain relief were recorded only by diabetic patients. The level of decompression, co-morbidity rate, and intra-operative blood loss were similar in two groups, too. Nerve-conduction velocity was lowered in 66.7% of the diabetic and in 25% of the non-diabetic patients. Polyneuropathy, which are highly suspicious of diabetic neuropathy was detected 46.7% in only diabetic group. The long-term result was excellent or good for thirteen(61.9%) of the twenty-one diabetic patients and for nineteen(90.5%) of the twenty-one non-diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Thus diabetic patients who haute spinal stenosis cannot be expected to have same clinical outcome as non-diabetic patients, which is consistent with the general belief of impression. Therefore, the selection of patient according to clinical and electrophysiologic findings would be the most important factor in determining the rate of success of surgical treatment.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Polyneuropathies ; Spinal Stenosis*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the shape of the distal femur of Korean women compared with the prostheses currently available in Korea. METHODS: Morphometric data (5 parameters) were measured in 356 resected femurs of Korean women undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) utilizing the LCS knee implant (DePuy). The data were then compared with 5 additional contemporary TKA implant systems. RESULTS: Implant designs based on Caucasian population data do not ideally match the distal femoral morphology of Korean women. Overhang at the anterior mediolateral width was observed in 84.8% for the LCS while a gender-specific implant resulted in undercoverage of the bone in 86%. Posterior overhang was observed in up to 51.2%. Most implant designs have a narrower intercondylar notch than the morphologic data of Korean women. CONCLUSIONS: Since there is some difference between the shape of distal femur of Korean women and that of the implants, surgeons should have this in mind when selecting an implant for a patient. These data may also be used as a guideline for future prosthetic design options for Korean women population.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/*instrumentation/statistics & numerical data ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*statistics & numerical data ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Femur/*anatomy & histology/*surgery ; Humans ; Knee Joint/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Design ; Republic of Korea