BACKGROUND: It was known that the prevalence of reflux esophagitis in Korea was below 5% and there were few epidemiological data on feflux esophagitis in Korea. It was reported that the associated factors of reflux exophagitis were sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, drugs, exercise, diet habits, but the nuvber of systematic studies on these factors was small. Thus, we studied to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of reflux esophagitis in Korea. METHODS: We examined 5,487 subjects (male 3,450, female 2,037, age;18082 year) visting health promotion center for routine check-up including esophagogastroduodenoscopy. All of them were given a questionnaire about past medical history, use of drugs, smoking, alcohol consumption, social history, diet habits. We recruited 275 cases with reflux esophagitis and 550 controls without refoux esophagitis on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. We estimated the prevalence of reflux esophagitis and performed retrospectively a cross-sectional study to evaluate the associated factors of reflux esophagitis. RESULTS: The prevalence of reflux esophagitis was 5.01%, 7.10% in male, 1.47% in female. The prevalence in male was significantly higher than that in female (p<0.05). The associated factors of reflux esophagitis were smoking, alcohol consumption, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride(p<0.05). It was investigated that the cases with reflux esophagitis in relation to diet habits ate more frequently fried foods in oil, Chinese dishes than controls(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of reflux esophagitis in routine check-up subjects was 5.01%. The associated factors of refoux esophagitis were smoking, alcohol consumption, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride.
Alcohol Drinking ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagitis ; Esophagitis, Peptic* ; Female ; Food Habits ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Obesity ; Prevalence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Middle ear barotrauma is a damage of the ear resulting from the pressure difference between the middle ear and the atmospheric environment. We investigated the effects of chewing gum and administering the systemic decongestant in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We investigated the cases of the middle ear barotrauma which came from hyperbaric oxygen therapy for finger replantation. We studied 81 patients without E-tube dysfunction. They were divided into three groups: the non-treated patients, the patients chewing gums and receiving high-pressure treatment, and the patients receiving the systemic decongestant. We investigated the patients for symptoms, otoscopic findings, tympanometry, and PTA. Otoscopic findings were classified by modified Teed classification. RESULTS: In the first group, 36 of 60 (60%) ears had otologic symptoms, 37 of 60 (62%) ears were above the grade 1, 31 of 60 (52%) ears were B or C type in tympanometry and 20 of 60 (33%) ears were above 20dB in AB gap (air-bone gap). In the second group, 23 of 60 (38%) ears had the otologic symptom, 26 of 60 (43%) ears were above the grade 1, 19 of 60 (32%) ears were the B or C type and 10 of 60 (17%) ears were above 20dB in AB gap. In the third group, 18 of 42 (43%) ears had the otologic symptoms, 19 of 42 (45%) ears were above the grade 1, 15 of 42 (36%) ears were the B or C type and 7 of 42 (17%) ears were above 20dB in the AB gap. CONCLUSION: The second group was better than the first group with regard to otologic symptom, otoscopic findings, tympanometry, PTA, and showed statistical significance. On the other hand, the third group was effective but did not show statistical significance.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Barotrauma* ; Chewing Gum ; Classification ; Ear ; Ear, Middle* ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation* ; Replantation

OBJECTIVES: To develop effective ways of sharing patients' medical information, we developed a new medical information exchange system (MIES) based on a registry server, which enabled us to exchange different types of data generated by various systems. METHODS: To assure that patient's medical information can be effectively exchanged under different system environments, we adopted the standardized data transfer methods and terminologies suggested by the Center for Interoperable Electronic Healthcare Record (CIEHR) of Korea in order to guarantee interoperability. Regarding information security, MIES followed the security guidelines suggested by the CIEHR of Korea. This study aimed to develop essential security systems for the implementation of online services, such as encryption of communication, server security, database security, protection against hacking, contents, and network security. RESULTS: The registry server managed information exchange as well as the registration information of the clinical document architecture (CDA) documents, and the CDA Transfer Server was used to locate and transmit the proper CDA document from the relevant repository. The CDA viewer showed the CDA documents via connection with the information systems of related hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This research chooses transfer items and defines document standards that follow CDA standards, such that exchange of CDA documents between different systems became possible through ebXML. The proposed MIES was designed as an independent central registry server model in order to guarantee the essential security of patients' medical information.
Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Health Records ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Information Systems ; Korea