Artificial abortion and euthanasia are serious ethical Issues in medical field. However, the ways to solve them would be different according to the culture and customs of a country. In Korea, the rate of artificial abortion is so high that many people tend to consider it as a personal misfortune rather than an ethical mischief. National policy to control the population and souety's traditional preference for sons over daughters have fostered the tendency. For euthanasia, especially "passive euthanasia", most Korean people think it acceptable if under proper condition, and many doctors consent to it. In such circumstances, it is not much of necessity to debate on the ethical righteousness of artificial abortion or woman's right to choose it. More important thing is how we can reduce the number of abortion cases and protect woman's health against the side effects of "unnecessary" abortion. Proper education, public relation, and cooperation with civil or religious groups will be helpful to achieve this goal, and we physicians should try to do it. "Passive euthanasia" is thought to be ethically acceptable in the view of traditional customs, social justice, and welfare of the patient. However, "active euthanasia" harbors great ethical risks in current situation. Therefore, we should prepare and establish a proper process and system that patients, doctors, and the whole society can accept. "Advance directives" or "living will" would be good options if well modified to our culture. For all these, the education and training of professinals in this area is urgent.
Education ; Ethics ; Ethics, Medical ; Euthanasia* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Nuclear Family ; Social Justice ; Women's Health ; Women's Rights

No abstract available.
Child* ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin* ; Humans ; Imipramine*

Since the development of cardiac monitoring, Holter ECG monitoring, His Bundle electrogram and cardiac pacemaker, the cardiac conduction defect has been diagosed more precisely. Also SA block and sick sinus syndrome were well investigated recently. Author reviewed 10,084 cases of electrocardiograms for recent 3 years which were examined at korea University Hospital and analyzed the incidence of conduction defect, type of SA block, conduction defect in myocardial infarction and the relation of SA and AV conduction defect and Q-T(c). There were 5,390 cases of male and 4,694 cases of female with age range of 10 months to more than 80 years. In 60 cases, 24 hour Holter ECG monitoring were also carried out. The data were as follows; 1. There were 568 cases of cardiac conduction defect out of 10,084 cases and the incidence was 5.64% as a whole. Among the conduction defects, there was SA block in 0.36%, AV block in 2.12%(1st degree in 1.86%, Mobitz type I in 0.11%, Mobitz type II in 0.08%, complete block in 0.07%), bundle branck block in 2.52%(RBBB in 2.13%, LBBB in 0.39%), intraventricular conduction defect in 0.20%, left bundle hemiblock in 0.07%, bifascicular block in 0.05%, 1st degree AV block with BBB in 0.18%, W-P-W syndrome in 0.1% and L-G-L syndrome in 0.04%. 2. There were 36 cases of SA block among 10,084 cases(0.36%). In 26 cases, there were one case of Mobitz type I 2nd degree SA block, Mobitz type II in 20 cases, no P wave with nodal escape in 13 cases and 2 cases of transient sinus arrest associated with syncopal attack which were diagnosed by 24 hour Holter ECG monitoring. 3. There were 45 cases of conduction defect in 122 cases of acute or subacute myocardial infarction(36.9%). Among the 45 cases, there were 2 cases of SA block, 15 cases of 1st degree AV block, 2 cases of 2nd degree AV block, 2 cases of complete AV block, 10 cases of RBBB, 3 cases of LBBB, 4 cases of intraventricular conduction defect and 7 cases of left bundle hemiblock. These data showed lower incidence of critical conduction defect such as Mobitz type II and complete AV block in Korea than in United States. 4. The Q-T(c)interval were measured in 207 cases of SA block and AV block without BBB or IVCD. The values of Q-T(c)in cases of conduction defect were within normal limits. In cases of myocardial infarction, there were mild prolongation of Q-T(c)interval, however there was no difference of Q-T(c)interval between infarction with conduction defect and those without conduction defect. There was no correlation between P-R interval prolongation and Q-T(c)interval. These data suggested that the cardiac conduction defect is a specific involvement of conduction system by various causes rather than diffuse myocardial changes.
Atrioventricular Block ; Electrocardiography* ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Korea ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; United Nations ; United States

No abstract available.
Diabetic Neuropathies* ; Neural Conduction*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation*

No abstract available.
Malocclusion*

STUDY DESIGN: The authors analysed the recovery of clinical symptoms after percutaneous drainage and irrigation in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of percutaneous drainage and irrigation in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis is a relatively rare condition but its incidence is recently increasing due to common use of intravenous access devices and resultant nosocomial bacteremia. Management of the disease is not uniform and is controversial regarding the role of surgery and duration of use of antibiotics. At present, the role of percutaneous drainage of involved spines in treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis is not well-known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report 3 cases of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis which were treated by continuous drainage with automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy device(APLD device) and draining tube after they haute failed to conservative treatment. APLD device, fluoroscopic guide, contrast media and continuous percutaneous draining tubes were used for this procedure. The percutaneous draining tubes were maintained for 7 to 11 days and each case was followed up for 6 to 10 weeks under admission. RESULTS: Symptoms were relieved 3 to 5 weeks after this procedure. The patients were followed up to 12 to 39 months and experienced no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous drainage and irrigation with APLD device brought prompt and marked clinical recovery. It is indicated as a supplementary method to conservative treatment or in case of high operative risk patient due to poor general conditions. It has minimal invasiveness, short clinical course and low recurrence rate.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia ; Contrast Media ; Diskectomy ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Osteomyelitis* ; Recurrence ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by high serum glucose levels and by disturbances of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. There are many cutaneous signs of this common endocrinopathy, such as nercobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, diabetic bullosis, shin spot, diabetic pruritus, etc. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated whether extracellular matrix gene expression in cultured skin fibroblast is influenced by insulin and Insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I). METHOD: Total RNA was isolated from insulin or IGF-I treated human skin fibroblasts. The Northern blot and slot-blot hybridization were then conducted. RESULTS: The mRNA levels of pro α1(I) collagen, pro α1(I11) collagen, fibronectin in insulin and IGF-I treated normal skin fibroblasts increased compared with untreated normal skin fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Our results show that insulin and IGF-I stimulate collagen formation in normal skin fibroblast at physiological concentrations. Therefore, these demonstrate that insulin can modulate the expression of extracellular matrix gene.
Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Northern ; Collagen ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibroblasts* ; Fibronectins ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Lipid Metabolism ; Methods ; Pruritus ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Hemorrhoids*