No abstract available.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome*

The author investigated 100 hypertensive patients (199 eyes) on their brachial blood pressure, ophthalmic blood pressure, Fritz's index, sclerotic changes in retinal vessels, and P.S.P. test. The vascular changes of the retina were classified according to the Keith-Wagener scheme, and the sclerotic changes were represented by the point system. For the evaluation of circulatory status of the carotid system, r(s)/r(d)-carotis ratio and cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) were also calculated. The relationships between these data were studied and their results were as follows: (1) There was a linear correlation between mean ophthalmic blood pressure and mean brachial blood pressure, the correlation coefficient being plus 0.83. (2) There was also a linear relationship between fundus changes and mean ophthalmic blood pressure. The more advanced the grade of Keith-Wagener classification and the sclerotic changes, the higher the mean ophthalmic blood pressure. The rise of the mean ophthalmic blood pressure as more marked in K-W grade III, IV, and in grade IV sclerosis. (3) There was a close relationship between P.S.P. test, mean ophthalmic blood pressure and brachial blood pressure. The renal function was disturbed in patients with higher mean ophthalmic blood pressure. (4) The decrease of r(s)/r(d) carotis was always accompanied by the increase of Fritz's index, severity of sclerotic changes in the retina and advancement of the grade of K-W classification. (5) In patients with normal P.S.P. value, there was no single case of advanced sclerosis (more than 10 points of sclerosis). r(s)/r(d) carotis ratio was generally over 1.0. In patients with low P.S.P. value, however, the retinal vascular sclerosis shoshowed more marked changes, and r(s)/r(d) carotis ratio failed below 1.0. (6) Generally, there was a tendency of the increase in the CVR in accordance with the increase in Fritz's index and sclerotic changes. Moreover, functional disturbance of the kidney was usually associated with higher CVR. (7) The author proposed the possibilities that CVR value more than 0.5 or r(s)/r(d)-carotis ratio below 1.0 might represent the advanced sign of vascular sclerosis, disturbance of kidney function.
Blood Pressure ; Classification ; Humans ; Kidney ; Retina ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinaldehyde ; Sclerosis*

The mineral contents of the adult Clonorchis sinensis from rabbits and human were measured, and its qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses were studied with 3.4 meter Ebert-Grating spectrograph, and its quantitative analyses were studied with Beckman DU spectrophotometer. The adult Clonorchis sinensis used in this study were divided into two groups, the first group was collected from the bile passage of the man (C. sinensis from man), the second group was collected from the bile passage of the rabbit(C. sinensis from rabbit). Simultaneously, spectrographic and photometric analyses were also performed on the adult worms of Paragonimus westermani. Furthermore, comparative spectrographic analyses of the trace elements were carried out on the C. sinensis from man, C. sinensis from rabbit, Fasciola hepatica, Eurytrema pancreaticum, and Paragonimus westermani, and the approximate contents of the trace elements of the above trematodes were compared with that of their host tissues and biles. The results obtained were as follows: In the spectrographic analyses of C. sinensis from man, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, calcium, aluminum, iron, and magnesium were detected predominantly, and zinc, titanium, silicone, lead, manganese, barium, cromium, molybdenum, and silver were detected as trace elements. In the differences of level of the minerals in these two C. sinensis, copper level of C. sinensis from man was higher than that of C. sinensis from rabbit, while calcium level of the former worm was higher than that of the latter worm. The trace level of lead, molybdenum, and silver were acertained in the former, but latter were not detected . The contents of the minerals showed the characteristic features in each trematodes: the mineral of flukes in each host were much more than that of the others; such as copper in C. sinensis from man, calcium in the C. sinensis from rabbit, and silicone in the P. westermani. The vanadium was detected in the F. hepatica, E. pancreaticum, and P. westermani, while the other flukes were not detected. In the comparative spectrographic analyses of the trace elements among the trematodes and their host tissues and biles, the minerals which detected from flukes were also found in their tissues and biles of their host. But the mineral levels of C. sinensis from man, F. hepatica, E. pancreaticum, and P. westermani were higher than that of their host tissues and biles, except the C. sinensis from rabbit.
parasitology ; helminth ; trematoda ; C. sinensis ; rabbit ; Fasciola hepatica ; Eurytrema pancreaticum ; Paragonimus westermani ; biochemistry ; sodium ; phosphorus ; potassium ; copper ; calcium ; aluminum ; iron ; magnesium ; zinc ; titanium ; silicone ; lead ; manganese ; barium ; cromium ; molybdenum ; silver ; vanadium

No abstract available.
Insurance* ; Korea* ; Societies, Medical*

OBJECTIVES: This study intended to determine significant factors that influence the health-related quality of life ("HRQoL"; EuroQol 5 Dimension health-related quality of life (EQ_5D) & EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ_VAS)) of the elderly in Korea. METHODS: This study was based on 3,903 subjects aged 65 years or more who participated in the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), 2010~2012. The HRQoL was analyzed by various factors (general characteristics, health habits, mental health, chronic diseases, nutrient intakes). SPSS statistics for complex samples (Windows ver. 21.0) was used. RESULTS: The HRQoL was higher in the males, those with higher educational level or higher income level while it was lower in those belong to single households. In particular, the EQ_5D was significantly higher in the group who reported walking practice, moderate physical activity (male), and the group who reported no vigorous physical activity (female). The EQ_VAS was significantly higher in the group who reported walking practice. Both EQ_5D and EQ_VAS were significantly lower in the group with stress, melancholy, suicidal thinking, and osteoarthritis. EQ_5D was significantly lower in the group with < 75% Estimated Energy Requirements (EER) in energy intake, and with < Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) in iron or niacin intake. A stepwise regression analysis revealed that i) higher educational level (male), and good self-rated health status significantly increased the EQ_5D, ii) age, alcohol intake (male), melancholy (female), suicidal thinking, osteoarthritis, and niacin intake deficiency (male) significantly decreased the EQ_5D, iii) higher income level (male) and good self-rated health status significantly increased the EQ_VAS, and iv) age (male), stress, suicidal thinking (female) and osteoarthritis significantly decreased the EQ_VAS. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that general characteristics, mental health, osteoarthritis, and niacin intake were associated with the HRQoL. Prospective research of long-term control is needed to establish the causal relationship between factors and the HRQoL.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease* ; Energy Intake ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Male ; Mental Health* ; Motor Activity ; Niacin ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Osteoarthritis ; Quality of Life* ; Thinking ; Walking

Three hormonal systems show decreasing circulating hormone concentrations during normal aging : (1) estrogen(in menopause), and testosterone (in andropause), (2) dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate (in adrenopause), and (3) the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 axis (in somatopause). Throughout the adult life, all physiological functions gradually decline. There is a diminishing capacity for cellular protein synthesis, an decline in immune function, an increase in fat mass, a loss of muscle mass and strength, and a decrease in bone mineral density. Physical changes during aging have been considered physiologic, but there is evidence that some of these changes are related to the decline in the hormonal activity. Various hormonal replacement strategies have been developed, but many of their aspects remain controversial, and increased blood hormone levels in aging individuals to those found during the mid-adult life have not been uniformly proven to be safe and of benefit.
Adult ; Aging* ; Bone Density ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Menopause ; Testosterone

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*

No abstract available.
Depression* ; Humans

Building-related illness is an increasingly common problem. The disease fall into two categories : those that have an identifiable cause-such as legionellosis, humidifier fever, and conditions resulting from exposure to known substances such as asbestos, lead in paint, formaldehyde, etc-and those that have no readily identifiable cause but can be described only by a group of symptoms known as sick building syndrome (SBS). Although objective physiologic abnormalities are generally not found and permanent sequelae are rare, the symptoms of SBS can be uncomfortable, even disabling, and whole workplaces may be rendered non-functional. In assessment of patients with SBS complaints, specific building-related illnesses should be ruled out by history or physical examination. On-site assessment of buildings is extremely useful. Symptoms of non-specific building-related illnesses are common ; their heterogeneity suggests that they do not represent a single disorder. Although there is little convincing, direct evidence to implicate specific causative agents, there is sufficient indirect evidence to support a number of recommendations. For example, it seems prudent to maintain an outdoor-air supply of more than 10 liters per second per person ; to select the building materials, furnishings, and equipments that are least likely to release pollutants such as formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds ; to ensure proper maintenance and cleaning ; and to avoid materials that may act as substrates for the proliferation of microbes or dust mites.
Asbestos ; Construction Materials ; Dust ; Fever ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Humidifiers ; Legionellosis ; Mites ; Paint ; Physical Examination ; Population Characteristics ; Sick Building Syndrome ; Volatile Organic Compounds