OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D status, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: The subjects were 263 healthy postmenopausal women recruited in Seoul, Korea. The research was performed from January to March, 1999. Serum PTH level was measured with immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Serum 25 (OH) vitamin D concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the evaluation of vitamin D nutritional status. The averages of BMD were attained from the 2nd and 3rd lumbar spine. Two serum levels of bone turnover markers such as osteocalcin and N- telopeptide were also measured by IRMA and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. RESULTS: Severe, moderate, mild vitamin D deficiency and normal vitamin D status groups were found in 16 (6.1%), 94 (35.7%), 127 (48.3%), and 26 (9.9%) subjects respectively. Among the four groups, no significant differences were found in terms of age, weight, height, bady mass index (BMI). The serum vitamin D levels were 3.18 +/- 1.5 ng/ml, 7.8 +/- 1.4 ng/ml, 13.9 +/- 2.7 ng/ml 25.2 +/- 1.3 ng/ml in severe, moderate, mild, vitamin D deficiency and normal vitamin D status group respectively. Serum PTH levels were 28.6 +/- 14.9 pg/ ml, 22.7 +/- 10.4 pg/ml, 19.5 +/- 12.9 pg/ml, 15.1 +/- 10.3 pg/ml in severe, moderate, mild vitamin D deficiency and normal vitamin D, respectively, and a siginificant difference was found (p<0.05). In comparison with the normal vitamin D group, PTH concentration level was significantly increased by 90.1%, 50.4%, 29.4%, in severe, moderate, mild vitamin D deficiency groups respectively (p<0.05). The serum PTH concentration and 25 (OH) vitamin D were inversely related (r=-0.219, p<0.05). The correlations between the serum PTH level and other factors, such as age, weight, height, BMI, BMD, and bone turnover markers, were insignificant. CONCLUSION: Korean postmenopausal women showed an increase in serum PTH levels in case of vitamin D deficiency, and about 90% of women were suffering from vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, it is recommendable to prescribe the supplemental vitamin D for the most of Korean postmenopausal women.
Bone Density ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Korea ; Nutritional Status ; Osteocalcin ; Parathyroid Hormone* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Seoul ; Spine ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of OSTA (Osteoporosis Self assessment Tool for Asian) in Korean peri- and postmenopausal women. DESIGN AND METHODS: Total 1488 peri- and postmenopausal women over 45 years were included from Menopause Clinic in Chung-Ang University Hospital. Femoral neck BMD was measured by using DEXA (Lunar DPXIQ #7055). Three categories of bone status were defined by BMD based on the WHO definition. OSTA index values were calculated by using only 2 components such as age and weight. Three risk categories (high, medium, low) were classified according to index values. RESULTS: Seven hundred thirty women tested comprising 49.1% of all subject had low BMD (10.6% osteoporosis, 38.5% osteopenia respectively). The combined medium and high risk groups had a high prevalence (447/557=80.3%) of low bone mass. The medium and high risk groups had 85.5% of a high specificity, and 61.2% of a good sensitivity for identifying low bone mass. The medium and high risk groups also had 87.9% of a high sensitivity, and 68.5% of a good specificity for identifying osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: OSTA is a simple tool and easy to use, because it requires only age and weight. The OSTA risk tool performed well for identifying low bone mass, especially osteoporosis in Korean peri- and postmenopausal women.
Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis* ; Prevalence ; Self-Assessment* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate and compare the Le Fort colpocleisis and conventional total vaginal hysterectomy in the uterine prolapse patients in the medically compromised or elderly patients. METHODS: This study was to analyze the data from 16 patients with uterine prolapse undergone Le Fort colpocleisis at the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Chung-ang university hospital from January 1991 to December 2000, and 36 patients with uterine prolapse undergone total vaginal hysterectomy from January 1999 to December 2000. We compared the age of patients, operation time, type of anesthesia, estimated blood loss, changes in hemoglobin, duration of hospitalization, occurrence of febrile morbidity, and medical complications based on the medical records. RESULTS: The mean operation time of 16 patients undergone Le Fort colpocleisis with uterine prolapse was 51+/-18 minutes, the estimated blood loss was 175+/-134 cc, hemoglobin change was 1.72+/-1.14 mg/dl, the mean days of hospitalization was 7.2+/-2.8 days, and the febrile illness occurred in 2 patients. In this group, general anesthesia was used in 10 patients (75%), local anesthesia in 4 patients (25%), and spinal and epidural anesthesia in 1 case respectively. The mean operation time of 11 patients undergone total vaginal hysterectomy with uterine prolapse was 86+/-29 minutes, the estimated blood loss was 366+/-154 cc, hemoglobin change was 2.36+/-1.22 mg/dl, the mean days of hospitalization was 7.8+/-1.6 days, and the febrile illness occurred in 3 patients. General anesthesia was done in total vaginal hysterectomy group and vulva hematoma was developed in 1 case postoperatively. There are significant difference (p<0.01) between the Le Fort colpocleisis and total vaginal hysterectomy in operational time, estimated blood loss, and type of anesthesia, but no significant difference in days of hospitalization, febrile morbidity. CONCLUSION: The assessment of Le Fort colpoclesis in uterine prolapse offers signinficant benefits in elderly or compromised patients and the method is safe for operation.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Local ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hematoma ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Medical Records ; Obstetrics ; Prolapse* ; Uterine Prolapse ; Uterus* ; Vulva

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships among the psychological, social, and environmental factors influencing the utilization of senior centers among older adults in Korea. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was administered to two types of older adults who lived in Seoul, Korea: 262 older adults who used senior centers (3 places) and 156 older adults who did not use senior centers. RESULTS: Our results showed clearly that the utilization of the senior centers in Korea is affected by higher self-efficacy (odds ratio [OR], 6.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.31 to 12.32), higher perceived benefits (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16 to 4.36), lower perceived barriers (OR, 6.43; 95% CI, 3.07 to 11.45), higher family support (OR, 4.21; 95% CI, 2.02 to 8.77), and higher support from friends (OR, 4.08; 95% CI, 2.38 to 7.81). The results also showed that participants whose total travel time was 15 to 29 minutes (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.21 to 3.64) or less than 14 minutes (OR, 4.68; 95% CI, 3.41 to 8.41) were more likely to use a senior center than those who had to travel more than 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the utilization of senior centers in Korea is affected by psychological, social, and environmental factors, specifically by self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, social support, convenience of transportation, and total travel time to the senior centers. The effects of longer-term utilization of the senior centers by non-users on health-related outcomes in a large population warrant attention.
Aged ; Aging/*psychology ; Community Health Centers/statistics & numerical data/*utilization ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Environment ; Female ; Health Services for the Aged/statistics & numerical data/*utilization ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Self Efficacy ; *Social Behavior ; Social Support ; Time Factors ; Travel

PURPOSE: The most commonly used way of keeping airway, during general anesthesia, is endotracheal intubation. However, in case of short and simple surgery like escharectomy of burn wounds with Versajet(R), less invasive method using laryngeal mask airway is recommended rather than using endotracheal tube. The purpose of this study is to compare between laryngeal tube and endotracheal tube in case of escharectomy of burn wounds with Versajet(R), so that it may contribute to improving the ability of surgeon to carry out advanced airway management. METHODS: We selected 60 patients undergoing general anesthesia randomly who were to be given short operation lasting less than one hour and then anestheize each 30 patients by using endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask airway. Patients who underwent escharectomy of deep secondary burn wounds less than 9% of body surface with Versajet(R) were also divided into two groups (laryngeal mask airway, LMA group: 30 people, endotracheal tube, ETT group: 30 people). The size of laryngeal tube and laryngeal mask airway is chosen by body weight and sex. The laryngeal mask airway and endotracheal tube are both properly positioned and the ventilation efficient was not significantly different. We estimated the number of insertion attempts and the insertion time of endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask airway. Proper positioning, effect on cardiovascular system and postoperative airway problems (sore throat, nausea) after the recovery were also recorded. Successful insertion was judged by the Anesthesiologist. RESULTS: Probability of success rate were higher in the LMA group than in the ETT group in the first attempt (P-value= 0.028). Time used in successful insertion in the first attempt with LMA insertion group was significantly shorter than ETT insertion group (P-value= 0.014). Mean dosage of the muscle relaxants used were higher in the ETT group than in the LMA group (P-value= 0.012). No significant differences were observed in incidences of Myalgia between the two groups. There is statistically significant difference in incidences of postoperative sore throat in the two groups (P-value= 0.0058). There is no statistically significant difference in incidences of postoperative nausea or vomiting in the two groups. CONCLUSION: This comparative study suggests that Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) are useful for simple surgery of escharectomy of burn wounds with Versajet(R) and relatively more safer than using endotracheal tube (ETT) in general anesthesia for educated plastic surgeon in case of short and simple surgery like escharectomy of burn wounds.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia, General* ; Body Weight ; Burns* ; Cardiovascular System ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngeal Masks* ; Masks ; Myalgia ; Pharyngitis ; Pharynx ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Ventilation ; Vomiting ; Wounds and Injuries

Hemosuccus pancreaticus, defined as bleeding from the papilla of Vater via the pancreatic duct, is a rare cause of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We report the case of a 67-year-old man with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, who was subsequently diagnosed with hemosuccus pancreaticus caused by rupture of a true splenic artery aneurysm. The patient had chronic pancreatitis after considerable delay and unnecessary surgical small bowel exploration. The patient was cured with distal pancreatectomy because concomitant arcuate ligament syndrome precluded the angiographic approach via the celiac trunk, and tortuous dilatation of the distal pancreatic duct could not exclude the main duct type of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). In the surgical specimen, the pancreatic duct contained a hematoma and was lined by normal epithelium, indicating rupture of the splenic artery aneurysm that bled into the pancreatic duct.
Aged ; Aneurysm* ; Dilatation ; Epithelium ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Mucins ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Rupture ; Splenic Artery*

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is very rare in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. A 30-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for evaluation of headaches, nausea, and vomiting. She was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 and a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. She was treated with conservative management, including antihypertensive medications for 32 months. However, because of sustained hypertension, we performed screening tests for a pheochromocytoma. The 24 hr urine VMA and urine metanephrines were elevated. Abdominal CT showed a right adrenal mass, 7.5 x 5.8 cm in size.. After a successful resection of the tumor, the hypertension resolved without medication for > 1 year. This case illustrates that delayed diagnosis and treatment of pheochromocytoma can cause serious complications from hypertension, such as cerebrovascular hemorrhage. Thus, in patients with neurofibromatosis and hypertension, screening for pheochromocytoma is important for the early detection of an adrenal tumor.
Adult ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Female ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mass Screening ; Nausea ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Pheochromocytoma ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Pneumonia*

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE), which is one of the most common diseases worldwide, primarily occurs in infants and young children in both developed and developing countries. To investigate the prevalence of AGE in Korea, 6,788 stool specimens collected from hospitalized patients with AGE in Seoul, Korea from March 2004 to June 2007 were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay, reverse transcription-PCR, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Enteric viruses and bacteria were detected in 2,955 (43.5%) and 1,389 (20.5%) specimens, respectively. Among the enteric viruses detected, rotavirus (19.7%) and norovirus (18.9%) were the predominant causative agents, followed by adenovirus (2.5%) and astrovirus (2.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly observed bacteria (8.0~19.2%). The epidemic peaks of the enteric viruses were October to December for norovirus, January to May for rotavirus, and August to October for adenovirus. The seasonal activity of rotavirus was shifted from winter to late spring. However, astrovirus did not display seasonal activity in this study. Although viral AGE primarily occurred in patients younger than 5 years of age, the incidence of viral AGE in children aged 6 to 14 years was significant. The results of this study will contribute to the currently available epidemiological data and improve public health and hygiene via amelioration of diagnostic methods and longitudinal surveillance.
Adenoviridae ; Aged ; Bacteria ; Child ; Developing Countries ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Incidence ; Infant ; Korea ; Norovirus ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Rotavirus ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Staphylococcus aureus

Phantom limb pain is a phenomenon in which patients experience pain in a part of the body that no longer exists. In several treatment modalities, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been introduced for the management of intractable post-amputation pain. A 46-year-old male patient complained of severe ankle and foot pain, following above-the-knee amputation surgery on the right side amputation surgery three years earlier. Despite undergoing treatment with multiple modalities for pain management involving numerous oral and intravenous medications, nerve blocks, and pulsed radiofrequency (RF) treatment, the effect duration was temporary and the decreases in the patient's pain score were not acceptable. Even the use of SCS did not provide completely satisfactory pain management. However, the trial lead positioning in the cauda equina was able to stimulate the site of the severe pain, and the patient's pain score was dramatically decreased. We report a case of successful pain management with spinal cauda equina stimulation following the failure of SCS in the treatment of intractable phantom limb pain.
Amputation ; Ankle ; Cauda Equina* ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Block ; Pain Management ; Phantom Limb* ; Spinal Cord Stimulation* ; Spinal Cord*