OBJECTIVES: It has been constantly reported that mismatch negativity (MMN) is impaired in patients with schizophrenia. However, the mechanism which relates impaired MMN and schizophrenia is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between MMN and clinical variables including functional status in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: The present study assessed MMN using passive auditory oddball task in 26 patients with schizophrenia and 48 healthy controls. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance with age as a covariate was carried out for comparing peak amplitude and latency of MMN at 8 central line electrodes (FPz, Fz, FCz, Cz, CPz, Pz, POz, Oz) across groups. Pearson's correlation was performed to reveal the relationship between MMN and clinical variables including neurocognitive test results and the Global Assessment of Functioning score. RESULTS: MMN amplitude was significantly reduced in patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls. Pearson's correlation showed that subsets of short form of Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale scores and GAF scores were associated with MMN amplitude in patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that MMN amplitude is associated with current functional status including cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Electrodes ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Schizophrenia*

In 1868 Charcot described the joint in tabes dorsalis, which since then has been designated as Charcot neuroarthrophathy. It is characterized by painless swelling and abnormal mobility of the affected joint. Arthrophthy of the type described by Charcot has been associated with various other conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, syringomyelia, injury to nerve root, congenital indifference of pain, leprosy, and intra articular use of steroid, etc. Authors present a case of Charcot spine due to tabes dorsalis.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Joints ; Leprosy ; Spine ; Syringomyelia ; Tabes Dorsalis

The authors has been reviewed the 123 cases, 119 patients of ankle fracture that were treated through the admission and outpatient Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chungnam National University, from September, 1974 to January, 1982. The summary of the' results were follows: l. Among the 123 cases, male was 94 cases(76.4%), female was 29 cases, and the average age of the patients was 34.9 years. 2. The causes of the injury was traffic accidents, fall or slip downs and sports injuries in orders. 3. By the Lauge-Hansens classification, pronation-external rotation ty'pe and supination-adduction type were more common than the others. 4. Open reduction and internal fixation were more commonly used in its treatment than that of the closed method. 5. The better radiological assessment could be achieved by. obtaining the anatomical reduction and the reduction was more satisfactorily by the use of the key role of the lateral malleolus. 6. The overall results were more supported by the radiological results than the clinical results.
Accidents, Traffic ; Ankle Fractures ; Ankle ; Athletic Injuries ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Classification ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Outpatients

Korea has undergone rapid transformation, achieving significant advancements in both economic development and social security. Notably, the country achieved universal health coverage within a remarkably short period, representing a significant institutional milestone in healthcare. However, the healthcare system faces substantial challenges due to limited resources, a reliance on private healthcare providers, and a rapidly aging population which threatens its sustainability. Various efforts have been made to strengthen Korea’s primary care environment. This study aims to examine the multifaceted healthcare landscape surrounding primary care in Korea, analyze associated systems to identify institutional limitations, and propose strategies to enhance primary care in the future. Additionally, it seeks to raise awareness of the current state of primary care in Korea and serves as an example for other countries striving to improve their primary care systems. Furthermore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of key data sources relevant to primary care research in Korea, such as the National Health Insurance Service claims data and the Korea Health Panel Survey. It also outlines practical research methodologies—from epidemiological studies to policy analyses—serving as a valuable reference for both domestic and international scholars seeking to enhance primary care systems.

Korea has undergone rapid transformation, achieving significant advancements in both economic development and social security. Notably, the country achieved universal health coverage within a remarkably short period, representing a significant institutional milestone in healthcare. However, the healthcare system faces substantial challenges due to limited resources, a reliance on private healthcare providers, and a rapidly aging population which threatens its sustainability. Various efforts have been made to strengthen Korea’s primary care environment. This study aims to examine the multifaceted healthcare landscape surrounding primary care in Korea, analyze associated systems to identify institutional limitations, and propose strategies to enhance primary care in the future. Additionally, it seeks to raise awareness of the current state of primary care in Korea and serves as an example for other countries striving to improve their primary care systems. Furthermore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of key data sources relevant to primary care research in Korea, such as the National Health Insurance Service claims data and the Korea Health Panel Survey. It also outlines practical research methodologies—from epidemiological studies to policy analyses—serving as a valuable reference for both domestic and international scholars seeking to enhance primary care systems.

Korea has undergone rapid transformation, achieving significant advancements in both economic development and social security. Notably, the country achieved universal health coverage within a remarkably short period, representing a significant institutional milestone in healthcare. However, the healthcare system faces substantial challenges due to limited resources, a reliance on private healthcare providers, and a rapidly aging population which threatens its sustainability. Various efforts have been made to strengthen Korea’s primary care environment. This study aims to examine the multifaceted healthcare landscape surrounding primary care in Korea, analyze associated systems to identify institutional limitations, and propose strategies to enhance primary care in the future. Additionally, it seeks to raise awareness of the current state of primary care in Korea and serves as an example for other countries striving to improve their primary care systems. Furthermore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of key data sources relevant to primary care research in Korea, such as the National Health Insurance Service claims data and the Korea Health Panel Survey. It also outlines practical research methodologies—from epidemiological studies to policy analyses—serving as a valuable reference for both domestic and international scholars seeking to enhance primary care systems.

Korea has undergone rapid transformation, achieving significant advancements in both economic development and social security. Notably, the country achieved universal health coverage within a remarkably short period, representing a significant institutional milestone in healthcare. However, the healthcare system faces substantial challenges due to limited resources, a reliance on private healthcare providers, and a rapidly aging population which threatens its sustainability. Various efforts have been made to strengthen Korea’s primary care environment. This study aims to examine the multifaceted healthcare landscape surrounding primary care in Korea, analyze associated systems to identify institutional limitations, and propose strategies to enhance primary care in the future. Additionally, it seeks to raise awareness of the current state of primary care in Korea and serves as an example for other countries striving to improve their primary care systems. Furthermore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of key data sources relevant to primary care research in Korea, such as the National Health Insurance Service claims data and the Korea Health Panel Survey. It also outlines practical research methodologies—from epidemiological studies to policy analyses—serving as a valuable reference for both domestic and international scholars seeking to enhance primary care systems.

A global effort was made to respond to COVID-19 using convalescent plasma therapy. The United States Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization facilitated rapid deployment, enabling the treatment of 94,287 patients by August 2020. The guidelines continuously evolved to emphasize the importance of a high titer plasma and specific immunocompromised patient groups. Korea has developed guidelines for treatment with convalescent plasma based on the successful treatment of two patients. By December 2023, convalescent plasma was collected from 67 donors at nine blood centers and transfused to 67 patients at 10 hospitals in Korea. The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies recommendations, based on recent research, are believed to encompass the therapeutic effects of convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19 patients. Korea initially considered convalescent plasma but experienced difficulties in development because of the switch to hyperimmune globulin and monoclonal antibodies. The insights gained from COVID-19 convalescent plasma treatment will be helpful in future pandemics caused by new infectious agents, underscoring the importance of domestic readiness for timely policy implementation.

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythms have been described for many cardiovascular phenomenon, both physiologic and pathologic. However, its frequency of onset in nonsustained ventricular tachycardia(NVT) has rarely been studied. Hence, this study was performed to examine the occurence of circardian rhythm in patients with NVT and to access underlying factors affecting it. METHOD: Among about 2000 patients who had undergone 24-hour Holter recordings between 1988 and August 1992, 46 patients with one or more ventricular tachyardia(VT) episode were selected. In this group, subjects receiving antiarrhythmic drug, including beta blockers were excluded. RESULTS: The frequency of onset of circadian rhythm in NVT peaked between 10 to 11AM and 6 to 7PM. In patiens younger than 60 years, its frequency was highest between 9 AM to 12 noon and 6 to 8 PM, whereas peak occurred around 9 AM in the morning in other age groups. In addition, circadian rhythm was more frequent in female NVT patients between 9 to 11 AM, while peaking between 6 to 8 PM in male patients. Moreover, higher frequency was shown during the day in patients with underlying heart disease, although the peak occurred in 9 AM and 8 PM in patients without any heart disease. CONCLUSION: In NVT patients, the frequency of onset of circadian rhythm varied with time of the day, showing nearly equal peaks in the morning and in the evening. This is similar to rnythms described for acute myocardial infarction and sudden death. Furthmore, the occurrence was affected by age, sex and presence of underlying disease.
Circadian Rhythm ; Death, Sudden ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Tachycardia, Ventricular*

Gastritis cystica polyposa(GCP) is a polypoid cystic lesion showing all the histological features of the hyperplastic polyps and the cysts penetrating through the mucularis mucosae. Most reported GCP lesions were developed at gastraenterostomy stomas. It is rare that GCP develops without history of previous gastroenterostomy. In 1990, however, Kim et al reported a GCP presenting as a submucosal tume-like lesion in a 69-year-old man. Recently, we had experienced two consecutive cases of GCP diagnosed by endoscopic polypectomy. The first case was 49-year-old housewife without history of previous gastric surgery. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD) showed a 2.0x1.5x1.5cm sized lobulated polypoid lesion with a broad stalk on the anterior wall of the distal antrum. The second case was 45-year-old woman without history of previous gastric surgery. EGD revealed a 1.0 x 1.0 x l.0 cm sized polypoid lesion with a pedicle on the greater curvature aspect of the upper body and two duodenal ulcers with pseudodiverticulum formation. These lesions were endoscopically polypectomized and diagnosed as GCP by the histologic examination.
Aged ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Female ; Gastritis* ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Polyps