Nevus comedonicus is a rare skin abnormality characterized by a unilateral and usually linear distribution of groups of comedones, Histologically, local epidermal invagination and keratin material plugging in invaginated pouch and immatured hair follicles on lower part of the pouch were seen. Two cases are reported at first in the Korean literature. Case 1: A 24 year old man has had black colored comedolike skin lesions on left cheek with 16 years duration without any subjective symptoms. Case 2: A 19 year old girl has had multiple comedolike lesions on right buttock with 2 years duration, acompanied by recurrent suppuration and moderate itching. Our 2 cases, all are typical Nevus Comedonicus Unilateralis case in clinically and histopathologically. Treatment with local application of steroid cream and dermoabrasion resulted good effect, but essentially there is no need to treat untill complication deveoped.
Buttocks ; Cheek ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Nevus* ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Abnormalities ; Suppuration ; Young Adult

This study investigated the stress of community residents in Kwang-Ju and Chonnam areas by using the General Health Questionnaire(GHQ-60) as a instrument of stress measurement. The number of subject were 445 residents who lived in three areas (large city, middle city, and rural area) and they were individually interviewed in March, 1994. The result of study showed that the degrees of stress measured by GHQ-60 were statistically significant in the residents' area, age. sex variables: (a) the residents in middle city among three area had the highest level of stress: (b) the resident who were more than 60 in age had the highest level of stress: (c) the female resident had more stress than male residents: (d) particularly, the residents who were more than 60 years old in the middle city had the highest level of stress. Further, the results of factor analysis showed that there were three factors of social dysfunction, depression and anxiety, and psychosomatic symptom. The social dysfunction factor was statistically significant in both age and resident area variables. The depression and anxiety factor was statistically significant in the residents' area, age. sex variables. The psychosomatic symptom factor was statistically significant in both age and sex variables. The study suggested that they should give a special attention to solve the old people's stress because stress was closely related to residents age.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires*

PURPOSE: An umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) in the high position reduces the lumen of the aorta and may thereby impair blood supply to the intestine. Effects of UAC on intestinal blood flow were investigated. METHODS: With the measurement of the aortic diameter, pulsed Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 23 fasting newborns to measure blood flow velocities (peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, mean velocity, time velocity integral and resistive index) in the celiac trunk (CT) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) before and after removal of the UAC in the high position. RESULTS: UAC reduced the cross-sectional area of the aorta by 3.5-15.0% (mean 7.5%), with the percentage of reduction being inversely related to birth weight (r=-0.86, P<0.0001). Blood flow velocities in the CT and the SMA did not change significantly after removal of the UACl left in place for 7 days. There were also no differences in blood flow velocities pre- and postremoval of the UAC which stayed in place for 17.3 days and caused a mean aortic obstruction of 11.7%. However, a longer indwelling time of the UAC may lead to a higher velocity in the CT with UAC in place, as reflected by a correlation by multiple regression analysis (r=0.42, P=0.045). CONCLUSION: Although UAC remaining in place for up to 2 weeks in fasting newborns does not lead to direct alterations in blood supply to the intestine, the possibility of blood flow impairment to abdominal organs by prolonged use cannot be excluded.
Aorta ; Birth Weight ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Fasting ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed

Purpose: Sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) is a major contributor to infant mortality, and pediatric nurses have the responsibility to educate parents on SUID-reducing strategies. This study was conducted to measure pediatric nurses' knowledge of SUID-related safe sleep practices (K-SSSP) and infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (K-ICPR). Methods: In total, 136 pediatric nurses were administered a survey including K-SSSP (13 items), K-ICPR (5 items), confidence in K-SSSP education (1 item; 5 points), and other factors relating to SUID experiences or education. Results: The correct answer rates of the K-SSSP and K-ICPR were 62.6% and 62.5%, retrospectively. The mean score for confidence in K-SSSP education was 2.6±0.9. Only 18 nurses (13.2%) responded that they educated parents on the content of the K-SSSP, while 76 nurses had received education on SUID. Positive relationships were observed between K-SSSP scores and higher education, between K-ICPR scores and having own child(ren) and clinical experience, and between confidence in K-SSSP education and higher education or having one's own child(ren). Nurses caring for newborns performed more SUID education than nurses working in other units. Conclusion There is a profound need to implement a systemic educational program on SUID and strategies to reduce SUID for pediatric nurses.

PURPOSE: This prospective study was conducted to evaulate the effect of nebulized steroid (budesonide) and parenteral steroid (dexamethasone) on chidren with croup. METHODS: Twenty nine infants and children (6months-5years of age) admitted to hospital with croup were randomly assigned to receive either 1mg (4ml) of nebulized budesonide (17 patients) or 0.6mg/kg intramuscular injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (12 patients). Total croup score, heart rate and respiratory rate of patients were assessed on admission, 30 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after treatment, respectively. RESULTS: 1) In total cases, total croup score were significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with nebulized budesonide (p<0.01) but at 2 hours after treatmetn in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 2) In mild cases (total croup score<5), total croup score were significantly decreased at 2 hours after treatment in the both group (p<0.05). 3) In moderate to severe cases (total croup score> or =5), total croup score were significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with nebulized budesonide (p<0.05). But in group treated with dexamethasone, there were no statistical significance because of small cases. 4) Respiratory rate was decreased after treatment in the both group, but significantly decreased at 2 hours after treatment in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 5) Heart rate was decreased after treatment in the both group, but significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 6) There were no significant side effects in the both group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that both nebulized budesonide and parenteral dexamethasone were effective in treatment of croup, and that nebulized budesonide leads to more rapid clinical improvement in children with croup, especially moderate to severe one.
Budesonide ; Child* ; Croup* ; Dexamethasone ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Rate ; Sodium

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the trends of original research in the Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine, and to evaluate the quality of original articles about lead poisoning. METHOD: The data for the analysis of trends in preventive medicine research was taken from a total of 829 original articles published in the Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine from 1968 to 1997. The qualitative meta-analysis was measured against a checklist of evaluation criteria, which were divided into 10 categories, with 46 articles on lead poisoning. The evaluation process was performed independently by two evaluators. RESULTS: The number of articles per 100 members over the study period increased by almost 4 pieces in the early 1980s, and by more than 9 pieces in the mid-1990s. In the major classifications of subjects, environmental and industrial health, epidemiology and health statistics, and health policy and management published 370 pieces (44.6%), 137 pieces (16.5%), 322 pieces (38.9%) respectively. In the order of the number of articles, five themes about health significance, including metal exposure (73 pieces), diseases associated with exposure to organic solvents (45 pieces), air pollution (36 pieces), maternal and child health (32 pieces), and occupational health (30 pieces) received consistent attention throughout the years 1968-1997. The overall mean score of article quality about lead poisoning was 37.8 out of 50. Of the articles any information on the purpose and hypothesis described well. Of those the originality of the subjects, the form of articles (including tables and figures), and the number of inappropriate words of abstracts showed very low score. For multiple regression analyses, the number of joint research institutes and the acceptance of research grants about the article quality were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The number of original research reports in the Korean J Prev Med has recently increased and their subjects have diversified. Of the basis of this study, the articles need improvement in the areas of abstracts, tables and illustrations (figures), etc. The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine will revise contribution regulations for manuscripts submitted to the Korean J Prev Med. Future studies should address these issues and perform the quantitative mata-analysis about the specific subjects including the quality of articles.
Academies and Institutes ; Air Pollution ; Checklist ; Child ; Child Health ; Classification ; Epidemiology ; Financing, Organized ; Health Policy ; Joints ; Lead Poisoning* ; Occupational Health ; Preventive Medicine* ; Research Report ; Social Control, Formal ; Solvents

No abstract available.
Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Zoster Sine Herpete*

BACKGROUND: During cesarean delivery, hypotension is a frequently occurring adverse effect following spinal anesthesia. Our hypothesis was that hypotension could be avoided or delayed with a lateral decubitus position for 10 minutes after intrathecal injection, by reducing the detrimental effects of the aortocaval compression. METHODS: Spinal anesthesia was performed in the lateral decubitus position with 8 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and 15 µg of fentanyl. Forty-one patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the experimental group, patients were maintained in the lateral position for 10 minutes following intrathecal injection (group Decubitus). In the control group, patients were repositioned to supine immediately after the injection (group Supine). Incidence of hypotension, the required dose of ephedrine, and characteristics of the sensory blockade, were subsequently investigated. RESULTS: The incidence of hypotension, the incidence of nausea, and total amount of ephedrine, were not statistically different between the two groups. In group Decubitus, the onset of hypotension was delayed significantly (5.6 ± 1.7 min vs. 13.8 ± 1.7 min, P < 0.001), and the maximal blockade level was more cephalad (T3 [T1–T4] vs. T4 [T3–T5], P < 0.001) when compared to that of group Supine. Apgar scores were comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining the lateral position for 10 min following intrathecal injection during cesarean delivery did not influence the incidence of maternal hypotension. However, it caused delayed onset of hypotension and higher cephalad spread of sensory block.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Bupivacaine ; Ephedrine ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypotension* ; Incidence ; Injections, Spinal ; Nausea

No abstract available.
Frontotemporal Dementia ; Serotonin ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive

Background: and Purpose The Boston Autonomic Symptom Questionnaire (BASQ) is a quantitative tool using a numeric rating scale to assess the symptoms of systemic dysautonomia, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urinary, sudomotor, vasomotor, and sexual functions. The aim of this study was to validate the Korean version of the BASQ (KBASQ). Methods: Prospectively enrolled subjects who submitted to autonomic function tests, including tests for cardiovagal, adrenergic, and sudomotor functions, also completed the KBASQ and the Korean version of the Orthostatic Grading Scale (KOGS), a validated questionnaire for assessing orthostatic symptoms.Twenty-eight subjects completed the KBASQ twice to assess test-retest reliability. We classified the subjects to dysautonomia or normal control group according to dysautonomic symptoms and the results of autonomic function tests. Results: This study enrolled 225 subjects aged 54.0±18.1 years (mean±standard deviation), with a male/female ratio of 1/1.03. The internal validity of the KBASQ was excellent (Cronbach’s α=0.922), and that of each of its subscales ranged from excellent to acceptable (Cronbach’s α=0.709–0.952). The test-retest reliability was good, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.354 to 0.917. The subcategory scores for the KBASQ were significantly higher in the dysautonomia group than in the normal control group. There were significant correlations among the items in the KBASQ and KOGS. There was also a significant correlation between KBASQ scores and the results of the autonomic function tests. Conclusions The internal validity and reliability of the KBASQ were good, indicating that it may be a useful screening tool for the systematic evaluation of autonomic symptoms in patients with dysautonomia.