This study is an epidemiological investigation of the trends of leprosy of the last 10 years by age, sex, place of birth, present address, type of disease, onset age and duration of disease hetween the onset and the treatment. The study was conducted on 766(550males, 216females) out-patients who visited the Chronic Disease Laboratory from January, l965 to December, 1974. The importance of leprosy control in the urban area has been discussed. The conclusions are as follows; 1. Average monthly registered numbers of new patients are 5. 2 in A group of patients and 7. 6 in B group of patient. The ratio of male to female is 2. 7 and 2.4 respectively. By age groups, both male and female, the highest age group is 25~34 years. This age group comprised 41. 3% of the 1965~1969 group (A group) of patients, and 34. 7% of the 1970~1974 group (B group) of patients. In the former group of patients, a significantly higher number of patient were under 35 years and in the latter group of patients, the patients of 35 years or more showed a significant increase. It can be concluded that rate of patients of 35 years of age or more is on the increase. 2. By geographical locations of birth, the number of patients from the southern part of korea where leprosy is widely prevalent was the largest. These comprised 59. 3% in the A group of patients and 16. 0% in the B group of patients, followed by 23. 9% and 23. 7% from the middle part of Korea for those periods. The northern part of Korea showed only 10. 6% and 11. 7% respectively. Meanwhile, by present addresses, the number of patients residing in the northern part was dominantly large, and 80.3% of the A group of patients and 79.8% of the B group of patients were found to be living in the vicinity of Seoul. 3. Among the patients from the northern part, the increase of patients of L-type and B-group was remarkable. From this point of view, leprosy control policy for the neighbouring areas of large cities ia urgent. 4. The onset age shows highest in the age braeket of 15-19years with 24.5% in the A group of patients, 20.0% in the B group of patients. This is folIowed by the age bracket of 20~21 years of age comprising 16.8% in the A group of patients, 18. 4% in the B group of patients. A Comparative study of the peroid from the onset of the disease to the beginning of the treatment, showed that patients of less than 5 years amounted 69. 3% in the A group of patients and 64. 0% in the B group of patients. Those of more than 10 years were 9. 4% in the A group of patients and 14. 7%, in the B group of patients. 5. The results of bacteriological examination showed a tendency to increase in the positive rate with 14.2% in the A group of patients and 28.7% in the B group of patients. This is attributable to the increase of patients of L-type and B-group.
Age of Onset ; Chronic Disease* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Leprosy* ; Male ; Outpatients ; Parturition ; Residence Characteristics ; Seoul

Dermatoglyphics has been studied in various diseases including mongolism, ruhella syndrome, congenital heart disease, selected neurologic diseases and other disorders. However, reports of derrnatoglyphic studies in patients with leprosy have not been evcountered a lot. Although Ieprasy is an infectious disease due to the hfycobacterium leprae, the hereditary susceptibility of the host to the organism is proposed as an additional predisposing factor. Thia concept has been proposed to reconcile the low incidence of lisease among large numbers of contacts. Most reports delving into the role of heredity in leprosy have been related ta epidemiological studies. Prasad and Mohamad suggest, on the basis of data related to rnultiple patient families, that the acquisition of leprosy may be determined genetically on the assumption of incomplete dominance of genes; on the other hand, Spickett suggested that if there is any genetic effect, it is but a component af the familial effect. This study of dennatoglyphics in 77 male leprosy patients was undcataken to determine if there might be significance in the analysis of dermal patterns af the hands as related to the hereditary susceptibility of individuals to the disease comparing with those of 234 healthy Korean soldiers. Results are as follows: 1. In the analysis of the total fingertip ridges, there is significant difference (P<0.01) between the leprosy (137.66+4.7) and the control group (152.93+9.50). 2. A aignificant statistical difference between the leprosy and the control group (14.73+2.79) does not exist with respect to the pattern intensity, however that af the borderline group of leprosy (12.00+5.09)is decreased (P<0.025). 3. In the incidence of simian lines, the leprosy group (5.20%) shows lower incidence rate than that of control group (8.98%). 4. As for the a-b ridge count, it is decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the left hand of leprosy group (34.71+0.87) than that of the eontrol group (37.11+0.52), Also there is significant difference(P<0. 05) in the right hands of tuberculoid type of leprosy (34.64+1.38). 5. With respect to the propoetional distance (mm.) between the distal flexion crease of the wrist to the base of the middle finger with the distance (mm.) of the same point of the wrist to the axial triradius, a significant statistical difference between the leprosy and the control group does not exist, but significantly longer distance (mm.) exists in the tuberculoid type of leprosy (P<0.05). 6. No significant fingertip pattern differences are noted between the leprosy and the control group.
Causality ; Communicable Diseases ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Down Syndrome ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fingers ; Hand ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heredity ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Leprosy* ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Wrist

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pollinosis is an increasing problem, with allergenic pollen causing rhinitis, asthma, and other allergic diseases. This study examined the patterns of sensitization to inhalant allergens in patients with respiratory allergies and analyzed the regional pollen concentrations in Ulsan, Korea. METHODS: A skin prick test was performed with 21 common inhalant allergens, including 18 types of pollen, in 634 patients with respiratory allergies from January of 2008 through December of 2010. Airborne pollen was collected daily from three different stations in Ulsan using a Durham sampler. Daily records and identification of the pollen types were made (2009-2010). RESULTS: The sensitization rates for inhalant allergens were as follows: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (38.2%), Dermatophagoides farinae (38.0%), birch (15.8%), alder (15.3%), hazel (14.2%), oak (13.5%), beech (10.8%), mugwort (9.6%), and hop Japanese (5.2%). Airborne pollen has two peak seasons: tree pollen from February to June, followed by weed pollen from August to October. Pine tree, oak, and alder were the most frequently found pollen types in spring, whereas hop Japanese and mugwort were the most frequently found pollen types in autumn. CONCLUSIONS: House dust mites are the most common offending allergen in Ulsan. The sensitization rates to some tree pollen types, including birch, alder, and hazel were higher than those of weed or grass pollen. Causative allergens are changing in response to climate change and air pollution. Continuous aerobiological monitoring is the cornerstone for observing changes in pollen and a prerequisite for the study of the effect of climate change on allergic diseases.
Air Pollution ; Allergens* ; Alnus ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Betula ; Climate Change ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Fagus ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity* ; Korea ; Pinus ; Poaceae ; Pollen* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seasons ; Skin ; Ulsan

Heterotopic pregnancy is defined as simultaneous intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy. The incidence of heterotopic pregnancy was about 1 to 30,000 pregnancies, but it has been increased. This increased incidence is explained by the rise in PID, pelvic surgery, IUD and assisted reproductive technologies-in vitro fertilization/gamate intrafallopian insemination/intrauterine insemination. Thus careful pelvic examination combined with serial beta-hCG determinations and transvaginal sonography to evaluate the adnexal region are necessary prerequisites for early diagnosis. We report a case of heterotopic pregnancy following in ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination with a brief review of literature.
Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gynecological Examination ; Incidence ; Insemination* ; Ovulation Induction* ; Ovulation* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic*

The present study investigated whether organotypic spheroids derived from human fetal brain tissue, cultured at agarose-overlay media, may serve as an optimal invitro model for multidisciplinary studies in human neurobiology, particularly in the fields of tumor invasiveness and its biochemical mechanism, using light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. Eight fetal brain tissues of 8-9 weeks of gestation were minced and explanted into agarose-coated culture wells. After three to five days these human fetal brain tissue fragments emerged as spheroids and could be maintained as organotypic spheroids for up to seven weeks. Light and electron microscopic studies of sphereoids demonstrated that most cells were poorly differentiated and there were no definite mature neurons or glial cells after enough culture time, but some cells showed certain evidence suggestive of differentiation to neurons or glial cells. Immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and neur on specific enolase(NSE) demonstrated that NSE-positive cells were oval or spherical cells containing abundant cytoplasm and GFAP-positive cells were fibrillary cytoplasma-containing cells which showed some evidence suggestive of differentiation to glial cells by light microscopy. In future, adding some modifications in culture, this organotypic spheroids derived from the human fetal brain may serve as an optimal in vitro model for neurobiology especially in the field of studies on tumor invasiveness through co-culture with microtumor spheroids.
Brain* ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytoplasm ; Humans* ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Neurobiology ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Korea*

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To report the results and techniques of posterior vertebral column resections for fixed lumbosacral deformity. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Fixed lumbosacral deformity results in gross imbalance and progressive compensatory thora-columbar deformity due to the absence of a mobile spine caudally. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive fixed lumbosacral deformity patients subjected to PVCR were reviewed after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The offending vertebra was below the L4 in all cases. The etiological diagnoses were congenital scoliosis, congenital kyphoscoliosis, post-traumatic kyphosis and post-infectious kyphosis in 6, 3, 2 and 14 patients, respectively. The average age at the time of operation was 38 years, with a male:female ratio of 7:18. The indication for PVCR was fixed lumbosacral deformities that could not be brought to a reasonable balance on traction or forced side bending. RESULTS: On average 2.1, ranging from 1 to 5, vertebrae were removed, with 52 removed in all. The average fusion extent was 4.5 vertebrae, ranging from 2 to 8. An anterior column reconstruction was carried out with an autogenous bone graft in all patients, with the additional insertion of titanium mesh in 12. The distal anchor went down to the L5, S1 and S2 in 4, 12 and 9 patients, respectively. A preoperative scoliosis of 3812 was corrected to 158 (60% correction), and a preoperative kyphosis of 3525 was corrected to -511 (40% correction). A preoperative coronal imbalance of 2.0cm was improved to 0.9cm, and a preoperative sagittal imbalance of 9.3 cm was improved to 4.6 cm. The mean operation time and blood loss were 280 minutes and 2810ml, respectively. Following complications were encountered in 5 patients: 2 transient neurologies, 2 compression fractures at proximal adjacent vertebra and 1 pseudoarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: A posterior vertebral column resection is an effective procedure for the management of a fixed lumbosacral deformity. It provides satisfactory correction and improved functional outcomes. However, it is a technically demanding and exhausting procedure, with possible risks for complications
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Pseudarthrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; Spine* ; Titanium ; Traction ; Transplants

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is defined as the presence of symptoms thought to originate in the gastroduodenal area, in the absence of any organic, systemic, or metabolic disease that is likely to explain the symptoms. Based on the available evidence and consensus opinion, thirteen consensus statements for the treatment of FD were developed using the modified Delphi approach. Proton pump inhibitor, prokinetics, and histamine 2 receptor antagonists are effective for the treatment of FD. Mucosal protecting agents, fundus relaxant, and drugs for visceral hypersensitivity can improve symptoms in FD. Antacids and antidepressants may help improving symptoms in FD. Comparing endoscopy with 'test and treat' of Helicobacter pylori, endoscopy may be more effective initial strategy for managing patients with FD in Korea given high incidence of gastric cancer and low cost of endoscopy. Helicobacter pylori eradication can be one of the therapeutic options for patients with FD. Psychotherapy is effective for those who have severe symptoms and refractoriness. Further studies are strongly needed to develop better treatment strategies for Korean patients with FD.
Antacids/therapeutic use ; Anti-Ulcer Agents/therapeutic use ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia/diet therapy/*therapy ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Histamine H2 Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Psychotherapy ; Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/therapeutic use

Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) is a technique that was developed to derive movement representation of the motor cortex. Although rats are now commonly used in motor mapping studies, the precise characteristics of rat motor map, including symmetry and consistency across animals, and the possibility of repeated stimulation have not yet been established. We performed bilateral hindlimb mapping of motor cortex in six Sprague-Dawley rats using ICMS. ICMS was applied to the left and the right cerebral hemisphere at 0.3 mm intervals vertically and horizontally from the bregma, and any movement of the hindlimbs was noted. The majority (80%+/-11%) of responses were not restricted to a single joint, which occurred simultaneously at two or three hindlimb joints. The size and shape of hindlimb motor cortex was variable among rats, but existed on the convex side of the cerebral hemisphere in all rats. The results did not show symmetry according to specific joints in each rats. Conclusively, the hindlimb representation in the rat motor cortex was conveniently mapped using ICMS, but the characteristics and inter-individual variability suggest that precise individual mapping is needed to clarify motor distribution in rats.
Animals ; *Brain Mapping ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes ; Hindlimb/*physiology ; Male ; Motor Cortex/*physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

One of the most important prognostic factors in esophageal carcinoma is lymph node metastasis, and in particular, the number of affected lymph nodes, which influences long-term outcomes. The esophageal lymphatic system is connected longitudinally and transversally; thus, the pattern of lymph node metastases is very complex. Early esophageal cancer frequently exhibits skipped metastasis, and minimal surgery using sentinel node navigation cannot be performed. In Korea, most esophageal cancer cases are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), although the incidence of adenocarcinoma has started to increase recently. Most previous reports have failed to differentiate between SCC and adenocarcinoma, despite the fact that the Union for International Cancer Control (7th edition) and American Joint Committee on Cancer staging systems both consider these separately because they differ in cause, biology, lymph node metastasis, and outcome. Endoscopic tumor resection is an effective and safe treatment for lesions with no associated lymph node metastasis. Esophageal mucosal cancer confined to the lamina propria is an absolute indication for endoscopic resection, and a lesion that has invaded the muscularis mucosae can be cured by local resection if invasion to the lymphatic system has not occurred.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Incidence ; Joints ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic System ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neoplasm Staging