BACKGROUND: The population is aging and life expectancy is increasing. It is important to evaluate the functional ability of elderly for optimal care for elderly. This study was conducted to assess functional disability of elderly and to find out the factors having an effect on the disability. METHODS: It surveyed 1,541 individuals aged 65 years and older in Cluing-Yang province. Six ADL categories (bathing, dressing, feeding, transferring, toileting, and walking) were assessed and related factors were analyzed. RESULTS: ADL was independent in 85.2% of elderly and dependent in 14.8% of elderly. 55.1% of dependent elders were living without family. Bathing was the most common disable AI)L category. The factors having an effect on the disability of ADL were brain disease, self-rated health status, dyspnea, constipation, heart disease, diabetic mellitus, and living status. CONCLUSION: In a rural area, special prevention programs for brain disease, heart disease, and diabetic mellitus and a rehabilitation health service may improve ADL status of elders.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Aged* ; Aging ; Bandages ; Baths ; Brain Diseases ; Constipation ; Dyspnea ; Health Services ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Rehabilitation

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Humans

A total 48 cases of myelography using Metrizamide were performed between August 1981 and July 1983 at the department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kwangju Christian Hospital. Of these cases, H.N.P was 26, tuberculous spondylitis 16, spondylolisthesis 4, and multiple sclero-sis 2 cases. The advantages of this study were as folows: 1. Complications were minimal in most of the cases except a slight headache. 2. Large amount of infusion was possible. 3. Rootlet was clearly seen. 4. Removal of dye was not necessary. 5. It gave a good contrast for the radiologic study.
Gwangju ; Headache ; Metrizamide ; Myelography ; Orthopedics ; Spondylitis ; Spondylolisthesis ; Water

No abstract available.
Funnel Chest*

BACKGROUND: It is well known that excessive thyroid hormone in the body is associated with bone loss. However, the mechanism by which thyroid hormone affects bone cell metabolism remains unclear. It has been shown that thyroid hormones stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption indirectly via some unknown mediators secreted by osteoblasts, This study was undertaken to determine if interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interleukin-11 (IL-l1) could be the mediator (s) of thyroid hormone-induced bone loss. METHODS: We treated primary cultured human bone rnarrow stromal cells with 3,5,3-triiodo-thyronine (T) and measured basal and interleukin-l (IL-1)-stimulated IL-6/IL-ll production. We also investigated the possible modulating effect of 17B-estradiol (17B-E2.) on thyroid hormone action. RESULTS: T3 at 10 (-12) ~ 10 (-8) M concentration, significantly increased the basal IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner, and also potentiated the stimulatory effect of IL-1 on IL-6 production. However, T failed to elicit a detectable effect on basal or IL-1-stimulated IL-11 production. Treat#ment with l7B-E2. inhibited IL-1-stimulated IL-6 production, but the effects of T3 on IL-6 production were not affected by 17/B-E. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that thyroid hormone may increase bone resorption by increasing basal IL-6 production and potentiating IL-1-induced IL-6 production from osteoblast-lineage cells, and these effects were independent of estrogen status.
Bone Marrow* ; Bone Resorption ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-11* ; Interleukin-6* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Stromal Cells ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones

Background AND PURPOSE: Status epilepticus (SE) is one of the major neurological emergency that requires immediate treatment to avoid significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, understanding the cause, features and prognosis of SE is important for the evaluation and treatment of this condition. We retrospectively reviewed the possible cause and clinical outcome of adult patients treated for SE at the Hallym Univrsity Hospital from 1994 to 1998. METHODS: For the identification of patients, we searched the data bank for patients meetinf criteria of SE who were 18 year or older, and their medical records were reviewed. We also investigated the relationships between cause, response to anticonvulsant therapy and short-term clinical outcome. RESULTS: The selected 127 patients wer 84 males and 43 females, aged 18 to 85 yeats (meen age: 49.5 years). The possible etiologies of SE were withdrawal of AED (n=27, 21.3%), anoxia (n=22, 17.3%), CNS infection (n=20, 15.7%), stroke (n=16, 12.6%), alcohol-related (n=15, 11.8%), metabolic (n=8, 6.3%), unknown (n=7, 5.5%), drug inroxicatio (n=5, 3.9%), trauma (n=4, 3.2%) and cerebral tumor (n=3, 2.4%). in 77 patients (n=77, 60.6%), SE was successfully aborted with first-line therapy, which usually included diazepam with or without phenytoin. The food responders to AEDs occurred in patients with AED withdrawal, alcohol-related, stroke, unknown, and trauma, The poor response related to anoxia, drug intoxication and CNS infection. Seventy nine patients (62.2%) had food outcome, but nineteen patients (14.9) were died. Anoxia, drug intoxication, CNS infection and metabolic abnormalities were associated with particularly poor outcome compared with other etiologies. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the etiology of SE may help predict both the intial response to drug therapy and short-term clinical outcome.
Adult* ; Anoxia ; Diazepam ; Drug Therapy ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Phenytoin ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Status Epilepticus* ; Stroke

Sequence information from the ribosomal RNA molecule can be used as a molecular clock. Therefore, 16S rRNA sequences have become a widely used tool in bacterial systematics, bacterial typing and studies of the composition of micro-organisms in environmental samples. Consequently, the databases are continuously updated with new 16S rRNA sequence information from different species. This in turn facilitates the identification of new isolates, which is important for the diagnosis of various infectious diseases in research. To development differential identification technique in the Yersinia species, the 16S rDNA for total 17 serotypes of Y. pseudotuberculosis type strains and one of Y. enterocolitica wild strain were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into pGEM-T vector, partially sequenced and analyzed. The 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence homologies among Yersinia strains were ranged 100% to 93.6%. Phylogenetic tree generated from 16S rDNA sequencing data showed different phyletic line that could be readily separated from each serotypes and other enteric bacterium.
Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; Classification ; Clone Cells ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; DNA, Ribosomal* ; Evolution, Molecular* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Yersinia*

The polyglandular autoimmune syndrome is constellation of multiple endocrine insufficiencies often associated with diseases of nonendocrine organs occurring in individual patients and their families. In 1980, Neufeld classified this syndrome into three major types. Type II is characterized by adrenocortical insufficiency, autoimmune thyroiditis, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We experienced a case characterized by adrenocortical insufficiency, autoimmune thyroiditis, and ovarian failure and report with the review of the literature. A 38-year-old woman visited our clinic because of progressing brown colored pigmentation of skin and mucosa which is developed a year ago. Nine years ago prior to visit, amenorrhea was developed after right oophrectomy. Three years ago, she revealed feature of hyperthyroidism such as palpitation, loss of body weight (8kg/1-2years), heat intolerance, and sweating, so received antithyroid therapy for 14 months. Brown colored pigmentation of skin and mucosa, especially scar and gingiva, has been progressively aggravated during last year. She had no past or family history of other endocrine disease. Diffuse pigmentation of skin, loss of axillary and pubic hair, and diffuse enlargement of both thyroid glands were shown on physical examination. Blood cell count, serum chemistry and blood sugar test were all within normal range. Basal hormone levels were T3-uptake 29.7% (30~40), T3 153 ng/dL (85~185), T4 7.5ug/dL (5.5~11.5), TSH 2.4 IU (0.34~3.5), anti-TG antibody <100 U/mL (0~100), anti-microsome antibody <50 U/mL (0~100), TBII (thyrotropin binding inhibiting immunoglobulin) 2.2% ( (-15)~15), ACTH 989 pg/mL (0~37), cortisol 0.1 ug/dL (5~25), renin 7.1ng/mL/hr (1~2.5), aldosterone 81.0pg/mL (50~194), LH 115.2 mIU/mL (0.6~16.8), FSH 122 mIU/mL (1.6~19.0), and estradiol <10.0pg/mL (30~120). In ACTH stimulation test, levels of basal cortisol, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes were <0.1, <0.1, and <0.1 g/dL respectively. And, in glucagon stimulation test, levels of basal C-peptide, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes were 0.9, 5,1, 6.3, and 5.5 ng/dL respectively. Thyroid scan showed diffuse enlargement of bilateral thyroid glands and pelvic ultrasonogram showed atrophy of left ovary. We administered corticosteroid, estrogen, and progesterone which were deficient to the patient, and has followed up the clinical course of the patient.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Adult ; Aldosterone ; Amenorrhea ; Atrophy ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; C-Peptide ; Chemistry ; Cicatrix ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Gingiva ; Glucagon ; Hair ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperthyroidism ; Mucous Membrane ; Ovary ; Physical Examination ; Pigmentation ; Progesterone ; Reference Values ; Renin ; Skin ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune ; Ultrasonography

To know the pattern of visual field (VF) defect of low tension glaucoma (LTG), its diffuse and localized VF defects were compared using the significance values (p-value) of mean deviation (MD) and corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD), which are calculated with STATPAC in Humphrey Visual Field Analyser. Sixteen eyes of LTG were enrolled and 34 eyes of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) were used as controls. The degree of VF defects in LTG and POAG was relatively mild with the p-value of MD equal to or greater than 1%. Neither mean MD nor mean CPSD of LTG was significantly different from each of POAG (p > 0.8 and p > 0.2, respectively). Comparing the p-values of MD and CPSD, many patients showed more significant p-value of MD in LTG and POAG (62.5% and 61.8%, respectively). However, relatively more severe defect of CPSD tended to occur more frequently in LTG than in POAG (25% and 5.9%, respectively, chi-square = 4.964, p < 0.09). The relation between p-values of MD and CPSD was not significantly influenced by the intraocular pressure, MD or vertical cup to disc ratio in either LTG or POAG.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*pathology/physiopathology ; Humans ; *Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Probability ; Vision Disorders/*pathology ; *Visual Fields