The reference study was performed to describe the trend and characteristics & studies related to dying and death of the elderly. The data were collected from 44 article in foreign literature. There results were as follows: 1. The research subjects related to the ares of dying and death of the elderly were death(death attitude, death anxiety), suicide, morbidity and mortality, dying(ethics at the end of life, right-to-die), and bereavement etc. 2. The selected studies were published in 24 health related Journal, including Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, American Journal of Psychiatry, Japanese Journal of Geriatrics, and International Psychogeriatrics, etc. 3. The published year of the article was between 1992 and 1996. 4. The frequently used research designs were survey, cohort study(retrospective study), records analysis, review, case studies and epidemiologic studies. 5. Questionnaires, medical records, interview, review, case studies, observation, and test were mainly used for the data collection for the selected studies.
Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bereavement ; Cohort Studies ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Geriatric Psychiatry ; Geriatrics ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Research Design ; Research Subjects ; Suicide ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Four cases of incontinentia pigmenti (Bloch-Sulzberger type) in a mother and three her daughter were presented and literatures were reviewed. In all three daughters vesicles appeared on toes at three weeks after birth and ehanged to pigmented patches surrounded by erythematous verrucous margin, which were then gradually spread to whole body. Pigmentation is dirty, irregular and bizarr. Severe itching sensation was complained and vesicles or bulla were formed easily due to scratching and external trauma. In mother, onset of the disease was not clear but generalized dirty pigmentation is showed. Dentition was delayed in 3rd daughter (Dental eruption was begun at 10 month old and 11 teeth was showed at now, 2 year old). Histopathological findings are compatible with incontinentia pigmenti and epidermo-dermaI separation is observed in a experimentally induced bullae, indicating a characterized epidermolysis bullosa. Strict limitation in the occurence of disease in females of one family, accompanying with epidermolysis bullosa simplex is unusual and interesting in genetical aspects and pathogenesis.
Dentition ; Epidermolysis Bullosa ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex ; Female ; Humans ; Incontinentia Pigmenti* ; Infant ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Parturition ; Pigmentation ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Toes ; Tooth

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been described in immunosuppressed individuals such as patients with AIDS, those receiving chemotherapy, and post-transplantation. CMV can cause severe disease either via reactivation of latent virus or via primary infection. In immunocompetent patients, CMV infection is usually transient and does not exhibit many symptoms. The colon is the site most frequently affected by severe CMV disease in immunocompetent patients. Clinically, CMV colitis commonly presents with diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Although some patients recover spontaneously, others suffer from severe complications, such as bowel perforation, severe gastrointestinal bleeding and, rarely, stricture, and surgery is the choice of treatment in these patients. We report a case of stricture of the proximal transverse colon, presenting as a complication of CMV colitis, in an immunocompetent man with acute respiratory distress syndrome. We performed laparoscopic segmental resection of the proximal transverse colon.
Abdominal Pain ; Colitis ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Laparoscopy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Viruses

Bartter's syndrome is characterized by hypokalemia and secondary hyperaldosteronism without edema or hypertension. Its pathogenesis is obscure and the characteristic renal potassium wastage is difficult to treat. We experienced a case of Bartter's syndrome in 47 year-old diabetic female. She had felt dizziness, muscle weakness and cramping for about two years. During diagnostic evaluation, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism were discovered. The patient denied ingestions of laxatives, diuretics, licorice and she had no nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or edema. She had normal blood pressure. The patient improved with potassium supplements and spironolactone therapy along with oral hypoglycemic agent. So we report this case with the review of literature.
Adult* ; Alkalosis ; Bartter Syndrome* ; Blood Pressure ; Diarrhea ; Diuretics ; Dizziness ; Edema ; Female ; Glycyrrhiza ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Laxatives ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Cramp ; Muscle Weakness ; Nausea ; Potassium ; Spironolactone ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To assess parental knowledge and understanding of epilepsy including social stigma and evaluate the effects of educational programs on parents in an epilepsy camp. METHODS: We conducted an epilepsy camp on August 23-24, 2008, at Gyeongsan. Twenty families with an epileptic child each participated in the camp. We performed a survey before and after the camp to obtain data concerning parental understanding of epilepsy and the effects of the camp-based educational programs on the parents. The data were analyzed with SPSS 14.0 using frequency analysis. RESULTS: The parents were sufficiently knowledgeable about epilepsy before the camp, and their knowledge and understanding of epilepsy improved further after the camp. Both perceived stigma and enacted stigma against epilepsy were found in 30.0% of the parents. The perceived stigma decreased to 15.0% after the camp. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that social approaches such as epilepsy camps are effective in improving parental knowledge and understanding about epilepsy as well as decreasing their perceived social stigma.
Child ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Parents ; Social Stigma

PURPOSE: To assess parental knowledge and understanding of epilepsy including social stigma and evaluate the effects of educational programs on parents in an epilepsy camp. METHODS: We conducted an epilepsy camp on August 23-24, 2008, at Gyeongsan. Twenty families with an epileptic child each participated in the camp. We performed a survey before and after the camp to obtain data concerning parental understanding of epilepsy and the effects of the camp-based educational programs on the parents. The data were analyzed with SPSS 14.0 using frequency analysis. RESULTS: The parents were sufficiently knowledgeable about epilepsy before the camp, and their knowledge and understanding of epilepsy improved further after the camp. Both perceived stigma and enacted stigma against epilepsy were found in 30.0% of the parents. The perceived stigma decreased to 15.0% after the camp. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that social approaches such as epilepsy camps are effective in improving parental knowledge and understanding about epilepsy as well as decreasing their perceived social stigma.
Child ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Parents ; Social Stigma

Bacillus (B.) anthracis is the pathogen that causes fatal anthrax. Strain-specific detection of this bacterium using molecular approaches has enhanced our knowledge of microbial population genetics. In the present study, we employed molecular approaches including multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and canonical single-nucleotide polymorphism (canSNP) analysis to perform molecular typing of B. anthracis strains isolated in Korea. According to the MLVA, 17 B. anthracis isolates were classified into A3a, A3b, and B1 clusters. The canSNP analyses subdivided the B. anthracis isolates into two of the three previously recognized major lineages (A and B). B. anthracis isolates from Korea were found to belong to four canSNP sub-groups (B.Br.001/2, A.Br.005/006, A.Br.001/002, and A.Br.Ames). The A.Br.001/002 and A.Br.Ames sub-lineages are closely related genotypes frequently found in central Asia and most isolates were. On the other hand, B. anthracis CH isolates were analyzed that belonged to the B.Br.001/002 sub-group which found in southern Africa, Europe and California (USA). B.Br.001/002 genotype is new lineage of B. anthracis in Korea that was not found before. This discovery will be helpful for the creation of marker systems and might be the result of human activity through the development of agriculture and increased international trade in Korea.
Africa, Southern ; Agriculture ; Anthrax ; Asia ; Bacillus ; Bacillus anthracis ; California ; Europe ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Hand ; Human Activities ; Molecular Typing ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

Isolated left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare disorder caused by embryonic arrest of compaction. LVNC is sometimes associated with other congenital cardiac disorders; however, there have been few reports of its coexistence with a left ventricular aneurysm. A 40-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for renal infarction. She had a history of embolic cerebral infarction 10 years ago. Transthoracic echocardiography showed prominent trabeculae and deep intertrabecular recesses which are filled with blood from the left ventricular (LV) cavity. A thrombus in the akinetic apical wall was confirmed by contrast echocardiography. Using cardiac computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, we rejected a possible diagnosis of suspicion of coronary artery disease. She was diagnosed LVNC with a thrombus in apical aneurysm. Here, we report the first patient in Korea known to have LVNC accompanying LV congenital aneurysm presenting with recurrent embolism.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Cerebral Infarction ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Echocardiography ; Embolism ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Thrombosis

In the article, there was an error in Figure 3.
Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) has been identified as a major autoantigen in primary membranous nephropathy (MN). We evaluated the association between anti-PLA2R antibodies and clinical outcome in Korean patients with primary MN. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with biopsy-proven MN were included. Serum level of anti-PLA2R antibodies was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Biochemical parameters were estimated initially and at follow-up. RESULTS: Anti-PLA2R antibodies were detected in 52.1% and 27.8% of patients with primary and secondary MN, respectively. Forty-eight patients with primary MN were grouped based on presence or absence of anti-PLA2R antibodies. Proteinuria was more severe in anti-PLA2R-positive patients than in anti-PLA2R-negative patients (urine protein/creatinine ratio 7.922 ± 3.985 g/g vs. 4.318 ± 3.304 g/g, P = 0.001), and anti-PLA2R antibody level was positively correlated with proteinuria. The incidence of chronic kidney disease stage ≥ 3 was higher in anti-PLA2R-positive patients compared with anti-PLA2R-negative patients (P = 0.004). The probabilities of spontaneous remission were higher in anti-PLA2R-negative patients compared with anti-PLA2R-positive patients (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that anti-PLA2R antibodies are an independent risk factor for developing chronic kidney disease stage ≥ 3 and for not reaching spontaneous remission. CONCLUSION: Detection of anti-PLA2R antibodies at diagnosis in patients with primary MN can predict prognosis and guide treatment decisions.
Antibodies ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Receptors, Phospholipase A2 ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors