BACKGROUNDS: It is to find out ins and outs of falls, and then to study risky factors that are preventable. METHODS: Total 260 elderly people living in Nonsan who are 60 years old and over were analyzed for data. Stereotyped of those are populational, social specific, physical functions, and basis diseases. And concerning falls, it was analyzed if they have had experience of up to 5 times within 3 years recently. RESULTS: The analyzed are total 260 people, men 112(43%), and women 148(57%). And the ones who answered they have had experience of falls are 108(41.6%), men 31(28.7%), and women 77(71.3%), showing a distinguishable difference between two groups. Women have had more experience than men have(p<0.001), and according to their age, the average age of those experienced falls showed to be higher than the one of those who have not(p=0.036). And according to their education, the ones who did not go to any schools have had more experience than those who did, showing the education has something to do with falls(p<0.001). The mean mass index(p=0.043) and average weight(p=0.023) also showed a mere difference between the group of the people who have had experience and the one of those who have not. Taking into account the fact that there were more women in the group who have had experienced falls, it is shown that there is nothing practical to pay attention to. In Activity of Daily Living(ADL) the experienced is 10.8(+/-4.2), and the unexperienced 9.1(+/-3.1), showing a mere difference between two groups(p<0.000). Concerning chronic diseases, there was no difference between those two groups, but individual patient histories showed that the experienced group had less rheumatic trouble than the unexpedenced(p=0.033). Looking at the difference of the causes for the falls according to their gender, the range of their movements(p=0.043), illumination(p=0.012), influence of alcoho1(p=0.001), and the shoes when they were falling down(p<0.001), the first aid treatments after falls(p=0.014), and influence of medications(p<0.001) showed a mere difference between men and women, while did not show any difference in seasons, time of falls, places, and the descriptions of the surfaces of the places. The mean number of falls within recent 3 years of the experienced was 1.79 times, and the comparison of the relation between the frequency and the causes of falls was done between the ones with experience of I fall, and the ones with experience of more twice falls. The average height(p=0.046) was much higher thai those with experience of more than 2 falls. There was also a mere difference between two groups in movements(p=0.009), illumination(p=0.005), influence of alcohol(p=0.003), the shoes (p=0.048), and first aid treatments after falls(p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The group with higher risk rate includes women, age, poor education, skinny physical figures, and lack of ability to act in daily life. Therefore, those results should be considered when a preventive program of falls for elderly people is designed.
Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chronic Disease ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Education ; Female ; First Aid ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence* ; Seasons ; Shoes

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the level of agreement among survey instruments used to study dementia and to determine the prevalence rate of suspected dementia using different instruments. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total 171 subjects older than 65 in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, were surveyed from February to October 2003. The age, sex and educational level were examined through interview surveys, and cognitive function was evaluated using three survey instruments including MMSE-K, S-SDQ, and KDSQ. RESULTS: The cognitive function scores obtained with the MMSE-K showed significant difference according to age. For sex and educational level significant differences were observed with all three survey instruments. The kappa index, the level of agreement between the questionnaires, was 0.302 between MMSE-K and S-SDQ, 0.401 between MMSE-K and KDSQ, and 0.762 between KDSQ and S-SDQ. The prevalence rate of suspected dementia based on the criteria suggested by MMSE-K, S-SDQ, and KDSQ was 27.5%, 15.2%, and 17.0% respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that caution is needed when comparing the measured cognitive function scores and analyzing the prevalence of dementia; this is because the prevalence of dementia and cognitive functions vary according to the questionnaires used.
Aged* ; Dementia ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Recently, it becomes conspicuous that the network should have enough communication bandwidth and be organized with steadiness to operate and support hospital information system successfully. Seoul National University Hospital completed to reconstruct legacy network which had been used since 1995. We had a consultation to diagnose the current problems and reconstructed the network according to the consultation. The design of network architecture was mainly focused on the circuit route in case of error condition and the suitable bandwidth for the easy communication. We also regulated the use of unsuitable protocols which might broadcast inappropriate data packets over the whole network. After 6 months of operation we evaluated the performance of newly constructed network. The average traffic rate from the input port of main servers was 0.5% and that from the output port was 6% separately. The average traffic rate on the overall ATM backbone showed around 1 %.From the result, we concluded that the newly constructed network had such an enough capability supporting hospital information system without any interruption. Furthermore, we expect that it will be sufficient to support the additional traffic increment by PACS and group ware applications.
Hospital Information Systems ; Hospitals, General* ; Information Services* ; Information Systems* ; Seoul*

No abstract available.
Carcinosarcoma* ; Lung*

Gastric carcinoid tumor is a rare neoplasm that occupies less than 1% of total gastric tumor. Especially, gastric carcinoid tumor with hemorrhage has been very rare. A sixty-three-year old male patient was admitted to the hospital because of hematemesis and melena. On the endoscopic examination, a 2 cm-long polypoid mass with central ulcer and hemorrhagic erosions was seen on the anterior wall of the mid-body without active bleeding. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed that the lesion was limited to submucosa without evidence of metastasis to adjacent lymph node. We experienced a case of gastric carcinoid tumor accompanied with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient underwent extended wedge resection and omentectomy under the diagnosis of type 3 carcinoid tumor. This tentative diagnosis was based on clinical and pathological findings. We report a case of gastric carcinoid with bleeding that is probably type 3.
Carcinoid Tumor* ; Diagnosis ; Endosonography ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Melena ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ulcer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate newly fabricated tricalcium phosphate(TCP)/chitosan microgranuls as bone substitutes. TCP/chitosan microgranules were fabricated by dropping TCP-chitosan suspension into the NaOH/ethanol solution. The size of microgranules could be controllable via airflow rate. PDGF-BB was loaded into the fabricated granules via freeze-drying methods(300 ng/20 mg). To evaluate cell proliferation, cultured osteoblasts cell lines(MC3T3-E1) was dropped on the BioOss(R), chitosan microgranules, TCP/chitosan microgranules and cultured for 1, 7, 14, and 28 days. Scanning electron microscopic observation was done after 7 days of culture and light microscopic examination was done after 28 days of culture. PDGF-BB release from the microgranules was tested. Rabbit calvarial defects(8 mm in diameter) were formed and chitosan, TCP/chitosan, PDGF-TCP/chitosan microgranules, and BioGran(R) were grafted to test the ability of new bone formation. At SEM view, the size of prepared microgranules was 250-1000 um and TCP powders were observed at the surface of TCP/chitosan microgranules. TCP powders gave roughness to the granules and this might help the attachment of osteoblasts. The pores formed between microgranules might be able to allow new bone ingrowth and vascularization. There were no significant differences in cell number among BioOss(R) and two microgranules at 28 day. Light and scanning electron microscopic examination showed that seeded osteoblastic cells were well attached to TCP/chitosan microgranules and proliferated in a multi-layer. PDGF-BB released from TCP/chitosan microgranules was at therapeutic concentration for at least 1 week. In rabbit calvarial defect models, PDGF-TCP/chitosan microgranules grafted sites showed thicker bone trabeculae pattern and faster bone maturation than others. These results suggested that the TCP/chitosan microgranules showed the potential as bone substitutes.
Bone Substitutes ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Chitosan* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis* ; Powders ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: High prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in developing countries may result in high reinfection rate after eradication therapy, but there were few studies on H. pylori reinfection, especially in community population. The aim of this study was to investigate the one -year reinfection rate of H. pylori after successful eradication therapy and the factors related to the reinfection of H. pylori in community population. METHODS: 86 persons who had been confirmed as H. pylori-negative by 13C-urea breath test were included. They were ones of 181 persons treated by eradication regimen one year ago because of H. pylori-positive in serologic H. pylori antibody test and rapid urease test. The reinfection rate of H. pylori and the factors related to the reinfection of H. pylori were investigated after one-year follow-up. The subjects were confirmed as H. pylori reinfection by repetitive 13C-urea breath test and asked to answer the questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics, dyspepsia symptoms, health-related behaviors and family history. RESULTS: The one-year reinfection rate was 18.6% in this study. The one-year reinfection rate of the subjects who aged above 50 years was 23.4% (p < 0.05). The symptom score (total 5) was positively related to H. pylori reinfection (p < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the subjective symptom score was the significant factor in predicting H. pylori positivity by 13C-urea breath test (OR=4.5, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: During 1 year period after successful H. pylori eradication, the reinfection rate of H. pylori was 18.6%. The subjective symptom score survey by questionnaire may be useful predictor of H. pylori reinfection in community setting.
Breath Tests ; Developing Countries ; Dyspepsia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies* ; Urease ; Surveys and Questionnaires

CONCLUSIONS: To investigate the positive rate of Helicobacter pylori in patients with dyspepsia; medical compliance and related factors; the eradication rate a year after screening and related factors; the relationship between the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and the improvement of symptoms; and the estimated cost of three alternative approaches to treat Helicobacter pylori in the community. METHODS: A total of 510 subjects with dyspeptic symptoms were selected and given the serological test in March 1998. The subjects were all adults over 30 years of age residing in Kyongju city. RESULTS: Of the 510 selected subjects, 375 (73.5%) subjects proved positive for Helicobacter pylori on serological testing. Of these 304 (81.1%) who consented to an endoscopic examination, underwent a Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test. Of these 304 subjects, 204 (67.1%), who had positive CLO test results, were given the triple therapy - tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole. To determine the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori, 181 (88.7%) out of the 204 subjects who were given the triple therapy completed a follow-up urea breath test one year later. Of these, the Helicobacter pylori of 87(48.1%) subjects was eradicated. Among the 122 subjects who were medication compliant, the Helicobacter pylori eradication rate was 57.4% (70 subjects), while the eradication rates was only 28.8% (17subjects) in the non-compliant group. The Helicobacter pylori eradication was significantly related to compliance (p<0.01), but not to other characteristics and habits. The symptom improvement rate tended to be higher 62.1%), in the Helicobacter pylori eradicated group than in the non-eradicated group (59.6%). CONCLUSIONS: When the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative treatment were considered in the light of cost, antibiotic tolerance and the number of patients to be treated, alternative II was favorable in terms of cost. Alternative III was favorable in terms of the number of patients to be treated, antibiotic tolerance and early detection of gastric cancer. Further long-term research analyzing the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of each treatment will be needed as supporting material in creating new policies.
Adult ; Amoxicillin ; Bismuth ; Breath Tests ; Compliance ; Dyspepsia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Metronidazole ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Urea

BACKGROUND: Morbidity, the use of analgesics, the amount of postoperative drainage and the postoperative hospital stay were reduced in VATS for pneumothorax. However, some authors preferred minithoracotomy to VATS because the rate of recurrence after VATS were between 5% and 10%. Therefore, we present a modified thoracoscopic bullectomy (MTB) which we believe has the advantages of conventional VATS and minithoracotomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty-six patients who received the operation from January 2002 to December 2002 were divided into 3 groups. Twenty-six patients were treated by axillary minithoracotomy and thirteen by conventional VATS and 18 by modified thoracoscopic bullectomy. The mean age was 21.9 years (range, 16~35 years) for minithoracotomy group, 20.6 years (range, 17~28 years) for conventional VATS group and 22.6 years (range, 16~39 years) for MTB group. The mean follow-ups were 11.4months for minithoracotomy group, 9.5 months for conventional VATS group and 4.7 months for MTB group. RESULT: The mean duration of operation was 55.79+/-23.35 minutes in MTB and 44.23+/-19.24 minutes in conventional VATS (p=0.333). The number of staplers being used was 1.63+/-0.76 in MTB, 1.41+/-0.64 in minithoracotomy (p=0.663), and 2.92+/-1.19 in conventional VATS (p<0.001). The duration of indwelling chest tube was 1.63+/-0.76 day in MTB, 4.07+/-1.41 day in minithoracotomy (p<0.001) and 4.46+/-2.33 day in conventional VATS (p<0.001). Hospital length of stay was 3.26+/-0.81 day in MTB, 6.04+/-2.21 day in minithoracotomy (p<0.001) and 6.69+/-3.33 day in conventional VATS (p<0.001). The number of postoperative complication and recurrence were 2 in minithoracotomy (7.4%), 5 in conventional VATS (38.5%) and 1 in MTB (5.6%). CONCLUSION: Modified thoracoscopic bullectomy is an effective procedure in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.
Analgesics ; Chest Tubes ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracoscopy

The sociomedical environment is changing. In the traditional physician-patient relationship, the physician was authoritative and the patient was obedient. The contractual relationship featured patient consent to the physician’s decision. Today, the physician must explain fully the planned medical treatment, and any alternative, to the patient, who has the right to choose her treatment after considering the benefits and side-effects. The Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) thus decided to standardize the surgical consent forms to meet the legal requirements of modern medicine, improve patient understanding of the surgical details, and protect medical staff from legal disputes. To determine the format and content, subcommittees for each cancer type collected and reviewed all relevant articles and the current consent forms of domestic medical institutions. After several meetings, 16 basic items to be included for each type of gynecologic cancer were selected. Also, to help patients understand the surgical details, figures were included. The revised forms were legally reviewed in terms of the appropriateness of the format and content. We also developed English versions to provide adequate information for foreign patients. We hope that these efforts will promote trust between patients and physicians, and contribute to effective treatment by laying a foundation of mutual respect.