No abstract available.

This study was performed to assess the recurrence rate and the factors related with the recurrence of leprosy and to use the data obtained from the present study for the basis for the prevention of leprosy, among those leprosy patients who were registered and managed by a Catholic Skin Clinic located in the Taegu metropolitan city between January of 1960 to October of 1999. We conducted the present study with 1,245 leprosy patients except 31 who were being treated for active leprosy. Using a structured record sheet, the data were collected using the chart of the patient, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS program ver 9.0 and Fisher's exact test and chi-square-test was performed. Among 1,245 subjects, the sex distribution was 690 males (55.4%) and 555 females (44.6%). The age at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy was the most prevalent in patients' teen years with 528 patients(42.3%) followed by in their 20's with 366 patients (29.3%). The most prevalent type of leprosy at the initial occurrence of leprosy was type L with 730 patients(58.6%), and the condition of the bacteria at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy was negative in 509 patients(40.8%) and positive in 285 patients(22.9%). The overall recurrence rate was 13.2%. According to gender, males showed the recurrence rate of 15.7% and females 10.1%, showing a higher recurrence rate in males. The recurrence rate according to the type of leprosy was 31.6% of I type with the most prevalence. Among those patients who were initially diagnosed with mycobacterium leprae, 21.1% showed recurrence, and the recurrence rate was significantly higher than in negative mycobacterium leprae patients with 3.3%. The recurrence rate according to the age of initial occurrence of leprosy was the highest in those patients who developed leprosy in their teen years with 17.2%, followed by those who had leprosy in between 20-29 years with 13.4%. According to the administered medication, among those 152 patients who took DDS alone, showed 90.8% recurrence rate; among 1,009 patients took in DDS and switched to MDT, 2.5% showed recurrence; and among patients who were treated with MDT, only 1.2% showed recurrence with the lowest level of recurrence rate. With these results, in the case of DDS treatment cases, in male patients, the positive mycobacterium leprae patients at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy, the type of leprosy being I, and the age of the initial occurrence of leprosy being low; it is important to raise the compliance through education and follow-up. In the future, extensive and in-depth studies are needed to be done in the recurrence of leprosy to elucidate the factors of recurrence and the plans to prevent recurrence need to be established from the public health and policy areas.
Adolescent ; Bacteria ; Compliance ; Daegu ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Male ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Recurrence* ; Sex Distribution ; Skin

This study was performed to assess the recurrence rate and the factors related with the recurrence of leprosy and to use the data obtained from the present study for the basis for the prevention of leprosy, among those leprosy patients who were registered and managed by a Catholic Skin Clinic located in the Taegu metropolitan city between January of 1960 to October of 1999. We conducted the present study with 1,245 leprosy patients except 31 who were being treated for active leprosy. Using a structured record sheet, the data were collected using the chart of the patient, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS program ver 9.0 and Fisher's exact test and chi-square-test was performed. Among 1,245 subjects, the sex distribution was 690 males (55.4%) and 555 females (44.6%). The age at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy was the most prevalent in patients' teen years with 528 patients(42.3%) followed by in their 20's with 366 patients (29.3%). The most prevalent type of leprosy at the initial occurrence of leprosy was type L with 730 patients(58.6%), and the condition of the bacteria at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy was negative in 509 patients(40.8%) and positive in 285 patients(22.9%). The overall recurrence rate was 13.2%. According to gender, males showed the recurrence rate of 15.7% and females 10.1%, showing a higher recurrence rate in males. The recurrence rate according to the type of leprosy was 31.6% of I type with the most prevalence. Among those patients who were initially diagnosed with mycobacterium leprae, 21.1% showed recurrence, and the recurrence rate was significantly higher than in negative mycobacterium leprae patients with 3.3%. The recurrence rate according to the age of initial occurrence of leprosy was the highest in those patients who developed leprosy in their teen years with 17.2%, followed by those who had leprosy in between 20-29 years with 13.4%. According to the administered medication, among those 152 patients who took DDS alone, showed 90.8% recurrence rate; among 1,009 patients took in DDS and switched to MDT, 2.5% showed recurrence; and among patients who were treated with MDT, only 1.2% showed recurrence with the lowest level of recurrence rate. With these results, in the case of DDS treatment cases, in male patients, the positive mycobacterium leprae patients at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy, the type of leprosy being I, and the age of the initial occurrence of leprosy being low; it is important to raise the compliance through education and follow-up. In the future, extensive and in-depth studies are needed to be done in the recurrence of leprosy to elucidate the factors of recurrence and the plans to prevent recurrence need to be established from the public health and policy areas.
Adolescent ; Bacteria ; Compliance ; Daegu ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Male ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Recurrence* ; Sex Distribution ; Skin

A study on changes of serum HDL-cholesterol level in various diseased states was performed. Diseased groups were nephrotic syndrome, liver cirrhosis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and chronic alcoholism. Following results were obtained. 1) Compared to normal control group, levels of HDL-cholesterol in nephrotic syndrome were lower but the difference was significant statistically. 2) In liver cirrhosis, the result showed much lower levels than normal control group with high significance. 3) In both hyper-and hypothyroidism group, the levels of HDL-cholesterol were significantly lower than normal control group. 4) In chronic alcoholism, the levels were significantly higher than normal control group. 5) Except for the group of chronic alcoholism, the levels of HDL- cholesterol were higher in female groups than male groups, but was of no significance statistically.
Alcoholism ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: The incidence of mycoplasmal pneumonia is predominantly at childhood and early adulthood, but in adults, its incidence is low and its symptoms and physical findings are nonspecific. The definite diagnosis of M. pneumoniae pneumonia can be made by sputum culture, but requires several weeks for positive results, and the early diagnosis must initially be based on the serologic tests and appropriate clinical findings. Thus, we evaluated the clinical aspects of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in the adults patients. METHOD: Among the admitted patients due to pneumonia, the definite diagnosis is anti-M. pneumoniae antibody titer of > 1:40 and a single cold agglutinin titer of > 1:64. The presumptive diagnosis is anti-M. pneumoniae antibody titer of > 1:40 or a single cold agglutinin titer of > 1:64 and the clinical characteristics or chest X-ray findings are compatible with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. We studied the age and sex distribution, seasonal distribution, clinical symptoms, physical findings, serologic test, chest X-ray findings, treatment and its progression. RESULTS: 1) The age distribution was even and the ratio of male to female was 1:1. 2) The monthly distribution was most common in January(16.7%) and the seasonal distribution in autumn and winter(autumn: 30%, winter: 33.3%). 3) The cold agglutinin titers were higher than 1:64 in 12 cases(40%), and reached the peak level around 2 weeks from onset and antimycoplasma antibody titers were higher than 1:160 in 5 cases(16.7%). 4) On the chest X-ray, pulmonary infiltration was noted in 28 cases(93.3%) among 30 cases and right lower lobe involvement was the most common(33.3%) and both lower lobe involvement was noted in 7 cases(23.3%). 5) The mean treatment duration was most common(33.3%) in 1 week to 2 weeks after admission and 26 cases(86.7%) were improved within 4 weeks. 6) On admission, there was fever(> or =38.9degreesC) in 17 cases(56.7%), and the fever subsided in 12 cases(70%) within 3 days after treatment using erythromycin. CONCLUSION: The mycoplasmal pneumonia in adults shows milder clinical patterns than that in childhood and can be completely recovered without complication by early diagnosis and treatment.
Adult* ; Age Distribution ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Erythromycin ; Female ; Fever ; Hospital Distribution Systems ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Pneumonia* ; Seasons ; Serologic Tests ; Sex Distribution ; Sputum ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Echocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies*

PURPOSE: Febrile seizure, the most common seizure disorder in children between 6 months and 5 years of age, is mostly caused by viral infections, except severe CNS infection. It can also be caused by disorders in organic acid metabolism, especially accompanied by fever. Therefore we decided to investigate the relationship between children with febrile seizures and disorders in organic acid metabolism. METHODS: We examined 54 children with febrile seizure who visited Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital Emergency Department from February 2002 to January 2004. We conducted urine organic acid analysis, CBC, urine analysis, serum ammonia and gas analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen(24.1%) patients showed ketonuria, eight(14.8%) patients showed lactic aciduria and ketonuria, two(3.7%) patients showed pyruvic aciduria, and one(1.8%) showed mandelic aciduria. CONCLUSION: Twenty four of 54(44.4%) showed abnormal findings in urine organic acid analysis. Most results are ketonuria or lactic aciduria with ketonuria. They may show in fasting, severe infection or ketolytic defect(ex, 3-ketothiolase deficiency). Patients with 3-ketothiolase deficiency, can develop seizures during fever, and fasting state. Therefore further evaluation is necessary.
Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase ; Ammonia ; Child ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epilepsy ; Fasting ; Fever ; Gangwon-do ; Heart ; Humans ; Ketosis ; Lactic Acid ; Metabolism ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile*

The diaphragm is especially important in sustaining minute ventilation in the neonate. Consequently, diaphragmatic paralysis is not tolerated well by the neonate and often results in prolonged respiratory failure. We experienced a case of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis with the brachial plexus palsy in a male newborn infant who presented with apnea and cyanosis due to birth asphyxia. After endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilaton was started. At two weeks after therapy, chest X-ray showed atelectasis and elevation of the right hemidiaphragm. The diagnosis of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis was confirmed by real-time ultrasonography. At 4 weeks old, after several unsuccessful attempts at weaning from ventilatory support, right hemidiaphragm was plicated. On the second postoperative day, he could be weaned from ventiatory support without difficulty. He was doing well at follow-up 3 months later.
Apnea ; Asphyxia ; Brachial Plexus* ; Cyanosis ; Diagnosis ; Diaphragm ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Paralysis* ; Parturition ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Respiratory Paralysis* ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography ; Ventilation ; Weaning

PURPOSE: Although neonatal intensive care and development of obstetrics play a role in improving survival rate in prematurity, cerebral palsy (CP) is still one of the neurologic sequelae. We tried to find what kinds of risk factors in the patients with abnormal neurosonographic findings who developed CP later. This study was performed to predict early enough who will develop CP later and to treat rapidly for rehabilitation. METHODS: The one hundred and forty one infants with intraventricular hemorrhage, cyst, or abnormal increased periventricular echodensity in serial neurosonographic findings were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Gil general hospital from January 1992 to December 1994. Neurosonographic findings in CP group and non-CP group during postpartum 18 months to 54 months were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: 1) 18 of one hundred and forty one cases with abnormal neurosonographic findings developed CP. The duration of mechanical ventilation of the CP group was 11.6+/-16.1 days. It is significantly shorter than that of the control group (non-CP group : 2.2+/-7.0 day). The duration of oxygen therapy in the CP group was 22.4+/-19.2 days. Which is also significantly shorter than that of the control group (non-CP group : 5.4+/-8.4 day) (P<0.01). 2) Increased periventricular echodensity and the size of the cyst in neurosonographic findings in the CP group is significantly different from those of the non-CP group P<0.01). 3) In CP group (N=18), Increased periventricular echodensity and cyst formation were located most commonly in the parietal region. 4) The grade of the intraventricular hemorrhage in the CP group was significantly different from that in the non-CP group (P<0.01). 5) The neurosonographic findings give the diagnostic accuracy for predicting CP. CONCLUSIONS: We studied the relationship of the abnormal neurosonographic findings, CP, and associated risk factors. In review, By using neurosonographic examination the risk of the development of CP could be predicted, and by early diagnosis of CP the quality of the life of CP-patient could be better.
Cerebral Palsy* ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Obstetrics ; Oxygen ; Postpartum Period ; Rabeprazole ; Rehabilitation ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

A total of 335 inguinal hernias in children were analyzed by the authors at the Department of General Surgery, St. Benedict Hospital, for last 10 years, from 1986 to 1995. The male patients were predominant (2.25:1), and 78.2% were under 2 years of age. Right side was 1.63 times more frequent than the left. Among the 19 cases of incarcerated hernias, 84% could be reduced preoperatively in safe. Only 3.6% of the cases were repaired by Bassini procedure, but the others didn't require posterior wall reconstruction. Bilaterality was 25 cases (7.5%), and 8 cases (2.4%) developed later contralateral hernias after primary ipsilateral fix. Complications were in 15 cases (4.5%) such as scrotal seroma and/or hematoma (3%), wound infection (0.6%), pneumonia (0.9%). For the more comprehensive care for the herniated children, specialized practice by a pediatric surgeon would be required in the future.
Child* ; Hematoma ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal* ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Seroma ; Wound Infection