The authors analized the 98 cases of cervical spine injuries without fracture or dislocation by hyperflexion/hyperextension of the neck. The peak incidence of the age was in the second to fourth decades(69.4%). There was a male preponderance with a sex ratio of. 1.8 : 1. Sources of trauma were motor vehicle accident, object falling on and motorcycle accident in the order of frequency. The common mechanisms of injury were flexion-extension, extension and flexion injury in the order of frequency. There were 10 cases of cervical cord injury without fracture or dislocation and operative management was given in 6 cases of them. The most common preexisting disease was congenital cervical stenosis. Surgical modality such as laminectomy, laminoplasty and anterior decompressive procedure made them improved. The authors discuss the mechanism of injury and surgical management of the patients with cervical cord injury in the absence of concomittent fracture or dislocation.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Dislocations* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Motor Vehicles ; Motorcycles ; Neck ; Preexisting Condition Coverage ; Sex Ratio ; Spine*

We experienced two cases of occupational asthma induced by Elk dander in Elk-feeders and confirmed these cases by the bronchial provocation test with Elk dander. Both of them showed dual asthmatic response. They also showed positive reaction to the skin prick test with EIK dander. Now one of them has no asthmatic symptoms at all after complete avoidnce of EIK dander.
Asthma, Occupational* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Dander ; Skin

BACKGROUND: This study aims at making a survey on health care service providers' cultural competence and making an appraisal of Chinese medical tourists on service quality, health care service providers' cultural competence, perceived value, and satisfaction. METHODS: The data was collected from August until November, 2014 and 150 health care service providers and 65 Chinese medical tourists from 12 medical institutions in Daegu were enrolled in analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that health care service provider's knowledge on Chinese culture was very low with 33.5% of correct answer. Health care service providers were found to get 3.82 point on a 5 point-scale in cultural perception, 3.53 points in cultural sensitivity, and 2.85 points in cultural skills. Chinese medical tourists were analyzed to give 4.08 points on a 5-point scale to satisfaction on health care service, followed by 4.01 points to health care service quality, 4.00 points to perceived value of health care service, and last 3.85 points to a health care service providers' cultural skills. However, there was a difference in points in cultural skills between health care service providers and Chinese medical tourists. Chinese medical tourists' satisfaction with health care service in Daegu was found to be comparatively high, but in relation to satisfaction with communication, it was found to be relatively low. CONCLUSION: Through this research, health care service providers' knowledge level of Chinese culture and cultural skills were low while they seemed to take a half-hearted attitude towards educational experience for building up cultural competence and foreign patient service response.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Cultural Competency* ; Daegu* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Health Personnel* ; Health Services Research ; Humans

No abstract available.
Rupture* ; Scrotum* ; Ultrasonography*

The authors describe 2 cases of multiple thoracic disc herniations in the level of T5~6, T6~T7, T7~8 and T8~9, T9~10, T10~11. Thoracic disc herniations is rare and occurs in less than 4% of all diseases. Moreover, multiple thoracic disc herniations is very rare and only 7 cases were reported in the literatures, which occurred at two levels in 6 cases and five levels in one case. The lesions were determined by thoracic CT myelogram and MRI study. A microsurgical posterolateral approach made them curative. Surgical instruments such as downbite curette and surgical microscope were essential for successful treatment.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Surgical Instruments

No abstract available.
Humans ; Korea ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Stroke

PURPOSE: Recent years have witness a dramatic increase in public awareness of the health risks associated with lead exposure-particularly concerning young children. The lead poisoning in children was considered a rarity, usually resulting from unique circumstances such as in appropriate use of lead-based body cosmetics or direct administration of lead-containing folk medicine or contaminated atmosphere. The increasing concern about children with lower levels of lead exposure has developed, but there are no data regarding the mean blood lead levels and the incidence of lead poisoning in Korean children. So, this study was conducted to measure the blood lead and ZPP(zinc protoporphyrin) levels of 125 children around Cheonan city. METHODS: 125 children around Cheonan city (from 1 month to 15 year-old, 68 males and 57 females) were studied. We analyzed the mean blood Zinc Protoporphyrin(ZPP) and lead values and excluded children with hematologic disorders in this study. RESULTS: 1) The mean blood lead level was 4.15 microgram/dl (95% CI: 3.82-4.488) and the mean ZPP level was 53.48 microgram/dl (95% CI: 48.44-58.52). Both were within normal range. 2) The mean blood lead level of 68 males was 4.23 microgram/dl and 4.06 microgram/dl in 57 females. The mean blood ZPP level was 49.88 microgram/dl in males and 57.77 microgram/dl in females. There was no significant difference in males and females. 3) There was no siginificant correlation between blood lead and ZPP concentration. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the mean blood lead level of 125 children around Cheonan city was 4.15 microgram/dl. That was within normal range and the same values with United States. It is important that there must be a national counter plan and that pediatricians continue to pay attention to lead poisoning in children.
Adolescent ; Atmosphere ; Child* ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lead Poisoning ; Male ; Medicine, Traditional ; Reference Values ; United States ; Zinc

OBJECTIVES: The purpost of this study was to present general system,operation,and program of a day care model managed by a psychiatrist,to evaluate the results of performing this model,and thus to developa day care model applied to Korean situation appropriately for promoting maintenance and rehabilitation of chronic psychotic patients. METHODS: We performed this day care model(hereinafter called as this model) from March 1997 to February 1998. The subjects were composed of 23 psychotic patients. PANSS, Quality of Life Scale,Life Satisfaction Self-Rating Scale were used before beginning this model-and after three months of performing this model. Program Helpfulness Scale,13 Therapeutic Factors Scale were used at one month of day care and after three months of day care. RESULTS: 1) This model helped maintenance and rehabilitation of chronic psychotic patients through reducing their symptoms and increasing quality of life. 2) This model used the various group therapy, especially creative art therapy and activeity therapy, played an important fole,for recovering Physical,psychological,and social functions. 3) Important therapeutic factors at early and late period of this model were identification with therapists,guidance of therapists,and the corrective recatitulation of the primary family group. Important therapeutic factors at early period were group cohesiveness and altruism, and at late period instillation of hope. 4) This model was useful for integration the multidisciplinary therapeutic team and the various therapeutic methods. CONCLUSION: This model would be applied to day care in this country effectively and efficiently for maintenance and rehabilitation of chronic psychotic patients.
Altruism ; Art Therapy ; Day Care, Medical* ; Hope ; Humans ; Psychotherapy, Group ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation*

OBJECTIVES: This prospective population-based cohort study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors of cognitive impairment and the degree of cognitive function change through a 5-year follow-up. METHODS: The baseline and follow-up surveys were conducted in 1998 and 2003, respectively. Among 176 subjects who had normal cognitive function in the baseline study, 136 were followed up for 5 years. The cognitive function was investigated using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Stata. RESULTS: Of the 136 subjects analyzed, 25 (18.4%) were cognitively impaired. Old age and low social support in the baseline survey were risk factors for cognitive impairment after 5 years. In the generalized estimating equation for 128 subjects except severe cognitive impairment about the contributing factors of cognitive function change, the interval of 5 years decreased MMSE-K score by 1.02 and the cognitive function was adversely affected with increasing age, decreasing education and decreasing social support. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study population was small, it was considered that the study results can be used to develop a community-based prevention system for cognitive impairment.
*Rural Health ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Male ; Korea ; Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Cognition Disorders/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged

PURPOSE: Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are rare tumors that occurs in approximately 10~15% of all cystic lesions of the pancreas. A recent trend has been to resect all cystic neoplasms, without any attempt to preoperatively determine the exact histologic subtype. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of fifteen patients with cystic neoplasms and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas who were treated surgically between January, 1991 and May, 2001. RESULTS: Patient ages ranged from 14 to 69 years with a mean of 53.4. Sixty percent of patients were women. There were 4 cases of mucinous cystic neoplasms, 7 solid pseudopapillary tumors, 3 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, and 1 serous cystadenoma. The most prominant symptom was an abdominal mass. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in six cases, distal pancreatectomy in five cases, excision of cyst in three cases and median segmental pancreatectomy in one case. The mortality rate from surgery was 0%, and the overall perioperative complication rate was 40%. The mean follow-up was 24 months (range from 2 months to 63 months). Two patients, both displaying intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, died at 9 and 14 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: We suggest that cystic neoplasms of the pancreas including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm should be resected because they are malignant or pre-malignant. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is the imaging modality of choice for the diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. We conclude that the prognosis for resected cystic neoplasms of the pancreas is good.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mortality ; Mucins* ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies