BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to reveal the health effects of air pollution on the residents living near waste treatment plant. METHODS: We sampled 190 residents as the hogh exposed group, 192 residents as the moderate group, and 139 residents as the low exposed group according to the geographical distances from the waste treatment plant. Self-administered questionnaires for prevalence of respiratory disease, irritation symptoms of mucous membrane (eye, nose, thoat, skin, and respiratory tract), gastrointestinal symptoms, other nonspecific symptoms were conducted. We measured the concentrations of total suspened partcles, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and As in 3 exposed area. RESULT: Airborne concentrations of total suspended particles measured in exposed area were 485, 365, and 332 micro gram/m(3) which excees the limit value. Airborne concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and As were not excees the limit value. The prevalence of respiratory disease of high exposed group (16.8%) was significantly higher than that of moderate group (3.6%) and low exposed group (5.0%). The sysptom score of irrtation sysptoms of mucous membrane, gastrointestinal sysptoms, and other nonspecific sysptoms were increased with exposed level. In multiple linear regression, exposure level was related to all sysptom scores significantly. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the air pollution of waste treatment plant would influence prevalence of respiratory disease, induce irritation of mucous membrane, gastrointestinal symptoms, and other nonspecific sysptoms.
Air Pollution ; Linear Models ; Mucous Membrane ; Nose ; Plants* ; Prevalence ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The most common fracture about the elbow joint in chilren is a supracondylar fracture. The displaced fracture is difficult to manage due to the potential danger of Volkmann's ischemia, nerve injury, and malunion, During the period of 6 years from June, 1979 to June, 1985, 63 children with supracondylar fractures of the humerus were treated at Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje Medical College, and analyzed. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The average age was 7.1 years, ranged from 1 year to 14 years, and the male and female ratio was 2.5: l. 2. In type of fracture, extension type was 92% and flexion type was 8%. In displacement of fracture, Grade I was only 2 cases, Grade III and IV were 87.3%. Posteromedial displacement was 42.8% (27 cases). 3. At the time of admission, 15cases(23.8%) accompanied nerve injury, of these median nerve injury (9 cases) was most common. All the patient with nerve injury were completely recovered within 14 months after reduction. 4. Severe cubitus varus was 14.2%, and severe limitation of elbow motion was 1.6%. 5. Of 61 displaced fractures, 37 patients were treated with closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation. By Flynn's criteria, satisfactory results were obtained in 36 of the 37 patients(97.3%) treated with percutaneous pinning. 6. In the displaced fractures, closed reduction and percutaneous pinning is a satisfactory method for obtaining and maintaining reduction while preserving vascular function, if acute flexion is necessary for stable reduction.
Busan ; Child ; Clinical Study ; Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Female ; Fractures, Closed ; Humans ; Humerus ; Ischemia ; Male ; Median Nerve ; Methods

BACKGROUND: Nowadays there is an upsurge of, social concern on domestic violence. The role of doctors in the prevention and screening of domestic violence is becoming important. Therefore, we selected medical residents to find out about the attitude and knowledge of doctors on domestic violence. METHODS: From 2000 March to October, we surveyed questionnaires to residents. The contents included the attitude on the victims, assailants and the children of domestic violence, whether they had the will to report domestic violence to the police or not, and finally the knowledge about the law on domestic violence. RESULTS: Among 210 residents, 95 (45.2%) answered. Almost 90% of the subjects agreed to the necessity of social intervention on the assailants. And most residents agreed that the psychosocial impact of domestic violence to the exposed children was important. 65 (68.4%) residents said they would report to the police when they recognized victims of domestic violence during their consultation. 27-68% answered correctly about the law related to domestic violence. 40% agreed to the need of education for domestic violence. CONCLUSION: The residents had little knowledge on domestic violence law. Therefore, it is essential for residents to be educated accordingly. The factors of marital status and sexual difference of doctors on domestic violence should be investigated.
Child ; Domestic Violence* ; Education ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Police ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: The aim of this study was to conduct research on the pre- treatment prognostic factors that may influence the continuation or cessation of adrenergic alpha-antagonist (alpha-blocker) in benign prostatic hyperplasic (BPH) patients. Materials and Methods: 56 patients who were responsive to alpha-blocker, and returned for follow-up for more than 5 months, were evaluated. The patients in whom the therapeutic effect persisted for more than 8 and for less than 4 weeks after cessation of alpha-blocker were designated as groups 1 (29 patients) and 2 (27 patients), respectively. An evaluation between the groups, based on age, prostate specific antigen (PSA), total prostate volume (TPV), transition zone volume (TZV), transition zone index (TZI), International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), quality of life (QoL index), peak flow rate (Qmax), residual urine, and the duration of treatment, was conduct. All parameters were initially checked before medication. Results: This study showed that younger age, lower PSA level, smaller volume of residual urine and higher Qmax were useful indicators on the persistency of the therapeutic effect. However, TPV, TZV, TZI, I-PSS, QoL index and the duration of treatment did not affect the outcome. Conclusions: It was concluded that age, PSA, Qmax and residual urine measured before medication were useful pre-treatment prognostic factors in the prediction of the persistency of the therapeutic effect after cessation of alpha-blockers.
Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Prognosis ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence*

The carpal tunnel syndroms is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. The typical symptom is pain, numbness and paresthesia in the median nerve territory of the hand and progressive thenar atrophy. When the symptom is mild and its duration is short, conservative treatment such as splinting or local steroid injection is considered, but when neurological deficit is promiment and conservative treatment is not effective, surgical decompression is indicated.Authors reviewed 15 patients (23 cases) of carpal tunnel syndrome treated with surgical decomression at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyung-pook National University Hospital from March 1983 to October 1988. The follow up results are as follows; 1. Preoperatively, Tinel sign was present in 17 cases. Phalen test was positive in 17 cases. Sensory disturbance was present in 8 cases. Thenar muscle atrophy was present in 19 cases. Motor weakness was present in 13 cases. 2. Preoperatively, delay of motor conduction velocity of median nerve was noted in 15 cases (65.2%) and sensory nerve conduction velocity in 20 cases (86.9%). Denervation findings such as fibrillation or sharp waves were seen in 15 cases (65.2%). 3. The operative findings were as follows; Synovial hypertrophy in 12 cases, hypertrophy of transcarpal ligament in 4 cases, pseudoneuroma in 3 cases, ganglion in 2 cases, neurilemmoma in 1 case, gout in 1 case. 4. As the operative findings, median nerve had evidence of compression beneath the transcarpal ligament, consisting of flattening. narrowing and decreased epineurial vascularity. 5. External neurolysis was performed in all cases. 6. In case of long duration and severe thenar atrophy, internal neurolysis would be recommendable. 7. Fllow up period was ranged from 7 months to 6 years. 8. 19 cases (82.6%) were excellent or good results.
Atrophy ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Decompression, Surgical ; Denervation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglion Cysts ; Gout ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Hypesthesia ; Ligaments ; Median Nerve ; Muscular Atrophy ; Neural Conduction ; Neurilemmoma ; Orthopedics ; Paresthesia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Splints

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy and complications of cone-beam CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) of juxtaphrenic lesions and identify the risk factors for diagnostic failure and complications. Materials and Methods: In total, 336 PTNB procedures for lung lesions (mean size ± standard deviation [SD], 4.3 ± 2.3 cm) abutting the diaphragm in 326 patients (189 male and 137 female; mean age ± SD, 65.2 ± 11.4 years) performed between January 2010 and December 2014 were included. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the PTNB procedures for the diagnosis of malignancy were measured based on the intentionto-diagnose principle. The risk factors for diagnostic failures and complications were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 92.7% (293/316), 91.3% (219/240), 91.4% (74/81), 96.9% (219/226), and 77.9% (74/95), respectively. There were 23 diagnostic failures (7.3%), and lesion sizes ≤ 2 cm (p = 0.045) were the only significant risk factors for diagnostic failure. Complications occurred in 98 cases (29.2%), including 89 cases of pneumothorax (26.5%) and 7 cases of hemoptysis (2.1%). The multivariable analysis showed that old age (> 65 years) (p = 0.002), lesion size of ≤ 2 cm (p = 0.003), emphysema (p = 0.006), and distance from the pleura to the target lesion (> 2 cm) (p = 0.010) were significant risk factors for complications. Conclusion The diagnostic accuracy of cone-beam CT-guided PTNB of juxtaphrenic lesions for malignancy was fairly high, and the target lesion size was the only significant predictor of diagnostic failure. Complications of cone-beam CT-guided PTNB of juxtaphrenic lesions occurred at a reasonable rate.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy and complications of cone-beam CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) of juxtaphrenic lesions and identify the risk factors for diagnostic failure and complications. Materials and Methods: In total, 336 PTNB procedures for lung lesions (mean size ± standard deviation [SD], 4.3 ± 2.3 cm) abutting the diaphragm in 326 patients (189 male and 137 female; mean age ± SD, 65.2 ± 11.4 years) performed between January 2010 and December 2014 were included. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the PTNB procedures for the diagnosis of malignancy were measured based on the intentionto-diagnose principle. The risk factors for diagnostic failures and complications were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 92.7% (293/316), 91.3% (219/240), 91.4% (74/81), 96.9% (219/226), and 77.9% (74/95), respectively. There were 23 diagnostic failures (7.3%), and lesion sizes ≤ 2 cm (p = 0.045) were the only significant risk factors for diagnostic failure. Complications occurred in 98 cases (29.2%), including 89 cases of pneumothorax (26.5%) and 7 cases of hemoptysis (2.1%). The multivariable analysis showed that old age (> 65 years) (p = 0.002), lesion size of ≤ 2 cm (p = 0.003), emphysema (p = 0.006), and distance from the pleura to the target lesion (> 2 cm) (p = 0.010) were significant risk factors for complications. Conclusion The diagnostic accuracy of cone-beam CT-guided PTNB of juxtaphrenic lesions for malignancy was fairly high, and the target lesion size was the only significant predictor of diagnostic failure. Complications of cone-beam CT-guided PTNB of juxtaphrenic lesions occurred at a reasonable rate.

Purpose: The number of elderly patients, especially aged ≥80 years, undergoing emergency surgery is gradually increasing. The aim of this study was to find out the trends and results of emergency general surgery for elderly patients over 9 years in an emergency medical center in South Korea, where the population is aging most rapidly. Methods: The clinical characteristics, outcomes, and medical expenses of emergency general surgery for the elderly (aged 65–79 years) and highly elderly (aged ≥80 years) patients who visited to a regional emergency medical center from 2012 to 2020 were analyzed. Results: The number of highly elderly patients increased with each 3-year interval, whereas the proportion of patients aged 19–79 years was similar, and that of pediatric patients was decreasing. The higher the age group, the higher the mortality (young adult vs. elderly vs. highly elderly: odds ratio [OR], 1 vs. 3.689 vs. 11.293; P < 0.001) and complication rates (OR, 1 vs. 2.840 vs. 4.633; P < 0.001), and longer length of hospital stay (β = 0.949, P = 0.001) even after adjusting for the type of surgery and the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification. Non-covered medical expenses were significantly related to the age groups (β = 151,608.802, P < 0.001). Conclusion The higher age group was associated with increased number of unfavorable outcomes after emergency general surgery, along with increased medical cost. Efforts to prevent emergency surgery for elderly patients and a specialized treatment system are needed.

Purpose: In Korea, the absence of a modified physical activity (PA) questionnaire specifically tailored for Koreans hinders the accurate assessment of PA among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study aimed to evaluate PA levels in individuals with SCI using a modified PA questionnaire and to provide insights into their PA patterns in Korea. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was developed by revising and adapting the Korean version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (K-IPAQ) during an advisory meeting. Between April and June 2023, 176 individuals with SCI from metropolitan areas in Korea were recruited to assess their weekly PA. PA was quantified in Metabolic Equivalent Task-min/week (MET-min/week) by multiplying the reported PA duration. Results: The average PA level among individuals with SCI in Korea was 2,907.2±194.8 MET-min/week. By intensity, high-intensity activities accounted for 2,760.0±280.5 MET-min/week, moderate-intensity activities for 1,148.8±89.0 MET-min/week, and low-intensity activities for 1,869.4±110.3 MET-min/week. Approximately half of the participants met the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for PA. Conclusion Although Korean individuals with SCI demonstrated higher average PA levels compared to findings from other countries and the WHO recommendations, only about half of the participants met the WHO’s guidelines. These results underscore the need to strengthen efforts to promote PA participation among individuals with SCI.

Purpose: In Korea, the absence of a modified physical activity (PA) questionnaire specifically tailored for Koreans hinders the accurate assessment of PA among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study aimed to evaluate PA levels in individuals with SCI using a modified PA questionnaire and to provide insights into their PA patterns in Korea. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was developed by revising and adapting the Korean version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (K-IPAQ) during an advisory meeting. Between April and June 2023, 176 individuals with SCI from metropolitan areas in Korea were recruited to assess their weekly PA. PA was quantified in Metabolic Equivalent Task-min/week (MET-min/week) by multiplying the reported PA duration. Results: The average PA level among individuals with SCI in Korea was 2,907.2±194.8 MET-min/week. By intensity, high-intensity activities accounted for 2,760.0±280.5 MET-min/week, moderate-intensity activities for 1,148.8±89.0 MET-min/week, and low-intensity activities for 1,869.4±110.3 MET-min/week. Approximately half of the participants met the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for PA. Conclusion Although Korean individuals with SCI demonstrated higher average PA levels compared to findings from other countries and the WHO recommendations, only about half of the participants met the WHO’s guidelines. These results underscore the need to strengthen efforts to promote PA participation among individuals with SCI.