Objectives: In the epidemiology of communicable diseases, the term epidemic period, also referred to as "wave" is often used in the general and academic milieu. A wave refers to a natural pattern of increase in the number of sick individuals, a defined peak, and then a decline in the number of cases. It implies a pattern of peaks and valleys after a particular peak is taken. The idea of epidemic waves is a useful tool for predicting the course as well as helping to accurately describe an epidemic. However, in many domestic and foreign news as well as in various research results in Korea, most of the reports either had no standard, were inaccurate, had a questionable classification of the period of the epidemic, or the basis for classification of a given wave was not presented. Methods: The author reviewed and organized related literature with epidemic wave. The author made several suggestions of an epidemic wave as follows. Results: To start with, it should be based on the number of incident cases in consideration of the size of the outbreak, then the period from the bottom to the peak and then reaching the next bottom; also, the period over a certain scale based on the number of incident cases; and the period according to the change in the major infection type (mutation-dominant species). In addition, according to the period of change in the vaccination rate (formation of herd immunity), as well as the content and duration of the intervention, that is, classification according to the applied quarantine stage. Furthermore, the classification of epidemic periods by the time-dependent reproduction number or time-varying reproduction number (R t ), and lastly the application of mathematical methodology. Conclusions Therefore, classifying the epidemic period into generally known and accepted time frames is considered to be a very important task for future research analysis and development of intervention strategies.

Retroperitoneal duodenal rupture is rare and is often difficult to diagnose on the plain abdominal x-ray. From a review of the plain abdomen films of 21 cases with retroperitoneal duodenal rupture, confirmed by operation, pneumoretroperitoneum was revealed in 16 cases; Air in the peritoneum was manifested as a bubbly shadow in 12 cases, a renal halo in 9 cases, air shadow along the right psoas margin in 2 cases, air along the diaphragmatic crus in 2 cases and air in the right properitoneal fat in 2 cases, US and CT also revealed air bubbles and fluid collection around the right kidney. We recommend the plain abdomen as a useful diagnostic method for detection of pneumoretroperitoneum.
Abdomen* ; Kidney ; Methods ; Peritoneum ; Retropneumoperitoneum ; Rupture*

OBJECTIVES: Face-to-face interviews were conducted to investigate the relationship between blood pressure and the impairment of cognitive function in rural elderly (N=932) aged 60-64 in Dalsung County, April to September in 1996 METHODS: Impairment of cognitive function was defined as a score of less than 23 by the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSEK). Blood pressure was measured once in each subject using a portable automatic sphygmomanometer. RESULTS: By univariate logistic regression on males, no category of systolic blood pressure bore statistical significance. Groups with diastolic blood pressures of, less than 80 mmHg, 90-94 mmHg, and more than 95mmHg had odds ratios of more than one compared with the reference group (80-89 mmHg). This was most significant in the group with blood pressures lower than 80 mmHg, which had a statistically significant odds ratio of 1.68 (95 % confidence interval Cl; 1.02-2.75). No category of blood pressure was statistically significant in females. Multivariate logistic regression for males, with adjustment for age, educational attainment, smoking, alcoholic drinking, body mass index, atherosclerotic disease, and antihypertensive medication use, did not alter the odds ratios significantly in terms of systolic blood pressure. However, the group with diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 mmHg had an increased odds ratio of 2.01 (95 % Cl; 1.15-3.52) compared with the reference group. In females, systolic blood pressure did not alter the odds ratio, but the group with a diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 mmHg had a statistically significant odds ratio of 0.57 (95% Cl; 0.37-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function status is stronger diastolic than systolic blood pressure and that there is a complex relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function by sex.
Aged ; Alcoholics ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sphygmomanometers

No abstract available.
Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi Sampling* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Female ; Pregnancy

For the purpose of epidemiologic study, the patients who visited Severance Hospital Behcet's Syndrome Specialty Clinic were grouped by Shimizu classification into the complete, incomplete, suspected types and evaluated. The results of the evaluation with respect to personal characteristics, geographic distribution, socioeconomic characteristics, family history, and clinical characteristics are as follows. 1. The incidence among the subgroups was incomplete type(46.3%), suspected type(36.7%), complete type(17.0%) and the male to female ratio was 0.60: 1, and the average age of onset was 29.1. years for males and 27.6 years for females. 2. The occupational distribution among males included office workers, 31.5%; drivers, 10.6% and among females was office workers, 6.7%; teachers, 3. 7 %; unemployed, 81.7%. 3. Among the presumed aggrevating factors affecting oral cavity, recurrent tonsillitis(20.8%) was most common, and premenstrual exacervation(12.8%) was most common. 4. The most common initial major manifestation was oral ulcer(80.6%), and the longest duration of major manifestations was oral ulcer(average 6.4 years), and the most frequent relapse of major manifestations was oral ulcer(average 14.6 times/year). 5. The average duration between the appearance of the first and second major manifestations was 5.2 years for complete type, 6.3 years for incomplete type, and 6.6 years for suspected type. 6. Combinations of major manifestations most commonly included oral ulcer, genital ulcers and skin lesions(65.3%) for incomplete type, and oral ulcer, skin lesion(54.8%) for suspected type.
Age of Onset ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Classification ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mouth ; Oral Ulcer ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Korea*

The localizations and morphological characteristics of gonadotropes in the adenohypophy-sis of Korean native goat were investigated with double immunohistochemistry. The gonadotropes were present in the pars distalis and pars tuberalis, but not in the pars intermedta. Gonadotropes occupied about 49.0% of the cells in the pars distalis in females, and about 40.8% in males. Three types of gonadotropes ; FSH immunoreactive cells[FSH cells], LH immunoreac-tive cells[LH cells], and FSH and LH immunoreactive cells[FSH/LH cell], were identified according to their immunoreactivities for FSH and LH antisera. The possessional perce-ntages of FSH cells, LH cells and FSH/LH cells were 1.1%, 40.6%, 58.3% in females and 1.8%, 30.0%, 68.8% in males, respectively. FSH/LH cells were large and oval or round in shape. These cells were distributed throughout the pars distalis, but were more abundant on the dorsal part adjacent to the hypophyseal cavity and along the lateral and ventral peripheral regions. LH cells were smaller than other gonadotropes and were observed throughout the pars distalis, but predominant in the central region. FSH cells were large and oval in shape. These cells were intercalated between FSH/LH cells.
Female ; Goats* ; Gonadotrophs ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Arteries* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of and the factors affecting constipation in elementary school students in urban and rural areas. METHODS: Study subjects were 585 grade 5 and 6 students. We conducted self-administered questionnaires during October, 2009. Outcome measure was the prevalence of constipation evaluated by the Rome III Diagnostic criteria for functional constipation. Independent variables were gender, grade, residence, mother's employment status, self-rated health status, number of family members, bowel movement habit, and health behavior (nutrition, exercise, and stress). RESULTS: The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that females, grade 5 students, those with working mothers, and those physically inactive reported having constipation significantly more often. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the female gender, increasing age, mother's employment status, and physical inactivity were risk factors for constipation in elementary school students. To improve bowel function in children, health education programs and school health promotion programs targeting healthy life habits should be implemented.
Child ; Constipation* ; Employment ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mothers ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; School Health Services ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages* ; Vitamin K* ; Vitamins*