BACKGROUND: Recently elderly people have increased in Korea and increased demands of medical service. This study was carried out to identify diseases and health service utilization patterns of geriatric inpatients to provide better understanding and basis planning to meet the needs of expanding geriatric population. METHOD: We use data of `Patient Survey in Korea` in 1999 and analyzed characteristics of disease structure and utilization patterns of health care service of 54,013 cases of discharged patients aged 65 years or more. RESULT: The proportion of the elderly in total discharged patients is 14.7%. Male to female ratio is 1:1.3 and most common age group was between 65 and 69 years old. 84.2% of elderly patients were admitted at secondary or tertiary health care facilities. The most common disease in geriatric inpatients is malig- nancy in male and vascular disease in female. The average duration of hospitalization is 14.2 days. They stay longer than the nation wide average hospital length and stay longest when they are admitted by mental and behavioral disorders. CONCLUSION: Geriatric patients are admitted mostly with chronic degenerative diseases such as neoplasm and vascular disease. Elders prefer to be admitted to tertiary hospitals and oriental hospitals. They stay more in hospital.
Aged ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Health Services* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Korea ; Male ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Vascular Diseases

The circling mice with tmie gene mutation are known as an animal deafness model, which showed hyperactive circling movement. Recently, the reinvestigation of circling mouse was performed to check the inner ear pathology as a main lesion of early hearing loss. In this trial, the inner ear organs were not so damaged to cause the hearing deficit of circling (cir/cir) mouse at 18 postnatal day (P18) though auditory brainstem response data indicated hearing loss of cir/cir mice at P18. Thus, another mechanism may be correlated with the early hearing loss of cir/cir mice at P18. Hearing loss in the early life can disrupt the ascending and descending information to inferior colliculus (IC) as integration site. There were many reports that hearing loss could result in the changes in Ca²⁺ concentration by either cochlear ablation or genetic defect. However, little was known to be reported about the correlation between the pathology of IC and Ca²⁺ changes in circling mice. Therefore, the present study investigated the distribution of calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs), calbindin-D28k, parvalbumin, and calretinin immunoreactivity (IR) in the IC to compare among wild-type (+/+), heterozygous (+/cir), and homozygous (cir/cir) mice by immunohistochemistry. The decreases of CaBPs IR in cir/cir were statistically significant in the neurons as well as neuropil of IC. Thus, this study proposed overall distributional alteration of CaBPs IR in the IC caused by early hearing defect and might be helpful to elucidate the pathology of central auditory disorder related with Ca²⁺ metabolism.
Animals ; Calbindin 1* ; Calbindin 2* ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Deafness ; Ear, Inner ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inferior Colliculi* ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Neurons ; Neuropil ; Parvalbumins ; Pathology

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of non alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFL) was increased by common use of abdominal ultrasonography and non alcoholic fatty liver disease has been associated metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of non alcoholic fatty liver disease with metabolic syndrome over 65 years elderly. METHOD: The subject of this study included 262 elderly aged 65 years or older who visited the Health Promotion Center of one university hospital, and the 42 non alcoholic fatty liver disease and the 220 normal control diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. We estimated the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome according to ATPlll guideline except Asia-Pacific waist circumference guideline. we evaluated the prevalence of non alcoholic fatty liver disease and the association of non alcoholic fatty liver disease with metabolic syndrome risk factors. We used the multiple logistic regression method to estimate odds ratios for metabolic syndrome of non alcoholic fatty liver disease and other risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of non alcoholic fatty liver disease was 16.0%. The mean values of waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting glucose were significantly increased in non alcoholic fatty liver disease compared with control subjects. The prevalence of abdominal obesity, hypertriglycemia, low HDL cholesterolemia, impaired fasting glucose was significantly increased in non alcoholic fatty liver disease compared with control subjects. Odds ratios of hypertriglycemia, low HDLcholesterolemia, and impaired fasting glucose on non alcoholic fatty liver disease were 2.18, 2.35, and 2.46 and were significantly associated. Odds ratio of non alcoholic fatty liver disease on metabolic syndrome was 2.32 and was significantly associated. CONCLUSION: The non alcoholic fatty liver disease was accompanied often in metabolic syndrome. This study suggested that life style modifications such as regular physical activity, weight reduction and diet were needed for management and treatment of non alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome.
Aged* ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Fasting ; Fatty Liver* ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography ; Waist Circumference ; Weight Loss

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences of food preference and nutrient intake of students between elementary school and middle school in the same area and to provide data for better school food service. The subjects were 486 students, third to sixth grade of 3 elementary schools and first to second grade of 1 middle school in Nam jeju gun, Jeju, and the survey was conducted during June 1999. Food preference was assessed using questionnaires and 24-hour food intake was assessed using dietary record method. Data of weight and height were obtained from annual physical examination conducted at schools in May 1999. All the variables were compared among 3 groups in each gender: third and fourth grade elementary school(ES3,4), fifth and sixth grade elementary school(ES5,6), and first and second grade middle school(MS1,2). The results were summarized as follows. The average height, weight and BMI for the 3th grade boys in elementary schools met the national averages, but those of the others are below the national averages. Although general pattern of food preference looked similar among groups, food preference scores were significantly different among groups in 38 kinds foods for boys, and 27 kinds of foods for girls. MS1,2 group showed significantly lower food preference scores for most of foods as compared to those of ES3,4 and ES5,6 in both genders. Students of higher grade took more starch foods such as instant noodle, stewed rice cake and snacks. Average energy intakes of all the groups except MS1,2 girls were lower than recommended dietary allowances(RDA), and average intakes of protein, vitamins B1 and C met RDA, but the other nutrients were taken less than RDA and especially the intakes of iron, calcium and vitamins B2 were poor. Most of nutrients taken by school food service meal provided a major proportion of intakes. In conclusion, students of middle school were more particular about their foods served at school food service and marked lower food preference score than elementary school children and more conscious about their weight and appearance. These points should be reflected in planning food service menu at middle school.
Calcium ; Child ; Diet Records ; Eating ; Female ; Food Preferences* ; Food Services* ; Humans ; Iron ; Meals ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Snacks ; Starch ; Vitamins

Benign symmetric lipomatosis is a rare disease of undetermined cause characterized by massive symmetric depositions of adipose tissue, predominantly on the neck, shoulder, back, and upper extremities. A 60-year-old man with chronic alcoholism was referred to our clinic for symmetric, skin-colored, non-tender masses on the posterior neck, both clavicular areas, abdomen, and back for about 10 years. He had been managed for tingling sensation on both hands in the neurologic department. Nerve conduction velocity studies were consistent with sensorimotor polyneuropathy and histopathologic findings revealed that the reticular dermis was replaced by normal uncapsulated mature fat cells. We report a rare case of benign symmetric lipomatosis associated with polyneuropathy.
Abdomen ; Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Alcoholism ; Dermis ; Hand ; Humans ; Lipomatosis* ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neural Conduction ; Polyneuropathies ; Rare Diseases ; Sensation ; Shoulder ; Upper Extremity

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is a rare inherited disorder characterized by multiple cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, pits of the palms and soles, cysts of the jaws, and ectopic calcification of cranial membranes. The patient was a 66 year old female. She complained of multiple, symmetrically distributed black-colored papules on the both sides of the neck. On physical examination, multiple pits were detected in the palms and soles. The histopathologic findings of the papules showed variable shaped and sized tumor nests composed of basaloma cells. On PNS CT for search of metastasis of the cancer, odontogenic keratocyst was detected at the Lt. alveolar process of maxilla by accident. We diagnosed her nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome and the lesions on both sides of the neck were removed completely.
Aged ; Alveolar Process ; Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome* ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Female ; Humans ; Jaw ; Maxilla ; Membranes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Odontogenic Cysts ; Physical Examination

Although commercialization of mobile phones has raised much concerns about the effects of radiofrequency radiation on the human body, few experimental studies have been conducted on the effects of radiofrequency radiation on physiological homeostasis, immune and inflammatory responses. Therefore, we presently investigated the effect of 835 MHz radiofrequency radiation on spontaneous wheel exercise, hormone and cytokines levels in the plasm of mice. Mice were divided into 4 groups as control, exercise, radiofrequency radiation, radiofrequency radiation & exercise group. The body weight, corticosterone and blood cytokine levels were checked for 10 weeks. Followed by the exposure to radiofrequency radiation for 6 hours a day, the more increase in body weight was observed in the radiofrequency radiation & exercise group than in the spontaneous exercise group. When the amount of spontaneous exercise was measured for 10 weeks, the amount of exercise was increased in the both control and spontaneous exercise group, while the amount of exercise was decreased in the radiofrequency radiation group. To determine whether the homeostasis, immune and inflammatory responses are indirectly affected by radiofrequency radiation exposure, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 (p70), TNF-α, IFNγ, and GM-CSF were measured by ELISA kit, respectively. As a result, the blood levels of IL-6, IL-12 (p70) and TNF-α in the spontaneous exercise group were higher than that of control group, and each cytokine levels in the radiofrequency radiation & exercise group were lower than that of control group. However, the corticosterone, IL-1β, IFNγ and GM-CSF didn't show statistically significant differences in all groups. It has been confirmed that exposure to high frequency electromagnetic waves for a long time can affect the amount of exercise, body weight, and some inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-12 (p70) and TNF-α.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cell Phones ; Corticosterone* ; Cytokines* ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Homeostasis ; Human Body ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice* ; Radiation Exposure

Periostitis is one of the human diseases commonly encountered in archaeological samples. It is known to be an important health indicator for paleopathologists examining skeletal remains. In our recent study on a Joseon skeletal series (n=101), non-specific, primary periostitis was observed only in five individuals (#4, #29, #137, #175, and #290). Notably, there were no secondary periostitis-suggestive signs (e.g. syphilis), except for those caused by fractures (#33 and #41). As this is the inaugural Korean-skeletal-series report on periostitis, the results presented in these pages should prove significant to interested paleopathologists.
Humans ; Paleopathology ; Periostitis ; Skeleton ; Syphilis

Spinal osteophytic changes are known to be affected by differences in age, sex, population, and mechanical stress. We examined Joseon skeletons (n=87) to obtain vertebral osteophytosis data on a pre-modern Korean population. The mean osteophytic value (MOV) of vertebrae increased in the cervical-thoracic-lumbar order. More severe osteophytosis was found in the vertebrae (C5, T9, T10, and L4) farthest from the line of gravity, while the general pattern of vertebral osteophytosis appeared similar to those of previous reports on other skeletal series. More severe osteophytes were much more common in the males, possibly due to their engaging in more strenuous physical labor than that of females. We also observed MOV patterns seemingly unique to the Joseon people, and findings not typically reported in previous studies. Although a full explanation of the factors contributing to vertebral-osteophytic development in Joseon Koreans will require further studies, the present results are meaningful to anatomists and anthropologists interested in osteophytic patterns occurring in an East Asian population.
Anatomists ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Gravitation ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Osteophyte ; Skeleton ; Spine ; Stress, Mechanical

Tomb with lime-soil mixture barrier (LSMB) was constructed by the people from upper class people of Joseon Dynasty. The coffin of LSMB was surrounded by hard concrete barriers, being successfully protected from outside invasions until the archaeological excavation begins. The human remains were extremely preserved well, providing important information on the health and illness of the people of Joseon dynasty. Recent investigation into human skeletons from LSMB in Yong-in city was another forensic anthropological case that was very meaningful to our research. During the examination on the elderly Joseon female bones, we discovered unusual saw-marks on the shaft of both tibiae. We could not find any osteological evidences suggestive of healed bone process. Considering archaeological and anthropological findings altogether, the occurrence time of saw-marks was considered to be perimortem period. However, as for why such a saw mark was made on the tibiae, we did not get any information about it. We expect that this report facilitate other researcher to do explore the usefulness of forensic anthropology examination on the similar human skeleton cases identified in various archaeological ruins.
Aged ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Skeleton* ; Tibia*