In South Korea, the north border area has been under vivax malaria epidemic since 1993. However, Jeollabuk-do, which is about 300 kms from the border, has not experienced the same epidemic. I investigated a total of 58 notified cases of malaria in Jeollabuk-do in the year 2000. All of the cases had an exposure history in the epidemic area. Among them were 49 ex-soldiers, 3 soldiers who served near the border area and 6 civilians who traveled there. The causal agent of all cases was Plasmodium vivax. Except the civilians, the soldiers and ex-soldiers were aged in their twenties. In the present study, the incubation period was from 6 to 520 days with a median of 157 days, and the latent onset type (92%) was more prevalent than the early onset type. Illness onset of most cases (86%) peaked during the summer season (June to September) despite of variable incubation periods. The time lag for diagnosis ranged from 2 to 42 days with a median of 11 days. Jeollabuk-do has not been an area of epidemic until now, but incidences have been increasing annually since 1996. In Jeollabuk-do, early diagnosis and treatment can be a feasible disease control measure to prevent spreading from the epidemic area.
Human ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Malaria/diagnosis/*epidemiology/prevention & control ; Seasons ; Time Factors

Organ transplantations have become popular procedures for diseases in modern medical field with developing medical science. There have been so many hot discussions about ethical issues of organ transplantation, especially brain death, whenever medical ethics was addressed. However, we have not so far discussed ethical issues related to tissue banking, even though the history of tissue banking in medicine is longer than that of organ transplantation and the range of use of Human-based tissues is wider than that of organ transplantation. Tissue banking has medically and ethically similar aspects with organ transplantation, but tissue banking system has unique characteristics in total process. Ethical questions related to tissue banking involve informed consent, conflicts of interest, and the equitable distribution of human-based tissues and related profit issues. Families expect that their beloved ones' tissue will be used to improve the lives of people with medical needs, either through transplantation or medical research. However, concerns have been raised that some tissue might be used for purpose other than those intended by the donor. Donors may intend or believe that donated skin shall be used for the treatment of burn victims. However, in some cases it might be used for elective cosmetic surgery. It is not clear how much human-based tissues are currently used for cosmetic purposes, but there is always a potential commercial application of human-based tissues. The question is whether this is morally acceptable. We should always honor and treat with respect to the donors' wishes, and distribute the human-based tissues maximizing its usefulness and minimizing its hazards and waste the tissue.
Brain Death ; Burns ; Ethics* ; Ethics, Medical ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Organ Transplantation ; Skin ; Surgery, Plastic ; Tissue Banks* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Laser Therapy*

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the changes of salivary cortisol and electrolytes as an indicator of stress in nursing practice. Unstimulated 5cc saliva samples were collected at pre-duty and post-duty, and were measured with chemical assay and radioimmunoassay in nursing practice period and in studying period. In nursing practice, salivary cortisol concentration revealed lower, and K+/Na+ ratio revealed higher than in studying. And salivary cortisol correlated significantly with Na+, and also with K+ concentration. These results suggest that K+/Na+ ratio tends to be highered in student taking nursing practice, and raised levels of cortisol might be expected in nursing practice and also in studying, and that salivary constituents could indicate physiological stress. This study will facilitate a better understanding for the loading effect on the physiologic conditions of nurses.
Electrolytes* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Nursing* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Saliva ; Stress, Physiological ; Students, Nursing*

No abstract available.
Anti-HIV Agents*

No abstract available.
Biliary Tract*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Animals* ; Virulence*

No abstract available.
Population Characteristics*

No abstract available.
Classification*