The 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in the Republic of Korea, which started with an imported case and spread throughout the country with a total of 186 cases, revealed the vulnerabilities of the health-care system of the country. The situation was compounded by the unique health-care settings in the Republic of Korea, including crowded emergency departments and large numbers of hospital visitors seeking care at multiple hospitals. To assist with the outbreak response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea hosted several international joint missions that provided valuable information and recommendations for MERS control and prevention of future outbreaks. This report briefly summarizes the missions’ outcomes and discusses their positive impacts.

Primary germ cell tumor of the testis is rare, which occupies 1 to 2% of all reported malignant male neoplasms. Combined primary germ cell tumor of the testis composed of embryonal carcinoma and seminoma is more rare tumor. The authors experienced a case of 50-year old male who presented with painless enlargement of right testicle. He has had radical orchiectomy and diagnosed by pathologically as combined germ cell tumor of testis. The testicle is measuring 180 gm in weight and 9×6×5 cm in dimension, and almostly replaced by tumor mass. Grossly the tumor is rubbery solid smooth tumor mass, with variegated cut surface with geographically outlined diffuse necrotic area. Histologically the tumor is composed of two components of tumor, which are solid growth pattern of large round to polyhedral cells with clear or granular cytoplasm and distinct cell border, and anastomosing glandular and papillary arrangement of anaplastic epithelial cells. The former corresponds to seminoma, and the latter to embryonal carcinoma. Each tumor lobule is separated by abundant fibrous stroma.
Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Germ Cells* ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Orchiectomy ; Seminoma ; Testis*

BACKGROUND: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces sunburn, immune suppression, and various pigmentary disorders. Sunscreens are widely used to protect those untoward effects by UV but there are reports of phototoxicity or stability problems of sunscreens after exposure to UV. OBJECTIVE: We tried to compare sunscreens with different photostability in terms of their protection against various biologic responses like sunburn, immune suppression or pigmentation. METHODS: Three different sunscreens with SPF around 30 were used; Sunscreen-A (Sc-A) was photochemically inert, sunscreen-B (Sc-B) showed intermediate level of photostability, and sunscreen-C (Sc-C) was the least stable. To observe their in vivo effects, we measured sunscreen-protection against sunburn by back-skin swelling and sunburn cell formation, against immune suppression measured by depletion of Langerhans cells, local and systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CHS), and against pigmentation by irradiation with mixed light source with UVA and UVB lamps that mimic solar UV spectrum. RESULTS: Back skin swellings by 5 kJ/m2 of UVB were protected well by sunscreens, but protection of Sc-C against 50 kJ/m2 of UVB was worse than Sc-A or Sc-B. Sunburn cells were increased significantly in mice irradiated with 5 kJ/m2 of UVB and it was protected by sunscreens, and the effect of photostability was minimal. Depletion of epidermal Langerhans cells by 5 kJ/m2 of UVB was protected completely by sunscreens. Local suppression of CHS by 5 kJ/m2 of UVB was protected by sunscreens, and Sc-A had better protection. But, in the experiment with 50 kJ/m2 of UVB, the protective efficacy was reversed; Sc-A showed worse protection. Systemic suppression of CHS by 10 kJ/m2 of UVB was protected well by sunscreens, and Sc-A had better protection and Sc-C had worse protection. In the experiment irradiated with 100 kJ/m2 of UVB, the protection of sunscreens was decreased, and Sc-B showed better protection, whereas Sc-C showed worse protection. In UV-induced pigmentation, all three sunscreens showed significant protection both by L* value and individual topographic angle (ITA) with the best protection by Sc-A and the worst protection by Sc-B. CONCLUSION: These data showed sunscreens can protect various in vivo responses and photostability of sunscreens played important roles particularly in the back-skin swelling and systemic suppression of CHS by high dose of UVB.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Phototoxic ; Langerhans Cells ; Mice ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Sunburn ; Sunscreening Agents*

BACKGROUND: There has been a lot of changes in prehospital medical environment with development of EMSS(emergency medical service systems). Especially in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the patients could survive when they are moved to the hospitals earlier. The purpose of this research is to know the status of EMSS in Korea by analyzing CPR(cardiopulmonary resuscitation) outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients at 3 hospital in the western area of Seoul and Incheon. METHODS: From July 1997 to June 1998, we collected data about out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims at Ewha Womens University Mokdong Hospital, Catholic University Medical College St. Mary Hospital, and Kachon University Chung Ang Gil Hospital. We used same record form based on the 'Utstein Style'. RESULTS: CPR were performed in 265 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients at 3 hospitals. One hundred twelve(42.3%) patients recovered the spontaneous circulation at least once and eight(3.0%) patients discharged alive. One hundred ninety four(73.2%) patients died of medical causes, one hundred two(38.5%) cardiogenic and ninety two(34.7%) non-cardiogenic, and seventy(26.4%) patients died of traumatic causes. Initial EKG showed VT/VF(ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation) in thirty one(11.7%) patients, asystole in one hundred fifty one(57.0%) patients and other rhythms in eighty three(31.3%) patients. Among one hundred two cardiogenic cardiac arrest patients, two(2.0%) patients was discharged alive. CONCLUSION: Overall survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac angst patients was 3% which was poorer than that of the western country. The proportion of the cardiogenic cause was 3% which was only hart of the western country. VT/VF is relatively not common as a initial EKG rhythm. These differences might be due to difference in the prevalence pattern of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as well as prematurity of the EMSS.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest* ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Survival Rate

A clinical observation was made on 10 donors for renal transplantation which were done at dept. of urology university hospital from April 1978. to August 1978. The following results were observed: 1. Donors were 3 male and 7 female, aged ranging from 1970 to years old. The most common age group was fifties 2. The related donors were 9 and unrelated was 1. 3. Seven donors had sam ABO blood type with the recipient and 3 had different. The HL-A match grade showed that 2 were B grade and 1 was C grade and 7 were D grade. The failed 3 patient had same ABO blood type with donor and all in D grade. 4. Seven were nephrectomized left and 3 were right. The postoperative course were all uneventful and discharged from POD 9 to 13. 5. The thoracoretroperitoneal approach used for donor nephrectomy: gave good operative field and easy operative technique.
Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Male ; Nephrectomy* ; Tissue Donors* ; Urology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the association between Sasang constitution and type A/B personality. METHOD: The subjects for this study were 113 Korean adults living in Kangwon Province, the northeastern part of Korea. The data were collected from March 10 to April 13, 2002 using a structured questionnaire. The instrument for this study were QCSS II (Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Clsssification II) by Kim et al.(1996), and the Revised Type A/B personality by Eysenck & Fulker(1983). The data were analyzed through the SPSS 10.0 for Windows program using frequency, percentage, x2-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The results of the study are as follows: 1. Of 113 Korean adults, the portion who were Taieum-in, Soeum-in, Soyang-in was 39.8%, 34.5%, 25.7% respectively. 2. For type A/B personality, mixed type was most common, 19.4% of the participants were of type B and 8.0%., type A. 3. For type A/B behavior, mixed type was most common at 47.8% and type A was 2.7%. 4. There were statistically significant differences in the Sasang constitutional type according to BMI (F=14.542, P<.001), and alcohol consumption (F=4.256, P<.018). 5. There were significant difference between type A/B personality and BMI (F=3.592, P<.032). 6. The data shows correlations between BMI and amount smoked per day (r=2.74, P<.004), between BMI and alcohol consumption (r=-.303, P<.008), between BMI and Sasang constitutional type (r= -0.592, P<0.0001), between BMI and type A/B personality (r=285, P<.011), between amount smoked per day and alcohol consumption (r=.-361, P<.001), between alcohol consumption and Sasang constitutional type (r=-.306, P<.019), between perceived health state and type A/A personality (r=.246, P<.011). CONCLUSION: According to the above findings, it can be concluded that further research is need to understand the Sasang constitution for the discipline of Nursing and for nurses to prepare nursing protocols relevant to Sasang constitutional care. Also, Sasang constitution has to be considered in research and practice in the health care delivery system.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Constitution and Bylaws* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Gangwon-do* ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing ; Nursing Assessment ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke

Statistical observation was made on 809 in-patient in the Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University from May 3, 1972 to December 31, 1976.
Humans ; Inpatients ; Urology

No abstract available.
Placenta Previa* ; Placenta*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Flow-mediated brachial artery vasoactivity has been proposed as a noninvasive means for assessing endothelial function. The present study is designed to assess the influence of aging on endothelial function and when vasoactivity developed initially, peaked. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We measured brachial artery diameter for 60 seconds continuously using 7.5 MHz ultrasound following 5 minutes of lower arm occlusion in 22 normal volun-teers (young group: 10 volunteers, 26.5+/-1.9 years; old group: 12 volunteers, 55.9+/-3.3 years). After sublingual administration of 0.6 mg nitroglycerine, 240 seconds continuously. And then we measure vasoactivity every 3 seconds. RESULTS: Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was started earlier in young group (24.3+/-2.8 sec; old group 28.8+/-3.6 sec, p=0.017). After release of occlusion, peak vasoacitivity time was at 35.5+/-4.7 seconds and peak vasoactivity was 8.4+/-1.7% in young group (old group 6.9+/-1.5%, p=0.099). Endothelial independent vasodilation (EID) was started at 80.7+/-13.3 seconds after sublingual nitroglycerine in young group (vs 80.0+/-19.0 sec), peaked at 177.5+/-16.9 seconds (vs 171.3+/-13.8 sec). Peak vasoactivity was higher in young group (19.1+/-3.1%; old group 15.9+/-2.5%, p=0.033). CONCLUSION: We conclude that 1) Aging has influence on endothelial function about initiating time of vasoactivity as well as peak vaso- activity. 2) FMD can be measured around 50 seconds after release of brachial artery occlusion and EID at 180 seconds after application of sublingual nitroglycerine. 3) The initiating time of vasoactivity (under 30 seconds) can be used for evaluation of endothelial function.
Administration, Sublingual ; Aging* ; Arm ; Brachial Artery ; Nitroglycerin ; Ultrasonography* ; Vasodilation ; Volunteers

IgA nephropathy can occur rarely as a complication of D-penicillamine treatment, but it is exact pathogenesis remains unclear. If a patients has gross or microscopic hematuria during D-penicillamine treatment, D-penicillamine induced IgA nephropathy should be suspected as a cause of hematuria. In those cases, renal biopsy should be taken for diagnosis and proper management. We experienced a case of IgA nephropathy confirmed by renal biopsy in a 39-years-old female patient with scleroderma during D-penicillamine therapy and report this case with a review of literature.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Penicillamine*