All the diagnostic muscle biopsy cases were collected from the file of Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital during June 1976 to December 1978. Slides were reviewed and correlated with clinical informations. Two hundred seventy four cases showed pathological changes, which were classified into six large groups (Table 1). Neurogenic atrophy was most common, 97 cases (35%), including 71 cases of motor neuron disease and 22 cases of peripheral neuropathy. Muscular dystrophy was seen in 92 cases (34%), and Duchenne type was the commonest among them (51 cases). Fifty seven cases showed inflammatory myopathy, making 20% of all cases. There were four cases of congenital myopathy and 13 cases showed various muscle diseases.
Adult ; Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Neurons/*pathology ; Muscular Diseases/congenital/*epidemiology/immunology ; Muscular Dystrophies/*epidemiology ; Neuromuscular Diseases/*epidemiology

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Agent Orange exposure and self-reported diseases in Korean Vietnam veterans. METHODS: A postal survey of 114 562 Vietnam veterans was conducted. The perceived exposure to Agent Orange was assessed by a 6-item questionnaire. Two proximity-based Agent Orange exposure indices were constructed using division/brigade-level and battalion/company-level unit information. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for age and other confounders were calculated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of all self-reported diseases showed monotonically increasing trends as the levels of perceived self-reported exposure increased. The ORs for colon cancer (OR, 1.13), leukemia (OR, 1.56), hypertension (OR, 1.03), peripheral vasculopathy (OR, 1.07), enterocolitis (OR, 1.07), peripheral neuropathy (OR, 1.07), multiple nerve palsy (OR, 1.14), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.24), skin diseases (OR, 1.05), psychotic diseases (OR, 1.07) and lipidemia (OR, 1.05) were significantly elevated for the high exposure group in the division/brigade-level proximity-based exposure analysis, compared to the low exposure group. The ORs for cerebral infarction (OR, 1.08), chronic bronchitis (OR, 1.05), multiple nerve palsy (OR, 1.07), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.16), skin diseases (OR, 1.05), and lipidemia (OR, 1.05) were significantly elevated for the high exposure group in the battalion/company-level analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Korean Vietnam veterans with high exposure to Agent Orange experienced a higher prevalence of several self-reported chronic diseases compared to those with low exposure by proximity-based exposure assessment. The strong positive associations between perceived self-reported exposure and all self-reported diseases should be evaluated with discretion because the likelihood of reporting diseases was directly related to the perceived intensity of Agent Orange exposure.
2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/*poisoning ; 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/*poisoning ; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology/etiology ; Defoliants, Chemical/*poisoning ; Endocrine System Diseases/epidemiology/etiology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology/etiology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/epidemiology/etiology ; Neuromuscular Diseases/epidemiology/etiology ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Respiratory Tract Diseases/epidemiology/etiology ; *Self Report ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin/*poisoning ; *Veterans ; Vietnam Conflict

PURPOSE: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the one of the leading causes of hospitalization of infants in the worldwide. In particular, children younger than 6 weeks of age prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, neuromuscular disease, or immunosuppressive states are likely to have severe RSV infection. This study aims to review the epidemiologic characteristics of RSV infection and to examine the relationship of risk factors for severe disease courses and length of hospital stay. METHODS: A total of 294 patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections by RSV who were hospitalized in Samsung Medical Center from December 1995 to June 2004 were enrolled in this study. The medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RSV was detected with rapid RSV antigen test or viral culture of nasopharyngeal aspirates. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1.7: 1. Children under 2 years old made up 86 percent; bronchiolitis and pneumonia patients made up 90 percent. Outbreaks of RSV occurred in September through February. One or more risk factor for severe RSV infection were present in 40 percent. The group with risk factors had longer length of hospital stay (P< 0.05), were more likely to be admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and required oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation (P< 0.05) compared to the groups without risk factors. CONCLUSION: Infants and children with high risk factors are likely to develop severe RSV infection. Early detection and proper management is necessary in Korea, especially in fall and winter.
Bronchiolitis ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; Oxygen ; Pneumonia ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses* ; Respiratory System* ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors*