KCNJ11 gene mutation was searched in 3 families with neonatal diabetes. A KCNJ11 175 G>A (V59M) mutation was found in one child, while no KCNJ11 gene mutation was found in his parents. No mutation was found in the other two families. The result indicated that KCNJ11 gene mutation might lead to the onset of neonatal diabetes mellitus in Chinese.

This study has attempted to show general characteristics of health centre directors who have served the post of directorship during the last 40 years. Of 3,000 such health centre directors, information on about 2,500 directors was collected. While average length of service for health center directors has increased, that of vacancy period has decreased. Rural areas have a shorter average length of service than the urban area. Rural areas have twice longer length of vacancy period per health center. Kangwon-do has the longest average length of vacancy period since 1980(2.79 months/year), and Daejeon has the shortest length of vacancy period(0.21 months/year). Chung-buk has no physician directors. The civil servant's rank for the directorship has promoted from the fifth level to the fourth level since 1990. A comparison between the physician director and non-physician director was made as follows : First, the proportion of physician directors had maintained rather high before 1980s ; 62.5% in 1963, 78.3% in 1970, 70.4% in 1980. It decreased to 44.1% in 1990 and 47.6% in 1997. Instead, non-physician directors has abruptly increased since 1980s(12.4% in 1980, 55.4% in 1990 and 50.8% in 1997). Second, physician directors mainly locate in the urban area(58.0% in 1997), but non-physician directors mainly in the rural area(67.2% in 1997). Third, since 1980, the average length of service for physician directors and for non-physician directors has become similar. Fourth, the mean age of physician directors is 45.1 years, and that of non-physician directors 55.7 years. The latter is 10 years older than the former.
Child ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Korea*

Most extended care facilities have admitted both the healthy and unhealthy elderly, among which members' average caring demand vary. The Aged Welfare Law, however, currently provides no reasonable basis on the staffing policy for extended care facilities. It just reflects the admitted number of the elderly rather than differences in members' average caring demand among facilities. This study is designed to estimate the need for caring staff on the basis of the correlation between the individual health status measured by various tools including Activities of Daily Living and caring demand by actual service time for each one. The sample included all of the admitted elderly(187 persons) in 4 extended care facilities, two in Seoul and the other two in KangWon-Do over the survey period October 5 through October 20, 1996. The survey process consisted of 3 stages. (1) The current staffing information was collected through self-completed written questionnaires left for head official in each facility. (2) Six graduate students at School of Public Health interviewed all residents to collect information on their health status and sociodemographics. The response rate for the interview was relatively high(85%). (3) Information on direct and indirect caring time consumed for each residents came from self-completed written questionnaires given to nurses and helpers in each target facilities. Analysis of the data was made using Pearson's correlation and multiple regression technique through SAS program. Based on this procedure, the following was found. 1. No facility meet the staffing standard in the Aged Welfare Law completely. 2. It is actual service time that is most correlated with ADL(Activities of daily living). 3. When all of the elderly are divided by four groups based on the level of ADL, the mean values of needed caring time in each group are 15, 21, 36 and 88 minutes respectively. 4. There is no significant difference among facilities in distribution of elderly person by group. 5. No facility meets the estimated number of nurses and helpers which reflects health status of the admitted elderly. Therefore, it is required that severity of the admitted elderly be considered in establishing staffing standard for extended care facility.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Aged ; Gangwon-do ; Head ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Public Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Skilled Nursing Facilities*

Purpose: To evaluate the proportion of bevacizumab and the reason for its usage in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records was performed for 1,541 patients who received ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab injection to treat wet AMD. The proportion of bevacizumab among the entire set of injections was identified. The reason for selecting bevacizumab was additionally identified. Results: During the study period, a total of 2,929 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections were performed; 2,236 (76.3%) were ranibizumab or aflibercept injections and 693 (23.7%) were bevacizumab injections. The most common reason for bevacizumab usage was ‘having a 0.1 or worse best-corrected visual acuity or being unable to assure reimbursement due to the development of extensive scarring or geographic atrophy’ (297 bevacizumab injections, 42.9%). The second most common reason was ‘the inability to assure reimbursement such as extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or early CNV without definite fluid in the foveal region’ (201 bevacizumab injections, 29.0%). Conclusions Bevacizumab was used in 23.7% of the anti-VEGF injections to treat wet AMD. When analyzing patients’ treatment burden and financial impact, the results of the present study may provide useful information. Further multi-center studies are required to evaluate more precisely the usage of anti-VEGF drugs.

Purpose: To evaluate the proportion of bevacizumab and the reason for its usage in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records was performed for 1,541 patients who received ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab injection to treat wet AMD. The proportion of bevacizumab among the entire set of injections was identified. The reason for selecting bevacizumab was additionally identified. Results: During the study period, a total of 2,929 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections were performed; 2,236 (76.3%) were ranibizumab or aflibercept injections and 693 (23.7%) were bevacizumab injections. The most common reason for bevacizumab usage was ‘having a 0.1 or worse best-corrected visual acuity or being unable to assure reimbursement due to the development of extensive scarring or geographic atrophy’ (297 bevacizumab injections, 42.9%). The second most common reason was ‘the inability to assure reimbursement such as extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or early CNV without definite fluid in the foveal region’ (201 bevacizumab injections, 29.0%). Conclusions Bevacizumab was used in 23.7% of the anti-VEGF injections to treat wet AMD. When analyzing patients’ treatment burden and financial impact, the results of the present study may provide useful information. Further multi-center studies are required to evaluate more precisely the usage of anti-VEGF drugs.

Purpose: To evaluate 24-month outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: Retrospective review of medical records was performed for 34 patients (34 eyes) who were diagnosed with PCV. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured before the injection and at 6, 12, and 24 months after the first injection. The value measured before treatment was compared with those measured after treatment. Results: The patients received mean 6.5 ± 2.1 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections during the 24-month follow-up period. The logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA before the injection and at 6, 12, and 24 months after the first injections were 0.57 ± 0.32, 0.43 ± 0.29, 0.46 ± 0.33, and 0.62 ± 0.39, respectively. The BCVA was significantly improved at 6 and 12 months (p = 0.001 and p = 0.037, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between BCVA before the injection and 24 months (p = 1.000) after the first injection. At the 24-month follow-up, stable (< 2 logMAR lines of change) or improved (≥ 2 logMAR lines of improvement) BCVA was noted in 13 (38.2%) and 10 eyes (29.4%), respectively. Conclusions Anti-VEGF therapy was beneficial in maintaining long-term visual acuity in PCV. However, significant improvement in visual acuity was not noted.

OBJECTIVES: The most frequently cited health related slogan in North Korea is that socialistic medicine is preventive medicine. It implies that North Korea puts preventive medicine at the operational center of its national health care system. This study aimed at examining and comparing preventive medicine practices in North Korea with those of South Korea. METHODS: Efforts have been made to obtain a textbook for analysis its contents. Many people have iassisted in the study by joining the interview. Some of these people are as follows: a former professor of PyongYang Medical School, NK physicians living in South Korea, WHO staffs, diplomatic officials, etc. The major items of analysis consisted of industrial medicine and hygiene, nutrition, school health, epidemiology, health statistics and heath policy & management. RESULTS: Public health philosophy is finely rooted and well integrated in the operation of the North Korean national health care system, particularly in the area of industrial medicine and hygiene. Preventive medicine with a strong health surveillance system spanning a number of broad social organizations is a major tool to improve the health of the people in North Korea. The emphasis on preventive medicine has a close relationship with the 'Juche Philosophy' and the shortage of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. To cope with the shortage problem, North Korean health workers are encouraged to grow medicinal herbs. We have found that they put little effort into teaching newly emerging diseases, such as AIDS, VDT syndrome, hazards of EMF, and agricultural chemical poisonings. Of the subjects of the preventive medicine text, 78.9% coincide with those of South Korean industrial health manuals and 34.2% with South Korean epidemiology texts. However, an absolute difference was found to exist between the heath policies and management systems. CONCLUSION: In North Korea, the concept of preventive medicine functions as the basic philosophic strategy of the national health care system. It differs greatly from the South Korean system in both practice and educational content. Its contribution to society is simply incomparable to that of South Korea. More communication and further study is called for in order to improve the preventive medicine practices in the future.
Delivery of Health Care ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea* ; Epidemiology ; Hygiene ; Korea ; Occupational Health ; Occupational Medicine ; Philosophy ; Plants, Medicinal ; Poisoning ; Preventive Medicine* ; Public Health ; School Health Services ; Schools, Medical

BACKGROUND: Plate fixation is the most commonly used technique for the treatment of shaft fractures of both forearm bones (SFBFBs). However, all fractures are difficult to treat with plate fixation because of soft tissue injuries, fracture patterns, or the patient's condition. The purpose of this study is to compare the functional results of plate fixation only and combined plate and intramedullary (IM) nail fixation in SFBFBs. METHODS: Fifty-nine cases of SFBFBs that were surgically treated from June 2007 to July 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. In this study, 47 cases that were followed up for more than 12 months were included. All SFBFBs were divided into two groups according to the methods used for internal fixation: plate fixation only (group A) and combined plate and IM nail fixation (group B). The fixation methods were determined intraoperatively. Plate fixation was considered as the first option in all cases, but combined plate and IM nail fixation was selected as the second option if it was difficult to be fixed with plate only. Groups A and B comprised of 31 and 16 cases, respectively. The functional results were evaluated by the Grace and Eversmann rating system and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. RESULTS: In groups A and B, a radiologic union was achieved in 30/31 and 14/16 cases and average union time was 11.1 and 17.8 weeks, respectively. According to the Grace and Eversmann rating system, group A had excellent results in 15 cases, good in 14, acceptable in one, and unacceptable in one. Group B had excellent results in three cases, good in nine, acceptable in two, and unacceptable in two. The average DASH score was 7.1 points (range, 0 to 19.2 points) in group A and 15.1 points (range, 0 to 29.6 points) in group B. Three cases of nonunion with unacceptable results achieved a bony union by additional procedures and the functional results of these cases improved to good or excellent. CONCLUSIONS: The functional results and the average union time were superior in group A than in group B. However, we think that combined fixation is a useful method for SFBFBs that cannot be treated with plate fixation only.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails/*statistics & numerical data ; Bone Plates/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Forearm/surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/adverse effects/*methods/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures/epidemiology/*surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular/*physiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ulna Fractures/epidemiology/*surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: The authors demonstrate neuroprotective effects of antioxidant in reperfusion injury using ischemic rat model and evaluate the clinical eligibility of this agent to ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. METHODS: Rat model was made according to Longa method. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were used and were equally divided into three groups;A) treated subcutaneously with D,L-6,8-Thioctic acid 30 minutes before occlusion, B) within one hour after occlusion, and C) with vehicle only. Neurologic examination was performed immediately and 24 hours after reperfusion. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, brains were extracted and stained with 2% 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolim chloride in 2mm-thickness section. Then, fixed sections were digitalized and used for infarct area calculation. RESULTS: There was no significant statistical difference in recorded hemodynamic and physiologic parameters between three groups. The neurologic status taken immediately following reperfusion were A) 2.67+/-0.492, B) 2.75+/-0.452, and C) 2.83+/-0.389, and were improved to A) 1.67+/-0.898, B) 1.92+/-0.900, and C) 2.08+/-0.793 just before sacrificing. However, there was no statistically significant difference between three groups. Mean volume of cerebral infarction was A) 9.5+/-1.67%, B) 10.4+/-1.58%, and C) 11.3+/-1.12% with no significant difference. Any specific correlation between the neurologic status and the mean infarction volume was not observed. CONCLUSION: Any single agent does not seem to reduce the infarction volume holistically, therefore, the incoming therapeutic target should be the development of versatile neuroprotective agents or the selection of preexisting synergistic compounds without compromising patients' safety.
Animals ; Brain ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Hemodynamics ; Infarction ; Models, Animal* ; Neurologic Examination ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury

PURPOSE: Although obesity has been associated with imbalances in cardiac autonomic nervous system, it is unclear whether there are differential relationships between adiposity measures and heart rate variability (HRV) measures. We aimed to examine differences in the relationship between adiposity measures and HRV indices in a healthy Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 1409 non-smokers (811 males, 598 females) without known histories of cardiovascular (CV), endocrine, or neurological diseases underwent adiposity measurements [(body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat mass (PBF), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)], the HRV assessment (SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, LF/HF, and pNN50), and examination for CV risk factors (fasting glucose, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, hs-CRP, and blood pressure). RESULTS: Compared with BMI and PBF, WHR was more strongly correlated with each HRV index and more likely to predict decreased HRV (<15 percentile vs. > or =15 percentile of each HRV index) in ROC curves analysis. In linear regression analysis, all adiposity measures were inversely associated with each HRV measure before adjusting for age, gender, and CV risk factors (p<0.05). After adjusting for the covariates, WHR was inversely related to RMSSD, LF, and pNN50; PBF with RMSSD, HF, and pNN50; BMI with RMSSD (p<0.05). The inversed association between HRV indices and the gender-specific WHR tertile was significant for subjects with BMI > or =25 kg/m2, but not for those with BMI <25 kg/m2. CONCLUSION: WHR and PBF appear to be better indicators for low HRV than BMI, and the association between abdominal adiposity and HRV may be stronger in overweight subjects.
*Adiposity ; Adult ; Female ; Heart/physiopathology ; Heart Diseases/complications/diagnosis/ethnology ; Heart Rate/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Obesity/*complications/*diagnosis/ethnology ; Overweight/complications/diagnosis/ethnology ; ROC Curve ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors