BACKGROUND: Seroincidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among Korean blood donors has not been reported. This study was conducted to calculate the seroincidence of HBV among blood donors and to estimate the risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B by donated blood in window period of infection. METHODS: HBV seroincidence was calculated among repeat-donors who had donated from Nov. 1994 through Dec. 1996. To calculate the person-years, the database of the Korean National Red Cross was used in which results for HBsAg enzyme immunoassay were filed up. The observed incidence was adjusted by interdonation interval of incident cases, who were defined as donors showing seroconversion. The risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B by donated bloods in window period of infection was estimated. RESULTS: HBV seroincidence was estimated to be 180.85/100,000 person-years. This was adjusted as 602.83/100,000 person-years by considering interdonation intervals. The risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B was estimated to be 974 units per one million of whole blood units due to be in window period of infection. CONCLUSION: The estimated seroincidence of HBV among Korean blood donors and thereby the risk of HBV transmission by donated bloods in window period of infection was about 50 to 60 times higher than those of Japan and United States of America.(Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 1-4, 1999)
Blood Donors* ; Blood Transfusion ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Incidence ; Japan ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors ; United States

This report presents a case of a 17-year-old-girl who developed a, Kaposis varicelliforrn eruption(eczema herpeticum) during oral prednisolone therapy in order to control pemphigus foliaceus. Diagnosis was made by the history, clinical feature and histologic examination. Within 24 hours after the initiation of therapy with ribavirin(Viramid), new lesions had ceased to develop.
Diagnosis ; Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption* ; Pemphigus* ; Prednisolone

Health behavior is one component of life style and is defined as behaviors performed by a person to protect, promote, or maintain the their health. General health behavior habits include not smoking, weight management, moderate drinking, regular exercise. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between toothbrushing and general health behaviors in 1,013 adults using data from the 2008 Daejeon Health Promotion Survey. Results showed no significant difference by region in general health behavior and toothbrushing. Smoking, alcohol consumption and toothbrushing frequency were related to sex, age, monthly income, occupation, and the degree of obesity. The predictoers of toothbrushing more than a day by losistic regression were female sex (vs. male, OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.20∼2.95), age ≥65 years (vs. twenties, OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.26∼0.99), monthly income 2 miillions Korean Won (KRW) to 3 millions KRW (vs. <2 million won, OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.04∼2.42), white collar (vs. self-employment, OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.62∼4.64), and regular exercise (vs. never, OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.21∼2.11). We recommend the independent administration of oral health promotion programs focusing on aged and vulnerable social group because general health behaviors except regular exercise were not related to toothbrushing frequency.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Drinking ; Female ; Health Behavior* ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Male ; Obesity ; Occupations ; Oral Health ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Toothbrushing*

BACKGROUNDS: With the recent elucidation of genetic basis of Rh blood group, it is now available the molecular genotyping methods for Rh blood typing. These can be used when serological typing is difficult. This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of Rh genotyping method for Koreans. METHODS: Genotyping for Rh C/c and E/e was performed in peripheral blood DNA samples from 34 blood donors by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The PCR determined genotypes were compared with serologically determined phenotypes. RESULTS: The Rh C/c and E/e genotyping results of 34 blood donors were full concordance with the results of their serologic phenotyping. CONCLUSIONS: Rh genotyping method on the basis of Rh genetic model can be applied to Koreans. This genotyping method would be useful tool in prenatal Rh typing of fetus at risk of hemolytic disease and when serotyping is not available for example massive transfusion. (Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 21-26, 1999)
Blood Donors ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Blood Transfusion ; DNA ; Fetus ; Genotype ; Humans ; Models, Genetic ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Serotyping

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) observed by means of bromodeoxyuridine substitution and fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG) technique were proposed as a sensitive and quantitative assay for mutagenicity and cytotoxicity in short-term cultures of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human lymphocytes. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the relation between anticancer agents and cytotoxic effects. Chromosomal analysis was performed on metaphase cells that had divided one, two, or three or more times after treatment for SCEs, mitotic indices (MI) and cell cycle kinetics by FPG technique. The results indicate that anticancer agents led to a dose dependent increase in SCE frequency except methotrexate. But, highly inhibited mitotic indices and delayed cell cycle kinetics were observed except for cyclophosphamide. The author suggest that the difference of SCE frequency is due to the differences in the cytotoxic action of anticancer agents, but although the induction of SCEs has a correlation with cell cycle delay, in some cases the induction of SCEs is not always related to cell cycle delay because of different cytotoxic action of anticancer agents.
Antineoplastic Agents* ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Cycle* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Humans* ; Kinetics* ; Lymphocytes* ; Metaphase ; Methotrexate ; Mitotic Index ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange*

Takayasu,s arteritis is a systemic disease characterized by occlusion of aorta and its major branches because of a panaortitis with thickening of the adventitia. Coronary artery narrowing is due to extension of inflammations that occur in aorta. Angina pectoris may be the first symptom of the disease if the coronary arteries are the initial site of severe arterial narrowing. We present a case of bilateral coronary ostial stenosis where Takayasu,s arteritis was pathologically proved as an etiology. The patient was taken coronary ostial angioplasty with good result.
Adventitia ; Angina Pectoris ; Angioplasty ; Aorta ; Arteritis ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Takayasu Arteritis*

A randomized, prospective study was conducted between October, 1994 and April, 1996 to compare the efficacy and safety of warfarin (group I) with dextran (group II) for the prevention of DVT after hip arthroplasty. 109 cases in 106 patients were included in the study. There were 60 cases in group I and 49 cases in group IL Risk factor for DVT were analysed before surgery and prophylactic modalities were performed. Color doppler was performed to all patients by one muskuloskeletal radiologist on 5th 8th post operative day and on 6 weeks after operation. DVT occurred in ten ( 16.6% ) of the 60 patients in group I, six ( 12.2% ) of the 49 patients in group II. but, this difference was not significant ( p= 0.582 ). Statistical analysis for the risk factors of age, sex, operation time, anesthetic method and operation method were performed and there were no statistical difference. Only statistical significance was a higher rates of DVT in cemented hip arthroplasty (p=0.028). There were seven proximal thigh DVT and nine calf DVT. We confirmed with sequential color doppler image that all cases of DVT except two complicated cases were resolved within 8 weeks after treatment: one case was expired for the reason of PE, and the other case had thigh hematoma during the treatment with warfarin. We could detect only one case of late onset DVT.
Arthroplasty* ; Dextrans ; Hematoma ; Hip* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thigh ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Warfarin

The purpose of this study was to obtain the angulation and inclination of FACC of all teeth to FH plane. Study models of 31 persons with normal occlusion were selected and mounted on the semiadjustable articulator for this study. Using TARG. with a little modified method, the angulation and inclination of FACC of all teeth to FH plane were measured and then the measurements were analyzed statistically. The obtained results were as follows. Mean, standard deviation, maximum value, and minimum value of the angulation and inclination of FACC of upper and lower teeth were obtained. The FACC in both upper and lower arch was progressively lingually-inclined from anterior teeth to posterior teeth. In the angulations of FACC of upper teeth, central and lateral incisor showed similar value. Yet, the FACC of the rest was progressively distally-angulated -from the canine to posterior teeth. The FACC in lower arch was progressively mesially-angulated from anterior teeth to posterior teeth. The angulation and inclination of FACC of any tooth in both upper and lower teeth correlated strongly and positively with the angulation and inclination of FACC of adjacent tooth.
Dental Articulators ; Dental Occlusion ; Humans ; Incisor ; Tooth*

In this article, we introduce a new method of tooth positioner fabrication using modified T.A.R.G. to measure the inclination and angulation of individual teeth. In finishing stage of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance, we anticipate that tooth positioner fabricated using the described construction method provides the movement of individual tooth into a desired position; corrected inclination and angulation of teeth, extrusion, intrusion, rotation and so on.
Tooth*

Background: Legal regulations and fees have been established in Korea to provide visiting oral health care services to individuals with long-term care insurance (LTCI). However, beneficiaries of this service are very limited. Therefore, to improve the Korean system we propose a comparative analysis with the Japanese system. Methods: This study is a descriptive analysis based on secondary data, such as statistics, laws, and service record forms from Korea and Japan. The most recent institutional documents were obtained through a Google search. The variables investigated were financial resources of LTCI, co-payment structure, monthly limit of LTCI benefits, care levels of LTCI, service providers, service costs, contents of service, and the number of cases of service. Results: In both Korea and Japan, LTCI is financed through a combination of taxes and insurance premiums. However, the monthly limit for receiving LTCI services in Japan is about 2.4 times higher than in Korea. Visiting medical and dental treatment is also possible in Japan. Furthermore, nursing staff can provide daily oral health care services according to dental hygienists’ instruction unlike Korea. Oral health care services in Korea are focused on oral hygiene and prevention of oral diseases, while Japan additionally provides oral function screening, patient education for oral health management, and training for nursing staff to enhance oral function, eating, and swallowing of the patients. Conclusion We concluded that the possibility of visiting dental treatment, differences in monthly limit of LTCI benefits, oral function assessment and guidance, as well as collaboration with other healthcare professionals contributed to the difference in the frequency of utilization of visiting oral health care services between Korea and Japan.