Our study surveded 418 obese first grade elementary school children(279 male and 139 female), in seoul, and measured levels of serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride were measured in addition to the measurement of body weight and height. The following results were obtained. 1) Obesity index was catergorized into mild, moderate, and severe, and the percentage of mild was 6.8%, moderate 48%, severe 45.7% respectively in surveyed children. 2) The average level of total cholesterol was 1.66.60 27.63mg/dl, HDL cholesterol 50.22+/-0.68mg/dl, LDL cholesterol 82.23+/-1.26mg/dl. 3) Atherogenic index was calculated, and obtained value was 2.45+/-0.48. It showed higher statstical significance in boys than in girls(p<0.05). 4) There was no significant difference in average level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride in accordance of the severity of obesity. 5) Statistical significance was found in different average ievels of HDL cholesterol and atherogenic index according to obesity index (p<0.05). 6) There was a statistical significance in the average values of Kaup index and Rohrer index in accordance with obesity index (p<0.000). 7) There was no correlation between abnormal levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol and the severity of obesity. 8) Abnormal levels of triglyceride, atherogenic index, Rohrer index and Kaup index had a statistical significance since their levels. 9) There was a correlation between atherogenic index and body measurement. Total cholesterol level showed correlation with obesity index, and HDL cholesterol with Kaup index and arm circum ference.
Arm ; Body Weight ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Seoul* ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of prehospital emergency care use by 119 rescue services on the outcome of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: All patients who visited 23 hospital emergency departments and who were finally diagnosed with STEMI between January and December 2008 were enrolled. They were divided into two groups: use of 119 rescue service or non-use. The propensity score matching method was used considering factors known to be influential for the use of 119 rescue services (age, gender, educational status, chief complaints, cardiogenic shock, respiratory rate, heart rate). Hospital mortality was defined as patient death in the hospital following admission. The comparative odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) of mortality between the 119 use and non-use groups were determined. RESULTS: Of the 1,118 STEMI patient, no statistical differences were evident in gender and age. Patients who used the 119 rescue services displayed lower educational status and rare complaint of chest pain is rare (36.6% vs 63.4%). But syncope and cardiac arrest were more frequent in the 119 user group than non-user group (syncope: 84.6% vs 15.4%, respectively; cardiac arrest: 76.0% vs 24.0%, respectively). Propensity score matching system was performed and extracted 390 patients in each group. The extracted patients were not statistically different in demographic findings and influencing factors of 119 service use. Hospital mortality did not differ between the 119 user and non-user groups (OR=1.294, 95% CI:0.612-2.735). Increased hospital mortality of STEMI patients was correlated with increased age (OR=1.036, 95% CI:1.012-1.060), prehospital ECG monitoring (OR=2.601, 95% CI:1.011-6.693), and cardiogenic shock (OR=4.736, 95% CI:2.482-9.037). CONCLUSION: The use of prehospital mobile units did not influence on hospital mortality of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Ambulances ; Chest Pain ; Educational Status ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Heart ; Heart Arrest ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Odds Ratio ; Propensity Score ; Respiratory Rate ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Syncope

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of prehospital emergency care use by 119 rescue services on the outcome of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: All patients who visited 23 hospital emergency departments and who were finally diagnosed with STEMI between January and December 2008 were enrolled. They were divided into two groups: use of 119 rescue service or non-use. The propensity score matching method was used considering factors known to be influential for the use of 119 rescue services (age, gender, educational status, chief complaints, cardiogenic shock, respiratory rate, heart rate). Hospital mortality was defined as patient death in the hospital following admission. The comparative odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) of mortality between the 119 use and non-use groups were determined. RESULTS: Of the 1,118 STEMI patient, no statistical differences were evident in gender and age. Patients who used the 119 rescue services displayed lower educational status and rare complaint of chest pain is rare (36.6% vs 63.4%). But syncope and cardiac arrest were more frequent in the 119 user group than non-user group (syncope: 84.6% vs 15.4%, respectively; cardiac arrest: 76.0% vs 24.0%, respectively). Propensity score matching system was performed and extracted 390 patients in each group. The extracted patients were not statistically different in demographic findings and influencing factors of 119 service use. Hospital mortality did not differ between the 119 user and non-user groups (OR=1.294, 95% CI:0.612-2.735). Increased hospital mortality of STEMI patients was correlated with increased age (OR=1.036, 95% CI:1.012-1.060), prehospital ECG monitoring (OR=2.601, 95% CI:1.011-6.693), and cardiogenic shock (OR=4.736, 95% CI:2.482-9.037). CONCLUSION: The use of prehospital mobile units did not influence on hospital mortality of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Ambulances ; Chest Pain ; Educational Status ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Heart ; Heart Arrest ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Odds Ratio ; Propensity Score ; Respiratory Rate ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Syncope

OBJECTIVE: The retrospective study is undertaken to report clinical results of anterior cervical interbody fusion with an intradiscal cage with an integrated plate (PCB cervical plating system). METHODS: 38 patients underwent anterior cervical interbody fusion with PCB cervical plating system and followed 6~24 months. The authors investigated overall surgical results; clinical outcome, fusion rate, change of interspace height & lordotic angle, and complications. RESULTS: No complication was observed during the operation. Clinical improvement was identified in 34 cases (89.5%). Bone fusion observed in 44 out of 49 sites (90.7%). After operation, the interspace height increased from 5.4+/-1.3 mm to 7.8+/-1.5 mm and maintained 7.4+/-1.1 mm and, interspace angle went up from 4.2+/-0.7 degrees to 4.8+/-1.1 degrees and maintained 4.6+/-0.9 degrees. The loosening of screw was observed in 6 cases, one of which had reoperation because of the expulsion of the device accompanied. CONCLUSION: PCB cervical plating system could restore interbody height and lordosis in anterior cervical interbody fusion. But, if the insertion of the spacer is not precise, the frequencies of hardware failure are relatively high. It is considered necessary for the operator to be careful in the procedure.
Animals ; Humans ; Lordosis ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Helicopter ambulance transport (HAT) is a highly resource-intensive facility that is a well-established part of the trauma transport system in many developed countries. Here, we review the benefit of HAT for neurosurgical patients in Korea. METHODS: This retrospective study followed neurotrauma patients who were transferred by HAT to a single emergency trauma center over a period of 2 years. The clinical benefits of HAT were measured according to the necessity of emergency surgical intervention and the differences in the time taken to transport patients by ground ambulance transport (GAT) and HAT. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were transferred to a single university hospital using HAT, of whom 32 were taken to the neurosurgery department. Of these 32 patients, 10 (31.3%) needed neurosurgical intervention, 14 (43.8%) needed non-neurosurgical intervention, 3 (9.4%) required both, and 11 (34.4%) did not require any intervention. The transfer time was faster using HAT than the estimated time needed for GAT, although for a relatively close distance (<50 km) without ground obstacles (mountain or sea) HAT did not improve transfer time. The cost comparison showed that HAT was more expensive than GAT (3,292,000 vs. 84,000 KRW, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this Korean-based study, we found that HAT has a clinical benefit for neurotrauma cases involving a transfer from a distant site or an isolated area. A more precise triage for using HAT should be considered to prevent overuse of this expensive transport method.
Air Ambulances* ; Ambulances ; Developed Countries ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Korea ; Neurosurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Trauma Centers ; Triage

Inflammatory (xanthomatous) pseudotumors of the breast are very rare and this case is the first reported case in Korea. A healthy, pregnant 29-year-old woman presented with a right breast mass. Ultrasonography of the breast revealed a 1.8 x 1.9 x 1.1 cm, sized lobulated, partially spiculated mass in the upper and outer quadrant of the breast. Macroscopically, the mass was well circumscribed, bright yellow, and lobulated. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of foamy histiocytes with multifocal neutrophilic infiltration, accompanying chronic inflammatory cellul infiltration, fibrosis and ductal-lobular atrophy.
Adult ; Atrophy ; Breast* ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Korea ; Neutrophils ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus is a common cause of aseptic meningitis, respiratory disease and nonspecific febrile illness. The conventional methods for laboratory diagnosis of enterovirus infections have been virus culture and serotyping by an immunofluorecent test. We studied a new and more rapid approach for enterovirus detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by real-time nested PCR. METHODS: This study was performed on 50 CSF specimens from patients suspected of aseptic meningitis. Enterovirus was detected in CSF by PCRs for 3 different targets and real-time nested PCR. Enterovirus culture was also performed in 44 CSF specimens. RESULTS: The positive rate of PCRs for each of the 3 different targets was 26.0%, 40.0%, or 46.0%, and that of real-time nested PCR was 86.0%. Only 6.8% were positive in culture. Thus, the positive rate of real-time nested PCR was much higher than other methods. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the real-time nested PCR should be useful for diagnosis of enterovirus infections because of a high sensitivity and rapid detection.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Diagnosis ; Enterovirus Infections ; Enterovirus* ; Humans ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription* ; Serotyping

PURPOSE: It is important to differentiate non-diabetic renal diseases (NDRD) from diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetes. Our study was reviewing the clinical data and treatment strategies from diabetic patients performed renal biopsy to determine the clinical indicators suggestive of NDRD METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of type 2 patients who underwent renal biopsy from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2007. RESULTS: Seventy four patients were included. Mean age was 52.0+/-12.5 years and 41 (55%) patients were male suddenly developed. Nephrotic syndrome [34 cases (46%)] was the leading reason for renal biopsy. There were 37 cases (50%) with a pathologic diagnosis of DN, 31 (42%) with NDRD, and 6 (8%) with concurrent DN and NDRD. IgA nephropathy (35%) was the most common lesion found in patients with NDRD. Thirty one patients (84%) with DN and 26 (84%) with NDRD had follow-up periods of more than 6 months. Of 26 patients with NDRD, 12 were treated with immune suppressants and 6 achieved complete remission. Thirteen patients with DN and one with NDRD developed end-stage renal disease. Patients with NDRD tended to show shorter duration of diabetes, lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) and lower serum triglyceride, and had significantly lower incidence of diabetic retinopathy (DR). In the univariate regression analysis, diabetes duration, SBP, triglyceride and DR showed statistically significance. And SBP and DR were identified as independent correlating factors by multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: In this study, the absence of retinopathy could predict the presence NDRD among NIDDM patients presenting with renal disease. And additional disease-specific therapies may be helpful for the patients with NDRD.
Biopsy ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nephrotic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Several lymphocytic populations, such as natural killer(NK) cells and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, are involved in immunosurveillance against tumors. Whereas the biological significance of the regional lymph node as a tumor barrier remains unclear, the clinical prognostic relevance of the neoplastic infiltration of these nodes is accepted. It appears that lymph node metastasis are more frequent in lung cancer than in other cancers because of impaired defensive mechanisms in the regional lymph nodes. However little is known about the immunologic function of regional lymph node lymphocytes in patients with lung cancer. Although there is general agreement that the NK and LAK activities of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) decreases in patients with various solid and leukemic tumors, this decrease remains unclear with regard to the NK and LAK activities of their regional lymph node mononuclear cells(LNMC). We performed this study to determine the NK and LAK acti vities of regional lymph node, and to compare with those of peripheral blood in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: We measured the NK and LAK activities of PBMC and LNMC that were extirpated at lung cancer operations in 17 patients with lung cancer by 4 hour 51Cr-release assay using K562, Raji cell and allogenous lung cancer cell line(NCIH1092) as a target cell. E:T ratio were 12.5:1, 25:1, and 50:1. RESULTS: 1. Recombinant interleukin-2 induced strong cytotoxic activities against various target cells in PBMC and LNMC. 2. In patients with lung cancer, NK and LAK activities against K562 and allogenous lung cancer cell line(NCIH 1092) were lower than those of PBMC. 3. Against Raji cell, NK activities were not signifi cantly different between PBMC and LNMC, but LAK activities were significantly lower than those of PBMC. 4. NK activities against K562, Raji, and NCIH1092 cell were not significantly different between in patients with early stage and advanced stage lung cancer. 5. LAK activities of PBMC and LNMC against K562, Raji, and NCIH1092 cell were significantly lower in pa tients with advanced stage than those in patients with early stage lung cancer. CONCLUSION: NK and LAK activities of LNMC in patients with lung cancer were lower than those of PBMC, but the cytotoxicity was markedly increased after culture with rIL-2.
Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphocytes ; Monitoring, Immunologic ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis. This study was conducted to clarify the molecular characteristics of BLVs obtained from a specific region in Korea. Proviral BLVs were detected in anti-BLV antibody-positive blood samples by PCR. Env and gag fragments were sequenced and compared to previously published reference sequences. Analysis of the env gene sequence revealed that the YI strain was highly similar to genotype 1, including United States and Japanese strains. The gag gene sequence had the highest degree of similarity with a Japanese strain.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cattle* ; Enzootic Bovine Leukosis ; Genes, env ; Genes, gag* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukemia Virus, Bovine* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; United States