Serologic tests for syphilis, including the qualitative and quantitative VDRL test and TPHA test, were carried out on 18, 151 healthy young men, who took a medical check-up for the overseas employment at Kyunghee University Hospital from April, 1978 to February, 1979. The syphilitics who revealed TPHA reactive, were given a questionare that dealt with three items. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The reactive rate of VDRL test was 3. 1% among 18, 151 healthy young men, 2) The biologic false positive rate of VDRL test was 7. 7% among the 520 men in whom TPHA test was carried out, using TPHA as standard. 3) The reactive rate of TPHA test was 2. 7% among 18, 109 men. On 42 men the TPHA test was not carried out. 4) With regard to the VDRL quantitative test, the reactive rate of the group with a titration of 1: 4 or lower was 85,2% out of 480 syphilitics. 5) In 480 syphilitics, 45. 8% (220) had a history of venereal 72.3%(347) had no general knowledge of syphilis, and 86. 2% (414) was unaware of his syphilitic infection.
Employment* ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*

We examined cerebrospinal fluids of 338 patients with syphilis who underwent the routine physical examinations or visited out-patient skin clinic at Kyunghee University hospital from January, 1978 to December, 1979. They were diagnosed as syphilis only with serological tests such as VDRL and TPHA tests. The patients did not have any neurologic symptoms associated with syphilis or any other clinical syphilitic syrnptoms. They did not have any history of receiving antisyphilitic treatment. The VDRL test, cell count, protein value, sugar and chloride levels in cerebr-ospinal fluid were tested in these patients. The results were as follows. 1) CSF VDRL reactive rate was 2. 1% among 388 patients with syphilis. 2) CSF celI count was not less than 5/mm in 2 patients (28. 6%) among the 7 patients with syphilis, who showed the positive reactivity of CSF VDRL, and in 13 patients (3. 9%) among the 331 patients with syphilis who did not show the positive reactivity of CSF VDRL. 3) CSF protein level was more thnn 45ml/dl in 3 patients (42. 9%) among the 7 patients with syphilis who showed the positive reactivity of CSF VDRL anct ig, 65 patients (19. 6%) among the 331 patients with syphilis who did not show the positive reactivity of CSF VDRL. 4) Both CSF sugar and chloride levels were within norrnal limits in all of the 7 patients who showed the positive reactivity of CSF VDRL.
Cell Count ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Outpatients ; Physical Examination ; Serologic Tests ; Skin ; Syphilis*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the trends on the induced abortion in Korea using social big-data and confirm whether there was time series trends and seasonal characteristics in induced abortion. METHODS: From October 1, 2007 to October 24, 2016, we used Naver's data lab query, and the search word was ‘induced abortion’ in Korean. The average trend of each year was analyzed and the seasonality was analyzed using the cosinor model. RESULTS: There was no significant changes in search volume of abortion during that period. Monthly search volume was the highest in May followed by the order of June and April. On the other hand, the lowest month was December followed by the order of January, and September. The cosinor analysis showed statistically significant seasonal variations (amplitude, 4.46; confidence interval, 1.46–7.47; p<0.0036). The search volume for induced abortion gradually increased to the lowest point at the end of November and was the highest at the end of May and declined again from June. CONCLUSION: There has been no significant changes in induced abortion for the past nine years, and seasonal changes in induced abortion have been identified. Therefore, considering the seasonality of the intervention program for the prevention of induced abortion, it will be effective to concentrate on the induced abortion from March to May.
Abortion, Induced* ; Contraception ; Female ; Hand ; Korea ; Seasons

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the trends on the induced abortion in Korea using social big-data and confirm whether there was time series trends and seasonal characteristics in induced abortion. METHODS: From October 1, 2007 to October 24, 2016, we used Naver's data lab query, and the search word was ‘induced abortion’ in Korean. The average trend of each year was analyzed and the seasonality was analyzed using the cosinor model. RESULTS: There was no significant changes in search volume of abortion during that period. Monthly search volume was the highest in May followed by the order of June and April. On the other hand, the lowest month was December followed by the order of January, and September. The cosinor analysis showed statistically significant seasonal variations (amplitude, 4.46; confidence interval, 1.46–7.47; p<0.0036). The search volume for induced abortion gradually increased to the lowest point at the end of November and was the highest at the end of May and declined again from June. CONCLUSION: There has been no significant changes in induced abortion for the past nine years, and seasonal changes in induced abortion have been identified. Therefore, considering the seasonality of the intervention program for the prevention of induced abortion, it will be effective to concentrate on the induced abortion from March to May.
Abortion, Induced* ; Contraception ; Female ; Hand ; Korea ; Seasons

Polycstic kidney was rare problem of pediatric disease category. We have experienced one case of polycstic kidney(Potter type I) with pulmonary hypoplasia who born after 35 weeks of gestation to a 34 year-old mother. The clinical course of this infant was characterized by respiratory difficulty with apnea, cyanosis and marked abdominal distension. Chest X-Ray film showed no airation in the both lung fields. He died from respiratory failure due to pulmonary hypoplasia, 3 hrs after birth. We tried discussion about polycstic kidney with literature review.
Adult ; Apnea ; Cyanosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Kidney ; Lung ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax ; X-Ray Film

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic widespread pain (CWP) in Korean. METHODS: Those who participated chronic pain field study in Uljin and Pohang, Kyongsangbuk-do in 2004 were evaluated for the prevalence of FMS and CWP. Diagnosis of FMS and CWP were made using American College of Rheumatology criteria. All 1,028 were interviewed based on a detailed questionnaire and 144 CWP patients were examined for tender points. RESULTS: Among the 1,028 participants (mean age+/-SD, 63.3+/-12.7 years), 676 participants were female (mean age+/-SD, 62.1+/-13.5 years) and 352 participants were male (mean age+/-SD, 65.7+/-10.5 years). There were 23 cases of FMS (2.2%), which consisted of 21 female cases and 2 cases of male. Prevalence of FMS was significantly higher in female compared to male (3.1% vs 0.6%, p<0.01). Prevalence of FMS showed increasing trend in the ascending order of age in decade (p<0.001). CWP was detected in 144 cases (14.0%), which consisted of 130 female cases and 14 cases of male. Prevalence of CWP was also significantly higher in female compared to male (19.2% vs 4.0%, p<0.001). Prevalence of CWP also showed increasing trend in the ascending order of age in decade (p<0.001). Except for age and sex, hating vegetables is an associated factor for the development of FMS in CWP [OR 18.7 (95% CI 2.4, 145.3)] and diabetes is a risk factor for the development of FMS in normal population [OR 3.7 (95% CI 1.1, 11.9)] on multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of FMS and CWP were 2.2% and 14.0% in Korean, respectively. The prevalence of FMS and CWP were significantly higher in female and aged individuals. Aging, female sex, hating vegetables and diabetes are prognostic factors for the development of FMS.
Aging ; Chronic Pain ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibromyalgia* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hate ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence* ; Questionnaires ; Rheumatology ; Risk Factors* ; Vegetables

PURPOSE: To compare the refractive measurements obtained using a photorefractor (PlusoptiX S09, PlusoptiX GmbH, Germany) with those obtained using cycloplegic refraction in children. METHODS: We assessed the refractive status of 268 eyes in 134 children. The values acquired via photorefraction with a PlusoptiX S09 device were compared with those obtained by cycloplegic retinoscopy. Hyperopia (> or =+3.5 D), myopia (> or =-3.0 D), with the rule or against the rule astigmatism (> or =-1.5 D), and oblique astigmatism (> or =-1.0 D) were set as diagnostic criteria for refractive amblyopia risk factors (RARFs). The difference in the detection of RARFs by the two methods was the main outcome measure. RESULTS: The average spherical refractive power was -0.81 +/- 1.68 D for PlusoptiX S09 versus -0.26 +/- 2.00 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference -0.54 +/- 0.61 D; p < 0.001). The average spherical equivalent was -1.20 +/- 1.62 D for PlusoptiX S09 versus -0.64 +/- 1.94 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference -0.56 +/- 0.62 D; p < 0.001). The average cylinder power was -0.79 +/- 0.93 D for PlusoptiX S09 versus -0.76 +/- 0.94 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference -0.03 +/- 0.33 D; p = 0.135). Even though cycloplegic retinoscopy is considered the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting RARFs with the PlusoptiX S09 were 88.0% and 96.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PlusoptiX S09 is a relatively useful method for detecting RARFs, but the device tends toward myopic shift compared to cycloplegic refraction, and hyperopia is underestimated.
Amblyopia ; Astigmatism ; Child* ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Myopia ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Retinoscopy ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Trendelenburg position has been used for the low abdominal and pelvic surgery or for the management of the hypotensive patients. But, various adverse effects can also occur in steep Trendelenburg position, of which brachial plexus injury has been known as the most common nerve injury during this position under the general anesthesia especiaUy when the shoulder braces are used. We experienced a case of brachial plexus palsy in a 53 year old woman who had a laparas-copy assisted vaginal hysterectomy(LAVH) under the general anesthesia for myoma uteri for four and a half hours. During the operation she was in a 30 degree-tilting Trendelenburg and combined lithotomy position with her arms tucked at her side with drawsheet and shoulder braces were placed over the acromioclavicular joints bilaterally. In the morning of the postoperative 1st day, she complained the right shouder pain and the right arm tingling sensation and weakness. After needle electromyography and nerve conduction study, it was decided that she got an intraoperative brachial plexus injury mainly involving the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, resulting from the nerve compression caused by shoulder braces in Trendelenburg position. The symptoms were improved after the physical therapy and she was recommended to take more physical therapy after discharge.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; Anesthesia, General ; Arm ; Braces ; Brachial Plexus* ; Electromyography ; Female ; Head-Down Tilt ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Middle Aged ; Myoma ; Needles ; Neural Conduction ; Paralysis* ; Sensation ; Shoulder ; Uterus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Oriental herbal materials known as aconitine have long been used in oriental traditional medicine for their analgesic and antiinflammatory effects. Aconitine and its related alkaloids are known cardiotoxins with no therapeutic role in modern western medicine. We have studied the cardiovascular side effects of intoxication that took place in otherwise healthy individuals after ingestion of herbal decoctions containing aconite alkaloids. MATERIALS AND METHOD: During a six-year interval from 1990 to 1996, 9 cases of accidental herb-induced aconitine intoxication were managed in Kyung Hee university medical center. Hospital records were reviewed in detail. RESULTS: All patients developed symptoms of aconitine toxicity within 4 hours of herb ingestion. The frequency of the order in cardinal symptoms of acute aconitine poisoning was nausea or vomiting, irritability, chest discomfort, dizziness, etc. Nine patients developed arrhythmias, including multifocal APC with aberrancy, multifocal VPC, ventricular tachycardia, etc. Administration of isotonic saline, dopamine, atropine and lidocaine with supportive cares brought clinical recovery and disappearance of arrhythmias in most cases within several hours. However, one case of acute aconitine poisoning had been dead of cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. CONCLUSION: Aconitine and its related alkaloids can cause toxic effects and even fatal poisoning. These cases point to the need for strict surveillance of herbal substances with low safety margins.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aconitine* ; Aconitum ; Alkaloids ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atropine ; Cardiotoxins ; Dizziness ; Dopamine ; Eating ; Heart Arrest ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Nausea ; Poisoning* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Thorax ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Vomiting

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a cytosolic protein with microtubule stabilization and calcium-binding activities. TCTP is expressed in most organs including the nervous system. However, detailed distribution and functional significance of TCTP in the brain remain unexplored. In this study, we investigated the global and subcellular distributions of TCTP in the mouse brain. Immunohistochemical analyses with anti-TCTP revealed that TCTP was widely distributed in almost all regions of the brain including the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala, wherein it was localized in axon tracts and axon terminals. In the hippocampus, TCTP was prominently localized to axon terminals of the perforant path in the dentate gyrus, the mossy fibers in the cornu ammonis (CA)3 region, and the Schaffer collaterals in the CA1 field, but not in cell bodies of granule cells and pyramidal neurons, and in their dendritic processes. Widespread distribution of TCTP in axon tracts and axon terminals throughout the brain suggests that TCTP is likely involved in neurotransmitter release and/or maintaining synaptic structures in the brain, and that it might have a role in maintaining synaptic functions and synaptic configurations important for normal cognitive, stress and emotional functions.
Amygdala ; Animals ; Axons* ; Brain ; Cell Body ; Cerebral Cortex ; Cognition ; Cytosol ; Dentate Gyrus ; Hippocampus ; Hypothalamus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice* ; Microtubules ; Nervous System ; Neurons* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Perforant Pathway ; Presynaptic Terminals* ; Pyramidal Cells ; Thalamus