Human sparganosis in Korea was discussed on the bases of five human cases experienced by the present authors and 58 case records already reported by many previous authors, in aspects of epidemiology and clinical features. Sparganosis is not infrequent tissue helminthiasis now in Korea and the incidence has been evidently increased during past 10 years. It might be interpreted that improved medical delivery system and health care exposed the hidden but prevalent disease. The distribution of sparganosis in Korea is apparently subdivided into three major endemic areas; Kyunggi Do, Kyungsang Do and Hamkyung Nam Do. Although scanty in other areas of Korea, the distribution of this disease is presumably throughout the whole peninsula of Korea except Cheju Do. The majority of human cases of sparganosis in Korea has revealed raw consuming of snakes for treatment of tuberculosis, syphilis and joint pain, for tonics and for the belief of special nutrition among very limited group of Korean population. Because of this kinds of mode of infection, comprising four fifths of all cases, the majority of cases detected were male adult consisting of about 70% of total cases. And drinking of untreated water in rural area where no protective, sanitary measures for water sources were provided in the past, seems another important causes of infection especially in women and children in Korea. Thus it may be concluded that sparganosis in Korea is concluded by eating of infective stages per os voluntarily or involuntarily, but not through the direct invasion. Clinically, subcutaneous mass or lump was the most frequent problem in those patients and those masses were associated with inflammatory signs. By the anatomical location of the lesion, some peculiar manifestations could be developed as in orbital, abdominal, urethral, ureteral and vertebral cases. And the lesions could be complicated by haemorrhage or abscess formations. The larval worms hitherto collected in Korea has been identified tentatively as Sparganum mansoni because neither branched larvae nor Sparganum proliferum were ever reported.
parasitology-helminth-trematode ; Spirometra sp. ; sparganum ; case reoprt ; epidemiology

No abstract available.
Intestinal Atresia*

No abstract available.
Intestinal Atresia*

INTRODUCTION: There has been an increasing interest in the relationship between sleep and suicidality. In addition, suicidal patients habitually report their sleep problems. Although sleep-related complaints and electroencephalographic changes are generally encountered in psychiatric disorders, sleep complaints such as insomnia, hypersomnia and nightmares are more common in suicidal patients. In current study, we aimed at investigating the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and suicidality in general population. METHODS: One thousand general population (male : female=500 : 500, mean age=39.6+/-11.6 years, ranged age=20-77 years) completed Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression (CES-D), Beck Suicide Intent scale (BSI), Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), Morningness-Eveningness Scale (MES) and brief questionnaire of sleep habits. RESULTS: After controlling for age and sex, score of BSI was correlated positively with the score of CES-D, STAXI and BIS on partial correlation analysis (r(p)=0.251 ; p<0.001, r(p)=0.352 ; p<0.001, and r(p)=0.175 ; p<0.001, respectively). In addition, score of BSI was inversely correlated with the score of MES (r(p)=-0.066; p=0.037). However, score of BSI showed no significant correlation with sleep duration. However, regression analysis revealed that short (<6 hrs) or long (>10 hrs) sleep duration, the family history of psychiatric illness, the score of CES-D, and the score of STAXI predicted higher score of BSI significantly in total subjects (F=17.837, adjusted R2 =0.166 ; p=0.003, p=0.003, p<0.001, and p=0.003, respectively). This model was explained better in depressed subjects with 16 or higher score of CES-D (F=9.920, adjusted R2=0.298). CONCLUSION: Current result suggested that not only short sleep duration (<6 hrs) but also long sleep duration (>10 hrs) might be related to suicidality.
Anger ; Depression ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Dreams ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Suicide

OBJECTIVES: Working at other times than the regular day shift has been reported to be a stressor associated with health consequences and mental disorders as well as disturbance of sleep. In current study, we aimed at investigating the relationship between work schedule, sleep quality and depression among police officers. METHODS: Eleven hundreds and forty five police officers (male:1040, female:105) completed questionnaires of basic socio-demographic data, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Korean Scale of Occupational Stress (KOSS), Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression (CES-D). RESULTS: After controlling for age, sex and educational level, score of CES-D was correlated positively with the score of KOSS, PSQI and IES-R on partial correlation analysis (r=-0.077;p=0.009, r=0.262;p<0.000 and r=0.421, p<0.000, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, age, the score of KOSS and IES-R and schedule of rotating shift work predicted higher score than 16 score of CES-D significantly in total subjects (p=0.023, p=0.015, p=0.000, p=0.000 and p=0.022, respectively). CONCLUSION: Current result suggested that not only female sex, age, higher occupational stress and impact of event scale but also rotating shift work schedule might be related to depression among police officers.
Appointments and Schedules ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mental Disorders ; Police ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women*

Histopathological diagnosis of brain stem glioma should be performed for the purpose of the determination of its management and clinical course, but its surgical biopsy has been followed by high mortality and morbidity. We performed the tissue sampling for histological examination with BRW stereotaxic system under local anesthesia successfully.
Anesthesia, Local ; Biopsy* ; Brain Stem* ; Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Glioma* ; Mortality

The cysteine proteases of Paragonimus westermani metacercariae are involved in metacercarial excystment, host immune modulation, and possibly in tissue penetration. In order to clarify the origin of the enzymes, 28 and 27 kDa cysteine proteases in metacercarial excretory-secretory products were purified through the FPLC system using Mono Q column chromatography. The polyclonal antibodies to the enzymes were produced in BALB/c mice. Immunolocalization studies revealed that both cysteine proteases were distributed at the linings of excretory bladder and excretory concretions of the metacercariae. It was suggested that the excretory epithelium of P. westermani undertake the secretory function of metacercarial cysteine proteases, in addition to its role as a route for eliminating waste products.
Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Computational Biology ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/analysis/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Paragonimus/anatomy & histology/*enzymology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

A 43-year-old woman presented with numerous cutaneous neurofibromas, limited to the left anterior chest(T2-3) and the right lower back(L1-2). These had been present for 10 years. Neither cafe-au-lait spot, intertriginous freckle, nor Lisch nodule was found. The family history was negative for neurofibromatosis. Biopsy specimens showed circumscribed, nonencapsulated neurofibromas. The present case was a rare form of bilateral segmental neurofibromatosis in that while most of the reported cases involved the same dermatome bilaterally, she had bilaterally different dermatomal neurofibromas.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Female ; Humans ; Melanosis ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses*