PURPOSE: The study tried to suggest the ways to improve the national disability welfare information projects with evaluating the present condition of the projects. METHOD: Firstly, the study analyzed the disability information system and disability websites. Secondly, the study found out the problems of the registration of disability and management system through the situation analysis. Finally, the study conducted a survey of the disabled and the information system workers and performance evaluation of the information system. RESULTS: The study offered a proposal of The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS) for the disability registration and management. When the disabled visit the hospital or the public health center, their information is registered automatically in The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS), which helps not to miss out the disability registration. Through this system, they are given the proper service which they need, and the information can be shared with the facilities providing the service for the disabled. CONCLUSION: The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS) contributes significantly in avoiding the repetition of the support for the disabled and improving the quality of service.
Disabled Persons ; Humans ; Information Systems* ; Public Health ; Registries

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Unlike screw-retention type, fixture-abutment retention in Locking taper connection depends on frictional force so it has possibility of abutment to sink. PURPOSE: In this study, Bicon(R) Implant System, one of the conical internal connection implant system, was used with applying loading force to the abutments connected to the fixture. Then the amount of sinking was measured. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 10 Bicon(R) implant fixtures were used. First, the abutment was connected to the fixture with finger force. Then it was tapped with a mallet for 3 times and loads of 20 kg corresponding to masticatory force using loading application instrument were applied successively. The abutment state, slightly connected to the fixture without pressure was considered as a reference length, and every new abutment length was measured after each load's step was added. The amount of abutment sinking (mm) was gained by subtracting the length of abutment-fixture under each loading condition from reference length. RESULTS: It was evident, that the amount of abutment sinking in Bicon(R) Implant System increased as loads were added. When loads of 20 kg were applied more than 5 - 7 times, sinking stopped at 0.45 +/- 0.09 mm. CONCLUSION: Even though locking taper connection type implant shows good adaption to occlusal force, it has potential for abutment sinking as loads are given. When locking taper connection type implant is used, satisfactory loads are recommended for precise abutment location.
Bite Force ; Fingers ; Friction ; Retention (Psychology)

OBJECTIVE: In Korea, control activities against the endemic malaria due to Plasmodium vivax had been done in 1960s. It is now widely accepted in Republic of Korea that indigenous malaria stopped its endemicity in the mid-1970s. But a vivax malaria case without history of being abroad was recognized in 1993. In addition to this case, 20 cases of indigenous malaria were detected in 1994. And they were progressively increased to about 80 cases in 19%. We report these recently developed cases. METHODS: In a 7-month period between June and December 1995, high fever patient were examined. Patients having a narcotic drug injection or those who had blood transfusion were excluded. Laboratory studies including blood cell count, peripheral blood smear and abdominal sonogaphy were taken. RESULTS: Over 3-month period from July through September 19%, 26 cases of new indigenous malaria were diagnosed. In a blood smear, plasmodium vivax was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The twentysix new indigenous malaria cases occured. Because all the detected patients had no history of visiting endemic countries, they were not imported cases. Vivax malaria in the present patients can be contracted by infected mosquitos which came across the militarized zone (DMZ). Officially speaking, DMZ is a 4 km wide between the north and south borders, Hut the width is much narrower in many parts. However, we do not have any information on the malaria situation in the north Korea. In order to evaluate a significance of the recent indigenous malario occurrence, a surveillance system should be operated in these areas.
Blood Cell Count ; Blood Transfusion ; Culicidae ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Fever ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria* ; Malaria, Vivax ; Plasmodium vivax ; Republic of Korea

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify 3 to 5 years of future management issues in hospital information systems (HIS). METHODS: Two rounds of interview surveys were conducted based on the sample survey of 50 managers from 28 hospital information centers utilizing the Delphi method. RESULTS: From the survey, management issues in HIS were identified in the following order: 'top management support', 'close relationship with users', 'PACS', 'disaster recovery', improving IS strategic planning'. Compared with the 1999 survey, the issues that rank within the top 10 management issues were as follows: 'top management support', 'security and control', 'close relationship with users'. Recently surfaced issues are 'disaster recovery' and 'standardization'. The issues that dropped out of the top 10 ranks were 'network management', 'recruiting and developing IS human resource'which were very fundamental issues in the initial state of the introduction of the hospital information system. CONCLUSION: The two main significance of this study involves predicting future management issues based on the comparison of the current issues with the 1999 issues and recommendingmanagement strategies based on the classification of issues by importance and persistence.
Classification ; Hospital Information Systems* ; Humans ; Information Centers

Three case of plexiform schwannoma displayed multinodular masses and microscopically a multicentric pattern of growth featuring Antoni A cellular component, Verocay bodies and presence of Antoni B areas. Clinically von Recklinghausen's disease was not observed in all cases. The first patient was a 17 year old male who had a protruding nodule of walnut size which was located at the dermis of the left flank for 13 years. The second case, a 25 year old male, had an irregular whitish brown multinodular mass in the choana for 5 years. The last case, a 56 year old woman, had an ovoid yellowish brown mass with multiple nodules in the retroperitoneum.
Female ; Male ; Humans

The Duffy antigen was discovered in 1950, in a multiply transfused hemophiliac. Important progress has since been made in understanding the Duffy blood group system and its complexity. The Duffy blood group antigen (gp-Fy) is present primarily in erythrocytes, and also in endothelial cells of capillary and postcapillary venules, Purkinje cells of cerebellum, kidney, and pulmonary alveoli. The gp-Fy serves not only as a blood group antigen, but also as a receptor for chemokines, and as a receptor for Plasmodium vivax malaria parasites. The Duffy antigen is encoded by the DARC gene, its approved name is Duffy blood group chemokine receptor. Investigation of the DARC gene can help us in understanding the relationship of infectious disease to race or population. In addition, the allelic frequency of DARC varies according to the geographic area, which appears to reflect the history that mankind had adapted to environments and diseases, emigrating. As a result, further study of Duffy antigens can provide us with an integral and sound understanding of the human race.
Blood Group Antigens ; Capillaries ; Cerebellum ; Chemokines ; Communicable Diseases ; Continental Population Groups ; Duffy Blood-Group System ; Endothelial Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Kidney ; Malaria, Vivax ; Parasites ; Plasmodium vivax ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; Purkinje Cells ; Venules

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Hypothalamic hamartomas are non-neoplastic malformations which are composed of hyperplastic neuronal tissue of varying size. Clinically, they are characterized by gelastic seizure, precocious puberty, and behavioral and psychiatric disorders. This study was performed to examine the various features of hypothalamic hamartomas such as neurologic manifestations, other clinical manifestations, and EEG and brain MRI findings. Response to AEDs or outcome of operation on hypothalamic hamartoma was evaluated. METHODS: Eleven patients who were admitted to Seoul National University Children's Hospital from July 1986 to January 1997 and diagnosed as hypothalamic hamartoma by brain MRI or CT were enrolled in this study. Clinical manifestations and EEG were reviewed retrospectively through the medical records. The size and type of the hypothalamic hamartoma on brain MRl were analyzed. RESULTS: 1) The range of age at visit was 1yr 9mo to 17yr 2mo (mean 10yr 8mo), and the age at onset was 1yr 1mo to 14yr to 2mo (mean 5yr 8mo). Six patients were male and five were female. 2) The clinical manifestations included gelastic seizure (n=9), behavioral and psychiatric disorders (n=9), other types of seizure (n=8), and precocious puberty (n=6). Other types of seizure were complex partial seizure (n=3), generalized tonic seizure(n=3), and infantile spasm (n=2). 3) The interictal EEG findings included focal spike discharges (n=8), diffuse delta slowings (n=1), hypsarrhythmia (n=1), and normal record (n=1). The focal spike discharges originated from the temporal (n=2), fronto-temporal (n=1), occipital (n=3), or frontal area(n=2). 4) The brain MRI showed that the size of the hypothalamic hamartomas was 2.47+/-1.12cm, and the origin of the tumors was tuber cinereum (n=6) or tuber cinereum and mamillary body (n=5). All lesions were isointense on T1-weighted image relative to normal gray matter, with a sessile attachment to the hypothalamus, and were not enhanced by Gadolinium. 5) Operations were done in 5 cases, those were subtotal removal of the tumor (n=4), and gamma knife radiosurgery (n=1). Seizures were not completely controlled in all but one case on which gamma knife radiosurgery was done. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothalamic hamartomas presented variable clinical pictures including gelastic seizure, precocious puberty, and behavioral and psychiatric disorders. The gelastic and other types of seizure associated with hypothalamic hamartomas were refractory to medication and might be controlled by total removal of the tumor.
Brain ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Gadolinium ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Mamillary Bodies ; Medical Records ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurons ; Puberty, Precocious ; Radiosurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Spasms, Infantile ; Tuber Cinereum

The automation in autopsy data recording, particularly in the reporting and encoding system using computers requires well designed databases. This system employed multimedia computer techniques to design a database system with application programs along with the standardized autopsy data management flow. The benefit of the present development was verified by practical application into the autopsies performed in the department of forensic medicine, Kyungpook National University. The standardized medical information of forensic autopsy data provides mutual exchange of information between the institutions and information to law enforcement agencies. Statistics on autopsy data could be used not only for medical education and research, but also as a template for policy determination concerning forensic medicine in Korea. It is necessary to standardize information between the institutions.
Automation ; Autopsy* ; Education, Medical ; Forensic Medicine ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Korea ; Law Enforcement ; Multimedia

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection. However, highly reliable and sensitive methods of detecting and identifying causative fungi of onychomycosis are not established yet. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of clinical specimens including blood, sputum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid collected from patient systemically infected fungus is known as a sensitive diagnostic method. But it has been questionable whether PCR analysis is also applicable to onychomycosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a DNA-based diagnostic method to improve the sensitivity and specificity of detection and identification of pathogenic fungi of onychomycosis. METHODS: To detect the fungi in the nail, PCR was performed by using 4 sets of primer (TR1 & TR2, NS5 & NS6, B2F & B4R and CA1 & CA2) designed in conserved sequences of the small ribosomal subunit (185-rRNA) genes and restriction enzyme analysis of amplified product by Hae III was done to identify species. Nail specimens were obtained from 19 cases of onychomycosis confirm by fungus culture. RESULTS: 1. Preparation of nail powder, which is necessary for removal of keratin, and composition of lysis buffer with guanidinium thiocyanate, Tris-HCl, and beta -mercaptoethanol are the most proper modalities for isolation of fungal DNA from fungus-infesting nails. 2. Specific fragments of the 18S-rRNA gene of fungi, 581 bp, 308 bp, 688 bp and 1106 bp were amplified respectively. From sequences of 18S-rRNA gene of fungi by universal primers, dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes) and yeast (Candida albicans) yielded identical products. 3. Using Hae III endonuclease, digested patterns of fragment of Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans resulted in different pattern. CONCLUSION: This method released enough DNA from fungus-infected nails to result in proper amplification and it can be possible to differentiate dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds using Hae III endonuclease. The present study is the first one to demonstrate the feasibility of this molecular biologic approach to identify fungi in the infected nail. Therefore, precise detection and identification of the causative fungi would be of help in investigating distribution of the causative fungi of onychomycosis as well as appropriate treatment of the disease.
Arthrodermataceae ; Candida albicans ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Conserved Sequence ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; DNA, Fungal ; Fungi* ; Guanidine ; Humans ; Onychomycosis* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Restriction Mapping* ; Ribosome Subunits, Small ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sputum ; Trichophyton ; Yeasts