No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Nephroma, Mesoblastic* ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

The aims of this study were to investigate the present status of skeletal maturation and to compare body composition parameters on the basis of the levels of skeletal maturity in boys aged 9 ~12 years. The subjects participated consisted of 258 elementary school boys. Anthropometric characteristics included body weight, height, sitting height, bone widths, circumferences, and skinfold thicknesses. Skeletal maturation was assessed by the Tanner -Whitehouse II method. Skeletal age was determined by RUS scores (radius, ulna, and short bones). Body composition variables were evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA Model 310). Means and standard deviations were calculated by descriptive statistics. To compare body composition variables among skeletal maturity groups one -way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied and Duncan's a posteriori tests. The results showed that RUS scores varied from 298.2 for 9 years to 482.6 for 12 years. TW2 -20 scores were 569.2 for 9 years, 628.8 for 10 years, 701.8 for 11 years, and 814.5 for 12 years. Skeletal ages were 9.7 for 9 years, 10.5 for 10 years, 11.7 for 11 years, and 13.6 for 12 years. It indicates that chronological age was lower than skeletal age in all age groups. Although no significant difference was found in 12 years for body composition according to the levels of skeletal maturity, in general advanced boys had higher body composition variables than retarded boys. In 9 years there were significant differences (p 0.05) among skeletal maturity groups for body mass index, WHR, and WTR. Also, differences were found in 10 years for percent body fat, fat -free mass, and body mass index. In 11 years advanced children (40.4 kg) have statistically significant (p 0.05) higher fat -free mass than retarded children (32.2 kg).
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Skinfold Thickness ; Ulna

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify the characteristic findings of miliary pulmonary tuberculosis on HRCT and to evaluate the usefulness of HRCT by compareson with chest radiographs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: High resolution CT, chest radiographs and medical records were retrospectively reviewed in 10 patients with miliary pulmonary tuberculosis. We analysed the size, distribution and margin of nodules, reticular or ground-glass density, parenchymal lesion, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion on HRCT which were compared with chest radiographic findings. RESULTS: On HRCT, characteristic 1--2mm sized sharp or ill-defined nodular densities were randomly distributed throughout both lungs in all cases. In seven cases, the nodules were evenly scattered, but slightly more in upper lung zone in two cases, and in lower in one case. Only three cases revealed somewhat large and abundant nodules in posterior lung zone. There were findings of ill-defined margin of nodules in three cases, reticular densities in three cases and ground-glass opacity in two cases, all of which were observed within 4 weeks after onset of symptom. In one case, HRCT scan revealed a micronodular pattern in the lung parenchyma, even though chest radiographs of 2 days before were not obviously abnormal. HRCT was better to evaluate the margin of nodule and distribution than chest radiographs in four cases. Focal parenchymal lesion (n=5), pleural effusion(n=4), mediastinal lymphadenopathy(n=6) and ARDS(n=I) were also associated. CONCLUSION: HRCT could suggest a more specific diagnosis of miliary pulmonary tuberculosis with the above characteristic findings in appropriate clinical setting and normal or interstitial pattern of chest radiographs.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Medical Records ; Pleural Effusion ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

The gene encoding the 66 kilodalton (kDa) protein of Borrelia hermsii HS1 was cloned and sequenced. Chromosomal DNA was prepared from purified B. hermsii and used in construction of genomic library. The library was screened for positive clones by 314 bp DIG-labeled probe synthesized on the basis of the part of the sequence of B. hermsii. Positive clone was subcloned into p2ErO vector and was designated as pBH11. pBH11 were subcloned into pBluscript vector and were designated as pBH11-1 (500 bp), pBH11-2 (800 bp), pBH11-3 (600 bp) and pBH11-4 (800 bp). The plasmids were sequenced and determined the nucleotide sequence of p66. The open reading frame of the p66 consisted of 1803 base pairs coding for 600 amino acid protein. The basic information on the p66 gene of B. hermsii HS1 obtained from this study will be useful for further analysis and experiment of pathogenesis of the borrelia.
Base Pairing ; Base Sequence ; Borrelia* ; Clinical Coding ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; DNA ; Genomic Library ; Open Reading Frames ; Plasmids

Radilogy plays an important role in evaluating patients with suspected adrenal gland pathology. Morphologicdelineation of adrenal gland is especially valuable in patients with clinical and/or biochemical evidence of adisturbance in adrenal function. Many diagnostic radiologic methods are avilable for demonstrating adrenallesions. CT overcomes many of the disadvantages of these other radiologic techniques. The high degree of spatialand density resolution allows precise demonstration of the normal adrenal glands as well as detection of bothsmall and large tumors in almost all patients. So CT of adrenal gland is an excellet nonivasive screening methodand definitive imaging technique. The authers have investigated the capability of CT to image the nomral size,location and shape of both glands. Knowledge of the range of normal is useful for optimal interpretation of CTscans in patients with suspected aderenal pathology. We reviewed CT scan of 150 cases without evidence of adrenaldisease. The following results were obtained: 1. There were 90 male and 60 female patients. 2. Their ages rangedfrom 20 to 60 years. 3. On CT, both gland were shown in 135 (90.0%), the right in 143(95.3%), the left in142(94.6%). 4. In the shape of adrenal glands, most of right adrenal gland was linear or comet shaped; 68(47.6%),most of left adrenal gland was inverted-Y shaped: 103(72.6%). 5. In the length of adrenal glands, theright was2.5+-0.77cm, the left was 2.9+-0.75cm. 6. In the width of adrenal glands, the right was 3.2+-0.74cm, the left was2.7+-0.57cm. 7. In the thickness of adrenal glands, the right was 0.5+-0.14cm, the left was 0.6+-0.16cm.
Adrenal Glands ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Pathology ; Pheniramine ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to analyse sleep habits and sleep disorders in the elderly population ased 65-84 years. METHODS: Epidemiological survey was performed at home by means of semistructured interviews in the city of Pusan, Korea. Subjects were randomly selected. The questionnaire consisted of 128 items including demographic findings, sleep habits, sleep disorders, somatic illnesses, and psychological distresses. RESULTS: (1) The mean retiring time was 10.28 h (SD1.30 h) and the mean wake-up time was 5.24 h (SD 1.33 h). The mean duration of sleep was 5.63 h (SD 1.80 h ). The subjects reported they woke up an average of 2.05 (SD 1.59) times per night. All of the above results were not related to age or gender. However, the mean frequency of difficulty in initiating/maintaining sleep was 2.2 times for men and 3.2 times for women (p<0.05). (2) The prevalence of insomnia was 57.7% and was not related to age or gender. Difficulty in initiating sleep was the most commonly reported insomnia complaint(52.4%). Early morning awakening was reported by 50.0% of patients and difficulty in maintaining sleep was reported by 45.1% of them. Worrying in bed and physical pain were strong contributing factor to insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study showed several characteristics of sleep habits in the elderly. Sleep disorder in old age is not inevitable or trivial. Since sleep disturbance in older adults is common and distressing, it has implications for general health and well-being. Active concern and therapeutic intervention for the sleep habits and sleep disorders in the elderly are needed.
Adult ; Aged* ; Busan* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sleep Wake Disorders* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

PURPOSE: To assess the value of contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography(US) in the detection of ves-sels related to hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1997 and April 2000, 76 HCCs in 70 patients (50 men and 20 women; mean age, 57.8 years) were confirmed histologically or clinically. Tumor site and size at gray scale US, and afferent, intratumoral and efferent color signals at precontrast and postcontrast color Doppler US were deter-mined. Afferent signals were classified as basket or penetrating type, and intratumoral signals as spotty, linear or mixed. Efferent signals were categorized as signal to portal vein or signal to hepatic vein, and postcontrast color signal changes as focal, general or marginal spotty type. We also measured the color percentage of intra-tumoral signals as seen during precontrast and postcontrast study. RESULTS: The detection rate changed from 41(53.9%) to 60(78.9%) in cases with afferent signals, from 50(65.8%) to 64(84.2%) in those with intratumoral signals, and from 6(7.9%) to 9(11.8%) in those with efferent signals. Overall, 74(97.4%) cases showed positive findings at postcontrast color Doppler US. The most common enhancing pattern was general, occurring in 33(43.4%) cases. The color percentage of intratumoral signals increased from an average of 8.2% to 34.9%. The detection rate of intratumoral signals from tumors less than 3 cm in diameter increased from 56.8% to 100%, and that of deeply-located tumor-related signals (17 cas-es) increased from 47.1% to 94.1%. CONCLUSION: The use of contrast enhanced color Doppler US increased the detection rate of afferent, intratumoral, and efferent signals, especially that of intratumoral signals from tumors less than 3 cm in diameter and signals from deeply located tumors. In addition, the modality can aid the diagnosis of HCC by evaluating tumor dynamics.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Male ; Portal Vein ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color*

OBJECTIVES: It is necessary to develop a questionnaire to classify the circadian rhythm for studying circadian rhythms and predicting shift work adaptability. This study attempted to confirm the general applicability of "Korean translation of Composite Scale(KtCS)" by Jin-Sang Yoon et al(1997), a Korean version of Composite Scale(CS) by Smith et al(1989). METHODS: KtCS and Life Habit Questionnaire(LHQ) were administered to 155 nurses(85 rotating shift nurses, 70 nurses on a fixed day schedule) and 247 female university students. We tested the distribution of KtCS scores and then subjects were categorized on the basis of their KtCS scores into evening(E), intermediate(I), and morning(M) types. Cut-off points for these categories were set at the 10th and 90th percentiles. We obtained the results of the internal consistency and the structure of factors of KtCS. We also compared the differences of life habits according to the circadian rhythm types. RESULTS: In both groups, nurses and female university students, the distributions of KtCS scores were negatively skewed but not significantly and the KtCS mean score was not significantly different. In nurses, Cronbach's alpha was 0.836, and three extracted factors were 'preferred times of performance and going to bed', 'rising time' and 'morning alertness'. In female university students, Cronbach's alpha was 0.787, and the same three factors as nurses were confirmed. However, only item 11 was loaded to factor 1 for the nurse group, whereas it was loaded to factor 2 for the student group. Life habits significantly differed among the three circadian rhythm types. The time of perceived peak alertness(mental and physical) was the latest in the E-type. The quality of academic performance during the morning was the highest in the M-type, and during the evening it was the highest in the E-type, but during the afternoon there was no significant differences among the three types. The bedtime and the rising time were latest in E-type, but the sleep lengths were not significantly different among the three types in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of KtCS in nurses were very similar to those of female university students and the previous findings of Jin-Sang Yoon et al(1997). This result supports that KtCS can be generally applied.
Circadian Rhythm ; Female ; Humans ; Psychometrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: Quality of life in patients with psychotic disorders and their caregivers has a important role on the treatment and relapse prevention of the patients. This study was intended to investigate the effects of patient's sociodemographic, clinical and psychological(self-esteem, social support and external control) characteristics, and caregivers' sociodemographic and psychological characteristics on quality of life in patients and caregivers. METHODS: The subjects were composed of 48 out-patients (schizophrenic disorder, mood disorders and other psychotic disorders) and 48 caregivers. Patients' clinical characteristics, patients' and their caregivers' sociodemographic, psychological characteristics(self-esteem, social support and external control) and quality of life were investigated. First of all, patients' self-esteem, social support, external control and quality of life were compared with caregivers'. After the correlations among each characteristics in patients and caregivers were calculated, the multiple regression analyses were conducted, where the predictable variables were those that had already shown significant correlations with quality of life. RESULTS: Patients' self-esteem and quality of life were significantly lower than their caregivers'. In patients, high socioeconomic status and self-esteem were correlated with high perception on the social support and quality of life. Also, the satisfaction to the medication was positively correlated with perception on the social support, quality of life and more external control. In addition, high compliance on medication and high perception on the social support were correlated with high quality of life. In caregivers, patients' onset age was positively correlated with caregivers' quality of life. Also, more caregivers' stress was correlated with their lower self-esteem, and higher caregivers' self-esteem was correlated with higher perception on the social support and quality of life. Furthermore, higher caregivers' perception on the social support was correlated with higher quality of life. The characteristics that predicted patients' quality of life significantly were self-esteem and perception on the social support, and the characteristics that predicted caregivers' quality of life significantly were caregivers' perception on the social support and patients' onset age. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that for improving the quality of life of patients and their caregivers, it was important not only to alleviate and treat the patient's symptom, but also to increase self-esteem and provide social support.
Age of Onset ; Caregivers* ; Compliance ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Outpatients ; Psychotic Disorders* ; Quality of Life* ; Recurrence ; Social Class

Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is a progressive inflammatory respiratory disease of unknown cause mainly occurring in East Asian people. Studies on causes of the disease point to a genetic predisposition unique to Asians, but the cause remains unknown. If untreated, DPB progresses to bronchiectasis, respiratory failure, and death. The age of patients at onset of the disease varies from young to elderly people with a peak at 40-60 years. A few cases of DPB have been reported in Korean adults since 1992; however, the case of DPB in children is uncommon. Herein, we describe a 16-year-old girl with DPB who presented with chronic cough and sputum.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bronchiectasis ; Child ; Cough ; Female* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Macrolides ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sputum