Analysis and prediction of the care charges related to colorectal cancer in Korea are important for the allocation of medical resources and the establishment of medical policies because the incidence and the hospital charges for colorectal cancer are rapidly increasing. But the previous studies based on statistical analysis to predictthe hospital charges for patients did not show satisfactory results. Recently, data mining emerges as a new technique to extract knowledge from the huge and diverse medical data. Thus, we built models using data mining techniques to predict hospital charge for the patients. A total of 1,022 admission records with 154 variables of 492 patients were used to build prediction models who had been treated from 1999 to 2002 in the Kyung Hee University Hospital. We built an artificial neural network (ANN) model and a classification and regression tree (CART) model, and compared their prediction accuracy. Linear correlation coefficients were high in both models and the mean absolute errors were similar. But ANN models showed a better linear correlation than CART model (0.813 vs. 0.713 for the hospital charge paid by insurance and 0.746 vs. 0.720 for the hospital charge paid by patients). We suggest that ANN model has a better performance to predict charges of colorectal cancer patients.
Algorithms ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*economics/epidemiology ; Comparative Study ; *Decision Trees ; *Hospital Charges ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; *Models, Econometric ; *Neural Networks (Computer) ; Predictive Value of Tests

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of IL-10 on development of collagen-induced arthritis, on humoral and cellular immunity and on the endogenous production of IL-10 in DBA/1J mice. METHODS: DBA/1J mice were immunized with chicken type II collagen in Freund s complete adjuvant. Murine recombinant IL-10 was given intraperitoneally twice a week from the day of second immunization (week 3) in doses of 0.002ug, 0. 02ug and 0. 2ug for 3 different groups, respectively. Dexamethasone was injected in one group to suppress the arthritis development and this group was used as negative control group. Levels of anti-collagen antibodies, serum IL-10 and stimulation indices of splenic monocytes to collagen were measured at the end of study. RESULTS: The 0. 02ug IL-10 and 0. 2ug IL-10 treated groups developed earlier and more severe arthritis (week 6 and 8) compared to that of the control group while the 0. 002ug IL-10 group has shown similar course to the control group in terms of incidence and severity of arthritis, At week 10, all groups with or without IL-10 injections developed arthritis with similar degree of severity while dexamethasone group showed far less incidence and severity of arthritis. The serum levels of anti-collagen antibody, IL-10 and spleen monocyte stimulation indices to collagen antigen showed no difference among control group, IL-10 injected groups and dexamethasone injected group. CONCLUSION: This study shows IL-10 could worsen the arthritis in CIA with the dosage used in this study without significant influence on the level of anti-collagen antibodies or stimulation indices of spenic monocyte to collagen.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Experimental* ; Chickens ; Collagen ; Collagen Type II ; Dexamethasone ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunization ; Incidence ; Interleukin-10* ; Mice ; Monocytes ; Spleen

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare pustular eruption that may be seen in late pregnancy. It is associated with severe maternal and fetal complications in case of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. The patient was a 25-years-old multigravida with psoriasis in her past history. At 20weeks gestation, she had been developed erythematous scaly annular patchs with papules and pustules on inner thigh. At 37weeks' gestation, the patient was suffered from a severely pruritic pustular rash with fever and leukocytosis. The skin of the affected areas was biopsied and showed intraepidermal pustular abscess with a neutrophilic infiltrate. Treatment commenced with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, systemic prednisone, steroid creams, and phototherapy(UVB) under the careful fetal well being monitoring. Cesarean section was done due to fetal distress, and a normal healthy male infant was delivered, following which the patient's condition improved rapidly.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnostic Errors ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Fever ; Humans ; Impetigo* ; Infant ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Prednisone ; Pregnancy* ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Thigh

BACKGROUND: During general anesthesia the adult patient's tidal volume is determined by patient's weight. Therefore patients with severe ascites, huge abdominal mass or pregnancy have considerable ventilatory change during the operation because the great change in their body weight, that might cause unwanted respiratory alkalosis or acidosis. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of such changes in ventilation between pre-delivery and post-delivery periods during the cesarean section. METHODS: Eighteen 36weeks or older pregnant patients (ASA 1), scheduled for elective cesarean section under general anesthesia, are selected for the study. PhysioFlex was used for ventilation. Pre-induction maternal gas analysis were performed in all cases. They were randomly divided into two groups according to the ventilator setting for minute ventilation, one set by pre-pregnant weight (Group 1) and the other by pregnant (term) weight (Group 2). Blood gas analysis were performed 5 minutes after induction and 20 minutes after delivery. End-tidal CO2 and inspiratory airway pressure were also measured. RESULTS: All patients show mild hyperventilation with normal acid-base status at pre-induction period. There were no significant differences in arterial PCO2 value between two groups. Group 1 shows mild metabolic acidosis compared with group 2 (by pH at 20 minutes after delivery). CONCLUSION: Term(just prior to operation) body weight rather than pre-pregnant weight is preferable for ventilator setting in the case of cesarean section under general anesthesia.
Acidosis ; Adult ; Alkalosis, Respiratory ; Anesthesia, General* ; Ascites ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Body Weight ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyperventilation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Respiration, Artificial* ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

No abstract available.
Antiemetics* ; Cisplatin* ; Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Lorazepam* ; Metoclopramide* ; Ondansetron*

Several studies have reported that heavy metals have a relation with osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. In this study, we investigated the association between heavy metal exposure status, as assessed by serum major heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) and bone mineral density (BMD) status among Korean adults. A total of 64 adults participated in this study and were assigned to one of three study groups based on the T-score of spine BMD: a normal group (n = 21, T-score > -1), osteopenia group (n = 29, -2.5 < T-score < or = -1) and osteoporosis group (n = 14, T-score < or = -2.5). We also assessed serum levels of heavy metals (Pb, Cd and Hg) by using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and daily nutrient and food intakes for 3 days by using 24-hr recall method in the subjects. The mean age was significantly higher in the osteoporosis group compared with the osteopenia and normal groups (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in serum levels of Pb, Cd and Hg among the three groups after adjusting for age. Daily intakes of energy, nutrients were not significantly different among the three groups. The osteoporosis group consumed significantly higher fish and shellfish than the other groups (p < 0.05). In the correlation analysis controlling for age, sex, BMI, and BMD status, the serum Cd level was significantly negatively correlated with intake of cereals, milks and total food. In summary, we did not find a direct association between serum heavy metal levels and BMD status. However, negative relationships were found between serum heavy metal levels and intake of some foods.
Absorption ; Adult ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Cadmium ; Edible Grain ; Eating* ; Humans ; Metals, Heavy* ; Milk ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Shellfish ; Spine

The Korean Association of Urogenital Tract Infection and Inflammation and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency regularly update, revise, and develop new content for the Korean sexually transmitted infection (STI) guidelines. These professional bodies respond to changing epidemiological trends and evolving scientific evidence, and consider advances in laboratory diagnostics and research. The principal recommendations of the 2023 Korean STI guidelines in terms of viral infection follow: 1) If genital herpes recurs more than 4–6 times annually, suppressive therapy with acyclovir 400 mg orally 2 times/day or famciclovir 250 mg orally 2 times/day or valacyclovir 500 mg orally once a day (for patients with <10 episodes/year) or valacyclovir 1 g orally once daily (for patients with ≥10 episodes/year) is recommended to prevent recurrence; 2) molecular human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is not recommended as a routine test for STI status, nor for determination of HPV vaccination status; and 3) patients should inform their current sexual partners about anogenital warts because the types of HPV that cause such warts can be passed to partners. These guidelines will be updated every 5 years and will be revised when new knowledge on STIs becomes available and there is a reasonable need to improve the guidelines. Physicians and other healthcare providers can use the guidelines to assist in the prevention and treatment of STIs.

BACKGROUND: The rate of suicide of adolescents is recently significantly increasing in South Korea. Suicide is the first leading cause of death of adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in South Korea and the mortality rate due to suicide of adolescents is 8.9 per 100,000. The aims of this study is to investigate factors that affect suicidal ideation through inventory and scale. METHODS: A questionnaire was conducted to 820 high school students in a city, and 776 subjects who finished questionare were included in this study. Suicidal ideation, school bullying, excessive sexual thought and family conflict were checked by adolescent mental health and problem behavior screening questionnaire-II (AMPQ-II). Internet addiction degrees and depression was evaluated by internet addiction scale (IAS) and Beck's depression inventory (BDI), respectively. RESULTS: AMPQ-II, IAS, BDI, school bullying, suicidal ideation, and family conflict were closely related to each other. Binary logistic analysis showed that victims of school bullying (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% confidence Interval [CI], 1.439-3.816), AMPQ-II high risk (OR 4.9; CI 2.546-9.433) and depression of all grade (OR 1.8 [mild], 2.2 [moderate], 6.4 [severe]) were related to suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of school bullying, depression, and AMPQ-II high risk were closely related to suicidal ideation of high school students. Thus, AMPQ-II and BDI score can use as a screening tool for adolescent suicide ideation.
Adolescent Behavior ; Adolescent* ; Bullying ; Cause of Death ; Depression ; Family Conflict ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Mental Health* ; Mortality ; Problem Behavior* ; Suicidal Ideation ; Suicide*

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

PURPOSE: To compare changes in breast parenchymal density among diverse age groups in asymptomatic Korean women with those of Western women, and to evaluate the effect of different patterns of breast parenchymal density on the sensitivity of screening mammography in Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We analyzed the distribution of breast parenchymal density among diverse age groups in 823 asymptomatic Korean women aged 30 -64 who underwent screening mammography between January and December 1998. On the basis of ACR BI-RADS breast composition, four density patterns were designated: patterns l and 2 related to fatty mammograms, and patterns 3 and 4 to dense mammograms. We compared the results with those for western women. RESULTS: In Korean women, the frequency of dense mammogram was 88.1 % (30 -34 years old), 91.1 % (35 - 39), 78.3 % (40 -44), 61.1 % (45 -49), 30.1 % (50 -54), 21.1 % (55 -59), and 7.0 % (60 -64). Korean women in their 40s thus showed a higher frequency of dense mammograms, but this frequency decreased abruptly be-tween the ages of 40 and 54. In Western women, however, there was little difference between 40 and 54-year-olds: the figures were 47.2 % (40 -44 years), 44.8 %(45 -49), and 44.4 %(50 -54). CONCLUSION: Because the frequency of their dense mammograms shows little change between Western women in their forties and in their fifties, it is clear that between these two age groups, mammographic sensitivity is only slightly different. Because the frequency of dense mammograms is much greater among Korean women in their forties than among Western women og the same age, and among Korean women this frequency decreases abruptly, it appears, however, that the mammographic sensitivity of Korean women is less among those in their forties than among those in their fifties. It is therefore thought that mammography combined with ultrasonography may increase screening sensitivity among Korean women under 50, who have a rela-tively higher incidence of breast cancer in the younger age groups than do Western women.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography