We experienced the 17 hands of 11 patients with Dupuytren disease, which was known as relatively rare in orientals. Retrospectively, we analyse it and the results were followings; l. Among 11 patients, 10 patients were male and average age was 62.5 years (49 to 77 years) 2. Most (15 hands, 88%) of patients had symptoms of flexion contracture, nodule and contracted cord, simultaneously. 3. Occupation of patients was agricultural laborer in 9 patients (82%). 4. In 9 patients(82%); individual habit of alcoholic drinking, more than 3 times per week, and smoking, 1 package per day, over 20 years more, was observed. 5. In 15 hands (88%), ulnar side of fingers (4th+5th, 5th only or 3rd+4th+5th)was involved. 6. Surgical treatment was performed in 9 hands of 7 patients, with results of excellent in 6 hands (67%) and no recurrence, in average follow up 2.6 years (1.5 year to 3.7 year)
Alcoholics ; Clinical Study ; Contracture ; Drinking ; Dupuytren Contracture ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Occupations ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the degree of self-care, family support and depression, and relationship among these variables for elder with diabetes mellitus. METHOD: Participants were 202 diabetic patients, 65 years or over, living in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected using the self-care tool for diabetic patients by Kim (1996), the family support tool for diabetic patients by Park (1984), and Korea\' s BDI scale by Lee (1995). RESULTS: Of the patients, 43.1% showed HbA1c levels than higher 7%. The highest mean score was for self-care for medication compliance, and the lowest for blood glucose testing compliance. Factors affecting self-care were employment, education, HbA1c level, diabetic self-care education and complications. Factors affecting family support were living with family, diabetic self-care education, hospitalization and complications. Factors affecting depression were gender, living with family and complications. All of these factors were significant. Patients experiencing depression were 16.8% of patients. There was a significant positive correlation between self-care and family support, and significant negative correlations between self-care and depression, and family support and depression. CONCLUSION: For more effective management of diabetes mellitus in elders, improvement in self-care compliance, and family support are needed
Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Compliance ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Employment ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Medication Adherence ; Self Care

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Breech Presentation* ; Female ; Fetus* ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation is to determine the frequency of chromosomal or genetic causes of recurrent spontaneous abortion. METHODS : A cytogenetic study was made in of 921 couples for 13 years from January 1984 to December 1997 in which the woman was ascertained to have had two or more spontaneous abortions at our Cytogenetic Laboratory, Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Seoul National University. RESULTS : The overall incidence of chromosome anomaly was 80 out of 921 (8.7%). There were 34 cases (3.69%) of reciprocal balanced translocation and 13 cases (1.41%) of Robertsonian translocation. Also 17 cases (1.85%) of inversion and 5 cases (0.54%) of X chromosome mosiacism was observed. In the case of reciprocal balanced translocation, chromosome 8,6,7,13 were preferentially involved over others. And in the case of Robertsonian translocation, chromosome 13 was preferentially involved. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that cytogenetic analysis is indicated in couples with 2 or more spontaneous abortion and about half of these disorders are reciprocal balanced or Robertsonian translocations.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics* ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Medicine ; Seoul ; X Chromosome

In order to evaluate the genotoxic hazard among workers potentially exposed to low level petrochemical substances, the analyses of micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in lymphocytes were performed in 46 male workers (as exposed group) and 46 nonexposed subjects (as control group). Mean frequencies of MN and SCEs (respectively, 12.9/1000 cells and 6.5/cell) in exposed group were very significantly higher than those (10.2/1000 cells and 5.4/cell) in control group. And there were also significant differences in mean frequencies of MN and SCEs adjusted for age, employment duration, smoking, and drinking between two groups. Median frequencies of MN and SCEs in exposed group were very significantly higher than those in control group. Frequencies of SCEs were higher in smokers than in non-smoker. Frequencies of MN in smokers, however, were similiar to those of non-smoker. Interaction between exposure and smoking on MN and SCEs induction was not observed. The results suggest that there is genotoxic hazard in high risk group like workers handling carcinogens in petrochemical plants and the analyses of MN and SCEs are useful biomarkers for the exposure to hazard substances even at the level below the exposure limit.
Biological Markers ; Carcinogens ; Drinking ; Employment ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Sister Chromatid Exchange ; Smoke ; Smoking

We report a rare case of brain abscess associated with intracerebral hematoma in a child at the age of 3. A 3 years old female child has been suffered from the cellulites with pustule on her right leg since 3 weeks before, which has aggravated gradually, and developed acute bacterial meningitis for 2 weeks before transfer to Department of Neurosurgery. The acute bacterial meningitis has been treated for 2 weeks in Pediatric Department. The brain CT revealed a small brain abscesses in the occipital region bilaterally. With methicillin, the clinical progress including C.S.F. findings has got improvement, which has been almost complete. We found the staphylococcus from the pustule on her right leg by smear and culture. At that time, 3 weeks since the onset, suddenly vomiting, consciousness change(drowsy to semicomatose), left hemiparesis developed. Immediate brain CT revealed multiple abscess in both occipital poles with bulky intracerrebral hematoma in right perietooccipital region. Immediate craniectomy was performed for removal of intracranial hematoma, which was ca 50cc in amount, at first, and bilateral trephination with aspiration and drainage for the multiple brain abscess at second. The postoperative course was satisfactory with mannitolization and antibiotic treatment. The recovery was dramatic one.
Abscess ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Consciousness ; Drainage ; Female ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Leg ; Mannitol ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Methicillin ; Neurosurgery ; Paresis ; Staphylococcus ; Trephining ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: The Purposes of this study were to examine the effects of Koryo-Sooji-Chim (30minutes * 2times/week * 2weeks) on menstrual pain and menstrual symptoms of female university students with dysmenorrhea. METHOD: The subjects were 22 female students with dysmenorrhea, 12 experimental group, 10 control group, studying at K university in Chungnam province. The data were collected through questionnaires from September 1st to November 30th 2003 were analyzed using descriptive statistics, X2-test, Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULT: 1. The menstrual pain scores were significantly different between the two groups(U=16.0, p=.001). 2. The menstrual symptom scores were significantly different between the two groups(U=28.5, p=.038). CONCLUSION: These findings showed that Koryo-Sooji-Chim was effective related to menstrual pain and menstrual symptoms of female university students with dysmenorrhea. Koryo-Sooji-Chim during dysmenorrhea could be applied as an effective nursing intervention.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Dysmenorrhea* ; Female ; Female* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To investigate the status of health education courses in elementary schools. METHOD: From September to December in 2003, 607 school nurses were surveyed by questionnaires. RESULTS: 1) Of the schools, 32.1% had health education programs as part of the school health service. A higher proportion was found in schools in suburban and rural areas. Mass media in health education was used by 75% of school nurses. Regular classes were more frequently utilized in schools in rural areas, while the classes in health-related subjects were utilized in urban areas. For 20.6% of school nurses, there was a substitute person to provide health care while the nurse was in health education classed, but 94.2% of school nurses found they had to give up health education due to pressure from other health services. 2) Of the nurses, 97.0% felt the need to provide health education courses, but 60.6% insisted that their work load needed to be modified and supplemental personnel were necessary if health education courses were to be provided. 3) More than 30% school nurses responded that educational materials and media, and concern by teachers and administrators were insufficient. 4) School nurses suggested that the content for health education courses should include healthy life and dental health care for students in lower grades, dental health care, sex education and safety for students in middle grades, and sex education and drug abuse prevention for students in higher grades. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to provide health education courses in elementary schools but conditions in the schools are not satisfactory. For successful school health services, personnel supplement, modified work loads and sufficient educational materials and media should be in place before health education courses are provided.
Administrative Personnel ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Education* ; Health Services ; Humans ; Mass Media ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; School Health Services ; Sex Education ; Substance-Related Disorders

PURPOSE: To investigate the level of depression and self management behavior in patients with diabetes. METHOD: From May to August 2004, 124 diabetic patients 18 years or older were surveyed using the Korean version of the BDI, the self-management scale by Toobert(2000) and hospital lab data for HbAl, FBS and Blood Sugar-2hr. RESULTS: 1. Mean score on the BDI for the patients was 10.85 points. The score on the BDI was significantly higher in hyperglycemic patients than in normoglycemic patients. 2. The level of self management for the past week showed care on an average of 4.2 days. According to level of depression, patients in the normal group and patients in the mild group had significantly higher levels of self management than those in the moderate group. 3. According to level of depression, patients in the normal group had significantly lower levels of blood glucose than those in the moderate group, and for HbAlc and FBS those in the mild group had lower levels compared to those in the moderate group. 4. The factors significantly associated with level of self management were depression (25.66%) and duration of illness. CONCLUSION: Programs should be developed to combat depression in patients with diabetes in order to increase compliance through self care management and thus increase of blood glucose levels.
Blood Glucose ; Compliance ; Depression* ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Humans ; Self Care*