BACKGROUND: In women, the prevalence of depression is known to be more than twice as high as in men. Because many depressive women complain of their somatic symptoms instead of neurovegetative ones, many cases of depression have been misdiagnosed. Women also tend to use medicine more frequently than men do to manage depression. So we investigated the relationship between somatic symptoms and drug use in housewives for better management. METHODS: From 1st. March to 31st. March in 1996, the prepared questionnaires were presented to housewives living in the area of Kyung-ju city, who responded the questionnaires under direct interview. The questionnaire was composed of two parts. One part included demographic data, somatic complaints, drug use, places of drug purchase, current diseases that had been diagnosed by doctors. The other included Korean standard Beck Depression Inventory-questionnaire. The subjects were divided into two groups by BDI score(21 point), which was the cut-off point for depression in Korea. The relationships of somatic symptoms and drug use between the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 110 housewives who had depressive trends among 569 respondents. In general characteristics, there was significant difference between the two groups except the item of religion. In the items of somatic symptoms, there were more somatic symptoms in the group of high BDI score(>_21) except fatigue(P<0.01). More drug users were found in the group of high BDI score(>_21) (P<0.05). In the group of high BDI score(>_21), there was definite correlation between the items of somatic symptoms and drug use. There was no difference between the two groups in the item of drug purchase site. The most common site of drug purchase was the drug store in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive housewives complained of more somatic symptoms and more often used drugs as well.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression ; Drug Users ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Even though there have been much improvment in general understanding of the climacteric period and increased knowledge of biological aspects of menopause such as Hormone Replacement Therapy, the psychosocial aspects of climacterium was relatively out of consideration. The purpose of this paper is to help make it easy understanding the psychosocial determinants of climacterium through the investigation of correlation between the life stress and the climacteric symptoms in the middle aged women. METHODS: This study was performed on climacteric women at the age ranging from 40 to 55 who reside in Kyong-Ju city. Self reported questionnaires composed of inquiry about demographic characteristics, climacteric symptom scale, and life stress scale were distributed and 123 cases were analyzed in June. and July 1996. The Climacteric Symptom Scale was developed by JG Greene in 1976. In this scale, climacteric symptoms were classified to 3 categories of psychological, somatic, vasomotor symptoms by factor analysis. For quantitative measurement of stress, we used Office Stress Measurement Scale developed by Bae JM et al in 1992. We studied the correlation between stress scores and each class of climacteric symptoms, and the difference of climacteric symptom scores according to the menopausal status and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between the climacteric symptom scores and the stress scores was 0.329(P=0.000) but this correlation was significant in only premenopausal group(correlation coefficient=0.479). Among climacteric symptom classes, the correlation with stress scores is most prominent in psychological symptom class, then somatic symptoms, vasomotor symptoms. There was no difference in climacteric symptom scores to the menopausal status and demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Women who had more stress complained more climacteric symptoms, especially psychological symptoms. This correlation was significant in the premenopausal group only. And the severity of climacteric symptoms didnt change by demographic characteristics.
Climacteric* ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Self Report ; Stress, Psychological* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Even though there have been much improvment in general understanding of the climacteric period and increased knowledge of biological aspects of menopause such as Hormone Replacement Therapy, the psychosocial aspects of climacterium was relatively out of consideration. The purpose of this paper is to help make it easy understanding the psychosocial determinants of climacterium through the investigation of correlation between the life stress and the climacteric symptoms in the middle aged women. METHODS: This study was performed on climacteric women at the age ranging from 40 to 55 who reside in Kyong-Ju city. Self reported questionnaires composed of inquiry about demographic characteristics, climacteric symptom scale, and life stress scale were distributed and 123 cases were analyzed in June. and July 1996. The Climacteric Symptom Scale was developed by JG Greene in 1976. In this scale, climacteric symptoms were classified to 3 categories of psychological, somatic, vasomotor symptoms by factor analysis. For quantitative measurement of stress, we used Office Stress Measurement Scale developed by Bae JM et al in 1992. We studied the correlation between stress scores and each class of climacteric symptoms, and the difference of climacteric symptom scores according to the menopausal status and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between the climacteric symptom scores and the stress scores was 0.329(P=0.000) but this correlation was significant in only premenopausal group(correlation coefficient=0.479). Among climacteric symptom classes, the correlation with stress scores is most prominent in psychological symptom class, then somatic symptoms, vasomotor symptoms. There was no difference in climacteric symptom scores to the menopausal status and demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Women who had more stress complained more climacteric symptoms, especially psychological symptoms. This correlation was significant in the premenopausal group only. And the severity of climacteric symptoms didnt change by demographic characteristics.
Climacteric* ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Self Report ; Stress, Psychological* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We measured serum 1gE by using IgE 'Eiken' radioirnrnunoassay Kit and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity responsiveness by the Multitest CMI Kit (Institut Merieux) that simultaneously administrates 7 standardized recall antigens(tetanus, diphtheria, streptococcus, tuberculin, candida, trichophyton, proteus) and 70% W/V glycerin diluent control by multiple prick puncture. We studied 40 cases comprising 20 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and 20 healthy children as control. The results were obtained as follows; 1) The mean serum level of IgE in AD(63.3+/-395.2 1U/ml) was higher than in control(155.6+/-67.1IU/ml) (p<0.0l), but the intensity of reaction (IR) & rate of reaction (RR) in AD (l.34+/-1.06, 0.38+/-0.23) was not significantly decreased than in control (1.70+/-0.87,0.44+/-0.16). 2) 1n both AD & control group, tuberculin showed highest IR R RR. 3) Anergic state was found in only one patient with disseminated cutaneous lesions Sc 4) serum IgE, but rate of hypoergy was significantly increased in AD(65%) than in control (30%) (p<0.05). 4) Serum IgE was not statistically correlated with IR and RR, but IR was statistically correlated with RR (p<0.001, r=0.9504). 5) IgE level in severe AD (generalized skin lesion) was significantly increased than in both mild AD 8c control group (p<0. 001). but IR & RR were not statistically correlated with disease severity.
Candida ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diphtheria ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed* ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Punctures ; Skin ; Streptococcus ; Trichophyton ; Tuberculin

A 28-year-old male patient is described who developed multiple erythematous nodules and papules on the face, upper chest, back, upper and lower extrimities, leading to extensive ia.filtration of the skin and lymph nodes. Histology from the involved lymph node and skin nodule revealed widely scattered patchy infiltration of abnormal. hyperchromatic polymorphous histiocytes in the dermis. The patient died at about 8 months after onset of the disease, in spite of antineoplastic treatment.
Adult ; Dermis ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma* ; Male ; Skin ; Thorax

We messured delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions by Multitest CMI Kit. Total 209 normal adults ranging in age from 17 to 55 year(male 106, female 103) were tested. The results were obtained as follows ; 1. Sum of average diameter of positive antigens wss 20.7mm in male and 15.6mm in female. 2. Number of positive antigens was 3.9 in male and 3.4 in female. 3. Rate of anergy was 1.4%(0.9% in male, 1.9% in female). 4. The rate of subjects below warning score(below 10mm in male, below 5mm in female) was 2.8% in male and 5.8% in female. 5. Antigen with the highest response was tuberculin in both sex(male 95.3%, female 89.3%) and antigen with the lowest response was trichophyton(22.5%). 6. Aversge score of positive response of every antigens was highest in tuberculin at both sex(male 2.8mm, female 2,6mm) 7. Average score of total antigens with positive response was 5.5mm in male and 4.6mm in female. 8. The rate of false positive reaction to 70% W/V glycerine was 1.4% totally.
Adult* ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Korea* ; Male ; Tuberculin

BACKGROUND: There is much harmful influence for health promotion when general publics and medical group misunderstand common health knowledge. Therefore we investigated the proportion of misunderstanding about health knowledge of general publics and medical group. METHODS: The data were collected via questionnaire which consisted of 30 questions (ll health behavior, 5 symptom, 14 treatment knowledge) quoted or revised on the basis of the book ('Misunderstood common health knowledge 100' published by humanism practice medical doctor association, 1994, hanwol company, South korea). The subjects were nonmedical group (third grade elementary school teachers and parents of students in Kyong ju city) and medical group (doctors-specialist, resident, intern, oriental doctor, medical student, nurse, assistant nurse in Kyong-Ju, Pohang city). The score was given 0 for false answer or no answer and 1 for true answer. RESULTS: The dominant subclasses of study subjects were as follows .Sex; female(352:64.5%)/age; 30-40 years old(318 persons : 58.5%) education ; high school graduate group(232: 42.8%)/job; nonmedical group(housewives, 168:36.2%), rnedical group(nurse, 67:36.2%). Medical group acquired higher total average score than non-medical group. There were no differences in the total scores about treatment, symptom, and health behavior in nonmedical group by job. In the medical group, doctors earned significantly higher score than other jobs. The average score per question was 0.53 in nonmedical group and 0.69 in medical group. Non-medical group received average score below 0.5 in 14 questions among 30 questions, while medical group received only in 5 items. CONCLUSIONS: Medical group acquired higher total average score than nonmedical group. Average score per question was 0.53 in non-medical group and 0.69 in medical group.
Education ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humanism ; Humans ; Parents ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, previously called bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma is a dominantly inherited disorcler and usually manifested by blisters at or shortly after birth. We report a case of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis in 9 year old girl vrho developed generalized erythema &: easily eroded vesicles at birth. Later the skin lesions progresed to characteristic thick, grayish-dark brown verruform cais, affecting predominantly flexural and intertriginous areas. Fiistologic findings show typical granular degeneration.
Blister ; Child ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperkeratosis, Epidermolytic* ; Parturition ; Skin

we report a case of elastosis perforans serpiginosa associated with pseudoxanthoma e1asticurn on t:he neck of 27-year-old male patient. The lesions showecl erythematous scaly hyperkeratotic papules forming serpiginous pattern on yellowish elevated plaques. A skin biopsy specimen from the neck lesion revealed dense accurmulations of coarse elastic fibers partly cngulfed by epithelium in the papillary dcrrnis and increase cif short, irregulary clumped and degenerated clastic fibers in the middermis. On funduscopic exarnination, angioid streak is noted around the optic disk.
Adult ; Angioid Streaks ; Biopsy ; Elastic Tissue ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Optic Disk ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Although adults in 30s and 40s are at risk for hypertension management due to low rates of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, there has been a lack of study on hypertension management for this population. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine blood pressure screening and other associated factors with hypertension management in terms of awareness, control, and treatment. METHODS: Secondary data analysis was performed on the data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2007-2009. To examine whether blood pressure screening affects hypertension management in 929 subjects aged 30s and 40s with hypertension. Other factors, such as socio-demographics, health status, and health behaviors, were also included for data analysis. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were carried out using SAS 9.1. RESULTS: Hypertension awareness rates were high in those who had diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR] 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-3.90), self-rated their health status as poor (OR 2.89; 95% CI 1.82-4.58), and received a blood pressure check up (OR 5.96; 95% CI 2.90-12.25). Hypertension treatment rates were high in women (OR 2.50; 95% CI 1.47-4.27), and high in those who had diabetes mellitus (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.49-4.47), self-rated their health status as poor (OR 2.53; 95% CI 1.54-4.14), self-reported as past smoker (OR 2.01; 95% CI 1.22-3.29), and received a blood pressure check up (OR 12.64; 95% CI 4.87-32.77). Hypertension control rates were high in women (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.29-4.72), and high in those who self-reported as past smoker (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.35-4.50), and received a blood pressure check up (OR 9.24; 95% CI 3.15-27.15). CONCLUSIONS: For effective hypertension management in 30s and 40s, we should encourage this population to have a regular blood pressure screening.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Nutrition Surveys ; Phenothiazines ; Statistics as Topic