OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to obtain basic data required to plan and develop consumer-centered internet health information site for Korean population. METHODS: An internet survey was conducted on 5 internet patient community sites between 23 January and 5 February, 2007. A total of 958 surveys were completed and included in the study. Data were analyzed with descriptive analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis, and stepwise logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 12.0. RESULTS: According to our logistic regression analysis, the more internet usage, foreign country residents, members of breast cancer internet community, any workers except sales, and higher level of necessity/usefulness/reliability showed a higher Odds ratio for frequency of internet health information usage. Educational status, frequency of using internet, importance, necessity, usefulness, reliability of internet health information (p<.001), income, and satisfaction of internet health information (p<.05) were statistically significant in the frequency of internet health information usage. CONCLUSION: Above characteristics should be considered for planning to develop consumer-centered internet health information portals.
Breast Neoplasms ; Commerce ; Consumer Health Information ; Consumer Satisfaction* ; Educational Status ; Humans ; Internet* ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to determine patient's views of the effects of internet health information on the doctor-patient relationship. METHODS: Online survey with 26 items was conducted which was developed by revising the questionnaire of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising to accommodate to the internet health information. Members of the active online patients communities were solicited by e-mail. RESULTS: Most of them gave an affirmative answer on Internet Health Information saying that it makes them get advice from doctor with self-confidence, follow their doctor's direction well, get more medical treatment after retrieving the information and so on. By contrast, physicians perceived that internet health information may have variety of negative effects according to the preceding research. CONCLUSIONS: There are the differences of perspectives between physicians and patients. Therefore it will be necessary to make the experts' intervention in the provision of internet health information, which will have good effects on quality of care, doctor-patient relationship, and health service utilization.
Electronic Mail ; Health Services ; Humans ; Internet ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid, USA) in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and to determine rifampin resistance. METHODS: The literature review covered the period from 16 August 2011 to 1 October 2011, and eight domestic databases and foreign databases including Ovid-Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library were used. Key words, such as 'Rifampin, Polymerase Chain Reaction,' 'GeneXpert' and 'Xpert MTB-RIF' were used to search a total of 1,385 documents. The SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) tool was used to evaluate the quality of the 20 selected studies. RESULTS: Test accuracy for the detection of M. tuberculosis was assessed on the basis of 20 studies using the M. tuberculosis culture test as the reference standard. The acid-fast bacteria smearing test had a sensitivity in the range of 0.69-1.00, specificity in the range of 0.72-1.00 and test accuracy in the range of 0.75-1.00. Test accuracy regarding rifampin resistance was assessed on the basis of 17 studies. Using an anti-tuberculosis agent sensitivity test as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity and test accuracy of real-time, nested PCR were in the ranges of 0.75-1.00, 0.96-1.00 and 0.95-1.00, respectively. CONCLUSION: Xpert MTB/RIF is a useful test for patients suspected of having rifampin-resistant tuberculosis.
Bacteria ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rifampin* ; Tuberculosis*

Long bone diaphyseal cross-sectional shape as a primary measure of biomechanical loading has attracted much attention in physical anthropology. Especially, lower limb bones have been widely used to reconstruct the mobility pattern of the past population. In this research, the cross-sectional size of the femoral shaft was investigated for the human skeletal remains excavated from the Eunpyeong site, dating the period spanning from the mid-15th to the early 20th centuries. The purpose of this research is to examine and report the biomechanical characteristics of the past populations living during Joseon Dynasty period. The results showed that Eunpyeong population was grouped into the 'platymeric category (i.e., platymeric index below 84.9). Females were more platymeric (i.e., more laterally flattened) than males and the sexual dimorphism was statistically significant. In addition, the samples of Eunpyeong site showed a relatively lower pilasteric index (i.e., more round) compared to the populations reported in other studies. The results of this research provide an insight to shed light on the ecological environments, subsistence strategies, and life styles of the past populations. Yet, for more detailed interpretation, it appears necessary to take into account other types of indicators for biomechanical stresses and accumulate more archaeological evidences.
Anthropology, Physical ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Life Style ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Stress, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is known to have anti-inflammatory and angiogenic effects and to accelerate wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PDRN could improve peripheral tissue oxygenation and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Twenty patients with a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer were randomly distributed into a control group (n=10) and a PDRN group (n=10). Initial surgical debridement and secondary surgical procedures such as a split-thickness skin graft, primary closure, or local flap were performed. Between the initial surgical debridement and secondary surgical procedures, 0.9% normal saline (3 mL) or PDRN was injected for 2 weeks by the intramuscular (1 ampule, 3 mL, 5.625 mg, 5 days per week) and perilesional routes (1 ampule, 3 mL, 5.625 mg, 2 days per week). Transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) was evaluated using the Periflux System 5000 with TcPO2/CO2 unit 5040 before the injections and on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the start of the injections. A pathologic review (hematoxylin and eosin stain) of the debrided specimens was conducted by a pathologist, and vessel density (average number of vessels per visual field) was calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the PDRN-treated group showed improvements in peripheral tissue oxygenation on day 7 (P < 0.01), day 14 (P < 0.001), and day 28 (P < 0.001). The pathologic review of the specimens from the PDRN group showed increased angiogenesis and improved inflammation compared with the control group. No statistically significant difference was found between the control group and the PDRN group in terms of vessel density (P=0.094). Complete healing was achieved in every patient. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PDRN improved peripheral tissue oxygenation. Moreover, PDRN is thought to be effective in improving inflammation and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers.
Angiogenesis Modulating Agents ; Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous ; Debridement ; Diabetic Foot* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Foot Ulcer ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Oxygen* ; Polydeoxyribonucleotides ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Transplants ; Ulcer* ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is known to have anti-inflammatory and angiogenic effects and to accelerate wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PDRN could improve peripheral tissue oxygenation and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Twenty patients with a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer were randomly distributed into a control group (n=10) and a PDRN group (n=10). Initial surgical debridement and secondary surgical procedures such as a split-thickness skin graft, primary closure, or local flap were performed. Between the initial surgical debridement and secondary surgical procedures, 0.9% normal saline (3 mL) or PDRN was injected for 2 weeks by the intramuscular (1 ampule, 3 mL, 5.625 mg, 5 days per week) and perilesional routes (1 ampule, 3 mL, 5.625 mg, 2 days per week). Transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) was evaluated using the Periflux System 5000 with TcPO2/CO2 unit 5040 before the injections and on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the start of the injections. A pathologic review (hematoxylin and eosin stain) of the debrided specimens was conducted by a pathologist, and vessel density (average number of vessels per visual field) was calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the PDRN-treated group showed improvements in peripheral tissue oxygenation on day 7 (P < 0.01), day 14 (P < 0.001), and day 28 (P < 0.001). The pathologic review of the specimens from the PDRN group showed increased angiogenesis and improved inflammation compared with the control group. No statistically significant difference was found between the control group and the PDRN group in terms of vessel density (P=0.094). Complete healing was achieved in every patient. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PDRN improved peripheral tissue oxygenation. Moreover, PDRN is thought to be effective in improving inflammation and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers.
Angiogenesis Modulating Agents ; Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous ; Debridement ; Diabetic Foot* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Foot Ulcer ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Oxygen* ; Polydeoxyribonucleotides ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Transplants ; Ulcer* ; Wound Healing

The rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium, Mycobacterium fortuitum, is of increasing clinical importance. The ubiquitous M. fortuitum has been isolated from water, soil, and dust. M. fortuitum usually causes skin or soft-tissue infection following trauma or surgery, but may also infect a wide variety of tissues, including the lungs, lymph nodes, bones, joints, and meninges. We believe this is the first report of a breast abscess due to M. fortuitum, which presented in an immunocompetent woman in Korea after nipple piercing. A 26-year-old non-pregnant female presented with a 5-month history of a tender right breast lump that gradually increased in size. Pus from the right breast supported the growth of M. fortuitum. Mycobacterial infection should be considered in cases of recurrent breast abscess with sterile bacterial cultures, particularly when there is a history of nipple piercing procedures.
Abscess ; Adult ; Body Piercing ; Breast ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Meninges ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium fortuitum ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Skin ; Soil ; Suppuration

Dental linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) is probably one of the most widely used developmental stress indicators among all known skeletal stress indicators. This research examined LEH on the permanent anterior teeth of 160 human skeletal remains from the Joseon Dynasty period. The purpose of this investigation is to understand the characteristics of the developmental stresses experienced by the people of the Joseon period by analyzing the patterns of LEH incidences. The skeletal remains analyzed for this research were excavated during an archaeological investigation at a construction site in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Eunpyeong site is estimated to date from the late 15th century to the late 19th century based on the burial type and goods discovered within the graves. Of all the skeletal remains found at this site, 160 individual specimens with at least one of the permanent anterior teeth constituted the sample of the study. Information regarding each individual specimen's sex, age at death, and burial type was collected by the standardized methods. The prevalence and number of LEH by tooth type, and the number of LEH by sex, by burial type, and by age at death were analyzed. Mandibular canines were the most frequently affected teeth, maxillary canines coming next in the occurrence of LEH, and the third turned out to be the maxillary incisors. This result generally agrees with the findings from previous studies. When number of LEH by sex was compared, there was no consistent difference by sex which also agrees with the findings of previous studies. Although specimens from lime-mortar burials tended to have less number of LEH then those from earth-pit burials, a probable indication of the socioeconomic status effect on the formation of LEH, the result was not very pronounced. No obvious association between the number of LEH and age at death was found, either. Finally the results from this study were compared with those reported by other researches on LEH worldwide. Although preliminary in its level of analysis, this study is the first report of the patterns of LEH of a skeletal population of Korea. With more studies of human skeletal remains from the past, it is hoped, physical anthropology can contribute to the understanding of the past life of the Korean people.
Anthropology, Physical ; Burial ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Enamel Hypoplasia ; Humans ; Incisor ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Sex Characteristics ; Social Class ; Tooth

Regular exercise and a certain level of physical activity reduce the mortality rate in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity on the prevention of fracture in the middle aged or older in Korea. The basic data are based on the Ansan and Ansung community cohort studies of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2001, and the fracture data from the third survey in 2005 to the sixth survey in 2011. The physical activity of the aged in the 40s was mostly distributed in the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended range of 7.5 to 30.0 metabolic equivalent·hr/wk, and the activity was gradually divided into the low and high groups in the 50s and 60s. In the 60s, the risk of fracture was reduced to 0.63 times compared to that of the 50s when physical activity was the recommended level (odds ratio, 0.63; p<0.001). For Korean adults, there was no significant difference in fracture incidence according to the amount of physical activity in the middle-aged people. However, for the elderly aged 60 and over, the risk of fracture decreased when the WHO recommended level of activity was performed, and the risk increased when less or more activities were performed.
Adult* ; Aged ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cohort Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Fractures, Bone ; Genome ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Motor Activity* ; World Health Organization