To assess the nutritional and health status of the elderly, anthropometric measurements and blood test for analyzing biochemical indices were carried out from August to September in 1996. Data on the incidence of a specific disease and clinical symptoms were also collected by interviews with a questionnaire. Among the total of 169 free-living elderly interviewed(91 men, 78 women), 86 elderly(57 men, 29 women) participated in the anthropometric measurements, and 73 elderly(52 men, 21 women) in blood tests. Average heights and weights were much lower than the standards established in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances. While average triceps skinfold thickness of men and women were above the 50 percentile of the reference data, mid-arm muscle circumferences were lower than the 50 percentile. Prevalences of anemia, assessed by hemoglobin using WHO definition, were 38.5% for men and 33.3% for women. Blood levels of total protein and albumin were above the normal limit for all participants. Mean blood cholesterol levels of men and women were 163.9mg/dl and 185.8mg/dl, and triglyceride levels were 138.2mg/dl and 161.9mg/dl, respectively. Women older than 75 years generally had high levels of BMI, total cholesterol and triglyceride. Health status assessed by clinical symptoms generally showed no significant difference by age, and their smoking, and drinking habits. Males and the elderly who exercised regularly had better health status. It was suggested that exercise was a good way to improve health status.
Aged* ; Anemia ; Cholesterol ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Drinking ; Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Nutritional Status* ; Prevalence ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Skinfold Thickness ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To investigate the perception and consumption of imported and organic produce, a survey was conducted using a questionnaire in Seoul, Taejon and Cheongju from February to March in 1995. The responses of 350 housewives were analyzed. Most of the subjects (96.8%) know an increase of imported produce, and 86.3% thought that imported produce was not safe. Ninety-two percent of the subjects preferred domestic produce to imported produce. The reasons were for the support of domestic farming (36.7%), hazardous chemicals in imported produce (25.0%), good taste (24.1%) and high quality of domestic produce (13.1%). Seventy-eight percent of the subjects had purchased imported produce. The reasons for purchase were cheap price (67.7%), high quality (16.2%), and good taste (5.4%). Imported produce were purchased in the following order ; fruits such as banana, kiwi, orange and grapefruit, seasonings such as garlic and sesame, vegetables such as onion, braken and green onion, and beans and grains such as soybean, red bean, and barley. Most of the subjects (94.3%) had been informed on organic produce. Among these, 45.2% obtained the information by TV or radio. However, son for purchase was low residual chemicals (64.6%). The reasons against purchase were inconvenience of purchase (42.3%), high price (25.4%), and disbelief of low residual chemicals (19.7%). Therefore, domestic produce should be good in quality and taste, and be safe without residual chemicals in order to compete with imported produce with cheap price. Informations on organic and imported produce should be provided to consumers, and the distribution system of organic produce should be improved for consumers convenience.
Edible Grain ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Citrus paradisi ; Citrus sinensis ; Daejeon ; Fabaceae ; Food, Organic* ; Fruit ; Garlic ; Hazardous Substances ; Hordeum ; Musa ; Onions ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Sesamum ; Soybeans ; Vegetables ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The health-related habits dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of the elderly living in Cheongju were investigated by interviews with a questionnaire from August to September in 1996. The responses of 169 free-living elderly aged over 65(male 91, female 78) were analyzed. Thirty-six percent of the subjects smoked currently, 33%, drank alcoholic beverages, and 52% exercise regularly. Exercise was mostly in the from of walking for 1/2-1 hour. Significantly higher proportions of males smoked, drank, and exercised as compared to females. Food groups eaten at every meal were examined on a 5-point scale, and the consumption scores were compared with groups according to sex, age, smoking, drinking, and exercise habits. The elderly who exercised regularly got significantly higher scores in their calcium intakes and the variety of the 6 food groups than the elderly who did not exercise. The dietary assessment data showed that the energy intakes of males and females were 81.9% and 72.8% of the RDAs, respectively. The proportions of the elderly consuming less than 75% of RDAs of vitamin A and calcium were 96.5% and 91.1% of the total subjects, respectively. Higher educational status, more pocket money and regular exercise had positive effects on nutrient intakes, while smoking and drinking among females, but not males, had negative effects. Therefore, to improve nutritional status of the elderly, intake of vitamin A-and calcium-rich food such as milk with regular exercise should be emphasized on the education program.
Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Calcium ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Drinking ; Education ; Educational Status ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Male ; Meals ; Milk ; Nutritional Status* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins ; Walking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: TThe purpose of this retrospective study was to demonstrate the characteristic findings of ultrasonogram and the functional result in the surgical excision of the interdigital neuroma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty feet of thirty-five patients with clinical sign and symptoms of interdigital neuromas were examined by ultrasound with a 7.5MHz transducer, In 23 of these patients, surgical excision and pathological analysis of their interdigital masses were subsequently performed. RESULTS: Interdigital neuromas were seen sonographically as well-defined, ovoid, hypoechoic masses located just proximal to the metatarsal heads in the intermetatarsal space. The diameter of neuroma on average was 5.6 mm in the 2nd interspace, 5.4 mm in the 3rd and 4 mm in the 1st. Postoperatively, the satisfactory result was exellent in five (22%), good in twelve (52%), fair in four (17%) and poor in two (9%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ultrasonographic examination is an accurate diagnostic technique, and surgical excision is most effective method of treatment in the view of pain management than other therapeutic modalities in patients with clinically suspected interdigital neuroma.
Diagnosis* ; Foot ; Head ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Neuroma* ; Pain Management ; Retrospective Studies ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Pancreatic Pseudocyst*

The purpose of this study was to examine bowel habits, dietary habits, and nutrient intake of constipated adults, and the effects of prune products on relieving constipation symptoms. Fifty one adults with self-reported constipation (mean age 23 years, range 19-41 years, 10 males and 41 females) participated in this study. After a baseline survey on bowel habits and dietary habits, participants were asked to consume at least 50 g of prune and 200 ml of prune juice per day during a 4-week period in addition to usual diet. Nutrient intake was estimated by a 24 hour recall at the baseline and once every week by diet records during the intervention. Data were analyzed after classifying the subjects into mild constipation group and severe constipation group by the severity of the symptoms. During the intervention, the subjects with mild constipation consumed 56 g of prunes (about 5.6 fruits) and 200 ml of prune juice, and the subjects with severe constipation consumed 59 g of prunes (about 5.9 fruits) and 207 ml of prune juice. Average intakes of energy, dietary fiber and water of the subjects in the mild constipation and severe constipation group increased during the intervention compared to the baseline. Average dietary fiber intake of the mild constipation and severe constipation groups significantly increased from 12.5 g and 11.6 g at the baseline to 18.5 g and 16.8 g after consuming prune products, respectively. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the number of bowel movements, a decrease of defecation time, a change to a softer stool consistency, and a decrease of abdominal pain during defecation. Seventy two subjects answered that prune products were effective to improve their overall constipation symptoms. Our data show that supplementation of prune products is effective to provide energy, dietary fiber and water, and to relieve constipation symptoms for constipated adults.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Constipation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Defecation ; Diet ; Diet Records ; Dietary Fiber ; Drinking ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Male ; Water

This study was carried out to examine dietary habits, food frequency and dietary attitudes by gender and nutrition knowledge level in upper-grade school children. Subjects were 223 boys and 208 girls attending 13 elementary schools (5 th and 6 th graders). A self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, food frequency, and dietary attitudes. Nutrition knowledge score assessed by 19 questions was significantly higher in girls than in boys. There were significant differences between boys and girls in several items in dietary habits such as enough breakfast time, dinner regularity, number of side dishes, eating speed, type of snack after dinner, and degree of saltiness of dishes. Girls consumed staple foods such as rice, noodles or bread more frequently, and consumed less frequently ramyun, fried foods, fast foods, and Chinese foods than boys. In addition, girls had more positive dietary attitudes in trying to reduce fast foods, Chinese foods, ramyun and fried foods. Also children in the high or moderate nutrition knowledge level groups had better dietary habits in frequency of meals, frequency of breakfast, enough breakfast time, dinner regularity, activity during the meal, number of side dishes, eating speed, type of snack after dinner, and better food choices by eating staple foods and vegetable side dishes, meats and beans more frequently, and fried foods, doughnuts/ cakes, Chinese foods less frequently, and had better dietary attitudes in breakfast, vegetables and fruit intake than children in the low nutrition knowledge level group. Our results showed that dietary habits, food frequency and dietary attitudes were different by gender and nutrition knowledge level. These results suggest that in developing nutrition education program for elementary school children, the differences between gender and nutrition knowledge level should be considered. Nutrition education in elementary schools may change dietary habits and dietary attitudes through increasing nutrition knowledge.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bread ; Breakfast ; Child ; Eating ; Fabaceae ; Fast Foods ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Humans ; Meals ; Meat ; Snacks ; Vegetables ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Malignant clear cell hidradenoma is a rare eccrine gland malignancy characterized by a solitary nodule on the head, trunk or distal extremity. We report a case of malignant clear cell hidradenoma in the left sole of a 66 year old female patient. Despite wide resection, regional lymph node dissection and radiation therapy, wide spread regional invasion and multiple distant metastasis were developed. As the malignant clear cell hidradenoma is reported rarely in the world and not yet reported in Korea, we report its clinical process of the diagnosis and treatment to patient's death.
Acrospiroma* ; Aged ; Diagnosis ; Eccrine Glands ; Extremities ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Metastasis

No abstract available.
Animals ; Listeria* ; Listeriosis* ; Mice*

Four hundred and sixty five randomly selected clones from a cDNA library of Blattella germanica were partially sequenced and searched using BLAST as a means of analyzing the transcribed sequences of its genome. A total of 363 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated from 465 clones after editing and trimming the vector and ambiguous sequences. About 42% (154/363) of these clones showed significant homology with other data base registered genes. These new B. germanica genes constituted a broad range of transcripts distributed among ribosomal proteins, energy metabolism, allergens, proteases, protease inhibitors, enzymes, translation, cell signaling pathways, and proteins of unknown function. Eighty clones were not well-matched by database searches, and these represent new B. germanica-specific ESTs. Some genes which drew our attention are discussed. The information obtained increases our understanding of the B. germanica genome.
Sequence Alignment ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Male ; Female ; *Expressed Sequence Tags ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Animals