History of hospital is one of main fields of researches in medical history. Besides writing a history of an individual hospital, considerable efforts have been made to trace the origin of hospital. Those who quest for the origin of hospital are faced with an inevitable problem of defining hospital. As the different definition can lead to a different outcome, it is important to make a clear definition. In this article, the hospital was defined as an institution in which patients are housed and given medical treatments. According to the definition, the Great Basilius is regarded to have created the first hospital in 369 CE. The creation of hospital is considered to be closely related with Christian philantrophy. However, the question is raised against this explanation. As the religious philantrophy does not exclusively belong to the Christianity alone, more comprehensive and persuasive theory should be proposed to explain why the first hospital was created in the Christian World, not in the Buddhistic or other religious world. Furthermore, in spite of sharing the same Christian background, why the first hospital appeared in Byzantine Empire, not in Western Roman Empire, also should be explained. My argument is that Asclepius cult and the favorable attitude toward medicine in Greek world are responsible to the appearance of the first hospital in Byzantine Empire. The evangelic work of Jesus was heavily depended on healing activities. The healing activities of Jesus and his disciples were rivalled by Asclepius cult which had been widely spread and practiced in the Hellenistic world. The temples of Asclepius served as a model for hospital, for the temples were the institution exclusively reserved for the patients. The exclusive housing of patients alone in the temples of Asclepius is clearly contrasted with the other early forms of hospitals in which not only patients but also the poor, foreigners and pilgrims were housed altogether. Toward the healing god Asclepius, the Latin Church fathers and Greek Church fathers showed significant difference of attitudes. The Latin fathers were generally very critical on Asclepius while the Greek fathers were more favorable to the same healing god. This difference is also considered to be an important factor that can explain why the first hospital appeared in the Byzantine Empire.
Byzantium ; Christianity* ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Fathers ; Greek World ; Housing ; Humans ; Parturition* ; Roman World ; Writing

This paper strongly rejects the notion that the use of biomedical terms to represent traditional Chinese medical concepts is helpful to the internationalization of Chinese medicine. It further argues that this practice destroys the integrity and independence of Chinese medical concepts. Taking the term fēng huo yan as an example, it shows that the biomedical term "acute conjunctivitis" often suggested as the translation for this term is unsatisfactory, because (1) the clinical reference is not identical, (2) it introduces the concepts of "conjunctiva" and "inflammation" , which are not Chinese medical concepts, and (3) destroys the Chinese medical concepts "wind" and "fire" expressed in the Chinese, which reflect the way the disease is traditionally diagnosed and treated. While for English readers not familiar with Chinese medicine, "acute conjunctivitis" may be immediately intelligible, for those seeking a deep understanding of the subject, the literal translation (loan translation) "wind-fire eye" is much more helpful. This paper supports these arguments with numerous other examples.
Humans ; Language ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Terminology as Topic ; Translating ; Western World

PURPOSE: The prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent disease in the Western world. Recently, with the increase of old-aged population and the westernized diet, prostate cancer patients have increased in Korea. We have studied the prevalence of prostate cancer in Kangseo-Gu, Pusan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From September to November 1996, a representative sample of 433 volunteers were chosen randomly and were monitored. Of these, 393 participants were older than 50 years and were not within the urological practice. Screening programs used here are international prostatic symptom score(1-PSS), digital rectal examination(DRE) and serum prostate specific antigen(PSA) with an immunoenzymatic assay(Tandem-E). The transrectal ultrasonography(TRUS) is reserved for the cases with an abnormal finding on the rectal examination or the elevated PSA value. Transrectal biopsy of prostate was recommended in the cases of PSA greater than 4ng/ml, suspicious nodules on DRE or TRUS, or when more than two of these findings were discovered. RESULTS: The detection rates and the positive predictive values for the DRE were 1.02% and 7.7%, TRUS were 1.27% and 15.2%, and PSA were 1.02% and 16.7% respectively. When the TRUS and PSA tests were combined, the positive predictive value was increased to 33.3% and when all three tests were combined, the predictive value increased further to 57.1%. However, the detection rate did not change with combinations of these tests. When the PSA cut-off value was increased from 4.0ng/ml to 10.0ng/ml, the positive predictive value increased from 11.1% to 33.3%. CONCLUSIONS: From the above examinations, 5 of the 393 samples had prostate cancer, yielding detection rate of 1.27%. The results of our community-based study suggest that there are about 4,5000 people suffering from the prostate cancer, with the prevalence of 1.27%. This value of prevalence of prostate cancer in Korean population is much lower than the western world.
Biopsy ; Busan* ; Diet ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Volunteers ; Western World

This is the study of Jaedong Jejoongwon the first westernized hospital in Korea founded in 1885. To build the groundwork for study of Jejoongwon its size location building structure and medical functions were studied. At the same time the history of jejoongwon particularly that of the time when there arose a need for its moving and expansion was studied Jaedong Jejoongwon was founded in a renovated building. The building was formerly owned by Hong Young-sik who was killed while leading the Gapsinjungbyun. According to the existing block plan of Jaedong Jejoongwon when it was opened in 1885 it was located in the place which later became a park Nowadays this park is to northwest of the Constitutional Court At that time its size was about 600 p'yung As the medical school was built from end of 1885 to early 1886 Jejoongwon was expanded to north and its size was enlarged to 862 16 p'yung Jaedong Jejoongwon reflected the characteristics of western medical system When it was opened in 1885 Jejoongwon consisted of a servants' room an assistants' room the outpatient clinic the operation room (which was also used as the pharmacy) surgical wards women's wards and general wards In 1886 as the number of patients was increased and medical school was opened the function and the structure of hospital changed The most significant change was that a new medical school building was built as the nearby buildings were bought The medical school consisted of the students' dormitory a chemistry laboratory and classrooms Moreover new functions were added to already- existed hospital building a contagious ward a waiting room for outpatients an eye ward a darkroom a room for special diagnosis and treatment and a vaccination room Also from the time when it was first opened Jejoongwon needed the expansion as too many patients came in and the medical education was started Therefore in the summer of 1886 Allen positively explored ways toward the hospital's moving. At last in early 1887 Jaedong Jejoongwon moved to Kurigae on along with the development of medical education and medical treatment shows how the modern medical system was formed and developed in Korea.
English Abstract ; History of Medicine, 19th Cent. ; Hospitals/*history ; Korea ; Medicine ; *Western World/*history

Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a technically challenging but highly effective technique for the treatment of well selected early neoplasms in the digestive tract. Although it is frequently performed in East Asian countries, the Western world has not adopted this technique yet, probably due in part to the difficulty to learn it. Ex vivo and in vivo animal models are invaluable tools to overcome at least the beginning of the learning curve, although the initial step is the acquisition of basic knowledge about early diagnosis of neoplasias, and observing real procedures in expert centers. The practical issues, advantages, and disadvantages of the ex vivo and in vivo models are discussed.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Early Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Models, Animal ; Western World

In almost all countries, older adults present higher suicide rates than young people and generally, lifetime suicide risk and the wish to die are positively correlated with increase in age. In Korea, the number of the population in the elderly has been increased more rapidly than other age groups. Through analyzing the officially reported suicidal statistics, we found that the rates and number of elderly suicide in Korea have been increased since 1985, and suicide was most prevalent among 'old and old' and tended to be more prevalent among men, like western world. Some studies about the elderly suicide were reviewed. A community survey reported that 14.6% of the elderly aged 65 years and over in rural area had repeated feelings that they wanted to die during the pervious 2 weeks, and the significant associated factors with the wish to die were depressive disorder, age 85 and over, and poor economical status. But there have been a few studies about the elderly suicide, suicide attempt and death thought in Korea. The needs to understand suicide among the elderly is becoming more urgent and should generate more research. Knowledge of the conditions leading to suicide will aid clinicians and public policy makers by facilitating the effective development of intervention and prevention programs.
Adult ; Aged* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Public Policy ; Suicide* ; Western World

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most prevalent cancer in the western world, showing a rapid increase in incidence. Activation of the Sonic hedgehog/Patched (PTCH) and is sisnalling pathway, due to PTCH inactivation, is a key event in sporadic and familial BCC development in humans and is associated with transcriptional activation of specific target genes, including GLI-1. Recently, PTCH inactivation by UV-specific mutation has been reported to develop BCC. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression pattern of GLI-1 oncogene in BCC of sun-exposed and non-exposed areas of skin. METHOD: We examined 20 cases of BCC, and 4 cases of BCC occurring in sun-exposed and non-exposed areas, using an immunohistochemical method with paraffin-embedded sections. RESULTS: The results were as follows. 1. All cases of BCC showed a positive staining for GLI-1 protein. 2. In the staining pattern of GLI-1 protein, BCC in both sun-exposed and non-exposed areas showed diffuse staining throughout the tumor lobules. Moreover, the degree of staining was not found to be different between the BCC of sun-exposed and non-exposed areas. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that increased GLI-1 expression is important for BCC development. And multiple factors, including PTCH mutation due to UV irradiation, may affect GLI-1 expression.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Oncogenes ; Skin ; Transcriptional Activation ; Western World

There is a growing evidence that gastroesophageal reflux disease is related to several upper gastrointestinal cancers, mainly the esophageal adenocarcinoma and a certain type of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. Currently, the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease is rapidly increasing in Korea. Therefore, there is a possibility of such increasing cancerous incidents, similar to the western worlds. In this article, the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and several upper gastrointestinal cancers, the components of refluxate which has possible causal relationship with carcinogenesis, and the clinical implications of such relationship in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease patients are discussed through the review of literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cardia ; Fundoplication ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Western World

This thesis examines the academical trend of Oriental Medicine in the Japanese colonial period observed through medical books published during the Japanese colonial period. This is a period in which Western Medicine was introduced, and due to the lean-to-one-side policy by the Japanese, Western Medicine became the mainstream medical science while Oriental Medicine was pushed to the outskirts. Even after all this, the academic activity was flourishing during this period compared to any other periods. This article is divide into various chapters each with its own theme in order to understand the academic trend of Oriental Medicine during the Japanese colonial period. Focusing on the publication of medical books, this article is divided and observed according to various themes such as the study of Dong-Eui-Bo-Gam, the study of Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyeun, the study of Sang-Han-Ron, the study of Sa-sang constitutional medicine, the study of Eui-Hak-Ip-Mun, the study about Bu-Yang-Ron, On-Bo-Ron, and pediatrics, compromise between Western and Oriental Medicine, the study of experience medicine, the study of acupuncture and moxibustion, and etc.
Western World/history ; Medicine, Oriental Traditional/*history ; Japan ; Humans ; History, 20th Century ; Colonialism/*history ; Books/history

Since the first case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea was reported in March 2014 by World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak has continued through the year and the total number of 19,065 patients was reported as the confirmed or suspected in the EVD-affected countries. Among the cases, 7,388 patients were reported death by 19 December. Currently, available therapeutics to treat the infected patients or vaccines to prevent people from infection is not developed yet while viral diagnostic methods were already developed and firmly established in a lot of countries as a first step for the preparedness of Ebola outbreak. Some potential therapeutic materials including ZMapp were supplied and the treated people got over the EVD. Several candidates of vaccines also were investigated their efficacy in animal models by National Institute of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense, and they are processing of clinical tests in West Africa aiming to finish the development by the 2015. Vaccine and therapeutic development is essential to stop the EVD outbreak in West Africa, also to protect the world from the risk which can be generated by potential spread of Ebola virus.
Africa, Western ; Ebolavirus ; Guinea ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Vaccines ; World Health Organization