BACKGROUND: With the increasing numbers of foreign residents and tourists in Korea, the need of medical care systems for foreign patients seems to be growing, but there are few studies related with foreigners staying in Korea so far. This study was conducted to obtain the basic clinical data of foreign patients for the better medical care of them. METHODS: This study is an analysis of 1,405 outpatients in International(Foreign) Clinic of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from Jan. 1 1994 to Dec. 31 1996. Patient charts were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the total of 1,405 cases, 833 cases(59.3%) were males and 572 cases(40.7%) were females. The largest age group was the 4th decades, which were 408 cases(29.0%). By racial grouping, Japanese were the largest, accounting for 507 cases(36.1%) of all, followed by Europeans(including Oceanians) with 384 cases(27.3%) and North Americans with 335 cases (23.8%). The total number of hospital visits was 3,823. According to departments, Family Medicine had 968 visits(25.3%) of all, follewed by Pediatrics with 503 visits(13.2%), Internal Medicine 406visits(10.6%) and Dermatology 355visits(9.3%). The most common diagnoses were preventive medical cares such as general medical examination(6.0%), vaccination(4.5%), antenatal care(3.4%) and special investigations (3.1%), followed by acute infectious diseases such as acute upper respiratory infection including acute pharyngitis(7.4%), bronchitis(5.0%), infectious diarrhea(3.6%) and otitis media(2.9%) among top 20 ranks. preventive medical cares such as general medical examination and vaccination were more common in Family Medicine, and acute infectious diseases such as acute upper respiratory infection and bronchitis were more common in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. preventive medical cares and acute infectious diseases were common without any differences between advanced countries(North America, Europe and Oceania, Japan) and developing countries(Asia, Africa, Latin America), except infectious diarrhea. Hospital visits due to infectious diarrhea were much more frequent among advanced countries (4.3% in Japan, 3.4% in the others) than developing countries(0.9%). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, it showed the certain characteristics of the high medical need about preventive medical care and acute infectious diseases among foreign patients staying in Korea. It also shows the need of family physicians who could play important roles in practicing preventive medical care and acute common diseases for foreigners. Therefore it is believed that further studies for foreign patients in Korea will be necessary and should be conducted in the future.
Africa ; Americas ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bronchitis ; Communicable Diseases ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Europe ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Oceania ; Otitis ; Outpatients* ; Pediatrics ; Physicians, Family ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: With the increasing numbers of foreign residents and tourists in Korea, the need of medical care systems for foreign patients seems to be growing, but there are few studies related with foreigners staying in Korea so far. This study was conducted to obtain the basic clinical data of foreign patients for the better medical care of them. METHODS: This study is an analysis of 1,405 outpatients in International(Foreign) Clinic of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from Jan. 1 1994 to Dec. 31 1996. Patient charts were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the total of 1,405 cases, 833 cases(59.3%) were males and 572 cases(40.7%) were females. The largest age group was the 4th decades, which were 408 cases(29.0%). By racial grouping, Japanese were the largest, accounting for 507 cases(36.1%) of all, followed by Europeans(including Oceanians) with 384 cases(27.3%) and North Americans with 335 cases (23.8%). The total number of hospital visits was 3,823. According to departments, Family Medicine had 968 visits(25.3%) of all, follewed by Pediatrics with 503 visits(13.2%), Internal Medicine 406visits(10.6%) and Dermatology 355visits(9.3%). The most common diagnoses were preventive medical cares such as general medical examination(6.0%), vaccination(4.5%), antenatal care(3.4%) and special investigations (3.1%), followed by acute infectious diseases such as acute upper respiratory infection including acute pharyngitis(7.4%), bronchitis(5.0%), infectious diarrhea(3.6%) and otitis media(2.9%) among top 20 ranks. preventive medical cares such as general medical examination and vaccination were more common in Family Medicine, and acute infectious diseases such as acute upper respiratory infection and bronchitis were more common in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. preventive medical cares and acute infectious diseases were common without any differences between advanced countries(North America, Europe and Oceania, Japan) and developing countries(Asia, Africa, Latin America), except infectious diarrhea. Hospital visits due to infectious diarrhea were much more frequent among advanced countries (4.3% in Japan, 3.4% in the others) than developing countries(0.9%). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, it showed the certain characteristics of the high medical need about preventive medical care and acute infectious diseases among foreign patients staying in Korea. It also shows the need of family physicians who could play important roles in practicing preventive medical care and acute common diseases for foreigners. Therefore it is believed that further studies for foreign patients in Korea will be necessary and should be conducted in the future.
Africa ; Americas ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bronchitis ; Communicable Diseases ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Europe ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Oceania ; Otitis ; Outpatients* ; Pediatrics ; Physicians, Family ; Vaccination

Fifty four patients who received closed hemorrhoidectomy were randomized into two parallel groups and treated with Venitol(R)(a micronized flavonoidic fraction containing diosmin 450 mg and hesperidin 50 mg) (group 1) or placebo (group 2). Venitol(R) was administered at the dosage of three toblets b.i.d. the first four days and two tablets b.i.d following three days. Postoperative analgesia and laxative prescription as well as hospital stay were same in two groups. Though there is no difference of symptoms at D1, improvement of symptoms of complications was greater in group 1 than in group 2 at D18. The clinical severity of postoperative spot-bleeding, pain and anal discharge diminished in both groups but to a greater extent in group 1 (P<0.005). There was no side-effects in using Venitol(R). In summary, Venitol(R) is effective in reducing complications after hemorrhoidectomy.
Analgesia ; Diosmin ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Hesperidin ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prescriptions ; Prospective Studies* ; Tablets

BACKGROUND: Intussuseception is one of the most common diseases requiring abdominal emergency care in early childhood. The delay in diagnosis increases morbidity and, in particular, reduces the success rate of the non-surgical method of reduction. In this report, the authors determined the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with intussusception, and the factors involved in delayed diagnosis and the efficacy of doppler ultrasonography in diagnosis. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective study of 44 cases in 42 patients with intussusception who had visited the emergency room of SamSung medical center from January 1st to December 31, 1996. RESULTS: The sex ratio was equal and 64.3% of the patients were under 1 year of age. The prevalent complaints were vomiting(36.4%) and abdominal pain(33.8%). Ultrasonography was used in 11 cases, 3 of them were performed because of obscure symptoms and the rest were due to diagnostic delay. The average time past from visit to diagnosis was 4 hours and 20 minutes, and there were 4 diagnostic delays. Air enema reductions were unsucessful in 11 cases(25%) and that was related to hospital-visit delays and long time past from symptom onset to diagnosis. There were no motalities. CONCLUSION: To reduce delays in diagnosis and unnecessary operations, the use of doppler ultrasonography is recommanded in suspicious cases. And to reduce the hospital-visit delays, related to the failure on non-surgical reduction, the education about this disease is necessary.
Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Enema ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

PURPOSE: To make the guideline for diagnosis and treatment policy of various hepatocytic nodular lesions detected during the imaging diagnosis of cirrhotic liver and to get our own data about hepatocellular carcinoma based on Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 40 confirmed hepatocellular carcinomas foilwed up with CT more than once without any treatment. Total numbers of follow-up were 50. First, we input the data of initial and follow-up diameter visible on CT images and follow-up interval of each mass to the computer, and got the mean growth rate curve and growth curve of hepatocelluiar carcinoma using a program of Quattro-pro, one of the spreadsheet. And then the doubling time was also calculated using Schwarz's formula. RESULTS: According to the growth rate curve, the tumor under 3 cm in diameter showed relatively show growing pattern but the one above 3 cm in diameter showed rapid growing pattern. Mean growth curve also showed rapid turning point around 3 cm. Overall mean doubling time was 82 days(mean +/- SD = 82.3 +/- 56.2): 119 days in the tumors smaller than 30 mm in diameter, 69 days larger than 30 mm in diameter. CONCLUSION: Hepatocellular carcinoma'is relatively slowly growing tumor and shows rapid increase of its growth rate when it is larger than 30 mm in diameter as a turning point. We think that this fact could make an important role to determine the treatment policy of various hepatocytic nodular lesions suspecting hepatocellular carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Liver ; Retrospective Studies

It is generally accepted that tbe lepromin test is of great value in the type classification and the evaluation of the prognosis of leprosy. But the nature of the antigenicity in lepromin reaction stiIl remains uncertain. The present study was carried out to investigate the antigenic characteriatics of the early(Fernandez) and the late (Mitsuda) reactions to Mitsuda lepromin antigen. Mycobacterium leprae was purified by trypsin digestion from human lepromas, and was broken down by passing 5 times through a French Pressor at 16, 000 p.s.i.. From the broken cell suspension, cell wall, cytoplasm, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were prepared. IntradermaI skin tests were perforrned on 30 leprosy patients classified according to the Ridley-Jopling scale (4 TT, 6 BT, 2 BB, 7 BL and 11 LL), with 0. 1ml of the Mitsuda lepromin(intact cells) broken cells, cell wall, cytoplasm, VLDL and LPS antigens. Readings for the early and the late reactions were done 72 hours and 28 days, respectively, after itradermal injections of the above antigens. The results are summerized as follows: 1, Early reactions were elicited by broken cells, cell wall and cytoplasm in all of the patients who could react to Mitsuda lepromin antigen. VLDL and LPS antigens could also elicit early reactions in 9(56)% and in 14(88%), respectively, of the 10 patients who showed positive reaction to Mitsuda lepromin antigen. These results mean that the early reaction may be due to multiple antigena, originated either from M. leprae or from contaminated human tissues. 2. Late reactions were elicited by broken cells and cell wall antigens, but not by cytoplasm antigen, in all of the patients who showed late reactions to Mitsuda lepromin antigen. These results mean that broken cells also produce a late reaction and the specific antigen(s) of the late reaction may reside in the cell wall fraction of the M. leprae.
Cell Wall ; Classification ; Cytoplasm ; Digestion ; Humans ; Lepromin* ; Leprosy ; Lipoproteins ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Prognosis ; Reading ; Skin Tests ; Trypsin

This report is a clinical review of 58 patients suffering from frostbite, who were treated at the department orthopedic surgery, Seoul City Dong Bu Hospital from November 1982 to March 1985. The results are as follows: 1. The male to female sex ratio was 13.5:l. 2. The majority of the patients (72%) were decades between 30 and 50. 3. Frostbite began on November and registered the highest incidence in January, the lowest temperature of the year. 4. The most commonly affected region was the lower extremities, bilaterally. 5. The average duration of exposure in cold weather was 23 days, 6. The average hospitalization period was 84 days. 7. Among the 58 patients, 14 patients were treated by conservative treatment, 14 patients by closed amputation and 25 patients by open amputation.
Amputation ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Frostbite ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio ; Weather

The present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between serum lipid and lipoprotein values and cerebrovascular accidents. Serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured in 130 cases of normal Korean, 49 patients with cerebrovascular accidents and 35 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension. The results were summarized as follows; 1. The mean values of serum lipids in patients with cerebrovascular accidents were 148.3+/-75.3mg% for triglyceride, 189.6+/-37.4mg% for cholesterol, 132.5+/-55.2mg% for phospholipid and 548.8+/-106.3mg% for total lipid. 2. The mean values of serum lipoproteins in patients with cerebrovascular accidents were 255.3+/-81.6mg% for beta-lipoprotein, 118.3+/-73.7mg% for pre-beta-lipoprotein and 183.6+/-65.5mg% for alpha-lipoprotein. 3. There were no significant differences of sex and age in the mean values of serum lipids and lipoproteins in patients with cerebrovascular accidents. 4. In general the mean concentrations of serum lipids and lipoproteins, except phospholipid and alpha-lipoprotein, in patients with cerebrovascular accidents and hypertension were significantly elevated than in normal control subjects. 5. There were no significant differences in serum lipid and lipoprotein values between various types of cerebrocasculr accidents. 6. The change of serum lipid and lipoprotein values had a decreasing tendency till one month after onset, thereafter the values became similar to to\hose of early period of illness. 7. The incidence of hyperlipoproteinemia in patients with cerebrovascular accidents was 64%, and the most frequent type of hyperlipoproteinemia was Type IIa, as the frequency decreased in the order of Type IV, Type IIb and Type III.
Cholesterol ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemias ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Lipoproteins* ; Stroke* ; Triglycerides

The present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between serum lipid and lipoprotein values and cerebrovascular accidents. Serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured in 130 cases of normal Korean, 49 patients with cerebrovascular accidents and 35 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension. The results were summarized as follows; 1. The mean values of serum lipids in patients with cerebrovascular accidents were 148.3+/-75.3mg% for triglyceride, 189.6+/-37.4mg% for cholesterol, 132.5+/-55.2mg% for phospholipid and 548.8+/-106.3mg% for total lipid. 2. The mean values of serum lipoproteins in patients with cerebrovascular accidents were 255.3+/-81.6mg% for beta-lipoprotein, 118.3+/-73.7mg% for pre-beta-lipoprotein and 183.6+/-65.5mg% for alpha-lipoprotein. 3. There were no significant differences of sex and age in the mean values of serum lipids and lipoproteins in patients with cerebrovascular accidents. 4. In general the mean concentrations of serum lipids and lipoproteins, except phospholipid and alpha-lipoprotein, in patients with cerebrovascular accidents and hypertension were significantly elevated than in normal control subjects. 5. There were no significant differences in serum lipid and lipoprotein values between various types of cerebrocasculr accidents. 6. The change of serum lipid and lipoprotein values had a decreasing tendency till one month after onset, thereafter the values became similar to to\hose of early period of illness. 7. The incidence of hyperlipoproteinemia in patients with cerebrovascular accidents was 64%, and the most frequent type of hyperlipoproteinemia was Type IIa, as the frequency decreased in the order of Type IV, Type IIb and Type III.
Cholesterol ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemias ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Lipoproteins* ; Stroke* ; Triglycerides

In 1951, Leborgen pointed out the special diagnostic importance of punctate calcifications in the diagnosis of breast cancer by mammography. Calcifications within the breast may occure in both malignant and benign diseases, the characteristic findings have been reported subsequently by many other investigators. This study was done toreevalute the significance and diagnostic value of calcifications of female breast cancers. The clinical materals were 980 cases of those underwent mammography, and 76 cases of those histopathologically diagnosis was confirmed. Fine calcifications were radiologically found in 24 cases of these 76. A morphological analysis was made inregards to the relationship between the calcific particles and various mammary diseases. The results were asfollows; 1. The irregularly fine spiculate and punctate calcifications were found in 11 cases (45.8%) of cancergroup, and rather uniformly fine smooth calcifications were found in 14 out of 52 cases (26.9%) of benign conditions. 2. In cancer group, the calcifications were finely punctate or spiculate in shape and in numerable innumber with a tendency toward formation of densely packed clusters within and adjacent to the lesional areas. Nospiculate calcifications were observed in benign conditions. There were, however, no difference in either size ordensity of particles in both benign and malignant conditions. 3. These fine calcifications of the breast detectedby mammography seem to be a useful marker in localizing so small a lesion as not to be palpable and in obtaining proper biopsy specimen.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Research Personnel