PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the levels of disaster preparedness competency in public health workers and identify influential factors on disaster preparedness competency. METHODS: The data was collected through self-report questionnaires from a convenience sample of 281 public health workers in 2014 in Korea. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression. RESULTS: The mean disaster preparedness competency score was 2.77 and the mean disaster educational needs score was 4.01. Disaster preparedness competency had a statistically significant difference by gender, position, experience of disaster education in workplace, and experience of BLS education. As a result of the multiple regression analysis, disaster preparedness competency accounted for 11.6% of the variance by gender, experience of disaster education in workplace, and experience of BLS education. CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal that gender, strengthening education of disasters in the workplace, and education of BLS should be taken into consideration and integrated when developing an effective educational program in order to enhance disaster preparedness competency in public health workers.
Disasters* ; Education ; Korea ; Public Health*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*

Chromosome 4q deletion syndrome is a rare disease caused by partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 4. Phenotypic severity and expressivity vary among patients with chromosome 4q deletions, depending on the size and region of the deletion of the affected chromosome. Although there have been many reports of proximal 4q deletion cases, very few have been confirmed by high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). In the current study, we presented a new case of 4q proximal deletion, with detailed genetic and clinical characteristics, and compared these characteristics to those of six previous cases with available aCGH data. According to our review, several genes known to be associated with specific phenotypes of 4q12q21.1 deletion cannot sufficiently explain the variable phenotypes observed among the cases. These phenotypes include mental retardation, microcephaly, ocular anomalies, dental anomaly, and piebaldism. Consequently, we recommend further detailed investigations into the genes associated with 4q12q21.1 deletion to assist in identifying genotype-phenotype associations more clearly.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of spiral CT in the measurement of lung volumes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied by both spirometer and spiral CT at full inspiration and expiration inorder to correlate their results, including total lung capacity (TLC), vital capacity (VC) and residual volume(RV). 3-D images were reconstructed from spiral CT, and we measured lung volumes at a corresponding CT window range ; their volumes were compared with the pulmonary function test (paired t-test). RESULTS: The window range corresponding to TLC was from -1000HU to -150HU (p=0.279, r=0.986), and for VC from -910HU to -800HU (p=0.366,r=0.954) in full-inspiratory CT. The optimal window range for RV in full-expiratory CT was from -1000HU to -450HU (p=0.757, r=0.777), and TLC-VC in full-inspiratory CT was also calculated (p=0.843, r=0.847). CONCLUSION: Spiral CT at full inspiration can used to lung volumes such as TLC, VC and RV.
Healthy Volunteers ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Lung* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Total Lung Capacity ; Vital Capacity

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence supports an association between age-related loss of muscle mass and insulin resistance. However, the association has not been fully investigated in the general population. Thus, we investigated the association between appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and insulin resistance in an elderly Korean population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 158 men (mean age, 71.8) and 241 women (mean age, 70.6) from the Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project, which started in 2011. In this study, ASM was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and was analyzed in three forms: ASM (kg), ASM/height2 (kg/m2), and ASM/weight (%). The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used as a measure of insulin resistance. The relationships between the ASM values and the HOMA-IR were investigated by multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: The HOMA-IR was positively associated with ASM (beta=0.43, P<0.0001) and ASM/height2 (beta=0.36, P<0.0001) when adjusted for sex and age. However, after additional adjustment for body weight, HOMA-IR was inversely associated with ASM (beta=-0.43, P<0.001) and ASM/height2 (beta=-0.30, P=0.001). Adjustment for other potential confounders did not change these associations. Conversely, HOMA-IR was consistently and inversely associated with ASM/weight before and after adjustment for other potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Our results support the idea that lower skeletal muscle mass is independently associated with insulin resistance in older adults. When evaluating sarcopenia or muscle-related conditions in older adults, their whole body sizes also need to be considered.
Adult ; Aged* ; Aging* ; Body Size ; Body Weight ; Cohort Studies* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance* ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Sarcopenia

Benign solitary schwannoma of the chest wall is a rare disease of nerve sheath origin A 43-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital for right upper quandrant pain Chest X-ray shows nonspecific finding, ultrasonography & CT scan revealed a solid tumor on the right lateral chest wall. On aspiration needle biopsy, this mass was turned out to be a schwannoma of the right lateral chest wall. This mass was excised surgically in an encapsulated state by right lateral thoracotomy. Histological section revealed a typical schwannoma, which is characterized by Antoni A and Antoni B tissues of high & low cellularity.
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Neurilemmoma* ; Rare Diseases ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: Research has shown that obesity appears to spread through social ties. However, the association between other characteristics of social networks and obesity is unclear. This study aimed to identify the association between social network characteristics and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) in an elderly Korean population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 657 Koreans (273 men, 384 women) aged 60 years or older who participated in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Network size is a count of the number of friends. Density of communication network is the number of connections in the social network reported as a fraction of the total links possible in the personal (ego-centric) network. Average frequency of communication (or meeting) measures how often network members communicate (or meet) each other. The association of each social network measure with BMI was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, the men with lower density (<0.71) and higher network size (4-6) had the higher BMI (beta=1.089, p=0.037) compared to the men with higher density (>0.83) and lower size (1-2), but not in the women (p=0.393). The lowest tertile of communication frequency was associated with higher BMI in the women (beta=0.885, p=0.049), but not in the men (p=0.140). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that social network structure (network size and density) and activation (communication frequency and meeting frequency) are associated with obesity among the elderly. There may also be gender differences in this association.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Self Concept ; Smoking ; *Social Networking

A case of synchronous multiple primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and multiple gastric adenocarcinomas is reported. The lesions were found on gastrofiberscopic examination for the evaluation of dysphagia and epigastric pain. The esophageal lesions were 2 ulceromfiltrating mass lesions at mid- and lower esophagus and 2 lesions were separated by normal mucosa. The main leiosn of stomach was an ulcerative one (Borrmanns type II) on lower body and the accessory lesion was an EGC IIc like lesion on antrum and 2 lesions were independent.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophagus* ; Mucous Membrane ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of transperineal sonography of the prostate in patients with previousabdominoperineal resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transperineal prostatic sonograms were obtained from ninepatients with abdominoperineal resection. The shortest distance between the probe and the prostate gland, itsvolume, and its internal and external structures were evaluated for image quality, shape, border, and the degreeof distortion in internal echo. Because the number of patients was small, statistical analysis was not performed. RESULTS: Transperineal sonography of the prostate in eight patient was obtained at ease, except that one of ninepatients was not able to continue the procedure because of severe tenderness of the perineum and poor cooperation.Acceptable images of the prostate gland and their adjacent structures were obtained in one patient with less than1cm between the probe and prastate gland, three of four with between 1cm and 1.5cm, and one of three with morethan 1.5cm. CONCLUSION: In patients with previous abdominoperineal resection, transperineal sonography of theprostate may be a good imaging modality.
Humans ; Perineum ; Prostate*

Nezelof's syndrome(combined immunodeficiency with immunoglobulin) is a hereditary primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent chronic pulmonary infections, oral and cutaneous candidiasis, failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea, skin infection, urinary tract infection, gram-negative sepsis, severe progressive varicella infection, lymphopenia, diminished lymphoid tissue, abnormal structure of the thymus, and presence of normal or increased levels of one or more of the major immunoglobulin classes, but with impaired antibody synthesis. We experienced a case of Nezelof's syndrome in 5-month-old boy who complained cough, poor feeding, vomiting and diarrhea in first admission day and discharged with recovered general condition in 38th admission day and then died of recurrent bacterial and fungal infections and malnutrition in 15-month-old age. He had no thymic shadow in chest X-ray and immunologic abnormalities including decreased lymphocyte count, decreased T cell count and function, normal number of B cell count and immunoglobulins with funtional impairment in antibody synthesis. We report a case of Nezelof's syndrome with brief review of related literatures.
Candidiasis, Cutaneous ; Cell Count ; Chickenpox ; Cough ; Diarrhea ; Failure to Thrive ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Isotypes ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphopenia ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Thorax ; Thymus Gland ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vomiting