We studied occupational status of 175 epileptics have been treated at Yeungnarn university hospital from 1991 to 1992. Their age were in the range of being capable of working. The main purposes were to study the effect of seizure type and degree of control to having job;the effect of additional disabilities to the means of living of epileptics. The results were like these: 1. The employment rate of our patients was 56%. 2. There were no statistical significancy at the effect of seizure type and degree of control to having job(P<0.05). 3. The degree of seizure control did not influence to the position at the job(P>0.05). But additional disabilities and education showed significant effect to the position of job (p<0.05). 4. Among the 138 responders 14 patients had experienced seizure attacks at work and 6 of these 14 patients had some kinds of problem on performing their work by the attacks. 11 of 138 patients disclosed their disease to the employer at the beginning of employment. Conclusion our epileptic patients also have many problems on having job. Which were predominantly related to education. Disabilities and self-denial rather than other related factors.
Education ; Employment* ; Humans ; Seizures

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyolysis is a serious and potentially lethal condition that can develop from a variety of nontraumatic causes. Recently, there have been several reports about rhabdomyolysis which developed after alcohol abuse, drug intoxication, or vigorous exercise, but no report about all spectrums of nontraumatic rhadomyolyis in Korea. So we undertook this study to evaluate the clinical characteristics and course of nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis in a single medical center. METHODS: Several clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed in 68 patients with nontraumatic rhabdomyolyis from January 2002 to December 2003. RESULTS: The patients consisted of 58 males and 10 females with mean age of 48.0 +/- 16.3 years. The etiologic factors of nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis were as follows: 21 cases of alcohol abuse (30.9%), 13 cases of muscle ischemia (19%), 9 cases of shock (13%), 7 cases of infection, 6 cases of drug intoxication, 3 cases of seizure, 2 cases of malignant hyperthermia, 2 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, 1 case of vigorous exercise, 1 case of CO poisoning, 1 case of hypophosphatemia, and 2 cases of unknown causes. Among the 68 patients, forty four patients (64%) developed acute renal failure and seventeen patients (25%) died of sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema or underlying diseases exacerbation. Among the 44 patients in acute renal failure, eighteen patients (41%) had oliguria during follow-up period. Thirteen patients of them needed dialysis and sixteen patients of them (36.4%) died. Another developed complications were hepatic dysfunction (34%), disseminated intravascular coagulation (28%), hypocalcemia (28%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (26%), pneumonia (22%), pulmonary edema (21%), hyperphosphatemia (7%) and hyperkalemia (4%). CONCLUSION: Nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure is a serious and potentially lethal condition. Optimal treatment depends on early recognition and intervention. A high clinical suspicion for the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis in the nontraumatic conditions can lead to quicker recognition and better patient care.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Alcoholism ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis ; Dialysis ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypophosphatemia ; Ischemia ; Korea ; Male ; Malignant Hyperthermia ; Oliguria ; Patient Care ; Pneumonia ; Poisoning ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Seizures ; Sepsis ; Shock

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of stroke on hypothalamic-pituitary axis using dexamethasone suppression test. The effects were evaluated according to age, sex, type, size, and lesion site of stroke. There tests were performed in 62 patients with stroke(cerebral infarction, 42 cases : intracerebral hemorrage, 20 cases) and 21 disabled controlled patients without intracranial diseases at Yeungnam University Hospital from June 1992 to June 1993. The results summarized as follows. 1. Cerebral infarction showed significantly higher frequency of DST non-suppression in stroke patients than control (p<0.05). 2. Patients with left hemisphere stroke showed more frequent abnormal neuroendocrine test results (p<0.01). 3. Patients with large infarction revealed strongly non-suppressed DST results(p<0.01). 4. Significantly higher basal cortisol level in patients with cerebral infarction was noted(p<0.01). 5. There are no statistical significance between DST results and sex, age, motor impairment, type of cerebral infarction.
Cerebral Infarction ; Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Infarction ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND: The value of coronary reperfusion resulting from Thrombolysis and/or coronary angioplasty in patients with evolving myocardial infarction has been rigorously evaluated and improved left venticular function and short-term survival rates have been demonstrated consistently in controlled studies. Benefits from delayed coronary angioplasty at 7-10 days after onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without thrombolysis remains unclear. In order to assess the effect of delayed reperfusion in infarct-related artery(IRA), we analyzed the restenosis rate of IRA after successful coronary angioplasty and the change of left ventricular function at late follow-up angiogram. METHOD: Coronary angioplasty in 69 lesions of 55 patients(M/F:48/7, mean age 53 years) with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) were performed at 7-10 days after onset of AMI and follow-up coronary angiogram (25 lesions of 20 pts) with left ventriculogram were obtained at means 5.1 months(range 4-6 months) after angioplasty. Restenosis rate of dilated infaret-related arteries and the changes of left ventricular function after angioplasty were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall procedural success rate of delayed elective coronary angioplasty in patients with AMI was 86% with a higher success rate in subtotally occluded vessel(98%) than in the occluded IRA(64%). Complications included acute closure after large dissection in 1(1.6%) and on -hospital mortality due to cardiogenic shock in 1(1.8%). Angiographically restenosis rate of IRA was 65% at mean 5.1 months follow-up, which was relatively higher than that after non-IRA angioplasty in AMI(25%) and in patients with angina(24%). Left ventricular ejection fraction improved significantly from 47.2+/-12.7% to 58.8+/-8.6%(P<0.05) at follow-up. Patients who had a patent IRA at follow-up had a restenotic IRA at follow-up had no statistically significant improvement in EF(table 3). Patients with a left anterior descending artery(LAD) lesion had lower mean immediate EFs than patients with right coronary artery lesion, however the degree of improvement in EF at follow-up was more significant in patients with LAD lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed elective angioplasty of IRA at 7-10 days after onset of AMI was relatively safe and had comparable procedural success rate. Higher restenosis rate(65%) of IRA at follow-up appeared to be related, at least on part, to the endothelial dysfunction after ischemic-reperfusion injury and clinically unstable status. Left ventricular function improved significantly after angioplasty at follow-up. Recovery of left ventricular function might be reated to whether or not the IRA had an angiographically restenosis at follow-up.
Angioplasty* ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Reperfusion ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Stroke Volume ; Survival Rate ; Ventricular Function, Left

To investigate the factors which affecting the cognitive impairment of the 60 or more age group, the authors surveyed for the subjects in some area of Kyungnam Province. 201 studied subjects were tested for cognitive function with mini-mental state examination(MMSE). Information on demographic characteristics and life style has been collected through direct interview. The concentration of Al and Ca of subject's drinking water, which might be related with cognition, was measured by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer. The main results were summarized as follows. 1. The prevalence rate of cognitive impairment was 18.4% in male and 45.2% in female and this sexual difference was statistically significant(p=0.03). And the uneducated or illiterated showed significantly high prevalence rate of cognitive impairment(p=0.02). 2. In stratified analysis by sex and education year, we can not see significant trend indicating the neurotoxic effects of aluminum and protective effects of calcium to the cognitive function(p>0.05). 3. The correlation between the concentration of aluminum in drinking water and the MMSE score in whole subjects showed weak negative relationship(r=-0.066). But there was no statistical significance(p=0.434).
Aged* ; Aluminum ; Argon ; Calcium ; Cognition ; Drinking Water ; Education ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Plasma ; Prevalence

Helicobacter pylori is now recognized as causative agent of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer, and strongly associated with development of gastric carcinoma. With development of sensitive and specific serologic tests to identify individuals infected with Helicobacter pylori, the epidemiologic study of this diseases has been investigated. But it's transmission route is not established, yet. The purpose of this study is to measure the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in healthy children and young adults and to evaluate related factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in Korea. The seroprevalence of Ig G antibodies to Helicobacter pylori was determined using a Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and we obtained the information, such as demographic characteristics, monthly household income, numbers of family members in the house, numbers of persons using same room, type of house, and type of drinking water through the questionnaire survey. The observed overall seropositivity rate was 25.7%. The rate is increased progressively from 5.8% in the age group 1~3 years to 44.4% in the age group 20~29 years(chi-square for trend, p<0.001). Especially, the rate increased steeply from 6.5% in the age group 4~6 years to 20.8% in the age group 7~9 years, and this suggested that elementary school age was the major acquisition time of Helicobacter pylori infection. In multivariate logistic regression model, age, numbers of family members in the house, and type of house was statistically significant variables for Helicobacter pylori infection. Each odds ratio(95% CI) were as follows; base to age group 1~9 years, age group 10~19 years 3.6(2.0~6.4), age group 20~29 years 7.3(4.1~13.1) and base to group of 1~3 family members, groups of 4~5 family members 2.1(1.1~4.0), group of 6 or more family members 2.7(1.3~5.4) and base to apartment, single and multihouse 1.9(1.1~3.5). Sex, monthly household income, numbers of persons using same room, and type of drinking water was not statistically significant for Helicobacter pylori infection.
Antibodies ; Child ; Drinking Water ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Serologic Tests ; Young Adult

This study was carried out to analyse the food intake and associated factors of the urban poor elderly by comparing poor district, Unbong rental apartment in Bonsong 2 dong with other areas in Pusan. 135 elderlies(men 36, women 99) in Unbong rental apartment 136 elderlies(men 45, women 91 ) in the other areas were investigated during the period of March to August in l994. The assumption that the study area represented poor district was satisfied because the age and sex distribution was not significantly different, and the income of the study area was significantly lower than that of the control area. The variables of hospitalized in previous 12 month, gastrointestinal problem, alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking did not differ significantly. But the variables of chronic disease, take medicine, perceive, vitamin supplement differed significantly between two groups. Therefore some factors associated with health state in the study area are worse than those of the control areas. At most of all variables, nutrients intake of the study area did not reach the recommended dietary allowances(RDA) for Koreans, and that nutrient intakes of the study area were significantly lower than those of the control area. The hypothesis of this study that nutrient status depends on economical status was proved. As for the score of nutritional knowledge, the study area was significantly lower than the control area. But as for the score of nutritional behavior, two areas were not significantly different. The latter is counter result of our hypothesis, owing to the effect of the confounding factors including education etc. As for the correlation of variables, not only economic status and educational level, but the score of nutritional knowledge effects strongly on nutrient status in the study area, the poor district. Therefore, adequate nutritional education to the elderly in the poor district should be considered.
Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Busan ; Chronic Disease ; Eating* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Sex Distribution ; Smoking ; Vitamins

To eveluate the risk factors which are related to recurrence of ischemic stroke, we selected subjects who were admitted to YNUH due to recurrent stroke and compared their risk factors with non-recurred group- who suffered from single ischemic stroke. In the subjects, 55 of them are men and 22 were women and in the non-recurred groups, 84 of them were men and 40 were women, Subject's age ranged from 29 to 86 years(Mean 62. 5years), and non-recurred group's age ranged from 27 to 90 years(Mean 60.7years), Peak incidence of ischemic stroke is in the 7th decade in both groups. Age and sex are not statistically significant for recurrence of ischemic stroke. The patient's history of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, transient attack and type or site of ischemic stroke had no significant effect statistically on the recurrent ischemic stroke. However, when the patient had previous history of hypertension or systolic blood pressure more than 160mmHg and diastolic more than 95mmHg, there was substantial difference (P<0.05) between the two group in the recurrence of ischemic stroke. According to the above results, hypertension is most likely significang risk factor of the recurrence of ischemic stroke within 2yeats after initial one. Therefore, adequate treatment of the hypertension is impertant for the prevention of ischemic stroke. Further study is required for searching other risk factors.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors* ; Stroke*

This survey was performed to obtain the basic information for the prevention and management of occupational low back injury(LBI). The subjects of this survey were 952 workers(male, 892;female, 60) who had taken occupational LBI in some industries of Pusan area from January 1 to December 31, 1991. Observation period was 2.6 years from the beginning to the end of medical treatment. The obtained results were summarized as follows; 1. The proportion of LBI workers was 15.9% of the workers who had taken any occupational injuries and 0.32% of all workers in this surveyed area. 2. 8.0% of the workers had taken LBI on the 1st day of employment and 55.2% of the workers were within one year, 91.4% of the workers were within 10 years according to cumulative frequency distribution. 3. Handling of heavy objects was the most common cause of LBI(32.0%) and fall down(26.9%) and slip down(16.3%) were the next in order. 4. The most common causes of both lumbar sprain and HNP were handling of heavy objects and that of lumbar fracture was fall down. 5. The mean duration for medical treatment of LBI workers was 143 days. 6. The total direct compensation cost for LBI workers was 6,736 million Won and the proportion of medical, resting, disability compensation costs were 25.0%, 37.0%, 38.0% respectively. 7. The percentages of retreated workers and disabled workers were 11.9%(113 persons) and 22.9%(218 persons) of total LBI workers respectively.
Back Injuries* ; Busan* ; Compensation and Redress ; Employment ; Occupational Injuries ; Sprains and Strains

We report a case of cytomegalovirus(CMV) pneumonitis in a 21-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). She was diagnosed 3 years ago with lupus nephropathy and was on immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. She developed dyspnea with fever and hypoxemia. Chest X-ray, and HRCT showed interstitial pneumonitis. We performed open lung biopsy. The diagnosis of CMV pneumonitis was made by the virus culture and immunohistochemical staining for CMV in lung tissue. Despite the admini stration of ganciclovir and high dose immunoglobulin therapy and assistance of mechanical ventilator, the patient died.
Anoxia ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fever ; Ganciclovir ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Pneumonia* ; Prednisolone ; Thorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Young Adult