OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of prostatitis symptoms in the general population by questionnaire survey and to measure the effect of prostatitis symptoms on quality of life(QOL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional community-based epidemiologic study was performed on 2,034 men, living in the Seoul metropolitan area using stepwise random sampling. Out of 2,034 interviewees, 1,356 men who were older than 40 and provided sufficient information were selected for this study. The questionnaires were completed by well trained interviewers. Contents of the questionnaires included demographic data, the Prostatitis Symptom Index(PSI), the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS), a general health questionnaire section and a sexual health questionnaire section. The PSI was composed of a sum of the scores from three questions about dysuria, penile pain and perineal pain and it ranged 0 to 12. Incidence of prostatitis symptoms was defined by a score of 4 or more and the reference group was defined as consisting of those with a score of 3 or less. The rate of incidence of prostatitis symptoms was assessed according to age and the difference of QOL between the prostatitis symptoms group and the reference group. RESULTS: The overall positive rate of prostatitis symptoms measured by the PSI, in men older than 40, living in the Seoul metropolitan area, was 4.5%(61/1,356), adjusted to 4.8% by the relative proportion of this age group in the general population of the Seoul metropolitan area as compared to Korea and the World. The proportion of the group with prostatitis symptoms assessed by the PSI did not increase with age although the proportion of participants with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) did increase with age. The group with prostatitis symptoms suffered from a much greater incidence of LUTS compared to the reference group (p<0.05). The QOL scores of the IPSS, and the general health and sexual health status of the group with prostatitis symptoms, were worse than those of the reference group.(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The positive rate of prostatitis symptoms in men older than 40, living in the Seoul metropolitan area, was 4.8% and it didn't increase with age. The general QOL of the group with prostatitis symptoms was much worse than that of the reference group.
Dysuria ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Prostatitis* ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproductive Health ; Seoul

We evaluated the clinical course of subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femoral head (SIFFH) and its characteristic findings with special regard to joint space narrowing (JSN). Thirty-one cases of SIFFH of mean age 68.9 yr initially underwent limited weight-bearing conservative treatment. During the follow-up period, the patients with intractable pain underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). For radiographic evaluation, lateral center-edge angle, JSN and femoral head collapse (FHC) were documented, and the extent of FHC was classified as mild (<2 mm), moderate (2-4 mm), and severe (>4 mm). The progression or new development of FHC more than 2 mm was evaluated on sequential plain radiographs. The relationship between radiographic parameters and clinical outcomes were evaluated. THAs were performed in 15 cases (48.4%). There was no significant correlation between clinical outcomes and the extent of initial FHC. However, a significantly larger proportion of patients that underwent THA showed JSN and FHC progression compared to the symptom improvement group. The risk factor significantly associated with failed conservative treatment was JSN (P=0.038; OR, 11.8; 95% CI, 1.15-122.26). Clinical results of conservative treatment for SIFFH in elderly patients are relatively poor. The patients with JSN are at higher risk of failed conservative treatment.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Body Mass Index ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Femur Head/pathology/*radiography ; Hip Fractures/pathology/*radiography ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Prevalence* ; Seoul* ; Urolithiasis*

PURPOSE: Survival outcome of locally advanced pancreatic cancer has been poor and little is known about prognostic factors of the disease, especially in locally advanced cases treated with concurrent chemoradiation. This study was to analyze overall survival and prognostic factors of patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 34 patients diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer and treated with definitive CCRT, from December 2003 to December 2012, were reviewed. Median prescribed radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 41.4 to 55.8 Gy), once daily, five times per week, 1.8 to 3 Gy per fraction. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 10 months (range, 0 to 49 months), median overall survival was 9 months. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 40% and 10%, respectively. Median and mean time to progression were 5 and 7 months, respectively. Prognostic parameters related to overall survival were post-CCRT CA19-9 (p = 0.02), the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status (p < 0.01), and radiation dose (p = 0.04) according to univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, post-CCRT CA19-9 value below 180 U/mL and ECOG status 0 or 1 were statistically significant independent prognostic factors associated with improved overall survival (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Overall treatment results in locally advanced pancreatic cancer are relatively poor and few improvements have been accomplished in the past decades. Post-treatment CA19-9 below 180 U/mL and ECOG performance status 0 and 1 were significantly associated with an improved overall survival.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) after cephalomedullary nailing in elderly patients with pertrochanteric fractures and to analyze the risk factors related to ONFH. Methods: A total of 689 consecutive patients with cephalomedullary nailing for pertrochanteric fractures at our hospital were recruited. Of these, 368 patients who met the inclusion criteria were finally enrolled. ONFH after cephalomedullary nailing was identified by reviewing patients’ electronic charts and serial radiographs. The ONFH group was then compared with the non-ONFH group. Results: ONFH was identified in 9 of 368 patients (2.4%). The time to diagnosis of ONFH averaged 23.8 months (range, 5–54 months) after index surgery. The mean age, body mass index, and bone mineral density (T-score in femur neck) were 84.1 ± 7.1 years, 23.7 ± 3.6 kg/m2, and −3.1 ± 0.7 kg/m2, respectively. The times from injury to surgery, from admission to surgery, and operation time averaged 4.2 ± 2.7 days, 3.6 ± 2.6 days, and 87.2 ± 30.0 minutes, respectively. Among 9 patients, 3 underwent conversion arthroplasty. The ONFH group had advanced age (p = 0.029), more basicervical fracture components (p= 0.002), and inadequate reduction (p = 0.045) compared to the non-ONFH group. On multivariate analysis, advanced age (odds ratio [OR], 1.61;, p = 0.022), basicervical fracture components (OR, 24.58; p = 0.001), and inadequate reduction (OR, 4.11; p = 0.039) were identified as risk factors of ONFH. Conclusions Although ONFH is relatively rare after cephalomedullary nailing for pertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients, its risk may increase with advanced age, basicervical fracture components, and inadequate reduction. Therefore, in patients with these risk factors, meticulous and longer follow-up is needed even after bone union.

BACKGROUND: Surgery of abdominal aortic aneurysm revealed high operative mortality. We reviewed our 11-years' experiences of abdominal aortic aneurysm operation and wish to obtain information on the treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From Jan. 1990 to Dec. 2000, 48 patients were operated due to abdominal aortic aneurysm in Yonsei Cardiovascular Center. Mean age was 62.8+/-12.7 and there were 40 males and 8 females. Among 48 patients, nine patients had ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, and mean aneurysm diameter of non-ruptured cases was 8.8+/-2.4 cm. RESULT: There were 6 early deaths, and early mortality was 12.5%. Among 9 patients of preoperative aneurysm rupture, three patients died (33.3%), and among 39 patients of non-ruptured cases, 3 patients died (7.7%). Among preoperative variables, age (p<0.05), preoperative BUN level (p<0.05), and DM (p<0.05) were risk factors of early mortality. Among discharged 42 patients, 40 patients were followed up (f/u rate=95.2%) and mean follow up was 3.6+/-0.2 years. During follow up periods, five patients died (late mortality=11.9%), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed 81.7+/-7.6% survival rate at five and ten year. Linealized incidence of graft related event was 3.53% per patient-year. CONCLUSION: Surgical mortality of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm was higher than non-ruptured cases; therefore, early resection of the aneurysm can decrease the surgical mortality.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Risk Factors ; Rupture ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: Activities of nucleases (acid DNase and neutral RNase) and RNase inhibitor known to be involved in carcinogenesis and suppression of cancer were determined in cancer tissue, serum and ascitic fluid of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and were compared with those of the controls. Also studied were nucleases and RNase inhibitor isolated from hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and ascitic fluid of the cancer patients to evaluate the properties and interactions between them. METHOD: Activities of nucleases and RNase inhibitor were measured in cancer tissue, serum and ascitic fluid of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Nucleases and RNase inhibitor were isolated from hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and ascitic fluid of the cancer patients by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. As controls, normal tissue of the cancer patients, serum of healthy persons and ascitic fluid of cirrhotic patients were used. RESULT: Activities of DNase, RNase and RNase inhibitor were significantly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. DNase activity was not detected, RNase activity was increased and RNase inhibitor activity was unchanged in both serum and ascitic fluid of the hepatocellular carcinoma patients. DNase was isolated as a single enzyme and RNase as seven isozymes from the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. The DNase isolated preferentially cleaved ds DNA over ss DNA and was endonuclease in nature (majority of hydrolytic products of DNA by the DNase were oligodeoxyribonucleotides). Of seven RNase isozymes isolated from the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue, isozyme I exhibited nonsecretory nature of RNase and other six isozymes secretory nature of the enzyme. Activity of RNase isozyme V was greatly increased and the activity of inhibitor complexed with the isozyme V was also increased. RNase in ascitic fluid of the cancer patient was separated into four isozymes, of which isozyme I exhibited mixed form of secretory and nonseretory nature and greatly increased in its activity. RNase isozyme V isolated in the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue was not detected in the ascitic fluid. CONCLUSION: The use of the nucleases and the inhibitor in the cancer tissue as biochemical markers for the hepatocellular carcinoma was suggested. RNase was released into the body fluid from the cancer tissue and could be used as a diagnostic marker for the hepatocellular carcinoma. An important role of the DNase in carcinogenesis of the liver was suggested. RNase isozyme V was limited in the cancer tissue and RNase isozyme I and V and inhibitors associated with these isozymes might be involved in carcinogenesis processes, suppression of cancer and maintenance of hepatocellular carcinoma through their interactions.
Ascitic Fluid ; Biomarkers ; Body Fluids ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Chromatography ; DEAE-Cellulose ; Deoxyribonucleases* ; DNA ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; Liver ; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic ; Ribonucleases* ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

BACKGROUND: Despite early aggressive treatment, post myocardial infarction(MI) ventricular septal defect(VSD) revealed high surgical mortality. We reviewed the 10-year experiences of surgically treated post-MI VSD in Yonsei University. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From Jan. 1991 to May 2001, 17 patients underwent surgical repair of post-MI VSD. Ages ranged between 47 and 77 years (mean age=63.2+/-9.1). There were 10 males and 7 females. VSD was located at anterior in 16 patients and at posterior in one. IABP was inserted preoperatively in 12 patients due to cardiogenic shock. Mean interval from MI to occurrence of VSD was 5.6 days. Among patients undergoing early surgical correction(n=13), mean interval from occurrence of VSD to operation was 2.5 days. In 11 patients, concomitant CABG was performed during repair of VSD. RESULT: Four patients died within 30 days after the operation (30 day mortality=23.5%). Among 12 patients with preoperative cardiogenic shock, 4 patients died within 30 days (30-day mortality=33.3%). During mean follow up period of 52 months, one patient died of unknown cause and 10-year survival of discharged patients was 66.7%. All follow-up patients were in NYHA functional class I or II when their last OPD visit. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of post-MI VSD, aggressive medical treatment with early surgical correction seems to be very important in terms early and long-term survival of patients.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Shock, Cardiogenic

The curriculum reform was undertaken at Kyungpook National University School of Medicine (KNUSM) to meet new educational objectives in order to cope with a rapid societal changes anticipated occurring in 21st century. The KNUSM Curriculum Development Committee was charged to formulate a new curriculum, which consisted of enhancement of patient-centered care based clerkship, integrated courses based on organ systems, problem-based learning, and additional teaching on social medicine, medical informatics and biomedical engineering. The philosophy of this curricular reform has been to modify methods of teaching medical students toward self-directed learning and student-centered. This whole concept was a drastic departure from the traditional lecturing. In the new curriculum, total of 180 credit courses, 4395 hours to graduate medical school were reduced to 170 credit courses, 4250 hours. As a part of the social medicine course, a 2 credit-hour course on patient-doctor relationship was taught and two credit-hour PBL tutorials were added to freshman, sophomore and junior years. In order to carry out this education reform, three new departments were inaugurated such as Biomedical Engineering, Medical Informatics and Medical Education. The school facility has also been improved during this preparatory period. The new curriculum has been implemented in 1999 academic year after approximately 4 years of preparatory period and annual faculty workshops have been held to monitor the progress of the reform and improve courses by evaluating impact of the change on both faculty members and students as well. The interim evaluation revealed several issues remained to be resolved. In conclusion, the acceptance of this reform was excellent from both faculty members and students although there have been continuous problem solving and adjustments necessary. The real assessment of the outcome of the reform requires many years to come and there has to be continuous monitoring of the progress and adjustment of curriculum are the pivotal of a success of the sort of education reform.
Biomedical Engineering ; Curriculum* ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Learning ; Medical Informatics ; Patient-Centered Care ; Philosophy ; Problem Solving ; Problem-Based Learning ; Schools, Medical ; Social Medicine ; Students, Medical

Recently, autologous bone marrow cell transplantation (CTx) for angiogenesis and myogenesis in ischemic myocardium has been extensively investigated to improve heart function. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of CTx with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) in patients who were not feasible for complete revascularization. Seven male patients underwent CTx combined with OPCAB in 5, CTx only in 1, and mitral valve repair in 1 patient simultaneously. Bone marrow was aspirated from iliac bone. Mean 1.5 x109 mononuclear cells including mean 7.3 x106 CD34+ cells and 2.4 x106 AC133+ cells were obtained and concentrated with 10cc. These cells were transplanted into non-graftable ischemic myocardium. Heart function was evaluated in all patients using MIBI scan, echocardiogram and heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preoperatively. The effect of CTx was evaluated using MIBI scan, echocardiogram, and MRI postoperatively. An average of 2 grafts were bypassed. Other territories were transplanted with isolated mononuclear cell. All patients had an uncomplicated postoperative course. After 2 to 7 months follow-up, there was improvement in symptom, ejection fraction (from 43% to 47%) on echocardiogram and myocardial perfusion on MIBI scan and MRI in all patients. These preliminary data showed improvement of heart function and myocardial perfusion and also showed the feasibility and safety of combined therapy with OPCAB and CTx in ischemic myocardium. However, the effectiveness of CTx alone cannot be readily assessed. Further randomized, controlled studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of CTx alone.