While there have been not a few reports on the seroepidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Korea, most of them, however, have had several limitations; operational definition of HBV infection, validity of detection methods of HBV serologic markers, size of the study population, and confirmation of the vaccination history against HBV, etc. In order to avoid such limitations, authors randomly selected 1,495 healthy adults among the 217,511 insured (target population) of Korean Medical Insurance Corporation, living in seoul, and tested HBV(HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc) of all the subjects were tested, 392(26.2%) of interview failure cases 742 nonvaccinee were excluded from the actual population. Finally, the serologic markers tested of 742 nonvaccinee (study population) only were analyzed for the seroepidemiologic observation of the natural infection of HBV. The seroepidemiological characteristics of HBV infection in Korea were as follows ; 1 Point prevalence of HBs antigenemia was 11.7(9.1-14.3)% in male, which was slightly higher than that of female, 9.5(3.7-15.3)%. This level was one of the highest among those of Asian-Pacific countries. Decreasing tendency of HBsAg prevalence after the age of 50 was observed, which seems to be due to selective attrition of HBV chronic carriers among the healthy adults and/or to the limited-lasting duration of the HBs antigenemia, in part. 2. Point prevalence of anti-HBc(78.8% in male, 50.9% in female) was higher than that of anti-HBs(65.2% in male, 46.6% in female), respectively. And both of them were higher in male than in female. Increasing tendency of the prevalence of both antibodies was observed by age, which seems to be largely due to recurrent infection in adults and to some cumulative effect, in part, of their relatively longer-lasting duration. 3. The level of HBV infection defined by positive for at least one of the 3 serologic markers of HBV by RIA method was 84.7(81.8-87.6)% in male and 61.2(51.9-70.5)% in female, which was also one of the highest among those of Asian-Pacific countries. The proportion of susceptible population to HBV infection among healthy adults was 15.3% in male and 38.8% in female. 4. The relative frequency of current or past infection and chronic carrier among HBV infected person was estimated. The currently or past infected was estimated 75.7% in male and 71.8% in female, and chronic carrier state, 13.8% in male and 14.1% in female. The analysis of the geometric mean of the antibody titer in anti-HBs positive sera indicated also to be compatible with the above findings, suggesting that active, even though inapparent, infection of HBV occur so frequently among healthy adults in Korea.
Adult* ; Antibodies ; Carrier State ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Radioimmunoassay ; Seoul* ; Vaccination

To estimate the cancer mortality rates among Koreans, a mortality survey was carried out in the province of Kyongsangnam-do. The study population are the beneficiaries of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation (KMIC), Kydngsangnam-do area, among which the 3,867 deaths occurred from January, 1989 to December, 1990, were reviewed to confirm the cancer deaths. These were based upon the death certificates and medical utilization records before dying which were available through the computerized databases on medical care utility of KMIC. The survey was conducted along three steps. At first, the death certificates were examined, as a second step medical utilization records were reviewed, and finally direct contacts to the family members of the deceased were done. As a result, 990 deaths were found due to cancer. Using them, age and sex specific cancer(all sites and several sites) mortality rates were estimated. Overall cancer mortality rate in the area was estimated 138.7 per 100,000 person-years in males, and 65.7 in females, respectively. And the orders of site-specific cancer mortality rates were the cancers of stomach, liver, lung, esophagus, and cancers of the hematopoietic system among males, In females, followed by gastric cancer, cancers of lung and liver are the 2nd and 3rd in rank, respectively and cancers of breast and uterine cervix are the 4th and the 5th in rank.
Breast ; Cervix Uteri ; Death Certificates ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Hematopoietic System ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Mortality* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

Three cases of Wilms's tumor observed during the period from January, 1969 to October, 1969 are presented and related literature reviewed.
Wilms Tumor

The aim of this study was to assess the degree of association between individual stress and the amount of smoking among male senior students of a medical college. The questionnaire survey was conducted twice for collecting the data on stress level in terms of BEPSl score, smoking amounts, alcohol intake, and residence type in 1992 and 1993. Among the 223 responders, 39.9% were smokers. In the smokers, the association between stress level and smoking amount was significant after controlling for alcohol intake and residence type (P < 0.l). Especially in the group of living without family, the association was more significant (p=0.06). Therefore, it is recommendable that the stress management program is called upon for the student smokers to reduce smoking amount.
Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

A Epiphyseal injury in children is common following trauma to result in significant and permanent loss of function and growth. We analyzed 24 cases of epiphyseal injuries about the knee inchildren, who were treated in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine from Jan. 1980 to Dec. 1987. The results were as follows :1. The sex ratio between male and female eas 2.5: 1, and mean age was 11 years old. 2. Large number of cases were by slip-down, traffic accidents or fall. 3. Epiphyseal injuries about the knee occurred in 12% among the 417 cases of childrens epiphyseal injuries. In point of injury patterns, large number of cases were Salter-Harris type 2 and type 3 injuries in the distal femur and the proximal tibia. 4. They were treated with closed reduction and plaster immobilization in 66%, with operative reduction and internal fixation in 34%. 5. Complications occurred in 6 cases : Knee pain and limitation of motion, angular deformity and limb shorteniing.
Accidents, Traffic ; Child ; Clinical Study ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Female ; Femur ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Knee ; Male ; Sex Ratio ; Tibia

This study was aimed at evaluating the nutritional status of Korean lactating women, who were attending peripheral community clinics in low-income areas, by anthropometric measurement, estimating dietary intakes and analyzing the contents of breast milk components, serum lipid content and fatty acid composition. Regarding anghropometric measurements, maternal circumferences decreased significantly at the trunk but not at the limbs. The skinfold thickness on all regions had the tendency to decrease during lactation. It was found that intakes of energy, protein, lipid and carbohydrates were desirable while calcium, zinc, copper and vitamin A were low and sodium was excessive. The energy % of fat was 22.41% of the total energy which is higher than the RDA for adults but it is proper for lactating women, but energy % from each fatty acid was usually low and an intake ratio of omega6/omega3 fatty acids was desirable. Accordingly, it is thought that dietary fat intake was balanced in quality. Concentrations of the nutrients in matured human milk showed the same range as that reported form different regions with the exception of calcium and magnesium which were relatively low. Serum lipid contents were decreased with the time postpartum and the average serum lipid content of lactating women were similar to the normal range of adults. Serum polyunsaturated fatty acids. especially omega6 fatty acids have gradually increased with the time postpartum, but the composition were not greatly influenced by dietary intakes.
Adult ; Breast* ; Calcium ; Carbohydrates ; Copper ; Dietary Fats ; Extremities ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Magnesium ; Milk, Human* ; Nutritional Status ; Postpartum Period ; Reference Values ; Skinfold Thickness ; Sodium ; Vitamin A ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: Ethyl crbmate(EC) has been identified at low microgram quantities in various fermented beverages, destiled products and tobacco smoke. EC has long been known as a carcinogen. Oxidation of the ethyl group of EC is followed by dehydration to yield the carcinogen vinyl carbamate (VC). This is further oxidized to vinyl carbamate epoxide(VCO). VC and VCO proved to be much more carcirogenic than EC. OBJECT: The objective of this study is to compare the potency of carcinogenic ability and histologic changes in skin tumors induced by EC, VC, or VCO. METHODS: In this exeriment, the tumor induction was performed by painting the mouse skin once a week for five weeks with EC, VC and VCO solution, and then 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate(TP2) was treated in the same manner twice a week for 35 weeks. We biopsied the skin at B 0, 15, 25, 30 and 35 weeks and stained the specimens with hematoxylineosin. RESULTS: The time period for the first appearance of papilloma was 6 weeks in the VC-TPA and VCO-TPA group, but, 15 weeks in the EC TPA group. The average number of papilloma showed a statistically sign.ficant difference after 15 weeks between the EC-TPA, VC-TPA and VCO-TPA group. The occurrence of keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma was 16 and 21 weeks respectively. Histologic changes, such as epidermal layers, pseudohorncysts, degree of hyperkeratosis, hypergranulosis, dysplasia and dyskeratotic cells were more prominent in the papil loma than in the non-papilloma lesion. Dermal changes disclosed similiar findings, that is, increased dermal thicknes, proliferation of vessels and hair follicles, and fibrosis of the dermis. Squamous cell carcinomis and keratoacanthomas were produced only in the VCO-TPA group. CONCLUSION: From the above results it is concluded that VC and VCO have a more potent carcinogenic potential than EC. Various skin tumors, such as papilloma, keratoacanthoma or squamous cell carcinoma were prorduced by the above carcinogens.
Animals ; Beverages ; Carcinogens ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dehydration ; Dermis ; Fibrosis ; Hair Follicle ; Keratoacanthoma ; Loma ; Mice ; Paint ; Paintings ; Papilloma ; Skin* ; Smoke ; Tobacco ; Urethane*

The serum concentrations of the major minerals(calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium) and trace elements(iron, Zinc, copper manganese)were datermined in 23 breast fed infants living in Eumsung, Choong-buk region. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1)The mean levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium of the serum of total subjects were 8.15+/-0.33mg/dI, 11.06+/-0.16mg/dI, 2.00+/-0.14mg/dI, 3.4476+/-17.99mg/dI and 9.06+/-2.04mg/dI respectively. 2)The serum concentrations of iron, zinc, copper and manganese in total subjects averaged 95.83+/-0.33mg/dI, 93.79+/-7.06 microgram/dI and 98.57+/-7.06 microgram/dI and 4.93+/-0.62 microgram/dI respecitively. 3)Breast fed infants had significantly higher serum calcim, magnesium, sodium and iron concentrations than the formula fed groups. Otherwise, serum potassium, copper and manganese levels in breast milk fed infants were significantly lower than those in formula fed infants. 4) In formula fed infants, serum potassium and copper levels increased increased significantly with months after birth.
Breast ; Calcium ; Copper ; Humans ; Infant* ; Iron ; Magnesium ; Manganese ; Milk, Human ; Minerals* ; Parturition ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Trace Elements* ; Zinc

Hemifacial microsomia is a common congenital craniofacial deformity involving bone and soft-tissue. Mandibular hypoplasia is the most obvious skeletal manifestation of hemifacial microsomia. In the past, complete realignment of the skeleton was preferred to soft-tissue correction, which was clearly second choice. However, in this study, simultaneous correction of bone and soft tissue deformities were equally important in treatment of hemifacial microsomia. One-stage and simultaneous bone and soft tissue reconstruction is possible and staged operations of the skeleton and soft tissue are no longer necessary, except in special cases. Even in children and adolescents, good results and normal growth potential can be achieved with simultaneous correction of bone and soft tissue.
Adolescent ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Goldenhar Syndrome ; Humans ; Skeleton

To estimate the child and infant mortality rates among Korean children, a mortality survey was carried out in the province of Kyongsangnam,buk-do. The study population are the beneficiaries of Korea Medical Insurance Coorporation (KMIC), Kyongsangnam,buk-do area, among which the 3,867 and 1767 deaths occurred from January, 1989 to December, 1990 in Kyongsangnam-do area and from January, 1991 to December, 1991 in Kyongsangbuk-do area respectively. We reviewed the data to confirm the causes of death. These were based on the death certificates and medical utilization records before dying which were available through the computerized databases on medical care utility of KMIC. The survey conducted along three steps. At first, the death certificates were examined, as a second step, medical utilization records were reviewed, and finally direct contacts to the family members of the deceased were done. As a result, 115 deaths were found under 20 years of age. Using them, age specific mortalities and causes of death were estimated. Mortality rate in this area was estimated 129 per 100,000 person-years during 1 month to 11 months of age, 67 during 1 year to 4 years of age, 23 during 5 years to 9 years of age, 10 during 10 years to 14 years of age, and 29 during 15 years to 19 years of age, respectively. And the frequent causes of death were congenital anomalies, central nervous system (CNS) diseases, certain condition originating from perinatal period during 1 months of age; accidents, congenital anomalies, malignancies, CNS diseases, and pneumonia or bronchiolitis during 1 to 4 years of age; accidents, malignancies, CNS diseases, and congenital anomalies during 5 to 14 years of age; and accidents, suicide, malignancies, and CNS diseases during 15 to 19 years of age.
Bronchiolitis ; Cause of Death ; Central Nervous System ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; Child ; Child Mortality* ; Child* ; Death Certificates ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Insurance ; Korea ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Suicide