BACKGROUND: Most studies of Mycoplasma pneumonia involve a group of admitted patients in hospital, usually with major medical illness. So we investigated the epidemiologic and radiologic features during the course of outbreak of pneumonia in Chunnam coastal area. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the epidemiologic and clinical feature of 105 patients with serologically proven Mycoplasma pneumonia treated at Kwang-Yang Hospital during a epidemic period of Jun. 1993 to Dec. 1993. All cases of pneumonia developed in this period were also reviewed and compared with serologically proven group. RESULTS: 1) There were 63 males and 42 females. 2) More than half(57%) of cases belonged to 5-9 years of age group, and mean age was 6.5 years old. Mean age was steadily decreased as prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumonia had been subsided. 3) A major determinant of the outbreak seemed to .to the population density rather than the population size. 4) The common radiologic features were interstitial in type, and 67 cases was restricted to one lobe. Lobar types are more common in late childhood, and interstitial or diffuse types in early childhood. CONCLUSION: These epidemiologic and radiographic characteristics would contribute to the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumonia.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Population Density ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Mortality* ; Tuberculosis*

Multiple factors including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were evaluated for a case-control study in Chonnam area to investigate the causative entity of COPD. Data on the multiple causative factors from hospital records and interview survey were analyzed in three groups of COPD(64 cases as case group), normal lung (83 cases as control group 1) and non-COPD lung disease (45 cases as control group 2). Smoking status, history of adulthood pulmonary infection and frequent history of URI, socioeconomic status, and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 1. Drinking status, physical height of the subjects and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 2. If control group 1 was used, odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 5.68(95%confidence interval, 95% CI:2.59-12.45) and 4.81 (95% CI:1.89-10.53) when adjusted by age and smoking status. If control group 2 was used. Odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 4.22 (95% CI:1.69-10.56) and 4.59 (95% CI:1.64-12.86) when adjusted by alcohol and adulthood respiratory infection status. In summary, there results suggested that GERD might play a causative role in the development of COPD.
Case-Control Studies ; Drinking ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hospital Records ; Jeollanam-do ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class

Although it is well known that ultraviolet and short wavelength visible rays are harmful to the human lens and the retina, consumers still tend to select sunglasses on the basis of fashion rather than protective quality. In order to provide guidelines for selecting appropriate sunglasses, we studied the mechanism of phototoxic damage and UV protective quality of commonly used sunglasses. Commonly used sunglasses were chosen by random sampling, and their UV transmittance was examined by spectrophotometer using neutral density filter method. UV transmittance was shown to be 3.0% to 40.8% and there was no significant relationship between UV transmittance and the tint or darkness of the sunglasses.
Darkness ; Humans ; Retina

Since opening of the Yeungnam University Hospital in May 1983 till September 1983, total 411 headache patients were treated at the Neurology clinic. It was found that considerable number of the cases had latent epilepsy and brain atrophy as the causes of the headache. In about 40% of the cases, EEG showed more than moderate abnormalities. These cases should not be sent to psychiatry directly as they are not indicated for surgery, but should be treated at neurology clinic primarily.
Atrophy ; Brain ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Headache* ; Humans ; Neurology

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of industrial noise on blood pressure and heart rate. METHODS: Resting blood pressure, hearing loss, and general characteristics of the 102 subjects who were engaged in a factory in Pusan were measured from March to June for two years, in 1998 and 1999. With noise dosimeter, noise exposure level was measured from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. Ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate were also measured every 30 minutes from 8 A.M. to 10 P. M. RESULTS: Controlling for age, smoking, and Quetelet's index, in subjects of under 40 years old exposed to higher than 85dBA, noise exposure and systolic blood pressure had a statistically significant correlation, and the same result was obtained in all subjects. The daily variability of ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate were observed in older than 40 years old group, but only heart rate in under 40 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The blood pressure and heart rate would be elevated when the workers exposed to noise. And in under 40 years old, the systolic blood pressure was elevated to the workers exposed to higher than 85dBA.
Adult ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Busan ; Hearing Loss ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Noise* ; Smoke ; Smoking

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans* ; Immunization*

No abstract available.

This study examined two differences in physical and psychological recovery patterns after surgery in the elderly. The sample consisted of 40 patients with abdominal surgery in five large hospitals in Seoul. The data for this study were collected from Apr. 20 to Nov. 26 by structured questionnaire, chart review and call. Physical recovery was assessed by ADL, a Cantril Ladder Scale and a Visual Analogue Scale. Psychological recovery was measured by the Geriatric depression Scale and a Cantril Ladder Scale. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and MANOVA by SPSS/WIN. The result are as follows : 1. Physical recovery indicated significant improvement over time with the exception of ADL(F=.812 p=.449). Perceived physical health were significantly improved(F=6.189 p=.004). Pain & discomfort was significantly decreased(F=3.927 p=.025). 2. Perceived psychological health was significantly improved over time(F=20.648 p=.000), but depression showed no statistical significance improvement over time(F=1.393 p=.256). 3. There were no significant effects of sex, age, complication and combined chronic diseases on physical and psychological recovery patterns. 4. There were significant correlations between operation time and pain(r=-.331 p=.020), recovery time and perceived psychological health(r=-320 P=.024), recovery time and pain(r=.404 p=.005). There were significant cerrelations between admision period and ADL(r=-.418 p=.004), perceived physical health(r=-.354 p=.014), depression(r=.280 p=.042), and perceived psychological health(r=-.447 p= .002). BRAS showed significant correlation with ADL(r=-.458 p=.002). 5. With an increase in the degree of perceived health (physical and psychological), ADL was significantly increased. With an increased in the degree of depression and pain, ADL and perceived health (physical and psychological) were significantly decreased. In conclusion, the elderly patient recovered significantly over time with the exception of ADL and depression. It these we suggested to considered when planning care for elderly patients.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul

The purpose of this study was to explore the personality and eating behavior among adult women. The subjects for the study were 237 adult women, who live in Seoul. The survey instruments were to develop for personality and eating behavior. Data were collected between November 6 and November 27 in 2000 and analyzed using the SPSS program. The result of this study are as follows: 1. Six factors(perfection, emotion, autonomy, consideration for other, evaluate from other, dependency) emerged from personality, and these contributed 55.29% of the variance in the total score. 2. Three factors(craving, food intake according to emotion, eating habit) emerged from eating behavior, and these contributed 49.23% of the variance in the total score. 3. There were significant correlation between personality and eating behavior(r=0.32, p=0.00). 4. In the relationships between craving and personality, perfection, emotion, autonomy, consideration for other, evaluate from other, dependency showed a statistically significant correlation. 5. In the relationships between food intake according to emotion and personality, perfection, evaluate from other, dependency showed a statistically significant correlation. 6. In the relationships between eating habit and personality, perfection, autonomy, consideration for other, evaluate from other, dependency showed a statistically significant correlation. This study suggest that perfection, evaluation from other, dependency dimension of personality may be important factor for regulation of eating behavior.
Adult ; Eating* ; Feeding Behavior* ; Female ; Humans ; Seoul