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

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia is a condition most often combined with cafe-au-lait spots and neurofibromatosis. It is notoriously difficult to attain a sound bony union. Compression plating and screw fixation with massive bone graft resulted in successful union in our case.
Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Neurofibromatoses ; Pseudarthrosis ; Tibia ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Hydronephrosis*

This study was performed to assess the effect of one year's of meal service for home-staying urban elderly with low incole on their nutritional status. One hundred and eighty three subjects, who had already completed the first nutritional survey, were assigned to two group : meal served(served) and non-meal served(non-served). A meal containing approximately on half of the RDA for energy, protein, calcium and iron was served as lunch everyday to served group. After on year of meal service, follow-up-nutritional survey was done and changes of parameters were analyzed with paired t-test. Served female showed signficantly increased intake of riboflavin and calcium, while non-served female showed significantly decreased intake of calcium. Serum total protein, serum albumin and serum cholesterol were significantly increased in female regardless of meal service. Served remale was observed with significantly elevated LDL-cholesterol, whereas non-served female showed singnificantly lowered HDL-cholesterol. Significantly decreased serum iron, serum transferrin saturaion and significantly increased TIBC were observed for female regardless of meal service. But the proportion of anemic elderly according to Hb or serum iron was decreased more in served group. Female showed significantly increased serum zinc and copper regardless of meal service, whereas only served male showed significantly increased serum copper.
Aged* ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Copper ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Lunch ; Male ; Meals* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Riboflavin ; Serum Albumin ; Transferrin ; Zinc

The aim of the spine fusion is to obtain the stability of the spine. Spinal fusion have been used for the treatment of tuberculosis and arrest of the progress of spinal deformity such as scoliosis. Nowadays the spine fusion is used often in conditions which present the instability; spondylosis, spondylolisthesis and the unstable postlaminectomy spine. Unilateral posterolateral fusion plus hemiposterior fusion were done only in the cases who had wide hemilaminectomy, while in rest of cases bilateral posterolateral fusion was indicated in this series. Fifty-two cases, treated with posterolateral lumber fusion during the period from June 1980 to Dec. 1985, were analysed clinically and radiologically and the following results were obtained. l. Among the 52 cases, 25 cases(48.1%) were male; and 27 cases(51.9%) were female; The youngest was 16 years of age and the oldest one was 63 years of age. Average age of the patient was 39.6 years. 2. Fifteen patients had spinal stenosis, 14 cases of spondylolisthesis, 11 cases of H.N.P., 6 cases of spondylolysis, 4 cases of tuberculous spondylitis and 2 cases of fracture-dislocation of lumbar spine. 3. As a method immobilization after operation, postoperatively hips spica cast was applied in 4 cases for 12 weeks, Norton-Brown back brace in 9 cases following 6 weeks of posloperative hip spica cast immobilization and Norton-Brown brace 39 cases following 2 weeks of postoperative bed rest. 4. In 41 cases bilateral posterolateral fusion was done, and in 11 cases unilateral posterolateral fusion plus hemiposterior fusion were done. The bony union was established within 4 months after bilateral posterolateral fusion in 37 cases and after unilateral posterolateral fusion in 9 cases. In 2 cases complete union was obtained within 6 months after fusion. 5. The union rate was 92.7% in bilateral posterolateral fusion and 90.9% in unilateral posterolateral fusion. There was no significant differences of the union rate between bilateral and unilateral fusion groups. Therefore, the unilateral posterolateral fusion is a suitable method in the treatment of mild spinal instability regardless of its causes. The procedure has benefits, such as short operation time, less blood loss, and less surgical burden to the patient.
Arthrodesis ; Bed Rest ; Braces ; Clinical Study ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Male ; Methods ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylolysis ; Spondylosis ; Tuberculosis

This study was conducted to investigate the determinants of obesity during adolescnece. A total of 726 adolescents living in rural areas in Korea had been observed for four years from 1992 to 1996 regarding their diet, sexual maturity, blood profile and physical growth. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to identify priorities fo the importance between the factors influencing obesity. The average nutrient intake over the three year period was higher than that of the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances. The prevalence of obesity for the subjects based on BMI was 9.5%. Results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that blood components and sexual maturity were more significant factors for determining the obesity than the dietary factors. The result may suggest that to understand obesity in children it is necessary to develop on analytical model for the children rather than using the existing analytical model developed mostly for adult patients of obesity. The model should include a wide range of variables such as diet, sexual maturity and changes in blood.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Child ; Diet* ; Humans ; Korea ; Longitudinal Studies* ; Obesity* ; Prevalence ; Recommended Dietary Allowances

We report a case of woolly hair. Woolly hair is found frequently in most blacks but is unusual in individuals of non-negroid origin. A 12-year-old female patient visited our clinic complaining of a hair abnormality. It had been tightly curled, fine, light brown, short and easily broken since birth. On scanning electron microscopy, many of the hairs showed damaged cuticles with cuticular splintering, and most hair shafts were round to oval on cross sectional examination.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Female ; Hair* ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Parturition

Paraquat is the most important bipyridyl herbicide, acting as a norselective herbicide with somewhat unique properties. The major acute local cutaneous side effects reslt from the caustic properties of paraquat, which produce local ulceration of the epithelial surface. Blistering of the skin and cracking and even loss of the fingernails have been reported. Its systemic taxic ties also include pulmonary fibrosis, cardiac failure, renal failure, and hepatotoxicity. We report a case of erytlema multiforme with transient heat-toxicity due to percutanious absorption of paraquat. A 31-year-old farmer was admitted to our de artment because of target-like bullous erythema on both thighs and buttocks following accidenta contact with paraquat. The histopathologic findings show d spongiesis, exocytosis, intercellular dema in the epidermis, degeneration of dermo-epidermal junction and inflammatory cell infiltrations in the dermis especially papillary and perivascular area.
2,2'-Dipyridyl ; Absorption ; Adult ; Blister ; Buttocks ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Exocytosis ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Nails ; Paraquat ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Skin ; Thigh ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Leukemia*

No abstract available.