Cardiovascular measurement on PA teleroentgenogram of the chest is simple, but very useful in the diagnosis,prognosis, and therapy of hypertensive patients. The authors have measured and calculated cardiothoracic ratio,Lt, to Rt. cardiac diameter ratio, and Lt, aortic knob width to thoracic diameter ration for evaluation of theeffect of blood pressure and age in hypertensive group. We used materials of 70mm fluorography of 255 hypertensivemen above 150/90mmHg chosen from national police hospital during Jan. from Aug. 1981. Their age ranged from 20 to50 yeras. The results were as follows. 1. Cardiomegaly (above 50 percents in cardiothoracic ration) ofhypertensive men is 26%. 2. The cardiothoracic ration increased progressively with blood pressure and age, butpooly correlated between cardiothoracic ration and age than blood pressure. 3. The Lt. to Rt. cardiac diameterration gave similar trend to the cardiothoracic ration. It indicates that hypertensive cardiac enlargement mainlydepned on Lt. Ventricular enlargement. 4. The Lt. aortic knob width to thoracic diameter ration increasedprogressively with blood pressure and age, and had linear correlationship with blood pressure and age. Therefore,prominence of aortic knob is the most significant finding in hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiomegaly ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Police ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of different isolation policies in reducing the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospital in-patients. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of an isolation policy on transmission of MRSA in the 745-beds hospital. First period, all patients with MRSA (March - July 2000) were not isolated Second period, strict isolation policies were performed (August 2000 - January 2002). All patients with MRSA were isolated in separated room, hand hygiene using alcohol handrub, gowning and g1oving, apply of MRSA notice sticker, criteria in isolation remove, separated disinfection and wastement. Third period, semi strict isolation policies were performed (February 2002 - August 2005). Some patients with MRSA were isolated in separated room and others were admitted in general ward for bed shortage. Only some practices were performed in hand washing and separated disinfection in general ward. RESULTS: The rates of MRSA nosocomial infection per patients during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surveillance were reported 0.56, 0.23, and 0.42 (P<0.05). Patient-days rate of MRSA nosocomial infection during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surveillance were reported 0.62, 0.27, and 0.38 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: With many different isolation policies, it was possible to reduce nosocomial infection of MRSA. In this study, strict isolation policies (2nd period) were the most effective practices in reducing MRSA infection.
Cross Infection ; Disinfection ; Hand Disinfection ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Patients' Rooms ; Prospective Studies

Segmental dilatation of small intestine or colon can induce signs of intestinal obstruction, such as abdominal distension, vomiting and constipation. There are no anatomical gross obstructive lesions, and moreover, ganglion cells are observed in both dilated and undilated distal segments of the intestine. It often accompanied by other congenital anomalies. We reported two cases of segmental dilatation of the intestine in the newborn infants, one in small intestine and the other in colon, with brief review of the related literatures.
Colon ; Constipation ; Dilatation* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Intestines* ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Cepharanthin (R) has been reported to improve the symptoms of intractable or steroid-resistant chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). We report the clinical efficacy of oral high dose Cepharanthin (R) in refractory chronic ITP. METHODS: We analyzed eleven patients who were diagnosed as chronic ITP at the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Hospital from January, 2002 to February, 2004. After informed consent patients with platelet count below 20, 000/mm3 were treated with Cepharanthin (R) at the initial dose of 5 gm/day. The doses were increased up to 15 gm/day if there was no response. For the purposes of this study, complete remission was defined as an elevation of the platelet count > or =50, 000/mm3 from the baseline after 4 weeks of treatment. Partial remission was defined as an elevation of the platelet count 20, 000/mm3 and < = or50, 000/mm3 from the baseline. RESULTS: Seven boys and four girls with a median age of 10 were enrolled. Two to four weeks after the initiation of this therapy, 4 patients showed their platelet counts over 50, 000/mm3 1 patients reached partial remission state, 6 patients had no response. Side effects of Cepharanthin (R) were not observed in all patients. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the oral administration of Cepharanthin (R) could be a beneficial and a safe treatment strategy for the refractory chronic ITP patients. Further studies should be performed to elucidate the mechanism of responses.
Administration, Oral ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Pediatrics ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Seoul

Stickler syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue with a wide range of expressivity and incomplete penetrance which is called hereditary progressive arthro-ophthalmopathy. Affected neohates may present with the Pierre-Robin syndrome, progressive myopia, retinal detachment, flat face, hypertelorism, progressive arthritis. Early recognition of the syndrome is important, not only for genetic counselling but also to offer a more precise prognosis and proper treatment of many serious disorders that may occur in affected children. We experienced a case of Stickler syndrome with large eyeballs in a 3-day-old female baby who showed Pierre-Robin anomaly, flat face, hypertelorism, epicanthal folds, long philtrum, micrognathia, deft palate, high congenital myopia, chorioretinal degeneration, thin habitus and hyperextensible joints.
Arthritis ; Child ; Connective Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Joints ; Lip ; Myopia ; Myopia, Degenerative ; Palate ; Penetrance ; Pierre Robin Syndrome ; Prognosis ; Retinal Detachment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among the levels of total serum cholesterol level, blood pressure, body mass index, and lifestyle. METHOD: This study was designed as a descriptive correlation study. Subjects were 972 adults participated voluntarily living in GyeongNam. The height, weight, blood pressure and fasting serum cholesterol were measured. Body mass index was caculated. Information on general characteristics (age, gender, education, job, family history) and life style(cigarette, alchol, sleeping time, regular exercise, meal pattern, peppery, salty, sweetness, vegetable diet, meat diet) were collected using a questionnaire by interviewing method. RESULT: The mean value of total serum cholesterol was 197+/-36.4mg/dl(mean; 189.4+/-36.7, women; 202.1 +/-35.1). By simple analysis, the serum total cholesterol according to general characteristics features was statistically significant in age(F= 6.765, p=000) and gender (t=5.372, p=.000). Total serum cholesterol levels increased significantly with increasing BMI. The serum total cholesterol according to life style features was statistically significant in cigarette(chi2 =12.12, p=.016), exercise(chi2=6.335, p=.042), salty taste(chi2=18.801, p=016), vegetable diet(chi2=19.488, p=012). The most affecting factor which total serum cholesterol factor was BMI(beta=.151, p=.000). CONCLUSION: The significant risk factors relating to serum total cholesterol were age, gender, BMI, smoking, and exercise. Therefore, for the reduction of serum total cholesterol level, it is recommended that nursing intervention for the prevention of obesity, change of life style should be implemented.
Adult ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index* ; Cholesterol* ; Climacteric ; Diet ; Education ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Meals ; Meat ; Nursing ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Statistics as Topic ; Vegetables

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate factors associated with depression and quality of life (QoL) among the community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: This study used a descriptive correlational research design. The subjects were 730 elders aged over 65 living in D district of Daegu. Data were collected using questionnaires for 30 days in April, 2007. The research instruments utilized in this study were a physical function scale of long-term care insurance system, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version (GDSSF-K), and Korean Quality of Life Scale (KoQoLs). The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan, stepwise multiple regression, and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 72.6, and 68.8% and 57.9% of subjects were, respectively, female and living alone. 12.3% of variance in depression was explained by age, education, economic status, subjective health, alcohol consumption, condition of teeth, and fall experience. 18.2% of variance in QoL was explained by economic status, number of diseases, condition of teeth, incontinence, paralysis, and IADL. Economic status and condition of teeth were contributing factors to depression and QoL of the elderly. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study may be useful in understanding the health status of the community-dwelling elderly and developing more regionally specific health promotion strategies.
Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Daegu ; Depression* ; Education ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Korea ; Paralysis ; Quality of Life* ; Research Design ; Tooth ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Humans* ; Hypertension* ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, and the state of mental health for elderly Korean people who have been institutionalized. METHODS: A cross-sectional, nation-wide survey was performed using an anonymous questionnaire. The participants in this study were 2,521 institutionalized elderly Korean people. A proportional stratified random sampling method was employed. RESULTS: 1) Elders admitted to subacute hospitals and long term care (LTC) facilities showed a higher level of cognitive impairment compared to elders admitted to acute care hospitals. 2) Elders confined in LTC facilities showed a higher level of behavioral problems compared to elders in acute or subacute hospitals. 3) Elders admitted to subacute hospitals and LTC facilities showed more serious mental health problems, such as depression or suicidal ideation, compared to elders in acute care hospitals. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the severity of cognitive-behavioral or mental health problems do not match well with type of care setting. Therefore, health personnel working with elderly people should be provided guidance on detection and management of cognitive-behavioral and mental health problems. The necessity of a decision support system for eligibility and placement in long-term care is also discussed.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognition Disorders/*epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Female ; Homes for the Aged ; Hospitals ; Humans ; *Institutionalization ; Long-Term Care ; Male ; Mental Disorders/*epidemiology ; *Mental Health ; Nursing Homes ; Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome* ; Leukemia*