Social medicine is recognized as one of medical specialties in many countries. However, social medicine has never been formally introduced to Korea, presumably because the term and its principles were not accepted for some years in the past in American medicine, which has strongly influenced Korean medicine. This paper describes the origins and evolution of social medicine and briefly discusses contemporary social medicine in Korea. Social medicine was initiated in France and Germany in 1848. Since then, it has expanded globally and developed in diverse ways. Included in core principles of social medicine is that social and economic conditions have important effects on health and disease, and that these relationships must be subjected to scientific investigation. The term ‘social medicine’ is rarely used in Korea, but many of its subject matters are incorporated into preventive medicine which, besides prevention, deals with population health that is inescapably social. However, the Korean preventive medicine directs little attention to the basic concepts and principles of social medicine, upon which systematic development of social medicine can be based. Thus, it is necessary to supplement the social medicine contents of preventive medicine through formalizing the linkages between the two fields. One way of doing so would be to change the title of ‘preventive medicine’ course in medical colleges to ‘preventive and social medicine,’ as in many other countries, and to adjust the course contents accordingly.
France ; Germany ; Korea* ; Preventive Medicine ; Republic of Korea ; Social Medicine*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the analgesic effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor (M1), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and sham tDCS in patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDPN). METHODS: Patients with PDPN (n=60) were divided randomly into the three groups (n=20 per group). Each group received anodal tDCS with the anode centered over the left M1, DLPFC, or sham stimulation for 20 minutes at intensity of 2 mA for 5 consecutive days. A blinded physician rated the patients' pain using a visual analog scale (VAS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) score, anxiety score, sleep quality, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the pain threshold (PT) to pressure. RESULTS: After the tDCS sessions, the M1 group showed a significantly greater reduction in VAS for pain and PT versus the sham and DLPFC groups (p<0.001). The reduction in VAS for pain was sustained after 2 and 4 weeks of follow-up in the M1 group compared with the sham group (p<0.001, p=0.007). Significant differences were observed among the three groups over time in VAS for pain (p<0.001), CGI score (p=0.01), and PT (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed among the groups in sleep quality, anxiety score, or BDI score immediately after tDCS. CONCLUSION: Five daily sessions of tDCS over the M1 can produce immediate pain relief, and relief 2- and 4-week in duration in patients with PDPN. Our findings provide the first evidence of a beneficial effect of tDCS on PDPN.
Anxiety ; Chronic Pain ; Depression ; Diabetic Neuropathies* ; Electrodes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pain Threshold ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Visual Analog Scale

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare disease entity, and the clinical characteristics range from indolent to aggressive forms. No established management for patients with unresectable or aggressive IMT is available. We report on a 62-year-old patient with aggressive IMT who achieved a durable partial response lasting 12 months after anthracycline-containing cytotoxic chemotherapy without corticosteroids. The patient was admitted for an evaluation of progressive weight loss and lower abdominal pain lasting for 2 weeks. Abdominopelvic computed tomography revealed a 10 cm sized heterogeneous mass in the mesentery that encased the superior mesenteric artery and a liver metastasis. The diagnosis of IMT was confirmed by percutaneous core needle biopsy of the mesenteric mass. Systemic chemotherapy was performed after confirming disease progression during a 1 month observation period. A partial response was obtained after two cycles of chemotherapy. Anthracycline-containing cytotoxic chemotherapy could be a treatment option for patients with aggressive IMT.
Abdominal Pain ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Benzeneacetamides ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Liver ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mesentery ; Middle Aged ; Myofibroblasts ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Piperidones ; Rare Diseases ; Weight Loss

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare disease entity, and the clinical characteristics range from indolent to aggressive forms. No established management for patients with unresectable or aggressive IMT is available. We report on a 62-year-old patient with aggressive IMT who achieved a durable partial response lasting 12 months after anthracycline-containing cytotoxic chemotherapy without corticosteroids. The patient was admitted for an evaluation of progressive weight loss and lower abdominal pain lasting for 2 weeks. Abdominopelvic computed tomography revealed a 10 cm sized heterogeneous mass in the mesentery that encased the superior mesenteric artery and a liver metastasis. The diagnosis of IMT was confirmed by percutaneous core needle biopsy of the mesenteric mass. Systemic chemotherapy was performed after confirming disease progression during a 1 month observation period. A partial response was obtained after two cycles of chemotherapy. Anthracycline-containing cytotoxic chemotherapy could be a treatment option for patients with aggressive IMT.
Abdominal Pain ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Benzeneacetamides ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Liver ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mesentery ; Middle Aged ; Myofibroblasts ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Piperidones ; Rare Diseases ; Weight Loss

We demonstrated previously that Coptidis rhizoma extract (CRE) prevented S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine-induced apoptotic cell death via the inhibition of mitochondrial membrane potential disruption and cytochrome c release in RINm5F (RIN) rat insulinoma cells. In this study, the preventive effects of CRE against cytokine-induced beta-cell death was assessed. Cytokines generated by immune cells infiltrating pancreatic islets are crucial mediators of beta-cell destruction in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The treatment of RIN cells with IL-1beta and IFN-gamma resulted in a reduction of cell viability. CRE completely protected IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-mediated cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Incubation with CRE induced a significant suppression of IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, a finding which correlated well with reduced levels of the iNOS mRNA and protein. The molecular mechanism by which CRE inhibited iNOS gene expression appeared to involve the inhibition of NF-kappa B activation. The IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-stimulated RIN cells showed increases in NF-kappa B binding activity and p65 subunit levels in nucleus, and IkappaBalpha degradation in cytosol compared to unstimulated cells. Furthermore, the protective effects of CRE were verified via the observation of reduced NO generation and iNOS expression, and normal insulin-secretion responses to glucose in IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-treated islets.
Animals ; Cell Death/drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/drug effects ; Glucose/pharmacology ; I-kappa B Proteins/metabolism ; Insulin/secretion ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/*cytology/*drug effects/enzymology ; Interferon-gamma/*pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta/*pharmacology ; Male ; NF-kappa B/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Transport/drug effects ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Ionizing radiation exerts harmful effect during the limb development, but the exact mechanism is still largely unknown. In this study, 2 Gy of X-ray irradiated to the rat fetuses on gestation day of 13.7 when the hindlimb buds appear, and sacrificed at GD 14.7, GD 15.7 and GD 16.7, respectively. To reveal the changes of apoptotic figures between control and experimental groups, TUNEL immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy were carried. Mean body weight of fetuses of irradiated groups were decreased significantly compared to the control group. Numerical digit anomalies and asymmetries between right and left sides were increased significantly in the irradiated group compared to control group. Some digit anomalies were increased significantly in the right side. Radiation-induced decrement of the density of apoptotic figures on GD 14.7 was presumed to be related with foot and digit anomalies.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Body Weight ; Extremities ; Fetus* ; Foot ; Hindlimb* ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Morphogenesis ; Pregnancy ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Rats*

Isolated infective endocarditis in the native pulmonary valve is an unusual clinical entity in non-intravenous drug users. Intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, sepsis, catheter related infections and congenital heart diseases account for the majority of predisposing factors. We report two cases of isolated pulmonary valve infective endocarditis complicating ventricular septal defect (VSD). A 43 year-old male was admitted because of mild fever, pansystolic murmur on the left lower sternal border. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large perimembranous ventricular septal defect and vegetations at the pulmonary valve. After the intravenous use of penicillin and gentamicin, patch closure of VSD with resection of vegetations, resection of anomalous muscle bundles on the right ventricle outlet tract and pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed. A 43 year-old female was admitted with spiking fever, dyspnea. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed a small perimenbranous ventricular septal defect with pulmonary valve vegetations. Intravenous penicillin and gentamicin were continued for 4 weeks and she is doing well.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Causality ; Drug Users ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Fever ; Gentamicins ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Penicillins ; Pulmonary Valve* ; Sepsis ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous

A cleft in the anterior mitral valve leaflet is commonly associated with an atrioventricular septal defect, but an isolated cleft mitral valve is a rare condition. We report a case of a 27-year-old woman with severe mitral regurgitation due to an isolated cleft mitral valve. The echocardiography showed an anterior cleft on the mitral valve, but a normal sized and positioned left ventricular papillary muscle without septal defect. Under the diagnosis of mitral regurgitation due to the isolated cleft mitral valve the patient underwent mitral cleft repair. After surgery, the further echocardiography showed no mitral regurgitation.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve* ; Papillary Muscles

A 49 years old male patient suffering from liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus was admitted with complaints of chest pain and hematemesis. Three years ago, the patient received a transfusion of unknown blood components, presumed platelet concentrates. During the pretransfusion testing, we found irregular antibodies with the antibody-screening test and identified the antibody as anti-Xga. An antiglobulin test was done as a part of a cross-match and all compatible units of packed red cells were transfused. No transfusion reaction was observed.
Antibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Platelets ; Chest Pain ; Coombs Test ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hematemesis ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Male ; Middle Aged

No abstract available.
Policy Making*