OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the difference and related factors with general characteristic and health behaviors, a experience of diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases between rural and urban among elderly in Korea. METHODS: We used the data of Community Health Survey 2017 which were collected by the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The study population comprised 67,835 elderly peopled aged 65 years or older who participated in the survey. The chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data. RESULTS: We identified many significant difference of health behaviors, an experience of diagnosis and treatment with chronic diseases between rural and urban. Compared to urban elderly, the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval) of rural elderly were 1.136 (1.092–1.183) for diagnosis of diabetes, 1.278 (1.278–1.386) for diagnosis of dyslipidemia, 0.940 (0.904–0.977) for diagnosis of arthritis, 0.785(0.736–0.837) for treatment of arthritis, 1.159 (1.116–1.203) for diagnosis of cataracts, and 1.285(1.200–1.375) for treatment of cataracts. In the experience of diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, various variables were derived as contributing factors for each disease. Especially, there were statistically significant difference in the experience of diabetes diagnosis, arthritis diagnosis, cataract diagnosis and dyslipidemia except for hypertension diagnosis (p<0.01) between urban and rural elderly. There were statistically significant differences in the experience of treatment for arthritis and cataract (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference in the experience of treatment for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia between urban and rural elderly. CONCLUSION Therefore, it would be necessary to implement a strategic health management project for diseases that showed significant experience of chronic diseases with diagnosis and treatment, reflecting the related factors of the elderly chronic diseases among the urban and rural areas.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis not only presents with constitutional symptoms including fever, pain and swelling but also with specific findings such as proptosis, chemosis, periorbital swelling, and cranial nerve palsies. It is known to occur secondary to the spread of paranasal sinus infections in the nose, ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses. However, paranasal sinus infection of dental origin is rare. The following is a case of cavernous sinus thrombosis due to the spread of an abscess in the buccal and pterygomandibular spaces via buccal mucosal laceration.
Abscess ; Cavernous Sinus ; Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis* ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Exophthalmos ; Fever ; Focal Infection, Dental ; Lacerations ; Nose ; Sepsis

This correction is being published to correct the author's name.

Diagnosis of scrub typhus is difficult because its symptoms are very similar to other acute febrile illnesses, such as leptospirosis, murine typhus, and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. To differentiate scrub typhus from other acute febrile diseases, a rapid and reliable serological diagnosis is important. We have developed a chimeric recombinant antigen cr56 and two other recombinant antigens, r21 and kr56, from various serotypes of Orientia tsutsugamushi. They were tested for the detection of antibodies against O. tsutsugamushi in the patient's serum samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot-blot analyses. As of conventional immunofluorescence assay (IFA), when the mixture of these three recombinant antigens was used, both sensitivity and specificity of the recombinant antigens were increased up to 98% in IgM and IgG at ELISA and dot blotting. Additionally, both sensitivity and specificity by detection of IgM and IgG antibodies at rapid diagnostic test (RDT), using the mixture of three antigens and gold conjugated antibodies, were 99%. Our results suggest the use of mixture of these recombinant antigen proteins in ELISA or RDT is suitable as a diagnostic test for scrub typhus.
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood/chemistry/immunology ; Antigens, Bacterial/diagnostic use/genetics/metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Gold/chemistry ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Orientia tsutsugamushi/immunology/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/diagnostic use/genetics ; Scrub Typhus/*diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serotyping

A Mariannaea fungus was isolated during investigation of an elm tree infested with unidentified beetles. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence, the fungus was identified as Mariannaea elegans var. elegans. Fungal growth was better on malt extract agar than on potato dextrose agar and oatmeal agar. Optimal temperature and pH for growth of the fungus were 30degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. The fungus was found to have the ability to produce extracellular enzymes such as amylase, beta-glucosidase, cellulase, and protease. This is first report on M. elegans var. elegans in Korea.
Agar ; Amylases ; Beetles ; beta-Glucosidase ; Cellulase ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Solanum tuberosum ; Ulmus

During an investigation of fungi from an elm tree infested with bark beetles in Korea, one isolate, DUCC401, was isolated from elm wood. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and 28S rDNA (large subunit) sequences, the isolate, DUCC401, was identified as Mariannaea samuelsii. Mycelia of the fungus grew faster on malt extract agar than on potato dextrose agar and oatmeal agar media. Temperature and pH for optimal growth of fungal mycelia were 25degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. The fungus demonstrated the capacity to degrade cellobiose, starch, and xylan. This is the first report on isolation of Mariannaea samuelsii in Korea.
Agar ; Beetles ; Cellobiose ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Solanum tuberosum ; Starch ; Ulmus ; Wood

OBJECTIVES: To analyze frequency-specific hearing results after surgery for chronic ear diseases while considering pathological findings and various surgical factors. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgical management of chronic otitis media were reviewed retrospectively (n=559). Using pure tone audiometry, air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC), and air bone gap (ABG) change between pre- and post-operative tests were calculated for the frequencies of 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 (AC and BC), and 6,000 Hz (AC). Frequency-specific results were investigated, considering various surgical factors, such as type of surgery, type of ossiculoplasty and pathological findings. RESULTS: AC results in the intact canal wall mastoidectomy showed improvement at each frequency except 4,000, 6,000 Hz. AC results in the tympanoplasty showed improvement at each frequency except 6,000 Hz. AC and ABG results in the open cavity mastoidectomy showed improvement only at the frequencies of 250, 500, 2,000 Hz. AC and ABG improved at low and mid frequencies but not in high frequencies above 3,000 Hz when ossicular reconstruction was conducted. AC and ABG results also improved at low and mid frequencies in the cholesteatoma, and ABG results improved at all frequencies except 3,000 Hz in the non-cholesteatoma. CONCLUSION: After chronic ear surgery, AC and ABG changes improved, primarily in the low and mid frequencies. Further evaluation and studies for post-operative hearing loss at high frequencies are recommended for rehabilitation of hearing ability after surgery.
Audiometry ; Bone Conduction ; Cholesteatoma ; Ear ; Ear Diseases ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Otitis Media ; Retrospective Studies ; Tympanoplasty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implantation improves hearing ability in adults with profound deafness. Using non-invasive functional brain imaging methods, it is now possible to assess regional blood flow and activity of auditory cortex which might be correlated to the outcome of cochlear implantation. The aim of this study was to measure the regional cerebral blood flow in patients with postlingual deafness utilizing controls in a variety of methods. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Six postlingual deaf adults who were planned to undertake cochlear implantation and 12 normal controls were examined with technetium-99m-labeled ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography (99mTc-ECD-SPECT). Images of the regional cerebral blood flow were processed by statistical parametric mapping and analyzed by unpaired t-test. RESULTS: The analysis of the SPECT images of the 6 deaf patients showed decreased cerebral blood flow in both superior, middle temporal and inferior prefrontal lobes compared with controls (p<0.001). Also this decreased auditory cortical blood flow was greater in left hemisphere in all patients. CONCLUSION: The degree of remaining activity of auditory cortex and the lateralization of the dominant auditory hemisphere, which may influence on the outcome of cochlear implantation, could be measured by ECD-SPECT.
Adult ; Auditory Cortex ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Cystine ; Deafness ; Functional Neuroimaging ; Hearing ; Humans ; Regional Blood Flow ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: The endoscopic surgery has been widely used and developed in operations of the thyroid and parathyroid gland because of the cosmetic advantage and the development of laparoscopic instrument. Since the first endoscopic thyroid surgery in late 1990's, many endoscopic operations for thyroid tumors have been performed in Korea. The authors analyzed the current status of endoscopic thyroid surgery performed in Korea. METHODS: We have collected and analyzed the data of endoscopic thyroid operations using survey. RESULTS: The surgeons working in 16 hospitals answered the questions in survey. The total endoscopic thyroid operations were performed over 1,200 cases until the end of 2004. In the pathologic diagnosis, nodular hyperplasia was most frequent in 64.5%. The axillary approach was most frequently applied in 9 hospitals (56.2%). Most of endoscopic thyroid operations were performed in 2~3 hours. The operation time was decreased according to the experience. The endoscopic surgery for malignant tumors were also performed in 11 hospitals, The hospital stay was usually 3~4 days. The most common complications in endoscopic thyroid surgery were temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and anteior chest wall discomfort or paresthesia. The most common reason for conversion to conventional surgery was the intraoperative diagnosis as for a malignancy. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic thyroid surgery has been perfomed in many hospitals not only special thyroid clinic in Korea. The operation cases are increasing rapidly in these days. According to the development of technique and instrument, the endoscopic surgery are applied to various neck disease involving malignancy. The safety and efficacy of endoscopic surgery for malignancy should be further evaluated with accumulation of experience of endoscopic operation and long term follow-up of thyroid cancer patients.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Paralysis ; Parathyroid Glands ; Paresthesia ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Surgeons ; Thoracic Wall ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy*

The treatment of cystamine, a transglutaminase (TGase) inhibitor, has beneficial effects in several diseases including CAG-expansion disorders and cataract. We compared the inhibition characteristics of cystamine with those of cysteamine, a reduced form of cystamine expected to be present inside cells. Cystamine is a more potent inhibitor for TGase than cysteamine with different kinetics pattern in a non- reducing condition. By contrast, under reducing conditions, the inhibitory effect of cystamine was comparable with that of cysteamine. However, cystamine inhibited intracellular TGase activity more strongly than cysteamine despite of cytoplasmic reducing environment, suggesting that cystamine itself inhibits in situ TGase activity by forming mixed disulfides.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Comparative Study ; Cystamine/*pharmacology ; Cysteamine/*pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Transglutaminases/*antagonists & inhibitors