BACKGROUND: Sleep is an essential restorative physiologic phenomenon. Impaired sleep results in significant negative effect to the health. Symptoms like sleep initiation difficulty, frequent awakening, severe snoring have related to poor sleep quality. We studied frequency and compared the characteristics of common sleep disorders at family practice. METHODS: We surveyed patients over 18 years of age and their guardians who visited 16 familial practices for 6 days. We investigated sleep characteristics, frequency of sleep disorder and associated factors by questionnaires and analyzed by frequency analysis, Spearman's correlation coefficient, multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: We enrolled 1,117 participants. Older participants were more likely to report early sleep onset and off time, short sleep duration. Mean number of awakening during a typical night is 1.69. Female complained difficulties in initiation and maintenance of sleep more than male. A total of 32.5% had these insomnia symptoms and related to hypertension, stroke, stress, arthralgia, depression, urological disorder. 31.1% had excessive daytime sleepiness, related to stress, arthralgia, depression. Loud snoring and gasp for breath showed positive correlation between male, high BMI. Disrupted sleep over 3 times was related to old age, female, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, stress, arthralgia, depression. Restless leg syndrome were high in elderly, high BMI, stress, arthralgia and depression. CONCLUSION: About one in three who visit in primary medical practice have sleep disorder symptoms like insomnia, daytime fatigue, snoring. 3% of them have gasp for breath, 8% have restless leg syndrome.
Aged ; Arthralgia ; Depression ; Family Practice ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Leg ; Male ; Prevalence ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Snoring ; Stroke

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of the balanced incline shoes on the stabilized walking, fatigue reduction, improvement of blood circulation and prevention of foot related disease for the pregnant women. METHODS: The seven 7~9 month pregnant women and three maternities within 3 months after delivery without a history of disease performed the cycles for each of the two walking conditions: wearing balanced incline shoes and flat shoes. The differences between the two walking conditions were statistically investigated including three dimensional motion analysis, footprint pressures and blood flow. To find out any possible difference between these two kinds and among the subjects, the statistical tool was utilized with one-way layout design. RESULTS: Of 10 subjects, seven subjects showed the significantly decreased in distance of both knee with balanced incline shoes than flat shoes (P<0.05). Those with the balanced incline shoes had a walking pattern whose knee moved inward about 6 mm, compared to those with the flat regular ones. Over plantar pressure measurements for all ten, it also revealed statistically significant differences that the balanced incline shoes decreased its pressure 15% and that the pressure heavily on heel area was distributed outward along the arch (P<0.05). The blood stream velocity belonged to C (200~300 microm/sec) or D (100~200 microm/sec) for the nine before wearing the balanced incline shoes. However, it was found to be enhanced in A (>600 microm/sec) or B (400~600 microm/sec) after they put them on, indicating 1~2 part equivalent improvement. The blood stream velocity showed a incremental tendency after wearing balanced incline shoes. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the balanced incline shoes corrected the postures, stabilized the gait pattern, decreased the excessive load on ankle plantar flexors, reduced the fatigue level and improved the blood circulation.
Animals ; Ankle ; Blood Circulation ; Fatigue ; Female ; Foot ; Gait ; Heel ; Humans ; Knee ; Posture ; Pregnant Women ; Rivers ; Shoes ; Walking

The collision tumors have been reported in various organs and represent the coexistence of two adjacent but histologically distinct tumors in an organ without any histological admixture. A gastric collision tumor is rare and most gastric collision tumors involve an adenocarcinoma colliding with a lymphoma. A 48-year-old man was referred to our hospital for an evaluation of dyspepsia and upper abdominal discomfort. Endoscopy demonstrated the presence of an ulcerative lesion in the gastric antrum. The biopsy specimens confirmed a pathological diagnosis of an adenocarcinoma. After a radical subtotal gastrectomy, a thorough Histopathological examination revealed a collision tumor: a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in the superficial layer (mucosa, submucosa) and a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma in the deeper layer (muscularis propria, serosa). The patient received combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. Para-aortic lymph node enlargement was observed on the abdominal computed tomography scanning, 3 years after surgery. The patient underwent chemotherapy with TS-1, and the size of lymph nodes was reduced. The patient continues to do well after a follow up period of 5 years 3 months. We report this case of gastric collision tumor (adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma) with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Cisplatin ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Dyspepsia ; Endoscopy ; Etoposide ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Middle Aged ; Pyloric Antrum ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ulcer

Collagenous colitis is recognized as one of the causes of chronic diarrhea accompanied with autoimmune diseases. It is a disease associated with chronic watery diarrhea and typical histologic findings of a thick subepithelial collagenous deposit on biopsy. We experienced a 75-year-old man patient with chronic watery diarrhea and mild abdominal pain for 7 years. Physical examination, laboratory and radiologic studies were unremarkable except hypokalemia. Colonoscopy disclosed mucosal atrophy, loss of submucosal vessel and altered vascularity of terminal ileum, ascending colon. Colonoscopic biopsy revealed homogenous hyaline layered collagen deposition beneath the surface epithelium and Masson's trichrome stain showed collagen deposition. We report the case of collagenous colitis with a review of literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Atrophy ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Biopsy ; Colitis, Collagenous* ; Collagen* ; Colon, Ascending ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea* ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hypokalemia* ; Ileum ; Physical Examination

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithel ial neoplasm arising in apocrine gland-bearing skin. EMPD may be regarded as a skin marker of associated malignancy because it tends to combine a variety of underlying malignancies in up to 50% of cases. Herein a case of gastric cancer diagnosed in a patient with extramammary Paget's disease of the scrotum is reported. The patient was a 65-year-old man whose chief complaint was exanthema of the right scrotum of 3 years duration. Biopsy samples taken from patient showed large, round cells with clear cytoplasm in the epidermis. The final diagnosis was EMPD of the scrotum. The extensive workups, including tumor marker, imaging studies and endoscopy to exclude associated malignancy were performed. Examination of the endoscopic gastric biopsy specimen revealed an adenocarcinoma of the stomach. On the basis of this result, a radical subtotal gastrectomy was successfully performed. This case suggests that, in cases of EMPD, the clinicians should consider the possibility of underlying malignancies and thoroughly examine not only the urogenital tract and lower gastrointestinal tract, but also the visceral organs, such as the stomach, even if there are no clinical symptoms of malignancy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Epidermis ; Exanthema ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Paget Disease, Extramammary* ; Scrotum ; Skin ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The significance of abnormal E-cadherin/ catenin complex expression and the correlation of each of its components in cancer remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize the clinical significance of the abnormal membrane expression of the E-cadherin/ catenin complex and the localization patterns of the beta- catenin and p120CTN in early gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for E-cadherin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin and p120CTN were performed on 47 early gastric cancer specimens. The patterns of membrange expression of the E-cadherin/catenin complex, and the localization patterns of the beta-catenin and p120CTN, were semi quantitatively graded as loss, reduced, preserved or negative and positive. RESULTS: An abnormal immunoreactivity of at least one of E-cadherin/catenin complex proteins was noted in 46 (97.8%) of the 47 early gastric cancer cases. There were no significant correlations of the membrane E-cadherin/catenin expression with, either, sex, age, location, size, macroscopic type, depth of invasion or lymphovascular invasion. Abnormal expressions of membrane E-cadherin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin were more frequent in the diffuse-type than in the intestinal type. No linear correlation was shown for the beta-catenin between the membrane and cytoplasmic expressions. Nuclear staining of the beta-catenin was observed in 5 (10.6%) cases, but nuclear staining of the p120CTN, a promotor of Kaiso transcriptional factor, was not seen. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that alterations of the E-cadherin/catenin complex may be involved in the early stages of gastric cancer. Although beta-catenin functions as a transcriptional factor, the inactivation of membrane E-cadherin does not appear to result in significant increases in the level of cytoplasmic beta-catenin. Kaiso transcriptional factor may not be involved in the early carcinogenesis of gastric cancer.
beta Catenin ; Cadherins ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Adhesion ; Cytoplasm ; gamma Catenin* ; Membranes ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Papillary cystic and solid neoplasm of the pancreas is a relatively rare tumor that usually occurs in young adult women. This tumor is distinct from the usual ductal adenocarcinoma in clinical and histologic features. It has a much more favorable prognosis than other tumors of the pancreas due to a low incidence of metastasis and good resectability. METHODS: We reviewed eight patients who were treated at the Department of Surgery of PNUH (Pusan National University Hospital) from Jan. 1985 to Dec. 1996. RESULTS: Seven patients were women, and one patient was a man; the mean age of the patients was 26.8 years (range: 14 years to 39 years). Their chief complaints were epigastric pain (75%), palpable mass (37.5%), left upper quadrant pain (25%), nausea, and dyspepsia. The results of laboratory studies, including tumor markers (CEA, CA-19-9), were all negative and nonspecific. Although these tumors can occur in any portion of the pancreas, they are usually located in the tail and the body. We also identified these tumors in the tail and the body of the pancreas. In our cases, we treated these tumor by a distal pancreatectomy, a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, a Roux-en-Y cystojejunostomy, and enucleation; we didn't observe any morbidity or mortality. After discharge, there was no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: There is no specifically known orgin or pathogenesis of this tumor, but it is well controlled by surgical removal. At the same time, it is important to do a more aggressive diagnostic work up and to make greater effort, with attention given to papillary cystic and solid tumors, when we meet any cystic tumors of the pancreas.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Dyspepsia ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatectomy ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Splenectomy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: During partial liver resection, intermittent hepatic pedicle clamping results in less hepatocyte damage than continuous clamping. However, the optimal duration of ischemia and reperfusion during the intermittent hepatic vascular clamping has not been determined. So, this study aimed to determine the optimal duration of ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: Using partial ischemia(70%) rat model, the maximum limit of ischemic time and minimum limit of reperfusion time were evaluated. To assess the maximum limit of ischemic time, rats were divided into three groups for 15, 20, and 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 60 minutes reperfusion. To assess the minimum limit of reperfusion time, reperfusion following 15-minute ischemia was repeated 10 times in three groups for 5, 10, and 15 minutes of reperfusion. In the ischemic experiments, hepatic blood flow and ATP levels were serially measured. In the reperfusion experiments, serum liver enzyme, 1-month survival rates, as well as, hepatic blood flow and ATP level were serially measured and then, the 1-month survival rate was compared between the continuous ischemic group and intermittent ischemic groups. RESULTS: (1) In the 15- minute ischemic group, the hepatic blood flow and ATP levels returned to preischemic values after 1 hour of reperfusion. But in the 20- or 30-minute ischemic groups, the hepatic blood flow and ATP levels did not return to preischemic values. (2) In the 15-minute reperfusion group, the survival rate and hepatic function, such as hepatic blood flow and ATP levels, were better than the 5- or 10-minute reperfusion groups. CONCLUSION: In 70% partial ischemic rat model, the maximum limit of ischemic time was 15 minutes. In cases of intermittent ischemia and reperfusion, there was less liver damage in the 15-minute reperfusion group compared to the 5- or 10-minute reperfusion groups.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Constriction* ; Hepatocytes ; Ischemia ; Liver ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Survival Rate

A cholecystectomy is one of the most frequent operations in the field of surgery. Recently, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become a commonly performed procedure for treatment of gallbadder disease, mainly gallstone disease. It has the advantages of less postoperative pain, fewer complications, and more rapid recovery. There is no doubt that LC will be the first choice for the treatment of gallbladder disease. We performed this study to research problem and to improve the successbility of this operation. We analyzed 300 patients who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1996, at the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Pusan National University. The main results are as follows:1) The age range of the patients was from 17 to 72 years. There were 104 males and 196 females. 2) The most common previous operation was an appendectomy; the second most common was pelvic surgery. 3) The common chief complaints were right upper guadrant pain and indigestion. 4) Radiologic finding showed, gallstones in 212 cases and polyps in 30 cases. 5) The removed stones varied in size and number. 6) Postopertive complications were puncture site infection, bile leakage, pulmonary complications, etc. 7) The mean postopertive hospital stay was 4.2 days. 8) Intraoperative conversion to an open cholecystectomy was due to severe inflammation, adhesion, bleeding, etc. In conclusion, resolution of technical difficulties, meticulous training and experience, proper patient selection, and more developed tools are required.
Appendectomy ; Bile ; Busan ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Dyspepsia ; Female ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Gallstones ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Selection ; Polyps ; Punctures

The aim of this study is to appraise the efficacy of both recent therapeutic modalities and the prognosis after the biliary drainage procedure of various biliary diseases. A retrospective review of biliary drainage procedures for biliary disease was done from January 1986 to June 1996. We have experienced 252 cases at Pusan National University Hospital. The results were obtained as follows: 1) The most common age group was the 6th decade, and the ratio of male to female was 1:1.3. 2) Operative procedures consisted of sphincteroplasty in 62 cases(24.6%), choledochoduodenostomy in 63 cases(25%), choledochojejunostomy in 72 cases(28.6%), and choledochojejunostomy with defunctionalized jejunal limb in 55 cases(21.7%). 3) The indications for operative procedures of biliary drainage were as follows: intrahepatic stone in 67 cases(26.6%), dilated CBD with muddy stones in 57 cases(22.6%), CBD stone with stenosis of sphincter in 15 cases(5.9%), recurrent or residual stones in 89 cases(35.3%), and malignant disease in 24 cases(9.6%). 4) The preoperative diagnostic procedures were operative cholangiography, T-tube cholangiogram, ultrasound, ERCP, PTC, and abdominal CT. 5) The postoperative procedures for remaining stones after operation were choledochoscopic extraction, saline irrigation and reoperation. 6) The postoperative complications included wound infection (18 cases, 7.1%), respiratory infection (4 cases, 1.6%), GI trouble (19 cases, 7.5%), cholangitis ( 2 cases, 0.8%), residual stone (25 cases, 11%), pancreatitis ( 1 case, 0.4%), and biliary fistula (5 cases, 1.9%). Recently many therapeutic techniques have contributed to improving biliary drainage. We suggest that an apprapriate operation be selected according to the situation when performing biliary drainage for biliary diseases.
Biliary Fistula ; Busan ; Cholangiography ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Choledochostomy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drainage* ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Wound Infection