• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.155-162
• /
• 2006

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a critical disease with higher rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to myocardial ischemia and infarction. There is glowing interest in how to determine high-risk patients who are candidates for screening testing. This study was performed to evaluate the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic patients detected by Tc-99m MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) and to assess risk factors of CAD and cardiac hard events. Subjects and Methods: 203 diabetic patients (64 male, mean age $64.1{\pm}9.0$ years) who underwent MPS were included between Jan 2000 and July 2004. Cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) were considered as hard events, and coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery >60 days after testing were considered as soft events. The mean follow-up period was $36{\pm}18$ months. Patients underwent exercise (n=6) or adenosine stress (n=197) myocardial perfusion SPECT. Results: Perfusion defects on MPS were detected in 28.6% (58/203) of the patients. There was no cardiac death but 11 hard events were observed. The annual cardiac hard event rate was 1.1%. In univariate analysis of clinical factors, typical anginal pain, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral polyneuropathy, and resting ECG abnormality were significantly associated with the ocurrence of hard events. Anginal pain, peripheral vascular disease, and resting ECG abnormality remained independent predictors of nonfatal MIs with multivariate analysis. Abnormal SPECT results were significantly associated with high prevalence of hard events but not independent predictors on uni- and multivariate analyses. Conclusion: Patients who were male, had longer diabetes duration (especially over 20 years), peripheral vascular disease, peripheral polyneuropathy, or resting ECG abnormality had higher incidence of CAD. Among clinical factors in diabetic patients, typical angina, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral polyneuropathy, and resting ECG abnormality were strong predictors of hard events.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.22-44
• /
• 1994

Clinical observations were done on 67 cases with Diabetes Mellitus in CVA patients who were confirmed by CT scan and observed for over 1 week, admitted to the Dept. of Internal Medicine in Oriental Medical Hospital of Dongguk University from January 1992 to December 1993. The results were as follows; 1. 86 patients (15.3%) with Diabetes Mellitus were found in 561 CVA patients, the 6th decade of age was 40.2%, the ratio of male to female was 0.72:1. 2. The local distribution of CVA was similar to common CVA, and occlusive CVD was 83.6%, cerebral hemorrhage was 16.4% in this study. 3. The association between blood glucose and years were not significant. The largest ratio of fasting blood glucose were 140-199 mg/dl (44.6%) in admission, below 139 mg/dl (51.8%) in discharge in case of occlusive CVD. In cerebral hemorrhage, that were 140-199 mg/dl(45.5%) in dmission, below 139 mg/dl (45.5%) in discharge. The largest ratio of pp2hrs blood glucose were 200-299mg/dl in admission and discharge both occlusive CVD and cerebral hemorrhage. 4. The total sensitivity of urine glucose was 71.6%, and sensitivity of urine glucose in cerebral hemorrhage (81.8%) was more higher than that of occlusive CVD (69.6%). 5. Below 4 years had the highest prevalence(44.8%) in duration of diabetes mellitus. Patients usually used oral hypoglycemic agents(41.8%), insulin injection(23.9%) treatment and non-therapeutic was 17.9% in this study. 6. Predisposing factors and symptoms in admissin were similar to common CVA. The conscious disturbance on attacck was 41.1% in occlusive CVD, and that was 63.7% in cerebral hemorrhage. 7. The most common ratio of the season's attack was spring (44.8%), 8. The frequency of post history was as follows, hypertension (44.8%), heart disease (10.4%), and they were in below 199 mg/dl (83.3%) of fasting blood glucose. 9. The family history of CVA was 46.3%, and they was higher than nondiabetic patients. 10. The recurrence rate of CVA was 28.4%, and that of occlusive CVD(28.6%) was higer than cerebral hemorrhage's (18.2%). 11. The smoker was 52.2%, the drinker was 38.9%. 12. The complications was occured in 10 cases (14.9%) after admission, and they frequently occured than common CVA. 13. In admission, the ratio of systolic blood pressure in over l60mmHg was 42.9%, that of diastolic blood pressure in over l00mmHg was 12.5% in occlusive CVD. In cerebral hemorrhage, the ratio of systolic blood pressure in over l60mmHg was 54.5%, that of diastolic blood pressure in over l00mmHg was 27.3%. 14. The average beginned time of physical theraphy was, generally lated, 8.3 days in occlusive CVD, 11.2 days in cerebral hemorrhage. Average admitted period was longer than common CVA, and was 29.2 days in occlusive CVD, 11.2 days in cerebral hemorrhage. 15. The degree of recovery were 82.1% in occlusive CVD, 72.7% in cerebral hemorrhage. 16. The herb medications were various Sunghyanggeonggisans, Sopungtang, Ganghwalyupungtang, Yanggyuksan etc. were used most frequently, and Yukmijihwangtang, Gamidaebotang, Mangeumtang etc. were used as discharge.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.63-79
• /
• 2009

While previous epidemiological studies on temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have been based on a given health center or population sample, no study has been performed on general population of Korea, especially concerning about treatment pattern such as clinician’s specialty involved in TMD treatment, types and amount of prescription medication and cost. This study aimed to investigate magnitude of health visits and treatment patterns for Korean patients with TMD through the computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRAS). Inclusion criteria were all patients registered on the HIRAS database over 3 years' period from 2003 to 2005 and the medical records of patients with TMD as a main diagnosis were extracted. Information collected was as follows; distribution related to gender, age and region and type of hospital the patients visited, treatment duration, clinicians' specialty involved in treatment, cost, types of prescription medication and surgical treatment. The results of this study indicated that 0.15% of the population yearly sought TMD treatment, presenting with increase of incidence over the three years. Most of TMD patients were women (99.8%) and the biggest age group was second and third decades and decreased with age. Seoul and Kyeonggi province presented with higher incidence of TMD compared to the other regions of Korea, which seems to be related with magnitude of population. 56% of TMD patients visited primary care sector and the numbers of treatment visits was the highest in dental clinic (38.4%), followed by orthopedics (28%) and ENT (13.6%) clinics in order. Duration of prescription medication was the longest for anti-inflammatory analgesics, followed by antipsychotic drugs and muscle relaxants. Inpatient care related to TMD was primarily performed in dental hospital compared to medical hospital. Medical database of HIRAS provided comprehensive and vast information on epidemiologic characteristics and treatment patterns for patients seeking TMD treatment, which can be more reliable data to expect medical demand for TMD in condition that accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment is delivered in clinical settings.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.173-182
• /
• 2002

Background : Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have usually been considered to be contaminants of colonizers when isolated from respiratory specimens in Korea, where there is a high prevalence of tuberculosis and a low rate of HIV infections. Therefore, there has been few studies on the clinical significance of NTM species in immunocompetent patients were investigated. Methods : Thirty-five NTM isolates, for which species identification was requested by the treating physicians during 1999 at the Asan Medical Center, were retrospectively analyzed. They were identified to the species level by mycolic acid analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography. The medical records of the patients with the NTM isolates were reviewed to identify those patients who met the American Thoracic Society (ATS)'s criteria for mycobacterial pulmonary infection. Their antimicrobial susceptibility data were compared with the clinical outcomes. Results : The NTM were identified as M. intracellulare (6 isolates), M. avium (5), M. abscessus (5), M. gordonae (5), M. terrae complex (4), M. szulgai (2), M. kansasii (2), M. fortuitum (2), M. peregrinum (1), M. mucogenicum (1), M. celatum (1), and M. chelonae (1). All 35 patients showed clinical symptoms and signs of chronic lung disease, but none had a HIV infections; 16 (45.7%) patients were found to be compatible with a NTM pulmonary infection according to the ATS criteria, 5 and 4 cases were affected with M. intracellulare and M. abscessus, respectively; 8 patients had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. 13 patients received antimycobacterial therapy for an average of 21 months and 9 patients were treated with second-line drugs. Only 4 patients had improved radiologically. Conclusion : A NTM should be considered a potential pathogen of pulmonary infections in immunocompetent patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. Most NTM infections were left untreated for a prolonged period and showed a poor outcome as a result, M. intracellulare and M. abscessus were the two most frequent causes of NTM pulmonary infections in this study. Species identification and antimycobacterial susceptibility tests based on the species are needed for the optimum management of a NTM pulmonary infection in patients.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.147-159
• /
• 1998

A survey of the internal parasites in 115 fishes of Ophicephalus argus was carried out in Kyungpook province during the period from January 1995 to November 1997. A species of trematode from the stomach and a species of nematode from the caeca of the fishes was discovered respectively. The trematode was identified as Azygia hwangtsinyi (Tsin, 1993) and the nematode as Pingus sinensis ($Hs\ddot{u}$, 1993). The fluke was pressed at thick of 0.1mm~0.2mm between slide glasses and fixed in 70% ethyl alcohol solution. The fluke was washed with tap water after fixation and stained with hematoxylin-carmin and mounted in balsam through routine methods. The nematode was fixed in 5% formalin solution and mounted with lactophnol or glycerine jelly. Morphology : Arygia hwantsinyi ; The fluke is elongate body with approximately parallel margins and rounded extremities in pressed preparations(Fig 1). The cuticle is unarmed. The oral sucker is ventro-subterminal in position. The ventral sucker is slightly smaller than oral sucker and positioned at 14.2% of body length from the oral sucker. The cirrus sac and genital pore is in mid-ventral line, slightly anterior to the ventral sucker. The oral sucker is succeeded by a well developed muscular pharynx. It is succeeded by a short inverted Y-shaped oesophagus. The inner wall of oesophagus is consisted of many fine folded membrane. The fine tubes of esophagus pass into the intestinal heads which are distended and presented a marked borderline between the fine tube and intestinal heads. The Intestinal heads start at level of pharynx and pass caudad in a zigzag course to end quite near caudal margin. The uterine coils occupy the intercecal area between the level of the cephalic margin of the ovary and about the level of the ventral sucker. The uterus is filled with many eggs. The testes are round or oval and placed one behind the other generally a little diagonally. The posterior testis is placed at level of 75.1% of body length. The ovary is oval, placed ahead the anterior testis. The shell gland not discernible outline is contacted with ovary ahead it. The vitelline glands are consisted of small oval vesicles. The vesicles occupy extracecal regions and between a little posterior of the ventral sucker and near caudal margin. Pingus sinensis : Female ; The cuticle is smooth and the cervical alae are well developed. The mouth opening is small, triangular, and without lips. The anterior end bears four sub-medial papillae. The oesophagus is divided into a muscular and glandular portion. The nerve ring is situated just at the junction of the muscular and glandular portions of the oesophagus. The vulva which has a prominent flap, is placed behind the middle of the body about one-third of the length of the worm from the posterior extremity. The vagina is strongly muscularised and after running anteriorly about $68{\mu}$, divides itself into two broad uterine tubes with an anterior and a posterior one. There are a few eggs in the uterine tubes. The tail is slender, straight and pointed. The ovary extends almost to the posterior extremity. Male : Male is smaller than female. The tail is pointed, curved and carrying well-developed caudal alae. A prominent muscular precloacal sucker is characteristic. The spicules are equal and short. There are four pairs of pedunculated pre-anal papillae, of which the most anterior pair are situated just at the level anterior to the muscular sucker. Two pairs of pedunculated papillae are present before the anus. There are five pairs of post-anal papillae of which the most anterior pair and the second counted from the posterior end are ventral and more marked than the ones which are situated laterally.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.157-161
• /
• 2006

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the pathogens of central venous catheter-related blood stream infections and search for the association among the insertion site, the duration and the underlying conditions with the prevalence of central venous catheter-related blood stream infections under 15 years old. Methods : A retrospective study was performed from Jan, 2003 to Dec, 2003 in Severance Hospital on 112 patients who undertook central venous catheter insertions. Results : We examined 112 patients who undertook central venous catheter insertion. The mean age of patients was $4.77{\pm}4.12$ years old. Coagulase negative Staphylococci was the most common organism of central venous catheter-related blood stream infections accounting for 33.9 percent, followed by Eenterococcus faecium(9.3 percent), and Staphylococcus aureus(7.5 percent), The most common insertion site was the right femoral vein, followed by the right jugular vein and the left femoral vein. The mean insertion period was $14.17{\pm}12.00$ days. Conclusion : Central venous catheter-related blood stream infections were not only related to the underlying conditions, but also to the insertion site. We need to study the clinical importance of coagulase negative Staphylococci as it is part of the normal flora of the skin. In future, more studies are needed to take preventive measures and improve treatment methods.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 2008

Objectives : Diabetes patients suffer from severe stress in maintaining the diet therapy and exercise therapy as well as the disease itself, and this stress has bad effects on controlling the glucose level and causes high prevalence rate of depressive and anxiety disorders. These symptoms again have deleterious effects on blood glucose control. A lot of researches about the relationship between glycemic control and symptoms of depression and anxiety and about the positive effects of the treatments of depression and anxiety disorder on glycemic control in diabetic patients are being performed. In Korea, the research regarding the relationship between glycemic control and depression and anxiety symptoms are seldom performed. In this study, we tried to find out the correlation between the glycemic control and depressive symptom and anxiety symptom. Methods : The study included 65 patients(male 34, female 31) with Diabetes in outpatient clinic of the Department of Endocrinology in Dankook University Hospital. We used the HbA1c levels to check glycemic control through blood sample analysis and used Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory(BAI). Results : Among the 65 Diabetes patients, 21(32.30%) had mild depressive symptoms, and 6(9.23%) had moderate or severe depressive symptoms. The relation of HbA1c and BDI was not statistically significant, but was significant between HBA1c and BAI, (R=0.567, P<0.001). In the linear regression analysis, BAI had an effect on HbA1c($\beta=0.533$, T=5.012, P=0.00), but BDI, diabetes complications, diabetic morbid period and BMI had no effect on HbA1C. The relationship between HbA1c and BDI was not statistically significant, but the relationship between HbA1c and BAI was statistically significant(R=0.254, P<0.001). Conclusions : In this study, the rates of diabetic patients with depressive symptoms were higher, but those with anxiety symptoms were not higher than the general population. We could not find out significant relationship between depressive symptom and glycemic control, but found the significant relationship between the anxiety symptom and glycemic control in diabetic patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.735-746
• /
• 1999

Background: As the prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis has been increasing rapidly, there has been recent advance in diagnostic methods and drug therapies for disease. Although the incidence of pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria(NTM) has been increasing in Korea since 1990, detailed clinical description about the disease were very few. In this study we described the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, and therapeutic outcomes of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease. Methods: Medical records and radiologic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 27 patients who were fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of ATS guideline for NTM pulmonary disease between January of 1990 and August of 1998 in Seoul National University Hospital(SNUH). Results: Of the 27 patients, 15 were male. The mean age was 51.5 yr($\pm$11.9). Twenty patients(74.1%) had preexisting pulmonary diseases. Among them, 19 patients had previous pulmonary tuberculosis. Sixteen patients(59.2%) had cavitary lesions and the majority showed slow progression over 1 yr during follow up period on radiography. Susceptibility test to standard antituberculous drugs showed 100% resistance to INH, 72.2% to RMP, 81.5% to EMB, 92.6% to PZA. The average resistance rate to 2nd-line antituberculous drugs was 66.1%. Among twenty-one patients(77.8%) who received drug therapy over 6 months, 11 subjects were improved and 10 subjects were aggravated. Of six subjects(22.2%) without therapy, 5 patients were aggravated. Presence of cavity and less than 3 sensitive drugs in the regimen were indicators for adverse outcome. Conclusion : The nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary diseases in our hospital developed predominantly in older patients with preexistent pulmonary disease. The results of antituberculous drug therapy has been frustrating and disappointing. To improve treatment response, different susceptibility tests and drug regimens for different species of NTM should be performed. Also, diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines of Korea should be made in the recent future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.29-39
• /
• 2004

Background : The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to mediastinal tumors and cysts have changed over the past three decades. This report summarizes our forty-two years of experience with these tumors. Methods : This study retrospectively reviewed 479 patients with primary mediastinal tumors and cysts that were diagnosed and managed over the past 17-year period (1985~2002) and compared them to the report of the previous 25-year result (1960~1985) in Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital in Seoul, Korea. Results : During the 17 years, there were 479 cases of pathologically proven mediastinal tumors and cysts. Thymoma (38.2%) was the most common mediastinal tumor and has increased noticeably during recent years. The gender ratio showed a male predominance (1.3:1) and the age distributions were even over all the age groups. The most common sites of the tumor and the proportion(28.6%) of malignant tumors were the same as that previously reported. A diagnosis of a tumor in asymptomatic patients was possible in 174 cases (36.3%), which was higher that reported previously. The diagnostic yield of a fine needle aspiration biopsy was 68.6% in the total tumors and 80.9% in the malignant tumors. A surgical resection was the most frequently chosen treatment modality and was performed in 405 cases (84.6%). The complete resection rate was 91.1%, which is higher than the previous result of 78.8%. Conclusion : These results showed that the prevalence of mediastinal tumors and cysts, particularly thymoma, increased. A fine needle aspiration biopsy was a valuable preoperative differential diagnostic method for malignant tumors. The surgical and complete resection rate increased remarkably possibly due to the better applicable chest CT scans, the more frequent health check-up provided by the regular health promotion program for all people as a health insurance policy, and the improved diagnostic techniques in the pathologic, radiological, and clinical fields.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.163-192
• /
• 1983

In order to facilitate the Korean government's efforts in integrating family planning and maternal & child health at the primary health care level (or township level), the Soon Chun Hyang College of Medicine, with the financial and technical assistance of WHO, has under-taken a service research project. The project has employed a quasi-experimental study design introducing interventions tat provide crucial factors lacking in the ongoing government programs such as midwives and qualified referral physicians. The study is being conducted in three locations, one control area and two study areas. Before introducing trained Nurse/Midewives into the study areas, a baseline prevalence survey was undertaken from 15 July 1981 to 10 August 1981 in selelcted townships of Seosan County. In this sample survey of bath the study and control areas, 2,484 eligible women (97% reponse rate) were interviewed to obtain benchmark data on basic evaluation indicators related to family planning and maternal and child health. The salients results were summarized as follows.: 1. CONTACT RATES WITH HEALTH WORKERS; During the year preceding the survey, 12% of women were visited by government health workers. The primary reason for such visits by health workers was family planning (45% of the visits). About 34% of the women visited the health centers during the year. The primary reason for visiting health centers was immunizations for their children (45% of the visits). 3. FAMILY PLANNING USE RATE; The baseline data showed little difference between women in the study area and the control area on contraceptive use. Approximately 59% were currently using some methods. However, among those current users, almost half were practicing less effective methods of birth control such as rhythm or withdrawal. Among other methods, the tubectomy was the most popular (16%), while use of the IUD, oral pill and condom together reached only 14%. 3. PRENATAL CARE RATE; About 75% of the women reported no prenatal care for their last births (the youngest child of each women), Additionally, among women received prenatal care, over half had only one visit. 4. ATTENDANCE AT DELIVERY; Most of the women surveyed (over 80%) were attended by a non-medical person during their last delivery. These figures are somewhat comparable to the national figure of 84% for remote areas. 5. POSTNATAL CARE; The proportion of women reporting postnatal care was only 4.5%, and postnatal care was not received by the majority of women surveyed. 6. CHILD HEALTH CARE: In contrast to the low rate of maternity care for women themselves, most women reported obtaining immunization care for their children. About 75% of the women obtained Polio and/or DPT, 58% BCG, and 44% Measles vaccine for their children. However, in terms of illness care, while 35% of the women stated that their youngest child had been sick during the month preceding the survey, only 28% of these women took their child to the clinic for treatment. 7. COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY AND ABNORMALITIES IN THE NEWBORN; Among all last deliveries, 18% of the women had pregnancy complications and 9% of the women had complications during delivery About 5% of the women reported abnormality in their most recent newborn. 8. REPRODUCTION EFFICIENCY; PERINATAL MORTALITY AND INFANT MORTALITY Based on data from the pregnancy history in this survey, reproduction efficiency was estimated. Out of the 11,154 pregnancies reported by all women surveyed, foetal loss was 21% (almost 16% were induced abortions) and infant deaths before reaching one year old were 3.1%. The reproduction efficiency was, therefore, reduced to 76%. In terms of perinatal and infant mortality rates, the former was 40.2 per 1,000 total births and the latter was 39.3 per 1,000 live births. Both rates described J shaped relationships with age of mothers and parity, and they were also correlated with birth interval and mother's education. In summary, this baseline survey data indicated a need for (1) improving contraceptive practices with more effective methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies and (2) providing better services for maternal and child care to protect wanted pregancies. In the Korean rural setting. the author believes that the latter is more important as the value of each child has increased as a result of the family planning campaign for the past two decades. This calls for more effective integration of Family Planning and MCH programmes to meet the needs of the family in each stage of the child bearing and rearing period with deploying more qualified personnel than the current government program personnel.