The evaluation of scientific reliability of medical information on www in Korea through analyzing hepatitis information / 대한의료정보학회지

The purpose of this studs is to evaluate the Scientific soundness. reliability and harmfulness of medical information on world wide web in Korea. We focused this study just in "hepatitis" information, considering the high incidence of this disease in Korea. 689 web pages relating to hepatitis were collected by means of Lycos Korea search engine. and finally 182 web pages were selected. These 182 web paces were analyzed as category (western/oriental/folk medicine and as subject (prevention/diagnosis/treatment/others). Alter this analysis, these web paces were evaluated by investigators composed of two family physicians and one gastroenterologist. They analyzed the information on the criteria of "scientific soundness" "omission/ . exaggeration" and "harmfulness". The major results were as follows: 1. 133 web pages (73.3%) were scientifically sound. But the web pages relating to oriental and folk medicine revealed relatively low scientific soundness. compared with western medicine wet) pages. Also, the scientific soundness revealed low especially in the web pages that mainly described the treatment of hepatitis. 2. The web pages that had the omission of essential information was 9,3% . and those of the exaggeration" was 26% These results were related to the scientific soundness. The rate of the omission was relating high in the web pages related to the folk medicine (34.6% ), and the rate of exaggeration was remarkably high in die web pages related to the oriental medicine (89.5%), Both rates of the omission (20.9%) and exaggeration (67.2%) revealed especially high in the web pages that mainly described treatment of hepatitis. 3. The web pages that had the harmful information was also had the scientific unsoundness. The rate was high in the web pages related to the folk medicine, and the rate of web pages that had direct persuasion of harmful acting was as remarkably high in the oriental medicine. Also these rates were high in the web pages that mainly describe the treatment of hepatitis. This investigation showed that the large part of internet health information about `hepatitis in korea had the scientific soundness, but also revealed there were mails information that could give unhealthy influence to internet navigators it Korea. The most powerful element that could give unhealthy influence to internet navigators was lack of the scientific soundness, and this unhealthy information mainly revealed in the oriental or folk medicine web pages. especially in the treatment information.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Dual Therapy and Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children

PURPOSE: An optimal treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children has not yet been established. In this study, the efficacy and the tolerability of triple therapy with colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS), amoxicillin and metronidazole, were evaluated in comparison with dual therapy with CBS and amoxicllin. METHODS: Eighty-six children with H. pylori infection, aged 6 years to 14 years, were enrolled in this study. H. pylori infection was confirmed by endoscopic antral biopsy with an rapid urease test, culture and a modified Giemsa stain. The children were considered positive for H. pylori infection if culture was positive or if both modified Giemsa staining and CLO test were positive. The children were treated with one of the following three regimens. Dual therapy with CBS for 4 weeks and amoxicillin for 2 weeks (Group I. n=57: 1993.8-1995.1), Triple therapy with CBS for 4 weeks, amoxcillin for 2 weeks and metronidazole for 2 weeks (Group IIa. n=11: 1995.2-1995.7), and Triple therapy with CBS for 2 weeks, amoxicillin for 2 weeks and metronidazole for 2 weeks (Group IIb. n=18 : 1995. 8-1996. 6). A 50mg/kg/d dose of amoxcillin was aclministered, and that of CBS was 7-8mg/kg/d, and that of metronidazole was 20mg/kg/d. About one month after the cessation of treatment, eradication of H. pylori was evaluated with repeated endoscopic biopsy. RESULTS: H. pylori eradication rate was 61.4% (35/57) in Group I, 90.9% (10/11) in Group IIa, and in the absence of H. pylori 88.9% (16/18) of Group IIb was done by means of an urease test, culture and a modified Giemsa stain (P=0.012). The overall proportion of eradication of H. pylori infection was 89.7% (26/29) by triple therapy and 61.4% (35/57) by dual therapy (P=0.007). However, there was no statistically significant difference in eradication rate between the 2-week triple therapy (IIb) and the Denol 4-week triple therapy (IIa)(P=0.86). Side effects : All patients in three treatment groups were tolerated well with little and mild side effects (P=0.258). CONCLUSION: The 2-week triple therapy with CBS, amoxcillin, and metronidazole would be a highly effective and safe treatment regimen for H. pylori infection in children.

Imaging Study by Sagittal Reconstruction of Paranasal Computed Tomography / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND: It is very difficult to evaluate the anatomy of several tiny structures of paranasal sinus(PNS), especially frontal recess area. Until now, plain X-ray, coronal and axial computed tomogram(CT) and MRI have been used as the radiologic study of PNS. However, there is a lack of full understanding with these 2 dimensional images. Routine coronal and axial CT helps us understand the structure of PNS approximately. But they have limitations in understanding the A-P directional anatomy and difficulties especially in establishing the 3 dimensional concept with frontal recess, which has the various structure as the degree of developing of agger nasi and surrounding structure of frontal recess. OBJECTIVES: We studied to resolve these difficulties and limitations in understanding the A-P directional anatomy and 3 dimensional concept of complicated structures of PNS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We checked PNS CT in 20 patients who have been suspected to have paranasal problems, and we reconstructed each CT scan into axial and sagittal images from the thin cutted axial PNS CT by using 3 dimensional reconstruction software, SIENET magic view 1,000. RESULTS: With comparing each reconstructed images this problem, we got clear understanding of the structures of A-P direction of nasal cavity and PNS, especially frontal recess area. CONCLUSION: Three dimensional reconstructed views provides clear images in complicated anatomy of nose and paranasal sinus, so it is considered to helpful in planning of surgery.

A Clinical Study on Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND: Since ciliary dysfunction of the respiratory system impair mucosal ciliary clearance, it is associated with recurrent or persistent upper respiratory infections, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, recurrent pneumonia, recurrent otitis media, bronchiectasis and chronic rhinitis. Primary ciliary dyskinesia has a familial tendency and it is known to have autosomal recessive trait, and rarely acquired trait. OBJECTIVES: We had this study in order to inspect whether primary ciliary dyskinesia is associated with recurrent or persistent upper respiratory problems or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From May 1995 through April 1996, by electron microscopy of the nasal mucosa, the authors analysed nine patients who had recurrent or persistent respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Electron microscopic findings revealed primary ciliary dyskinesia in 4 patients with the symptoms of upper respiratory tract problems. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that nasal mucosal biopsy may be necessary for rule out primary ciliary dyskinesia in the patients with recurrent respiratory infections.