ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES@#According to the World Health Organization, there have been frequent reports of Ebola virus disease (EVD) since the 2014 EVD pandemic in West Africa. We aim to estimate the outbreak scale when an EVD infected person arrives in Korea. @*METHODS@#Western Africa EVD epidemic mathematical model SEIJR or SEIJQR was modified to create a Korean EVD outbreak model. The expected number of EVD patients and outbreak duration were calculated by stochastic simulation under the scenarios of Best case, Diagnosis delay, and Case missing. @*RESULTS@#The 2,000 trials of stochastic simulation for each scenario demonstrated the following results: The possible median number of patients is 2 and the estimated maximum number is 11 when the government intervention is proceeded immediately right after the first EVD case is confirmed. With a 6-day delay in diagnosis of the first case, the median number of patients becomes 7, and the maximum, 20. If the first case is missed and the government intervention is not activated until 2 cases of secondary infection occur, the median number of patients is estimated at 15, and the maximum, at 35. @*CONCLUSIONS@#Timely and rigorous diagnosis is important to reduce the spreading scale of infection when a new communicable disease is inflowed into Korea. Moreover, it is imperative to strengthen the local surveillance system and diagnostic protocols to avoid missing cases of secondary infection.
ABSTRACT
Although spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) literally refers to the specific type of spinal cord injury, however, some extents of spinal cord injuries can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in most of cases. We introduce an atypical case of spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality. A 42-year-old male tetraplegic patient underwent MRI and computed tomography, and no specific lesions were found in any segments of the spinal cord. Moreover, the tetraplegic patient showed normal urodynamic function despite severe paralysis and absent somatosensory evoked potentials from the lower limbs.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory , Lower Extremity , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Paralysis , Quadriplegia , Spinal Cord , Spinal Cord Injuries , UrodynamicsABSTRACT
Anterior cervical osteophytes are common and usually asymptomatic in elderly people. Due to mechanical compressions, inflammations, and tissues swelling of osteophytes, patients may be presented with multiple complications, such as dysphagia, dysphonia, dyspnea, and pulmonary aspiration. Paradoxical vocal cord motion is an uncommon disease characterized by vocal cord adductions during inspiration and/or expiration. This condition can create shortness of breath, wheezing, respiratory stridor or breathy dysphonia. We report a rare case demonstrating combined symptoms of dyspnea, dysphonia as well as dysphagia at the same time in a patient with asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophytes. Moreover, this is the first report demonstrating that anterior osteophytes can be a possible etiological factor for paradoxical vocal cord motion that induces serious respiratory symptoms.
Subject(s)
Humans , Deglutition Disorders , Dysphonia , Dyspnea , Inflammation , Osteophyte , Respiratory Sounds , Vocal CordsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We conducted a research into the current method of contraception used by Korean women (1,130 were surveyed) in order to understand about any problems they may be experiencing and their levels of satisfaction. Our objective is to be able to suggest appropriate methods of contraception which are desired by Korean women. METHOD: We gave questionnaire to reproductive age women who visited Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul from January 2000 to October 2001. Items of the survey contained general characteristics such as, the method of contraception, side effect (if any), and level of satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean age was 35.1+/-5.9 years and the most common occupation was that of housewife (68%), the mean parity was 1.7+/-1.1, and the mean abortion was 0.8+/-1.5. The mean contraception period was 4.6+/-4.9 years, of the methods used, condoms were the most common (29.0%), followed by intrauterine device (21.1%), tubal sterilization (13.5%), oral contraceptive (12.2%), periodic abstinence (9.3%), vasectomy (7.9%), coitus interruptus (6.4%) and others (12.4%). Among women above 41 years of age, sterilization was the most common method. Condom and oral contraceptives were the most common methods among women under the 40 years of age. The side effects, menorrhagia and leukorrhea were the most common among the women who had used the method of contraception with inrauterine divice. Tubal sterilization and vasectomy gave the most satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The most common used contraceptive method among Korean reproductive age women was the condom. We found that the form of contraception has been changing from permanent method to a temporary one. Therefore the education for women in the use of condom, oral contraceptives, and intrauterine device should be completed as soon as possible.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Coitus Interruptus , Condoms , Contraception , Contraceptives, Oral , Education , Intrauterine Devices , Leukorrhea , Menorrhagia , Natural Family Planning Methods , Occupations , Parity , Seoul , Sterilization , Sterilization, Tubal , VasectomyABSTRACT
Antiestrogens have been widely used in the treatment of breast cancer patients. Although tamoxifen is one of the most prevalent antiestrogens, some reported its hepatocarcinogenic effects and the long-term treatment may increase the risk of endometrial and gastrointestinal cancer. Toremifene is an interesting new antiestrogen and have a similar antitumor efficacy as tamoxifen, with less side-effect including less uterotrophic effect compared to tamoxifen, in mice. we report a case of endometrial polyp which were associated with toremifene use, in postmenopausal woman with breast cancer, with a brief review of literature.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Humans , Mice , Breast Neoplasms , Estrogen Receptor Modulators , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms , Polyps , Tamoxifen , ToremifeneABSTRACT
Tamoxifen, which is often used in breast cancer therapy, has also been used in the treatment of patients with advanced and recurrent endometrial carcinoma. Tamoxifen has been shown to have significant benificial effects in the treatment of breast cancer patients as hormonal therapy. However, there is evidence that tamoxifen may affect other hormone sensitive organs, including the uterus and ovaries. An increased risk of endometrial polyps, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer has been reported in tamoxifen treated women. We are able to make this report because we have experienced uterine endometrial carcinosarcoma which is developed in a patient treated with tamoxifen for five years following a modified radical mastectomy due to breast cancer in our hospital.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Breast Neoplasms , Breast , Carcinosarcoma , Endometrial Hyperplasia , Endometrial Neoplasms , Endometrium , Mastectomy, Modified Radical , Ovary , Polyps , Tamoxifen , UterusABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to evaluate the effect of the intravaginal misoprostol(prostaglandin E1,) for termination after second trimester. METHODS: Thirty pregnant women with intrauterine fetal death and with indications for therapeutic termination of intrauterine pregnancy at least fourteen weeks of gestation were recruited. They were evaluated the mean time from induction to termination, maternal side effects, and total dose of the powdered 100ug misoprostol adminstered in the posterior vaginal fornix every six hours. RESULTS: The mean time from induction to termination was 21.1+/-8.2 hours after administration of the intravaginal misoprostol. Only two patients had not been delivered within 48hours. Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever were not accompanied except nausea. The total dosage of misoprostol was 412.5+/-156.1ug. CONCLUSION: This study shows that intravaginal misoprostol appears to be safe, effective and inexpensive method for the labor induction for termination of pregnancy in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Diarrhea , Fetal Death , Fever , Misoprostol , Nausea , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Pregnant Women , VomitingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and obstetric consequences of women with uterine anomalies and correlation between obstetric consequence and congenital uterine anomalies. Materials and METHODS: A retrospective study was made on 65 patients with uterine anomalies in order to evaluate the obstetric consequence at department of obstetrics and gynecology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital from January 1994 to June 1997. The diagnosis of uterine anomalies was made with hysterosalpingogram or ultrasonogram, or at the time of cesarean section. The uterine anomalies were classified according to the classification of Buttram and Gibbons and compared the pregnancy outcome for each classification. The obstetric consequences were divided into preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine growth restriction, and abnormal presentation of fetus. Statistical analysis was carried out using chi-square test, the significance was defined as P< 0.05. RESULTS: 1. The incidence of uterine anomalies accounted for 1.04% (65/6,250 deliveries). 2. The most common uterine anomalies were class III (Uterine didelphys, 47.7%). 3. We noted preterm birth rate (16.9%), premature rupture of membranes rate (20%), intrauterine growth restriction rate (9.2%) in 65 patients. 4. The rate of breech presentation was 41.5% and the mean birth weight was 2,747 gram. 5. When uterine anormalies were present, the incidence of obstetric consequences was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: We concluded that congenital uterine anomalies were closely related to obstetric consequences, such as preterm, breech presentation, intrauterine growth retardation.