Association of Anthropometric Indices with Prevalence of Hypertension in Korean Adults / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between hypertension prevalence and the four commonest anthropometric measurements for obesity(body mass index(BMI), wasit-hip ratio(WHR), waist circumference(WC) and body fat in Korean adults. METHODS: We studied the cross-sectional association of the anthropometric indices and blood pressure in 1,197 individuals( who were participants in the population-based cohort study). Hypertension was defined as blood pressure 160/95 mmHg or current use of antihypertensive medication. Informations on life-style factors were obtained from personal interview. RESULTS: There were close associations between BMI, WHR and WC with blood pressure in both men and women. After age adjustment, BMI and WC showed significantly positive correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in both men and women. Odds ratio(ORs) of being hypertensive were estimated comparing the highest to the lowest quantile, adjusting for age, smoking status, alcohol intake levels, education attainment. The simultaneously adjusted ORs of being hypertensive, comparing the highest vs the lowest categories, was for BMI 2.0(95% confidence interval(CI)=0.9-3.2) in men and 3.2 (95% CI=1.7-6.1) in women, for WC 2.1(95% CI=1.0-4.4) in men and 3.1(95% CI=1.6-5.9) in women, for fat(%) 4.2(95% CI=1.9-9.5) in men and 2.1(95% CI=1.2-3.6) in women. CONCLUSION: In addition to measures of overall obesity(BMI) as well as central obesity(WHR, WC), body fat(%) was independently associated with prevalence of hypertension. Among obesity indices, body fat was the most predictor variable in hypertensive state in male and BMI was in female.

The Seroepidemiologic Study for Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I(HTLV-I) Infection in Residents of Cheju-Do / 감염

BACKGROUND: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is a retrovirus that has been identified as a cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis. HTLV-I infection is highly endemic in the southwestern islands of Japan, Caribbean basin, South America, and Africa. In 1993, we showed that the seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I was 0.13% among blood donors in Korea, but surprisingly, 0.80% in Cheju-Do adjacent to endemic areas of Japan. So this study was designed to reevaluate the seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I among residents in Cheju-Do. METHODS: Total 2,372 residents in Cheju-Do were tested from December 1995 to March 1996. Anti-HTLV-I antibodies were detected by the microtiter particle agglutination test. RESULTS: Among total 2,372 residents, 19 were anti-HTLV-I positive. So the overall positive rate of anti-HTLV-I antibodies was 0.80%. The positive rate in females was higher than in males (0.82% vs 0.78%). The positive rate was 1.45% in the age group of 20-29 years, 1.41% in 40-49 years, 0.91% in 0-9 years, 0.70% in 30-39 years, and 0.54% in 50-59 years. The mean age of seropositive cases is 35.2 in males and 35.4 in females, with a mean of 35.3. Geographically, high positive rate was observed in Sogwipo-City (1.37%) and Namcheju-Gun (0.83%) compared to those of Pukcheju-Gun (0.64%) and Cheju-City (0.61%), which showed high seroprevalence in districts adjacent to endemic areas of Japan. Any specific risk factors or associated disorders of HTLV-I infection could not be found among the seropositive cases. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I in Cheju-Do was noted to be very high by the microtiter particle agglutination test. So henceforth serosurvey by confirmative laboratory tests is needed, and if high seroprevalence is showed from it, screening of blood donors for HTLV-I in Cheju-Do should be considered to prevent transfusion-associated HTLV-I infection.

A Study on the Body Fatness and Lifestyles of Some Medical Students / 예방의학회지

This study was carried out to evaluate the associations between lifestyles and Body Mass Index in a group of 349 male and 65 female medical students, ages 17 to 31 years. 20.0% of male students and 3.1% of female student showed the over weight in the classification of obesity by Japan Society for Study of Obesity. There was no statistically significance in the comparison of the height body weight, body mass index, obesity index and body fat(%) according to grade in both sexes. But male students showed increasing tendency of waist-hip ratio with grade. According to obesity category, there was significant difference in the comparison of body weight, body mass index , obesity index, waist-hip ratio and body fat(%), but height. Body mass index was positively related with waist-hip ratio(r=0.6150, p=0.0001) and fat(%)(r=0.5101, p=0.0001) in males and waist-hip ratio (r=0.4734, p=0.001) and fat(%)(r=0.4522, p=0.002)in females. This study provides an opportunity to further examine the relationship of sociodemographic factors and health behaviors to obesity, and suggest the basic concept to match the obesity study to general eqidemiological cohort studies for controlling of chronic adult diseases.

A study on the knowledge and personal history about hepatitis Bviral marker in the university admission

No abstract available.

An Epidemiological Study on Traffic Accidents / 예방의학회지

A retrospective study has been made of 170,026 cases of motor vehicle accidents which had been reported to the National Police Headquarters of Republic of Korea, 1983. Also a study has been made of 264 cases of road traffic casualties who were treated at the Eul-ji General Hospital from Jan. 1, 1983 to Dec. 31, 1983. This study was conducted to find out the nature and pattern of the traffic accidents from the clinical and epidemiological view points. In additions, the modes of injury from the road accidents were pursued which might help to reduce the traffic accident rate. The results of the study were summarized as follows; 1. In this study, the highest incidence was in the age group between 21-30 years (21.29%). And the age group of highest death rate was under 10 years (7.28%). 2. In the comparison of sexual differences, male was dominated in accidents number and death rate. (Casualty rate; 61.66%). 3. In the comparison of each hour differences, the accident was mostly occurred during afternoon from 16 : 00 to 18 : 00 (12.23%). 4. The most common day of week was Sunday (14.74%). 5. The most common season of year was Autumn (27.92%). 6. In the comparison of occupational differences, the high incidences were showed in labor men (31.06%) and business men (12.12%). 7. In the comparison of accidental vehicles, the most common vehicle were cars and the next were trucks and buses. 8. The most common mechanism of accidents was collision (57.41%). 9. In the comparison of clinical differences, orthopaedic and neurosurgical injuries were most common types of the hospitalized casualties. 10. In the comparison of anatomical fracture sites, the most common site was tibia (15.81%) and the next site was femur (12.56%).

Attempts to Establish Host Cells for Mycobactrium leprae in vitro by Hibridizing Mouse Macrophages and HeLa Cells

Various primary cells and an established cell line were cultured in roller tubes and in suspension to evaluate their potential roles as host cells to support the growth of M. leprae in vitro. The primary cells originated from the organs of chipmunks, mice and humans. Phagocytic ability of those cells except for macrophages was found to be low and did not vary much according to their origin. However, when macrophages from mice peritonial exudate were exposed to the bacteria, the phagocytic efficiency was higher than 47%. In spite of those good primary results, the macrophages are not cells which can adapt well in vitro for long term culture, which is essential for the growth of such a slow growing M. leprae. Thus, somatic cell hybridization between the macrophages and HeLa was made by fusing them with polyethylene glycole. Those hybrids appeared to have both the characteristics of the parent cells, which can provide a natural intracellular environment such as the macrophages and the infinite growth capability of the HeLa cells in vitro.

Attempts to Establish Host Cells for Mycobactrium leprae in vitro by Hibridizing Mouse Macrophages and HeLa Cells

Various primary cells and an established cell line were cultured in roller tubes and in suspension to evaluate their potential roles as host cells to support the growth of M. leprae in vitro. The primary cells originated from the organs of chipmunks, mice and humans. Phagocytic ability of those cells except for macrophages was found to be low and did not vary much according to their origin. However, when macrophages from mice peritonial exudate were exposed to the bacteria, the phagocytic efficiency was higher than 47%. In spite of those good primary results, the macrophages are not cells which can adapt well in vitro for long term culture, which is essential for the growth of such a slow growing M. leprae. Thus, somatic cell hybridization between the macrophages and HeLa was made by fusing them with polyethylene glycole. Those hybrids appeared to have both the characteristics of the parent cells, which can provide a natural intracellular environment such as the macrophages and the infinite growth capability of the HeLa cells in vitro.

Biotic Potential of Captured Chipmunks

Captured wild chipmunks which have been extensively used for leprosy research, were studied in our laboratory for the reproductive potentials. Histologically normal organs, which are involved in reproduction in both sexes, were observed. Functionally active viable sperms in sufficient amount were produced by the males, and were used for artificial inseminations. A state of normal reproductive physiology of the females was also confirmed by studies on histologic analysis of oogenesis in the ovaries and in cultured ovaries in vitro. Regularity in ovulation was also determined by vaginal epithelial cell examinations. Thus these animals appeared to be normal in terms of fecundity. It was considered that the inability of these animals to have successful breeding in the captured state was due to problems in fertility, especially in maintaining the pregnancy.

The Review of Chemotherapeutric Trials on Leprosy and its Present States in Korea

No abstract available.

Studies on Exocellular Substances of Mycobacterium ulcerans. I. Prelimiary Report on a Susceptible Animal to the Substances

This is a report on attempts tp search for a suitable experimental animal model which is sensitive to the exocellular substances of M. ulcerans, prior to study of biochemical and pathogenic natures of the substances. Cells of M. ulcerans grown in a broth medium were harvested by filtration and washed with phosphate-buffered saline. The filtrate of culture supernatant was subjected to fractionation by addition of various amounts of ammonium sulfate. The washed cells and the preparations resulted from ammonium sulfate fractionation (ASF 45 and ASF 70) were inoculated by either foot-pad injection, subcutaneous or intradermal injection to the selected animal groups. Any skin response due to administration of the preparations; erythema, edema, pus formation, etc. was macroscopically observed along with time progression. Among the animals employed, such as guinea pig, mouse, and rabbit, the rabbit was the only animal group showing strong skin response to the washed cells, ASF 45 and ASF 70. The heat-treated preparation of ASF 45 seemed to be inactive in elucidating skin response of rabbits. Dependence of skin response upon dose of the washed cells and the preparation of ASF 45 was also discussed.

Comparison of Mycobacterial Growth in Dubos Medium, Hyaluronate Supplemented Medium and Umbilical Cord Extract Based Medium

This is a report of attempts to compare the growth yields of various species of fastidious mycobacterium inch1ding human pathogens and non-pathogens in the conventional Dubos liquid medium and two simple media formulated recently; one is a medium containing 0.1% hyaluronic acid and 6.0% bovine serum albumin and the other is a semisyntheic medium made of umbilical cord extract supplemented with 10% sheep serum as a final concentration. All mycobacterial strains employed in experiments gave the heaviest growth yields in the hyaluronic acid-bovine serum albumin medium (HAS medium), among the three media. Dubos liquid medium seemed to be inferior to a medium made of umbilical cord extract (UCE medium) in supporting mycobacterial growth. There were three-to seven-fold increases in dry weight of the bacteria grown in the HAS medium as compared with those in the Dubos liquid medium. We also looked for the possible effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA)in the HAS medium on mycobacterial growth. As a result, we found that the amount of BSA in the HAS medium, ranging from zero to 6.0% in the medium, showed no substantial effect on the mycobacteria1 growth.

Cytogenetic Studies of the Korean Chipmunk, Eutamias sibiricus asiaticus

The karyotype of the Korean chipmunk, Eutamias sibiricus asiaticus, was identified and G-banding patterns were demonstrated fer the first time. The diploid number was 38. The autosomes consisted of 4 pairs of metacentrics, 3 pairs of submetacentrics, 4 pairs of subtelocentrics and 7 pairs of acrocentrics. The X chromosome is the second largest in the submetacentric. The Y chromosome is the smallest submetacentric. The present study confirmed and identified Eutamias sibiricus asiaticus as the Korean chipmunk.

An Epidemiological Study of 100 Cases of Lung Cancer in Korean / 예방의학회지

An epidemiological study is to observe and analyse 100 cases of lung cancer in Korean, which had been diagnosed actually at the general hospitals in Korea from 1970 through 1974, to discover the tendency of the lung cancer by sex, age, occupation, duration of clinical symptoms before diagnosis, site of cancer in lung, size of cancer, occurrence, treatment, prognosis, smoking and pathological findings as follows. 1. Males were affected 5.7 times more than females, the peak incidence of lung cancer were 50 years old age group. 2. The occupations of the cases were commerce, agriculture, industry, laborers and teachers, etc. in thht order. 3. The average duration symptoms from onset to diagnosis were 5.5 months. 4. The cancers were affected more right side than left side of the lungs, Particularly the most of them were affected in the upper lobes of the lungs. 5. The average diameter of the tumors was 5.5crX6.5cm, However the largest of them was 10cm X 13cm. 6. The most cases of the lung cancers were occurred primarily. 7. Out of the 100 cases, 58 cases had no treatment, 23 cases had palliative-symptomatic treatment, of cases by special chemo-therapy, 7 cases by surgery, and 5 cases by cobalt 60 or X-gay. 8. In the view point of prognosis, the most cases of the lung cancers died within one year atfer diagnosis. 9. The smoking was one of the causative factor of lung cancer, but there was no significant diferentiation by means of the amount of smoking. 10. The most cases of the lung cancers diangosed histo-pathologically, were epidermoid(squamous) type.

A Study of the Isolation of Tubercle Bacilli from the Patient's Urine with Genitourinary Tuberculosis by the Inoculation into the Korean Chipmunks / 대한비뇨기과학회지

The detection of the tubercle bacilli is absolutely necessary to make definite diagnosis of patients with genitourinary tuberculosis. Recently it has been reported that the detection rate of tubercle bacilli from the patient's urine is decreasing because of abuse of the anti-tuberculous drugs and the resistance developed in the experimental animals such as mouse and guinea pig (Marks, 1972). Therefore the necessity of the development of better diagnostic methods has been mandatory. Recently it was reported that the Korean chipmunks(Tamias sibiricus asiaticus. Gmelin) are highly susceptible to tubercle bacilli (Chang et al., 1971). The specific objection of this study is to pursue the possibility of using the chipmunks for the early diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis. Twenty-four hour urines of 34 patients with suspected genitourinary tuberculosis were tested for tubercle bacilli with smear, culture, and inoculation ink chipmunks and mice intraperitoneally. The results are briefly summarized as follows: 1. 18 cases out of 34 patients with suspected genitourinary tuberculosis were confirmed to be positive by any means of stained smear, culture and animal inoculation. Of 18 proved genitourinary tuberculosis. 12 cases were confirmed by smear, culture and mouse inoculation, and on the other hand. 14 cases by chipmunks inoculation. 2. In the group of chipmunks inoculation, 8 cases were found to be positive on the 10th day and 14 cages on the 20th day. 3. These findings suggest that the period required for the detection of tubercle bacilli was shorter and the positive rate was higher than that of other animals and other methods. For the clinical applications of the Korean chipmunks as a diagnostic tools, further effort is considered to be necessary.

Studies on the Population of Toxigenic Fungi in Foodstuffs

These studies were carried out to detect the presence of mycotoxin producing fungi in various foodstuffs in Korea. The experiments were divided into three parts: bacteriologic, toxicologic and electron microscopic studies. From the 133 various samples, 425 colonies of fungi were isolated. In 405 of the 426 colonies it was possible to identify 17genera. Among the identified strains the predominant genera were Penicillum, Aspergillus and Alternaria. In the cytotoxicity test, 18 strains showed imld to severe toxic effects in mice, 19 strains showed toxic effects on HeLa cells. In electron microscopic studies of liver cells from aninals which had been treated with toxin-like substances, the liver cells showed the cytoplasmic changes dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, swelling of mitochondria and increased number of lipid and glycogen particles. Alterations of nuclear envelape were also noted.

Mycobacterium Leprae in Cultured Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages: In vivo Infection In vitro Cultivation

To grow Mycobacterium leprae in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages, studies were made on 1) the purification of M. leprae from lepromatous nodules by trypsinization, 2) growth experiment of purified M. leprae in cu1tured macrophages by in vivo infection-in vitro cultivation technique and 3) the observation of pathological changes in sp1eens of mice induced by intraperitoneal inoculation of purified M. leprae. Results are summarized as follows. 1. A simple and effective procedure is described for purification of M. leprae from biopsied nodules of lepromatous leprosy patients by trypsinization and high speed centrifugation. The procedure resulted in a good yie1d of homogeneous preparation of M. leprae with a negligible contamination of tissue debris. 2. Significant decreases were observed in the numbers of acid-fast bacilli in cultured macrophages and of macrophages harboring acid-fast bacilli by the length of intervals between the time of intraperitoneal inoculation of purified M. leprae and the time of initiation of macrophage cultures. 3. Microscopic examination of stained preparations of macrophages cultured by in vivo infection-in vitro cultivation technique indicated that an apparent increase in the number of acid-fast bacilli in the macrophages occurred when the cultures made at 24 hours and 1 week after inoculation were maintained in vitro up to 2 months or more. 4. Pathological changes in the spleens of mice inoculated with purified M. leprae were of mainly degenerative nature in the red pulp. No multiplication of M. leprae was observed in the spleens of mice up to 5 months after inoculation.

The Vibrio Cholerae Isolated During Cholera Epidemics in Korea in 1969 and 1970

Recently, two successive epidemics of cholera were observed in Korea. The first one started in Suhchun-Goon of Choong-Chung-Namdo in August 1969, and the 2nd in Changyoung-Goon of Kyung Sang-Namdo in August 1970. With stool specimens collected from patients in Suhchun, Ko-Chang, Seoul, Inchun, Youngkwang, Chang-hang and Wooljin were epidemic areas in l969, and from patients in Chang-Young, Pusan, Taegu, and Seoul which were epidemic areas in l970, studies were carried out in 1) the isolation and identification of cholera vibrio strains 2) the differentiation of E1 Tor vibrio from classic cholera strains 3) the liberation test of Kappa-type phages and 4) El Tor phage typing. Five strains, which were isolated in the epidemic area of the Philippines in l969 were included for a comparative study. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The epidemic strains of 1969 were identified as Vibrio cholerae, Celebes type El Tor and those of 1970 epidemic as Vibrio cholerae, biotype El Tor, El Tor phage type IV. 2) Korean strains and Philippine strains of 1969 epidemic appeared to be identical in biochemical and serological tests and phage susceptibility tests.

Continuous Cultivation of Fibroblast-type Cells Derived from Rabbit Embryos

A line of fibroblast-type cells derived from embryos of a domestic rabbit has been cultivated continuously for over 3 years by serial passages up to the level of the moth passage. The cell line was tentatively named rabbit embryo fibroblast (REF). The establishment of primary culture, serial passages, growth rate and cytology are described in this communication. In addition some of the results of experiments on the detection of Mycoplasma contamination, on storage of the frozen cells and on its susceptibility to vaccinia virus infection are included.

Studies on the Treatment of Leprosy with a Synthesized Thiocarbanilide Derivative L-4

A total of 62 leprosy patients, 47 lepromatous type, 9 tuberculoid, 5 borderline group and 1 indeterminate group, have been treated with a synthesized thiocarbanilide L-4, and the effectiveness of L-4 administration in the treatment of leprosy is evaluated on the basis of clinical and bacteriological improvements. The results are summarized and conc1uded as follows; 1. L-4, contained in gelatin capsule, can be safely administered orally to the patients through slow induction, from initial dosages of 50 mg to 100 mg dai1y to the therapeutic maintenance levels of 200 mg to 300 mg daily, for a period of time. 2. L-4 administration has brought apparent and remarkable improvement in clinical symptoms of the patients after a relatively short period of medication compared with that of DDS administration. 3. Changes of SFG values caused by L-4 administration were much speedier than, (or, at least, equivalent to) the effect caused by DDS. The changes of SFG values, in general, synchronized fairly well with clinical improvement of the patients. 4. Lepromatous cases with leprosy reaction or sulfone allergy responded well to L-4 medication with remarkable clinical improvement, and prolonged administration of L-4 did not provoke such a precipitating action to leprosy reaction as did DDS.

Mycobacterium lepraemurium in Cultured Mouse Peritoneal Macrophage: A Preliminary Report

Efforts have been made to accomplish a long term in vitro cultivation of mouse peritoneal macrophage as a host cell for growth of Mycobacterium lepraemurium. Following the inoculation with live or heat-killed Myco. lepraemuriuum of cultured macrophages either on a cover-slip in Leighton tube or in a small petri dish, microscopic observations of acid-fast (AF) stained slide preparation, and total counts of AF bacilli that were released by ultrasonic treatment from the macrophages in small petri dish have been followed in order to present microscopic and quantitative evidence of the actual multiplication of Myco. lepraemurium in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophage. The results are summarized and conclusions are as follows; 1. Successful long term in vitro cultivation of mouse peritoneal macrophage has been accomplished. The growth medium for tissue culture consisted of NCTC 109;50% heat-inactivated calf serum; 40% and beef embryo extract (diluted 1 : 5); 10% and the medium was renewed every 3 to 4 days. The incubation temperature was 37 degrees C; before and at 30 degrees C; after the inoculation with Myco. lepramurium. The CO2 content inside the CO2 humidity incubator for the cultivation of macrophage was kept at 5%. 2. In cultures of macrophage inoculated with live Myco. lepraemurium, clear features of increases in the number of AF bacilli inside individual cell, of elongation of bacill and of increased solidity in AF staining were observed. However, these features were absent in cultlires of macrophage inoculated with heat-killed Myco. lepraemurium. 3. The ultrasonic treatment of macrophage inoculated with 1ive Myco. lepraemurium, and the quantitative assessment of total number of AF bacilli through the course of 6 to 8 weeks after inoculation has provided partial but substantial evidence of actual multiplication of Myco. lepraemurium in cultured macrophages.