Prevalence of Self-reported Arthritis and Its Epidemiologic Characteristics in Korea / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to define the prevalence, demographic data, selection of the medical services and disability of the patients with self-reported arthritis which were based on the data of National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS) conducted by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) and Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1998. MEHTODS: By a stratified multistage probability sampling method, 200 sample districts which consisted of total 13,523 households were selected all over the country. The investigation started with a basic household survey which was completed in 12,189 households with exclusion of non-kinship family. The Health Interview Survey was subdivided to 5 parts including the basic household survey (n=39,060), the diseases survey (n=26,448), and the disability survey (n=694). RESULTS: An estimated 8.0% of Koreans had some form of self-reported arthritis in 1998 and this proportion was higher than that of other chronic medical conditions such as peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (DM) -7.0%, 4.5%, and 2.2%, respectively. Arthritis was more prevalent among people with female, increasing age, lower income (less than 500 thousand \ per month), lower educational attainment (less than 9 years), and lower standard of living. Especially, arthritis ranked first in prevalence as the cause of the chronic disease in the population aged over 45 years, with the prevalence rate of 22.6%. People with arthritis were more likely to report functional limitations such as activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) (5.4%), compared with people who had other musculoskeletal diseases, such as low back pain (3.8%), and herniated intervertebral disc (2.8%). The loss of productivity from arthritis was estimated to reach 0.25% of gross domestic product (GDP) amounts to won 1,133 billion per year which was remarkably higher than that of cardiovascular diseases or cancers. CONCLUSION: Arthritis has a major impact on the health profile of our population. High burden of arthritis in our society should be considered as an important factor in planning health care services and setting research priorities.

Nutritional Status in Korean Patients with Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: Based on the data of National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS),which was conducted by Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1998,we analyzed nutritional status among arthritis patients in Korea. METHODS: Nutrition survey was performed through interview which was subdivided to food intake survey,frequency of food intake survey,and dietary habits survey.Nutrient intake was calculated from the recall of food ingested in previous 1-day.Overall,1,025 patients with arthritis and 2,773 normal controls recorded a detailed dietary history.Information collected was analyzed for intake of energy,fats,protein,carbohydrate,vitamins and minerals,which was then statistically compared between the arthritis patients and the control group. RESULTS:In patients with arthritis,body mass index (BMI)was significantly greater than in control in both men and women.Patients with arthritis ingested significantly less energy from fat and more energy from carbohydrates.They ingested less dietary intakes of the following nutrients:protein,fat,carbohydrates,calcium,iron,vitamin A,B1,B2,and niacin. Especially,the intake of calcium and vitamin B2 were only about 60%of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).Deficiency of calcium intake was predominantly revealed in all age groups,even in normal controls.Female patients with arthritis seemed to take less dietary intake than male. CONCLUSION:Using these national data,we showed that the deficiency of calcium intake was revealed in our population,and female patient with arthritis had a tendency to ingest less nutrient intake.

Electroencephalographic effects of chlorpromazine in rats

The effects of an antipsychotic, chlorpromazine, on the electroencephalogram (EEG) were observed while rats were awake but immobile. The time course and the dose-dependency of the EEG changes were examined. The method of the power spectrum analysis was used to examine the EEG changes by the drug. The bands were divided into delta (1 ~ 3.5 Hz), theta (3.5 ~ 8 Hz), alpha (8 ~ 13 Hz), beta1 (13 ~ 21 Hz), beta2 (21 ~ 30 Hz) and gamma (30 ~ 50 Hz). In rats, the low dose of chlropromazine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a significant increase in the power of the beta1 band. The higher doses (5, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a significant increase in the power of the delta, theta, alpha and beta1 bands, and the decrease in the power of the gamma band. The powers of the bands changed dose-dependently. Then, the authors discussed whether the EEG effects produced by a drug are associated with the accompanying behavioral changes specifically.