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Background: A commercial splinting system is designed to permit quick training in opening and closing the affected hand in order to overcome the disadvantages of previous approaches. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of intensive training using a spring-assisted hand orthosis on upper extremity in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Five participants for the experimental group and 5 for the control group were recruited from a local rehabilitation hospital. Subjects in the experimental group participated in 4 weeks of training using a SaeboFlex orthosis for 1 hour per day, 5 times per week. Each subject in the control group wore the same orthosis for 1 hour per day without participating in upper extremity training. Outcome measures included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Box and Block Test, and Action Research Arm Test; kinematic parameters were collected using a 3-D motion analysis system. Results: The Fugl-Meyer assessment and the Box and Block Test score were increased significantly in the experimental group after the intervention. The resultant velocity of the wrist joint for the reach-to-grasp task decreased significantly, and the resultant velocity of the shoulder joint while performing a reach-to-grasp task at acromion height decreased significantly in the experimental group. Conclusion: A pilot clinical study of spring-assisted dynamic hand orthosis training is feasible in recovering the movement of the hemiparetic upper extremity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to estimate the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for 2 years from 1997 to 1998 in Korea. The information on SIDS was obtained from three independent sources, the Korean Medical Insurance Corporation data, data from different medical facilities (Korean surveillance on SIDS) and mortality data from the Korean National Statistical Office. A log linear model with no interactions among the 3 sources was used with the selection criteria of both the Akaike Information Criterion and the Bayesian Information Criterion. The 95% confidence intervals of the estimated number of SIDS deaths were calculated using the goodness-of-fit-method. The estimated number of deaths who were not found in any of the sources was 535, and the estimated total number of SIDS deaths was 759. The 95% confidence interval for estimated total number of patients ranged from 642 to 1522. The estimated rate of SIDS cases was 0.56 per 1000 live births per annum, which is similar to the incidence in the USA or Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antihyperlipidemic agents such as 3-hydroxymethyglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors and cholesterol transporter inhibitors are used in coronary heart disease. However, controversy remains over the pharmacologic effects and safety of these drugs, especially when used in combination therapies. This retrospective study evaluated the therapeutic effect and safety of simvastatin 20 mg and ezetimibe 10 mg combination therapy compared to simvastatin 20 mg or ezetimibe 10 mg monotherapy in Korean patients according to gender, age, baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and cardiovascular risk factors. We observed significant differences among patient subgroups. Simvastatin and ezetimibe monotherapies and combination therapy reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 27.6%, 10.1%, and 36.8% (p < 0.001) and total cholesterol levels by 17.5%, 9.2%, and 25.3% (p < 0.001), respectively. Both monotherapy and combination therapy groups had similar incidences of all types of adverse events. However, one case of rhabdomyolysis was observed in the combination therapy group. These results suggest that, compared to monotherapy, combination therapy has an additive effect that is not influenced by risk factors. Despite the low incidence of adverse events, caution is required when using these drugs, especially in the context of musculoskeletal side effects.

Although studies of immigrants have generally indicated significant dietary changes that mirror a Western diet upon immigration, previous data are limited to the dietary patterns and intakes of younger and middle-aged adults. Using a relatively large sample of Korean American elderly (KAE) immigrants, this article offers an in-depth assessment of the nutritional status of KAE, one of the most rapidly increasing minority populations in the United States. In this study, 202 KAE in a metropolitan city on the East Coast participated in a comprehensive nutritional survey using 24-hour dietary recall. Despite their spending about 16 years in the United States, the KAE consumed more than 2 regular meals in a day that were considered part of a Korean food pattern. When compared with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, the average consumption of nutrients reported was generally lower than in Americans, with the exception of carbohydrates, vegetable protein, and sodium intake. Inadequate intake of calcium, dietary fiber, and folate were notable when examined in comparison to the Dietary Reference Intakes. These findings can help health care providers and researchers design appropriate nutritional education programs to facilitate the adoption of healthier dietary practices in this immigrant population. In particular, future interventions should consider ways to lower sodium intake and increase fruit and vegetable consumption among KAE, while encouraging them to maintain their healthy dietary pattern.

To investigate Cryptosporidium infection among healthy people, we collected stool samples from 150 healthy individuals in Gokseong, Muan, and Imshil Counties, southwest Korea, where neighbors on both an animal farm and a river respectively. In 12 of 150 samples, Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected by means of modified acid-fast staining. The bovine genotype, Cryptosporidium parvum, was identified by PCR/RFLP and 18S rRNA sequencing. C. parvum existed endemically in these areas, and the residents showed a relatively higher infection rate for C. parvum than that for C. hominis. Our results indicate that countermeasures against Cryptosporidium infection must be taken in these areas to ensure human health.

We report on the first case of human babesiosis in Korea. The intraerythrocytic parasite (KO1) in the patient's blood mainly appeared as paired pyriforms and ring forms; but Maltese cross forms were not seen, and the parasite showed morphological features consistent with those of the genus Babesia sensu stricto. The sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of KO1 was closely related to that of Babesia spp. isolated from sheep in China (similarity, 98%). The present study provides the first evidence of the presence of a hitherto unidentified, new type of Babesia parasite capable of infecting humans.

In March 2004, we experienced an outbreak of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection on an islet of Korea. In order to assess the significance of the epidemic, we performed a mass examination of 137 students (7-16 years old; male, 69; female, 58) at a school. The examination consisted of a questionnaire inquiring about respiratory symptoms, a serum antibody test for C. pneumoniae using a microimmunofluorescence (MIF) method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and nasopharyngeal swab tests to detect of the organism by specific PCR and cell culture. The results demonstrated that 72 (58.3%) of the students had respiratory symptoms such as rhinorrhea, a sore throat, and/or cough or fever. The PCR positivity of acute-phase patients was 63% (12/19) and PCR positivity using the culture sample was 94% (18/19). However, the existence of the organism was not confirmed fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). ELISA, one of the serological methods utilized, demonstrated, in the same patients, 48% (13/27) positive IgM antibodies at the acute phase of the outbreak, and 16% (3/19) positive IgM antibodies during the convalescent phase. The index value (ID) 3.0 for single-sera IgG was 19% (5/27) and that for IgA was 4% (1/27) at the acute phase; the corresponding percentages in the convalescent phase were 11% (2/19) and 5% (1/19), respectively. However, as regards paired sera, no patient demonstrated a 1.35 ELISA ID value at 2 weeks, or an increased value of 1.0 at 8 weeks after the onset of the outbreak. In the MIF experiment, the percent positivity of unpaired IgM from the acute phase was 58% (11/19). At convalescent phase, this percentage was 47% (9/19); however, the positivity of paired serum IgG was 26% (5/19). In the same sample, the percentage of positive cases demonstrated by both ELISA and MIF approaches for single IgM was 37% (7/19) at the acute phase and 11% (2/19) at the convalescent phase. We were unable to isolate C. pneumoniae by cell culture, but we did obtain sufficient serological and PCR data to consider C. pneumoniae as the causative agent of the outbreak. Meaningful results were acquired in terms of serology, and were compared to the healthy population in Korea. Although it remains necessary to investigate the possibility of co-infection and to determine whether or not this outbreak coincides with the prevalence of influenza, it was unequivocally concluded that this outbreak of C. pneumoniae infection has occurred on an islet of Korea.