• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.285-298
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• 2008

Objective : This study was aimed to investigated the correlation between the stroke incidence by day of the week and risk factors in acute stroke patients. Methods : From October in 2005 to October in 2007, 673 acute stroke patients wereincluded. Patients were hospitalized within 14 days after the onset of stroke in DongGuk University International Hospital, Kyungwon University In-cheon Oriental Medical Hospital or the Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), Kyung Hee University Oriental hospital. We investigated general characteristics, stroke types, age group, educational backgrounds, medical history, lifestyle (the impact of stress, exercise, smoking and drinking) and Sasang constitution according to the stroke incidence by day of the week. Results : After examining each participants with day of the week, the order of days by incidence was Monday, Wednesday, Sunday, Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday respectively. Monday and Tuesday showed the highest ratio. As the aspect of demographic data of subjects, the group under 55 years and from 55 years to 70 years showed the highest ratio on Monday. In the group between 25 years to 55 years, the ratio, by the classification of actual productive age, was statistically higheron Monday. In addition, the ratio showed statistically higherby educational background, from elementary school to high school and over high school. In regard tothe medical aspect, incidence of cerebral hemorrhage showed higher ratio on Sunday, and incidence of brain infarction was higheron Monday. However, there was no difference of the past history between the two groups. With regard tothe aspect of lifestyle of subjects, the group with huge stress before the incidence of stroke showed a higher ratio of stroke incidence on Monday. Participants who didn't exercise regularly and participants who didn't smoke or drink showed higher ratio of stroke incidence on Monday. However, this was not important statistically. In regard to the aspect of Sasang constitution, Soeumin showed the highest ratio of stroke incidence on Wednesday, Taeuminon Monday, and Soyangin on Saturday and Monday. Conclusion : According to these results, several cardiovascular risk factors affect stroke incidences on Monday. Further studies will be needed to help understand the correlation between stroke incidence by day of the week and risk factors in acute stroke patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 1997

Purpose : The incidence of tuberculous meningitis in Korean children has been markedly decreased after 1980s, but this disease has still occurred with low rate. Therefore, it may be suspected that delayed diagnosis and treatment will be happened because of lacking of clinical experiences and indistinguishable other meningitis, so it is important to make early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculous meningitis concerning with the prognosis. In this aspect, we conducted study to concern and investigate sustainly about the diagnostic criteria, clinical characteristics, radiological findings, complications, and prognosis of typical or atypical tuberculous meningitis in children. Methods : Forty four children who were hospitalized and treated due to tuberculous meningitis in pediatric wards of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, St. Holy Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital and Uijungbu St. Mary Hospital from January 1985 to June 1996 were included in this study. We reviewed medical records of these patients retrospectively. Results : 1) The tuberculous meningitis has occured continuosly since mid-1980s. The highest 2) The diagnosis was made by contact history of active tuberculous patients, positive tuberculin test, responses of antituberculous antibiotics and discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from CSF or other specimens. Among patients, 7 children(16%) were not vaccinated with BCG, and only 18 children(40%) were positive in tuberculin test. 3) The symptoms and signs of our patients on initial examinations were fever, vomiting, headache, lethargy, poor feeding, weight loss, neck stiffness, convulsion, abdominal pain and motor deficits. 4) The findings of initial CSF samples revealed leukocyte $239.5/mm^3$(mean) with lymphocyte predominant, elevated protein levels(mean;259.5mg%) and low sugar level(mean;40.7mg%). And the ratio of CSF/blood sugar was 0.407. But, atypical CSF findings were seen in 31.8% patients. 5) On brain imaging study, 34 out of 39 children had findings of hydrocephalus, basilar meningeal enhancement, infarction and subarachnoidal inflammations etc. On chest X-ray, the findings of miliary tuberculosis(34.1%), normal finding(29.5%), parenchymal infiltrations (11.4%) and calcifications(9.1%) were showed. 6) In neurological clinical stage, there were twenty-six children(59%) in stage 1, fourteen children(32%) in stage 2 and four children(9%) in stage 3. The late sequeles were encountered by 29.5% with mild and 4.6% with severe neurological injury. The most common neurological injury was quadriplegia and the mortality rate was 6.8%. 7) The SIADH was developed in 20 children(45.5%) after the 4th hospital day. Half of all SIADH patients were symptomatic. Conclusion : Tuberculosis meningitis is still an important extrapulmonary disease with high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis with clinical contact history of active tuberculosis and radiological imaging examinations and early treatments are essential in order to prevent and decrase the rate of late sequeles and death.