The prevalence and awareness of hypertension and the relationship between hypertension and snoring in the Korean population.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the most important, and yet modifiable, risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. But in many countries, hypertension remains poorly controlled. Moreover, sleep apnea syndrome has shown that it is correlated with hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension among the Korean people and to evaluate the relationship between hypertension and snoring. METHODS: A total of 640 subjects living in Ansan, a regional city in Korea, were selected randomly, and trained nursing students investigated their age, sex, medical history, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and snoring score. Blood pressures were measured three times with a 10-minute interval and then averaged. The degree of snoring was estimated using a questionnaire. We divided the subjects into hypertensive (BP > or = 140/90 mmHg) versus normotensive group and snorer versus non-snorer group, and correlated hypertension with snoring. RESULTS: Of 640 subjects, 311 were male. The mean age was 39.7 +/- 14.6 years (18-77 years), the mean BMI (body mass index) was 22.4 +/- 3.0 kg/m2. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 121 +/- 15.7 mmHg and 79.5 +/- 11.6 mmHg. The prevalence and awareness of hypertension were 22.2% and 16.9%, respectively, and the prevalence of snoring was 35.2%. With the increment of age, in the male, the prevalence of hypertension and snoring were higher, and the snorer group showed a higher risk of hypertension than the non-snorer group (Odds ratio 2.32, CI = 1.56-3.39, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In Korea, the prevalence of hypertension was similar to that in the western countries, but the awareness of hypertension was much lower compared with western countries. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in the snorer group, so more research on the correlation between the two conditions should be advanced in the future.

Acute stagnant air syndrome.

In the spring of 1979, two water company employees were found dead at the bottom of a water-filled underground meter vault. A month-long investigation disclosed that the atmosphere of the vault had progressively been deteriorated by the growth of primitive plants present in the water and also on the walls and ceiling of the vault. When entering manholes, employees must adhere strictly to all safety rules, such as the testing of the air before entry, ventilation of the air spaces, and the presence of a standby rescue worker. The diagnosis of acute stagnant air syndrome for this type of accident is introduced herein, to alert industrial concerns and the medical professions about the existence of this occupational hazard confronting individuals who work in confined and poorly ventilated manholes.

Importance of examination of the clothed victim. Fingerprint identification of assailant from skin fragment on knifing victim's clothing.

During the examination of the outer garments of a stabbing victim, a small piece of skin from the assailant's finger was discovered on the shirt. This evidence provided the decisive link leading to the speedy arrest and conviction of the murderer. The danger of excessive utilization of the services at autopsy of mortuary attendants is stressed.

Epidemic enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Newfoundland, 1963: autopsy study of 16 cases.

The autopsy findings and certain other features are described in 16 fatal cases of infantile diarrhea associated with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection during the 1963 epidemic in Newfoundland which resulted in 100 deaths. Age is an important factor in the severity of the infection and in the outcome. Almost one-half the patients were under 4 months and a third under 2 months. Pathological changes in the gastrointestinal tract were meagre and were not pathognomonic. Other pathological findings and their possible role in the severity and fatal outcome in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli gastroenteritis are discussed. Such conditions as prematurity, congenital anomaly, trauma, neoplasm and metabolic disorders were, no doubt, also important factors in the outcome. Severe respiratory tract infection was the leading terminal cause of death. No sex, seasonal or geographic variation was found. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli serotype 0111:B4 was the prevalent infecting organism.