OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between obesity and migraine.

METHODSThe online databases inlcuding PubMed, EMBASE, Wanfang, CNKI and Chinese Biological Medicine Database were searched for studies assessing the relationship between obesity and migraine according to the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. Stata12.0 software was used for meta- analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the relationship between obesity and the risk of migraine.

RESULTA total of 14 studies involving 193 274 individuals were included in the analysis. The results of meta-analysis showed that obese individuals had an increased risk of migraine by 19% as compared with normal weight individuals [OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02-1.38; P=0.029) and by 19% as compared with non-obese individuals (OR, 1.19; 95%CI, 1.02-1.38; P=0.024).

CONCLUSIONObesity is associated with an increased risk of migraine.

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia(PHN) is a distressing complication of herpes zoster that can persist for months or even years. Information on this condition is important because antiviral therapy may change the clinical course of the disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to estimate prevalence of PHN according to several risk factors. METHODS: We observed prevalence of PHN in 96 patients who had herpes zoster with severe pain and treated with antiviral therapy during the admission. Also, we compared them by age group, dermatomal distribution, and starting day of antiviral therapy, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of PHN according to the age was 5.9% in patients younger than 49 years, 40.0% in 50~59 years, 46.9% in 60~69 years, and 58.8% in 70 years and older. Sex and dermatomal distribution were not predictors of PHN. The odds ratio per one day difference in antiviral therapy was 1.62(95% confidence interval, 1.56 to 2.23). CONCLUSION: In herpes zoster with severe pain, age and starting day of antiviral therapy may be significant predictors of PHN.
Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

INTRODUCTION: A promising strategy for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC) is to target the veascular endothelial growth factor receptor using bevecizumab. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have consistently demonstrated improvement in progression-free survival (PFS).
METHODS: This meta-analysis was undertaken to determine the added benefit of bevacizumab (BV) to chemotherapy in HER2-negative locally recurrent and mBC. RCTs that compared the efficacy and safety of BV+chemotherapy to placebo+chemotherapy in the first- or second-line setting were selected. The primary outcome was PFS. The secondary outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR). Analysis of safety was done by pooling grades 3-5 toxicities. Four RCTs were included in the meta-analysis: E2100, AVADO, RIBBON-1, and RIBBON-2.
RESULTS: The use of BV+chemotherapy showed statistically significant improvement in PFS (HR 0.73 [0.65, 0.82] 95% Cl, p<0.0001); subgroup analysis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) also showed statistically significant increase in PFS (HR 0.56 [0.47, 0.67] 95% Cl, P<0.00001). The ORR was statistically significant with a risk ratio of 1.36 in favour of BV (P<0.00001). OS did not reach statistical significance (HR 0.85 [0.56, 1.27] 95% Cl, p=0.42). Grades 3-5 toxicities were consistently higher in the BV arm with a risk ratio of 1.90 (p<0.00001).
CONCLUSION: BV prolongs PFS and increases ORR in patients with HER2-negative locally-recurrent and mBC. OS was comparable in both arms. Toxicities significantly increased with the addition of BV to chemotherapy, but fatal reactions were rare in all four trials. The addition of BV to conventional first- or second-line chemotherapy is justified in TN mBC since there is still no standard treatment fot this. 

BACKGROUND: Exposure to organic dust has been widely investigated as a potential risk factor for asthma with different results. To clarify a potential relationship, we performed the present meta-analysis to integrate the results of studies examining the association of organic dust exposure with asthma. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search in the electronic databases including EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane Library databases (up to August 2018) was conducted. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for organic dust exposure and asthma were retrieved and pooled to generate summary effect estimates in Revman 5.2. RESULTS: Database searches retrieved 1,016 records. A total of 17 studies containing 3,619 cases and 6,585 controls were finally included in our meta-analysis. The summary estimates suggested that organic dust exposure was positively associated with asthma (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.26–1.75; P < 0.00001), whether among population-based case-control studies (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.13–1.35; P < 0.00001) or hospital-based case-control studies (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.27–6.12; P = 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that paper/wood (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.38–1.90; P < 0.00001), flour/grain (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11–1.97; P = 0.008), and textile dust (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.08–2.09; P = 0.02) exposure were significantly associated with asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the studies evaluated, our meta-analysis results prompt that organic dust exposure is a risk factor inducing asthma, although precise analysis focus on specific organic dust materials is still warranted.
Asthma ; Case-Control Studies ; Dust ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Textiles

BACKGROUND: High levels of anger are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but little is known about the role of subscales of anger experience and expression in hypertension risk. This case-control study was conducted to investigate the association between anger experience or anger expression and hypertension, especially after controlling the effect of individual standards of anger expression. METHODS: From September 1998 through December 1998, one hundred one hypertensives treated at the family medicine ambulatory clinic of a university hospital, were individually matched by age ( 5 years) and sex with the same number of patients who visited for other reasons (reponse rate 98%). A Korean version of Spielberger Anger Expression Scale was used to obtain information on subscales of anger experience and expression through self-reporting or structured interview from a nurse. RESULTS: Anger trait response score was lower in the case group compared to the control group (P=0.04). No significant associations were found for anger-out, standards of anger expression, history of anger expression, and subjects to whom anger was expressed. Each 1-point increase in anger trait response, anger-in, and anger-control was significantly associated with a decrease in odds ratio by 0.78 (95% CI; 0.61-0.98), 0.83 (95% CI; 0.72-0.96), and 0.89 (95% CI; 0.81-0.97), respectively, after controlling for age, education level, income, exercise habit, standards of anger expression and current BP. CONCLUSION: Hypertensives are less likely to show anger response, anger-in, and anger-control, but cohort studies are needed to clarify the cause-effect relationship in the future.
Anger* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Case-Control Studies* ; Cohort Studies ; Education ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors*

BACKGROUND: A genetic aberration in the MTHFR gene has been shown to result in reduced MTHFR enzyme activity and induced hyperhomocysteinemia. Recently, a second genetic polymorphism in MTHFR at position 1298 was reported. However, the association between the A1298C MTHFR polymorphism and ischemic stroke has not been reported. Therefore, we attempted to determine whether the MTHFR C677T and A1298C gene polymorphisms were associated with ischemic stroke. METHODS: We enrolled 220 ischemic stroke patients and 203 healthy individuals and compared their fasting plasma homocysteine levels and analyzed the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. RESULTS: Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in ischemic stroke patients (10.86 +/- 5.07 micro mol/L) than in control subjects (9.39 +/- 2.98 micro mol/L). Despite a clear association between 677TT genotype and elevated homocysteine level, there was no association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and ischemic stroke. On the other hand, the odds ratio and 95% CI adjusted for other risk factors were 1.80 (1.08 to 3.00) for the 1298AC genotype, and 8.98 (1.00 to 80.42) for the 1298CC genotype. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for the 1298AC/CC genotypes were also significantly higher than that in the controls (AOR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.19 to 3.24). However, in the analysis of combined genotypes with C677T and A1298C polymorphism, the AOR was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism may be an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. Our findings suggest that prediction of ischemic stroke may be possible by analyzing genetic defects.
Fasting ; Genotype ; Hand ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Odds Ratio ; Plasma ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors* ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVES: Uric acid concentration is known to increase the prevalence of metabolic syndrome by affecting its components, resulting in increased risk of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, and long-term lead exposure is known to affect this serum uric acid level. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between the causes of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome, and to determine whether an increased blood lead level affects hyperuricemia. METHOD: Anthropometric measurements, surveys, and blood tests were conducted between May and June 2012 in 759 men working in the steelmaking process at a domestic steel company. Workers were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of hyperuricemia, and an analysis was performed to examine its association with metabolic syndrome. In addition, the workers were divided into 3 groups according to the blood lead level to analyze the association between blood lead and hyperuricemia. RESULTS: The geometric mean (standard deviation) of the blood lead levels in the hyperuricemia group was significantly higher than that of the healthy group (3.8 [1.8] vs. 3.3 [1.8] microg/dL). The adjusted odds ratio for metabolic syndrome of the hyperuricemia group increased significantly to 1.787 (1.125-2.839) compared with the healthy group. In addition, the adjusted odds ratios for the occurrence of hyperuricemia in the tertile 2 (2.61-4.50 microg/dL) and tertile 3 groups (>4.50 microg/dL) according to blood lead level significantly increased to 1.763 (1.116-2.784) and 1.982 (1.254-3.132), respectively, compared with the tertile 1 group (< 2.61 microg/dL). CONCLUSION: Hyperuricemia is believed to function as an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome, while lead seems to increase the serum uric acid level even at a considerably low blood level. Therefore, attention should be given to patients with hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome who are prone to lead exposure, and a prospective study should be conducted to identify their causal relationship.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia* ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Steel ; Uric Acid*

OBJECTIVES: To identify the psychosocial well-being status in a rural community, and examine the association between the psychosocial well-being status and adverse lipid profile. METHOD: In 2001, we surveyed 575 subjects in Yangpyoung, Kyounggido, including medical examination, fasting-blood sample and questionnaires for the psychosocial well-being status, socioeconomic position and behavioral risk factors. The logistic regression analysis was used to examine explanatory factors of the psychosocial well-being status, and association between the psychosocial well-being status and adverse lipid profiles. RESULT: The association between the psychosocial well-being status and adverse lipid profiles was not strong. The total cholesterol and triglyceridelevels were associated with psychosocial well-being. The adjusted odds ratio for moderate psychosocial well-being relating to total cholesterol was 1.90 (95%CI, 0.82-4.04), but that for triglyceride was 0.65 (95%CI, 0.36-1.21). The HDL-Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol level were not associated with the psychosocial well-being status. CONCLUSION: The total cholesterol and psychosocial well-being status were weakly associated, but the between the psychosocial well-being status and adverse lipid profiles were not consistent.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Social Class ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between past smoking and the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2007, a total of 3,916 over thirty years old male health screen examinees were divided into the nonsmoking, smoking, ex-smoking groups. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the criteria of the NCEP ATP (Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program). Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more of the following: a blood pressure > or = 130/85 mmHg, a fasting glucose level > or = 110 mg/dL, a HDL-C (High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) level < 40 mg/dL, a triglyceride level > or = 150 mg/dL and, a waist circumference men > or = 102 cm, but a waist to hip ratio > 0.90 was used as a surrogate for the waist circumference. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, alcohol consumption and, exercise in the smokers, for the ex-smokers compared with the nonsmokers, the odds ratio (OR) of a lower HDL cholesterol level (< 40 mg/dL) was 1.29 (95% CI=1.03-1.61) in the smokers, the ORs of a higher triglyceride level were 1.35 (95% CI=1.09-1.66) in the ex-smokers and, 2.12 (95% CI=1.75-2.57) in the smokers, and the OR of a waist to hip ratio was 1.25 (95% CI=1.03-1.52) in the ex-smokers. When there were over three components of metabolic syndrome in the ex-smokers and smokers as compared with the nonsmokers, the odds ratio against the risk of metabolic syndrome were 2.39 (95% CI=1.00-6.63) and 2.37 (95% CI=1.02-6.46), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that there is an association of smoking with metabolic syndrome in men.
Adult ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*epidemiology ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; *Smoking

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms in aviation maintenance technicians in order to provide basic information for intervention programs to prevent and manage musculoskeletal symptoms for these technicians. METHODS: Between October 18 and 25, 2004, 286 aviation maintenance technicians answered a self-administered questionnaire, which included general characteristics, Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire for psychosocial characteristics, and work-related characteristics. The musculoskeletal symptoms were evaluated using the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) surveillance criteria. Statistical analysis included means and standard deviation, x2-test, t-test, and logistic regression. RESULTS: A quarter (25.8%) of the workers reported musculoskeletal symptoms in more than one body region. The prevalence of symptoms was 12.9% in the lower back, 10.2% in the shoulders, 9.4% in the legs/foots, 9% in the neck, 5.9% in the hands/wrists/fingers, and 2.7% in the arms/elbows. General characteristics were not found to influence musculoskeletal symptoms, except that workers practicing regular exercise reported fewer lower back symptoms (p=.038). Low social support (p=.001), and low supervisory support (p=.000) were significant factors for increased musculoskeletal symptoms whereas decisions latitude, psychological job demands, and co-worker support were not found to have significant associations, with the exception of low decision latitude which was significantly associated with increased legs/foots symptoms (p=.034). More than two thirds (69.6%) of the workers whose perceived physical load was very high complained of symptoms. This rate was eight times higher than for workers whose perceived load was very low (p=.000). The workers highly exposed to both physical and psychosocial risk factors were more likely to report musculoskeletal symptoms than workers highly exposed to only one of these factors (p=.000). The odds ratios for very high-perceived physical load (OR 13.9) and low supervisory support (OR 2.9) were clearly increased. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that consideration for perceived physical load and psychosocial characteristics as important determinants is necessary to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms in aviation maintenance technicians. To develop effective intervention programs to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms, a comprehensive and systematic approach should be the basic premise. Such an intervention program should consist of ergonomic, managerial and behavioral interventions to reduce physical load and psychosocial factors.
Aviation* ; Body Regions ; Logistic Models ; Neck ; Occupational Health ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Psychology ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors* ; Shoulder