Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between obesity and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), both anatomically and symptomatically, in Korean women. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 476 women who visited the urogynecology clinic between January 2013 and December 2016. All the enrolled women were Korean. We sought to evaluate the relationship between obesity and POP, both anatomically and symptomatically, by using a validated tool. Anatomic assessment was performed by a standardized Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system and symptomatic assessment was performed by a Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI)-20 questionnaire. Obesity measurement was performed by measuring body mass index (BMI). Results: We enrolled 476 women in our study. There was no statistically significant correlation between BMI and POP-Q or PFDI-20 scores: Ba (P=0.633), Bp (P=0.363), C (P=0.277), Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (P=0.286), Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8 (P=0.960), Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (P=0.355), and PFDI-20 (P=0.355). In addition, there was no statistically significant correlation between BMI and POP-Q or PFDI-20 in patients with severe (greater than stage III) POP. We also separately analyzed the differences in the POP-Q points and PFDI-20 scores between the obese and non-obese groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion We evaluated the correlation between obesity and POP using a validated tool. The present study revealed no significant correlation between obesity and POP severity anatomically or symptomatically in Korean women. This contrasts the results of most studies of Western women. Further studies in Asian women are required in order to confirm our results.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between obesity and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), both anatomically and symptomatically, in Korean women. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 476 women who visited the urogynecology clinic between January 2013 and December 2016. All the enrolled women were Korean. We sought to evaluate the relationship between obesity and POP, both anatomically and symptomatically, by using a validated tool. Anatomic assessment was performed by a standardized Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system and symptomatic assessment was performed by a Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI)-20 questionnaire. Obesity measurement was performed by measuring body mass index (BMI). Results: We enrolled 476 women in our study. There was no statistically significant correlation between BMI and POP-Q or PFDI-20 scores: Ba (P=0.633), Bp (P=0.363), C (P=0.277), Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (P=0.286), Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8 (P=0.960), Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (P=0.355), and PFDI-20 (P=0.355). In addition, there was no statistically significant correlation between BMI and POP-Q or PFDI-20 in patients with severe (greater than stage III) POP. We also separately analyzed the differences in the POP-Q points and PFDI-20 scores between the obese and non-obese groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion We evaluated the correlation between obesity and POP using a validated tool. The present study revealed no significant correlation between obesity and POP severity anatomically or symptomatically in Korean women. This contrasts the results of most studies of Western women. Further studies in Asian women are required in order to confirm our results.

Cutaneous adverse events associated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) have a relatively low significance, ranging from 0.4% to 6%. In Korean dermatology literature, eczematous reactions associated with the use of IVIG have been underestimated. A 34-year-old male presented with a 2-week history of multiple vesicles on both hands and diffuse eczematous lesions on the trunk and both arms. He had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and had received IVIG at a dosage of 0.4 g/kg/d for 5 days during hospitalization. One week after discharge, cutaneous manifestations developed, starting with tiny blisters on both hands and progressing to eczematous patches on the trunk and arms.Histopathologic examination revealed spongiotic dermatitis with intracorneal bullae formation. A diagnosis of palmar pompholyx and systemic eczematous reaction associated with the administration of IVIG was made. Treatment with systemic corticosteroid, antihistamines and topical steroid was initiated. At a 2-week follow-up, significant improvement was observed.

PURPOSE: Heart rate variability (HRV) is a tool used to measure autonomic nervous function; however, there is no evidence that it can be used to define sympathetic hyperactivity in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We suspected that LUTS would differ between sympathetic hyperactive and hypoactive patients. Therefore, we measured HRV and divided the LUTS patients into two groups, a sympathetic hyperactive group and a sympathetic hypoactive group according to the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio and made clinical comparisons between the groups. METHODS: A total of 43 patients with symptomatic LUTS (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] over 8) and 49 healthy volunteers were enrolled. No subjects had diseases that could affect the autonomic nervous system, such as diabetes or hypertension. Electrocardiographic signals were obtained from subjects in the resting state and HRV indexes were calculated with spectral analyses. We divided the LUTS patients into two groups by an LF/HF ratio of 1.9, which was the median value in the healthy volunteers, and compared the differences in clinical characteristics, IPSS, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) results. The parameters were compared by independent sample t-test by use of SPSS ver. 19. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, serum PSA, or volume of the prostate between the 2 LUTS groups. However, analyzing IPSS questionnaires between two groups showed that there were significant differences in mean of Q2 score (frequency) and storage symptom score ([Q2+Q4+Q7]/3) (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that an imbalance of autonomic nervous system activity may be a factor that evokes varieties of symptoms in men with LUTS. LUTS patients with hypoactive sympathetic tone may suffer from frequency and storage symptoms.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the complication rate and the societal cost of measles, a survey was conducted in Seoul, Jeonju city, and Kyonggi province in 2001. METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted in Jeonju city (175/307) and four local areas of Kyonggi province (793/1,238) to gather information on the complications of measles. To estimate societal cost, the telephone survey was conducted for the sampled subject by complication type and the age group. The response rate was 78% (180/230). Paid bills were examined for direct cost estimation, and the time cost and the transportation expense were analyzed for indirect cost estimation. RESULTS: The incidence of a complication of measles was 3.1% which found to be higher in younger age group. The incidence of pneumonia, otitis media, and encephalitis were 2.1%, 0.8%, and 0.2% respectively. Direct and indirect costs of in-patients without a complication were $417.00 (US $1.00 = 1,000 won) and $256.00 per case, respectively, and the out-patients who have no complication were $54.00 and $65.00, respectively. The average cost for a patient with measles without complication was $119.00 as the result. The societal cost of encephalitis was high as $6,660. Estimated total societal cost of measles ranges from $14 million to $69 million in the year 2000. CONCLUSION: Complication rate of measles was fairly low compared to foreign countries. The lower rate could result from the difference in vaccination rate and the age distribution of the measles patients. The cost of measles without complication was not high. However, the cost for the complication and the total disease burden caused by measles shown to be high in the year 2000.
Age Distribution ; Cost of Illness ; Encephalitis ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea* ; Measles* ; Otitis Media ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Seoul ; Telephone ; Transportation ; Vaccination

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was 1) to determine whether elevated maternal serum alpha- fetoprotein(MSAFP) predict increased risk of spontaneous preterm delivery and indicated preterm delivery; 2) to determine whether elevated maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin(MSHCG) predict increased risk of preterm delivery. Methods: Between September 1995 and April 1998, 945 of 2105 pregnant women who received midtrimester MSAFP screening were identified and evaluated. 81 women with MSAFP levels of 2.0 MoM or more were included in the study group while 864 women with levels less than 2.0 MoM served as controls. Pregnancy outcome were obtained from hospital records and statistical analysis were performed. RESULTS: Women with elevated MSAFP levels showed an increased risk for preterm delivery(p<0.05), fetal growth restriction(p<0.05) and hypertensive disorders(p<0.05), but not for preterm premature rupture of membrane, fetal death in utero. There was a strong association between unexplained elevated MSAFP levels and spontaneous preterm delivery(p<0.05) but our study does not support an association between unexplained elevated MSAFP levels and indicated preterm delivery. There was no association between elevated MSHCG levels and preterm delivery regardless of MSAFP levels. CONCLUSION: We concluded that unexplained elevated levels of midtrimester MSAFP were associated with an elevated risk of spontaneous preterm delivery but not with a risk of indicated preterm delivery. Elevated MSHCG levels were not associated with a risk of preterm delivery and spontaneous preterm birth.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Chorion ; Extraembryonic Membranes ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth* ; Rupture

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital mass of nonfunctional pulmonary tissue that lacks a normal-connection with the bronchial tree or the pulmonary arteries. It is clinically asymptomatic but when it is complicated with recurrent infection, it needs to be treated. Conventionally, surgical removal was recommended, but these days we are trying new and less invasive techniques, such as arterial embolization. There were several reports about successful cases of pulmonary sequestration treated by embolization, but mostly all of them were done to newborns or infants. We report a case of a 15-year-old boy with an asymptomatic pulmonary sequestration on whom was performed coil embolization, and in the follow-up computed tomography(CT), the size of the lesion was decreased. He did not suffer severe respiratory symptoms.
Adolescent* ; Bronchopulmonary Sequestration* ; Child* ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine normal amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein level in midtrimester Korean pregnant women whose neonatal outcomes were normal. METHODS: Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein(AFAFP) levels were measured by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) in midtrimester pregnant women for various indications of amniocentesis from May 1992 to July 1999 at Seoul National University Hospital. Normal ranges were obtained from 640 singleton pregnancies in which neonatal outcomes were normal. RESULTS: Median values of AFAFP in Korean pregnant women were 13,250ng/mL, 12,900ng/mL, 11,150ng/mL, 9,430ng/mL, 8,019ng/mL, 6,800ng/mL, 5,850ng/mL, 5,750ng/mL, 5,210ng/mL, 3,420ng/mL at 15 week, 16 week, 17 week, 18 week, 19 week, 20 week, 21 week, 22 week, 23 week, 24 week, respectively. CONCLUSION: This determination of the median values and the normal range of AFAFP level by each gestational week in uncomplicated Korean women could be used reference values for prenatal diagnosis of various disorders like open neural tube defect.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Amniocentesis ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Humans ; Neural Tube Defects ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnant Women* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values* ; Seoul

Far Eastern countries including Korea show the high prevalence of hepatitis B virus carriers, so that the incidence of liver cirrhosis is higher than in western countries. But pregnancies with liver cirrhosis are rarely encountered in clinical settings, since liver cirrhosis usually develops after childbearing ages and often causes the disturbance of estrogen metabolism, resulting in severe menstrual irregularity and infertility. Therefore, little is known about the interactions between liver cirrhosis and pregnancy. Liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension are not contraindications to pregnancy but necessitate intensive monitoring throughout pregnancy because the complications of liver cirrhosis, which pose additional risks during pregnancy, are numerous and unpredictable. We report 3 cases of pregnancies in patients with liver cirrhosis with brief review of the literature.
Estrogens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Metabolism ; Pregnancy* ; Prevalence