BACKGROUND: This study aimed to empirically investigate the determinants on oxygen free radical degree which causes biological damage focusing on smoking habit and health behaviors in daily life. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the subjects were adult males who submitted free radical tests among the examinees of the comprehensive medical testings at an university hospital in Suwon from 2008 to 2010. Total 497 samples were used in analyses for clarifying the relations of free radical degree to age, smoking, obesity, and other health behaviors. RESULTS: First, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.164 as the age group increases (P<0.05). Second, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.547 as the smoking habit increases (P<0.001). Third, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.087 as the exposure to hazardous factors in workplace increases (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study imply that the smoking habit has more great influence on the increase of oxygen free radical in body than any other health behaviors. The causality of free radical to smoking and health behavior was not identified due to the limit of the cross-sectional study so it needs to be studied prospectively in the future.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Free Radicals ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Oxygen ; Smoke ; Smoking

Arterial trauma associated with hip fracture treatment is still a rare complication. We present a case in which an arterial injury was discovered during closed reduction and intramedullary nail fixation of a subtrochanteric hip fracture. The preoperative thigh circumference was increased due to severe swelling, and the vascular injury was located substantially proximal to the fracture and the instrumentation area. An interventional angiogram revealed a damaged vessel originating from one of the minor proximal branches of the right deep femoral artery while filling a 2 cm-sized pseudoaneurysm. Embolization was performed without further complications.
Aneurysm, False ; Femoral Artery ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Nails ; Thigh ; Vascular System Injuries

Cowden's syndrome is a harmatomatous polyposis syndrome with characteristic mucocutaneous lesions and among the spectra of clinical disorders that has been attributed to germline mutations in the PTEN gene. Although Cowden's syndrome has rarely been reported, immunologic studies have revealed that patients with this syndrome have humoral and/or cellular immune abnormalities. We recently identified a 21-year-old woman with Cowden's syndrome who was diagnosed with candida esophagitis without a history of diabetes, carcinoma, or steroid therapy. We report the immunologic status of this patient and the relationship with candida esophagitis on the basis of a literature review.
Candida ; Esophagitis ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple ; Humans ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that the endogenous opioid system, which plays an important role in drinking behavior, might be related to the genetic etiology of alcohol dependence. And a recent study reported that the affinity of micro opioid receptor, which is closely related to the endogenous opioid system activity, is affected by the genotype of micro opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) A118G. To investigate the gender difference in genetic etiology of alcohol dependence, this study examined the association of the genotype of OPRM1 A118G with female alcohol dependence in Koreans. METHODS: The author studied the genotype of OPRM1 A118G in 106 male and 35 female Korean with alcohol dependence and 80 male and 60 female healthy Koreans as control. RESULTS: 1) A statistically significant increase in A/G or G/G (G+) genotype of OPRM1 A118G was observed in women with alcohol dependence compared to the controls. 2) Among men with alcohol dependence, no significant difference in OPRM1 A118G polymorphism was observed relative to the age at which drinking started, age of onset of alcohol-related problems, age of first admission to psychiatric hospital for alcohol-related problems, drinking days per month, drinks per drinking day, family history of alcohol dependence in the first-degree relatives or history of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. But the drinking days per month is significantly less in those who have A/G or G/G genotypes of OPRM1 A118G. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that G+ genotypes of micro opioid receptor gene A118G are important genetic factors in the etiology of female alcohol dependence.
Age of Onset ; Alcoholics* ; Alcoholism ; Drinking ; Drinking Behavior ; Female* ; Genotype* ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Male ; Receptors, Opioid* ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

OBJECTIVES: We review the sleep problems of the alcohol dependence patients. Especially we are interested in the prevalence, the severity of symptoms, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the alcohol dependence patients. METHODS: We recruit 86 alcohol dependence patients who were admitted from October 6th, 2008 to October 17th, 2008. We interviewed each patient and evaluated sleep questionnaires such as the Sleep Disorder Questionnaire (SDQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) rating scale. The presence of RLS and its severity were assessed using the IRLSSG diagnostic criteria and the IRLSSG severity scale, respectively. Depression and anxiety were evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI). RESULTS: Of all 86 patients, 59 patients have insomnia, 33 patients have RLS, 30 patients have Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), 29 patients have nightmare. RLS patients have more high score in the BAI (21.70+/-10.36 vs 14.67+/-11.98), and their sleep quality was poor in the PSQI (11.09+/-4.08 vs 7.92+/-3.91) than non-RLS patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows that alcohol dependence patients show many sleep problems such as insomnia and RLS. So we should notice that the sleep problems of alcohol dependence patients are important in clinical approach and treatment.
Alcoholism ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Dreams ; Humans ; Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

It has been suggested that cortisol deficiency may be responsible for the cholestasis. Although congenital hypopituitarism was reported as a possible cause of neonatal cholestasis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia with neonatal cholestasis is a very rare report in the literature. We experienced a case presenting with neonatal cholestasis associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This case provides a clinical evidence supporting the notion that cortisol has an important physiological role in bile acid synthesis and transport.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Bile ; Cholestasis* ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypopituitarism

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features and natural history of dietary protein induced proctocolitis (DPIPC) and to detect the causative foods of DPIPC, and to evaluate the effect of elimination of the foods on the course of the disease. METHODS: Between March 2003 and July 2004, data from 30 consecutive patients with DPIPC who were followed for over 6 months, was reviewed. The diagnostic criterion used for DPIPC was an increase in the number of eosinophils in the lamina propria (> or =60 per 10 high-power fields). In breast feeding mothers, 5 highly allergenic foods were eliminated from the maternal diet for 7 days, namely, allergenic food groups such as dairy products, eggs, nuts and soybean, fish and shellfish, and wheat and buckwheat. We observed the disappearance or appearance of hematochezia after elimination or challenge with the offending foods. RESULTS: Before diagnosis infants were breast-fed (93.3%) or formula-fed (6.7%). Mean age at symptom onset was 11.5+/-5.1 (5~24) weeks, and mean age at diagnosis was 17.8+/-9.5 (8~56) weeks. Duration from symptom onset to diagnosis was 6.3+/-6.7 (0~36) weeks. Mean peripheral blood eosinophil count was 478+/-320 (40~1,790)/mm3 and eosinophilia (>250/mm3) was observedin 90.0% of patients. None of patients were found to have an increased serum IgE level. Of 15 patients that received sigmoidoscopy, nodular hyperplasia with erosion was observed in 93.3%. Of 27 patients whose mother ate the diet eliminated the 5 food groups, hematochezia diappeared in 74.1% of patients. Offending foods were identified as dairy products (37.5%), wheat and buckwheat (27.5%), fish and shellfish (20.0%), nuts and soybean (7.5%) and eggs (7.5%). A free maternal diet without patient's clinical symptoms was achieved at 29.4+/-8.7 (9~44) weeks of patient's age, and a free baby diet without blood in stools was achieved at 37.5+/-9.7 (12~56) weeks of age. CONCLUSION: DPIPC commonly occurs in exclusively breast-fed babies. Elimination of the above-mentioned 5 hyper-allergenic food groups from the maternal diet for 7days enables the detection of the offending foods. DPIPC is a transient disorder and 96.0% of patients can tolerate the offending foods at 12 months of age.
Breast Feeding ; Dairy Products ; Diagnosis ; Diet* ; Dietary Proteins* ; Eggs ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fagopyrum ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunoglobulin E ; Infant ; Mothers ; Mucous Membrane ; Natural History* ; Nuts ; Ovum ; Proctocolitis* ; Shellfish ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Soybeans ; Triticum

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) and prevalence of fetal infection in the pregnant women with suspicious fetal rubella infection. METHODS: Between June 1996 and May 2002 in Chonnam National University Hospital, the rubella specific IgG, IgM antibody and RT-PCR were checked in fetal blood obtained from 31 pregnant women with high risk of rubella infection. Eighteen women (58.1%) had rubella specific IgM, 11 women (35.5%) high titer of rubella specific IgG, and 2 women had a history of recent rubella vaccination within 3 months. RESULTS: PUBS was performed in all cases, successful in 27 cases (87.1%) and failed in 4 cases (12.9%). Cardiocentesis was performed in failed cases. Performing the PUBS, fetal bradycardia was observed in 7 cases (25.9%), fetal tachycardia in 1 case (14.8%), and preterm labor in 2 cases (7.4%). Performing cardiocentesis, fetal bradycardia was observed in 1 case (25.0%), fetal tachycardia in 2 cases (50.0%), and preterm labor in 1 case (25.0%). There was no fetal death. All samples of fetal blood were positive for rubella specific IgG but rubella specific IgM was detected in only 1 case. RT-PCR was negative in all cases. CONCLUSION: Fetal blood sampling is relatively safe and a great precaution is necessary before termination of pregnancy with suspicious fetal rubella infection and without typical maternal rash to reduce unnecessary termination of pregnancy. Several tests such as rubella specific IgM and PCR from placental villi, amniotic fluid, and fetal blood should be considered before termination of pregnancy.
Amniotic Fluid ; Bradycardia ; Chorionic Villi ; Cordocentesis* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Jeollanam-do ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Prevalence ; Rubella* ; Tachycardia ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to provide useful information for prevention and management of childhood obesity in a school-based setting. METHODS: One thousand and 981 elementary children from 2 different elementary schools in Seoul were studied. The survey concerning the risks of childhood obesity was carried out by having parents answer a questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood obesity was 18.1% showing significantly higher rate in boys than in girls (P<0.05). It was found that obese children had a higher intake of fish and meat (P<0.05) and a lower intake of vegetables compared to the non-obese group (P<0.05). Obesity was more prevalent among children who frequently skipped breakfast (P<0.05) and also more prevalent among an only child (P<0.05). The obese children significantly spent more time watching TV (P<0.05). There was a higher family history of obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM in the obese group (P<0.05). The factors which significantly attributed to childhood obesity were birth weight, parenteral BMI, and father's age (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of childhood obesity was 18.1%. There was a statistically significant correlation between childhood obesity and gender, eating habit, time spent on watching TV, number of siblings, birth weight, parenteral BMI, father's age and family history such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM.
Birth Weight ; Breakfast ; Child ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Meat ; Obesity ; Only Child ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul* ; Siblings ; Vegetables ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A case of an epidural abscess, a rare but possibly devastating complication of epidural instrumentation and catheterization, which occurred in a cancer pain patient with an epidural port connected to the epidural catheter, is described. Although cases of a catheter related epidural abscess have been intermittently reported, those following epidural port implantation are very rare, with no case having been reported in Korea. Herein, the case of a 31-year-old man, who developed an epidural abscess 54 days after subcutaneous implantation of an epidural port connected to an epidural catheter, is reported. Methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus was detected in a culture of the purulent discharge. Magnetic resonance imaging was essential, not only for the diagnosis of the epidural abscess, but also for determining the extent of spread. The patient refused further evaluation and treatment, and expired 22 days later.
Adult ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess* ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Staphylococcus aureus