OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the smoking status among adult workers, and current status of sugar intake. METHODS: The survey included 500 men working in Gyeonggi-do from October to November in 2016. Questionnaire items covered their age, working status, smoking status, eating habits, eating behaviors, snack consumption status, habits and behaviors related to sugar intake. All data were analyzed by SPSS program (Ver. 23) and descriptive statistics was performed; a t-test, χ² test, One-way ANOVA and Scheffe test were used for post-hoc test. RESULTS: The study results showed that eating habits and behaviors of non-smokers were better than those of smokers. The frequency of daily snack consumption was the highest in smokers compared to and non-smokers. The smokers' favorite taste after smoking was ‘Sweet’. The average score of sugar-related nutrition knowledge was higher in non-smokers compared to smokers. Non-smokers had better recognition of ‘sugar reduction’, and smokers were more likely to eat sweet foods, respectively. On the other hand, non-smokers could observe that they were trying to control themselves for health reasons. According to the results of the study, non-smokers showed better eating habits and dietary habits and consumed less sugar. Also, it was found that non-smokers tried to drink more water than beverages and refrain from eating sweets to reduce their sugar intake. Further, the most of the bread, coffee and beverages were also consumed at a lower frequency by non-smokers compared to smokers. CONCLUSIONS: This study results showed that smoking and sugar consumption were closely related. Therefore, adult workers should actively promote and learn so that they can maintain healthy and suitable dietary habits through reduction of sugar consumption.
Adult* ; Beverages ; Bread ; Coffee ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior ; Food Habits ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Snacks ; Water

There are several advantages for groin flap, but its small and unpredictable vessels of pedicle have made it to lose its initial popularity. Although it would be ideal flap when it is focused on its useful advantages such as relative larger size, low donor site morbidity and possible bone graft, there have been few studies for prognostic factors for successful groin flap. Authors intended to determine prognostic factors which are relative with success of free groin flap. From January 1985 to December 2007, 107 patients who underwent groin flap for reconstruction of extremities were selected consecutively. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine prognostic factors which were related with success of groin flap. Eighty of 107 (74.8%) flaps survived. There was significant difference in success rate according to the recipient site. Nineteen of 20 cases (95%) survived in upper extremities, but 61 of 87 cases (70.1%) survived in lower extremities, which was statistically significant (p=0.022). Univariate analysis showed that mean diameter of donor veins was significantly larger in success group (p=0.021). Groin flap is recommended for reconstruction of upper extremities than lower extremities. It is thought to be critical that surgeons try to match vessel diameters between donor and recipient site.
Extremities ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Groin ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Multivariate Analysis ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Upper Extremity ; Veins

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection is well known for its effectiveness in the treatment of "Spasmodic dysphonia". However, studies on the efficacy of BTX-A injection have not been attempted in Korea. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the effects of BTX-A. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The study examined 12 female patients with 'adductor spasmodic dysphonia'. Objective assesments included aerodynamic analysis and electoroglottography (EGG) of each patient before and after BTX-A. Subjective assessments included using the Korean-version of Voice Handicap Index-30 (KVHI-30) and a patient self-rating scale. RESULTS: Aerodynamic analysis revealed that only maximum phonation time (MPT) was significantly shortened after the injection of BTX-A (p<0.05). In the EGG, the mean frequency distribution was significantly increased, while the mean amplitude and the mean closed quotient distribution were significantly decreased (p<0.05). The KVHI-30 and patient self-rating scale scores were significantly decreased (p<0.01) as well, demonstrating the effects of BTX-A on the quality of life. CONCLUSION: Our results show the effects of BTX-A objectively by comparing voice characteristics, which were measured through EGG before and after BTX-A injection, as well as by determining aerodynamic characteristics. The subjective self-assessment on the quality of life is significant as it may serve as a clinically relevant measure. This study may be helpful in elucidating treatment efficacy of BTX-A in many ways.
Botulinum Toxins ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Dysphonia ; Equidae ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Ovum ; Phonation ; Quality of Life ; Self-Assessment ; Treatment Outcome ; Voice

Purpose: This study evaluated the role of donor kidney ultrasonography (US) for predicting functional kidney volume and identifying ideal kidney grafts in deceased donor kidney transplantation. Methods: In total, 272 patients who underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation from 2000 to 2020 at Samsung Medical Center were enrolled. Donor kidney information (i.e., right or left) was provided to the radiologist who performed US image re-analysis. To binarize each kidney’s ultrasound parameters, an optimal cutoff value for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 within 1 year after kidney transplantation was selected using the receiver operating characteristic curve with a specificity >60%. Cox regression analysis was performed for an eGFR less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 within 1 year after kidney transplantation and graft failure within 2 years after kidney transplantation. Results: The product of renal length and cortical thickness was a statistically significant predictor of graft function. The odds ratios of an eGFR less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 within a year after kidney transplantation and the hazard ratio of graft failure within 2 years after kidney transplantation were 5.91 (P=0.003) and 5.76 (P=0.022), respectively. Conclusion Preoperative US of the donor kidney can be used to evaluate donor kidney function and can predict short-term graft survival. An imaging modality such as US should be included in the donor selection criteria as an additional recommendation. However, the purpose of this study was not to narrow the expanded criteria but to avoid catastrophic consequences by identifying ideal donor kidneys using preoperative US.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the rate of delivery within the jurisdiction of local governments in Korea. Methods: Information regarding the population, number of women of childbearing age, and number of births was extracted from the Korean Statistics Information Service, National Health Insurance Service, and health map of the National Medical Center. We defined the rate of delivery within the jurisdiction of the local government as the ratio of the number of deliveries delivered by maternity facilities in the region to the total number of deliveries of pregnant women living in the region. Results: The average nationwide delivery rate in the jurisdiction of local governments was 48.0%. The Si area was the highest at 54.9%, and the Gun area was the lowest at 22.1%. Compared to 2014, the national average delivery rate in the jurisdiction decreased by 4.3%; however, the gun area increased by 4.9%. The geographic maternity service area was 122 in 2014; however, this number decreased to 104 in 2020. Conclusion The national average rate of delivery in the jurisdiction of local governments was 48.0%, and the rate decreased between 2014 and 2020.

PURPOSE: Management of gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors with liver metastases (NETLM) presents many clinical challenges. Assessment of the extent of disease and primary tumor site is crucial for management. In this study, we investigated the primary tumor sites and prognostic factors in GEP NETLM among Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 72 Korean patients diagnosed with GEP NETLM between January 1999 and May 2013, focusing on their clinical and pathologic characteristics. RESULTS: The most frequently encountered primary tumor sites were the pancreas (n=25, 35%), stomach (n=8, 11%), gall bladder (n=4, 6%) and rectum (n=3, 4%). Twenty-five patients (35%) had occult primary tumor. Twelve patients (17%) had histological grade G1 tumors, 30 patients (42%) had G2 tumors, and 30 patients (42%) had G3 tumors. The mean follow-up period after histological confirmation of hepatic metastases was 11.30+/-2.44 months for G3 tumors, 19.67+/-4.09 months for G2 tumors, and 30.67+/-6.51 months for G1 tumors. Multivariate analyses revealed that an unknown primary tumor site (p=0.001) and higher histological grade (p < 0.001) were independent prognostic indicators for shorter overall survival (OS). Most long-term survivors (OS > 24 months) had received antitumor treatment. CONCLUSION: The primary tumor site most frequently associated with GEP NETLM was the pancreas. Unknown primary tumor and higher histological grade were independent prognostic indicators for shorter OS. Patients identified as being at a risk of shorter OS should be followed up closely.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea* ; Liver* ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neoplasms, Unknown Primary ; Neuroendocrine Tumors* ; Pancreas ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Rectum ; Stomach ; Survivors ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate differentially expressed genes using DNA microarray between advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with aggressive lymph node (LN) metastasis and that with a more advanced tumor stage but without LN metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five sample pairs of gastric cancer tissue and normal gastric mucosa were taken from three patients with T3N3 stage (highN) and two with T4N0 stage (lowN). Data from triplicate DNA microarray experiments were analyzed, and candidate genes were identified using a volcano plot that showed > or = 2-fold differential expression and were significant by Welch's t test (p < 0.05) between highN and lowN. Those selected genes were validated independently by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using five AGC patients, and tissue-microarray (TMA) comprising 47 AGC patients. RESULTS: CFTR, LAMC2, SERPINE2, F2R, MMP7, FN1, TIMP1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), ITGB8, SDS, and TMPRSS4 were commonly up-regulated over 2-fold in highN. REG3A, CD24, ITLN1, and WBP5 were commonly down-regulated over 2-fold in lowN. Among these genes, overexpression of PAI-1 was validated by RT-PCR, and TMA showed 16.7% (7/42) PAI-1 expression in T3N3, but none (0/5) in T4N0 (p=0.393). CONCLUSION: DNA microarray analysis and validation by RT-PCR and TMA showed that overexpression of PAI-1 is related to aggressive LN metastasis in AGC.
Gastric Mucosa ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

A 55-year-old man with massive pulmonary thromboembolism underwent thrombolysis, pulmonary artery embolectomy and tricuspid annuloplasty. Nine months later, a mobile echogenic intra-cardiac mass was found in the tricuspid valve. Because the patient had undergone annuloplasty, thrombosis was suspected as the most likely diagnosis and thrombolytic therapy was instituted. However, the size of the cardiac mass did not change and after surgical excision the mass was found to be a myxoma. Cardiac valvular tumors are uncommon and when they occur they are usually slow growing fibroelastomas. In this case, the rapid growing cardiac myxoma on the tricuspid valve was found after the occurrence of pulmonary thromboembolism. To our knowledge, this is first reported case of tricuspid valve myxoma in Korea.
Embolectomy ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Tricuspid Valve

BACKGROUND: Counting mitoses is subjective and time-consuming. The adjunctive diagnostic utility of a recently reported mitotic marker, phosphohistone H3 (PHH3), was investigated in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). METHODS: We reviewed 77 GISTs for several proliferative indices. These included the mitotic count per 50 high power fields (HPFs), the immunohistochemical Ki-67 labeling index and the immunohistochemical PHH3 mitotic index (MI). For comparison, Spearman's rank correlation and interclass correlation coefficient were used. RESULTS: Mitotic counts ranged from 0-138 (mean, 7.57+/-2.34) and the PHH3 MI ranged from 0-126 per 50 HPFs (mean, 9.61+/-2.27). We found a positive correlation between mitotic counts and PHH3 MI (r=0.810, p<.001). The inter-observer correlation coefficient for three participants was 0.975 for mitotic counts and 0.940 for the PHH3 MI. When using the PHH3 MI instead of mitotic counts in the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) stratification criteria, 10 cases were reclassified. In one patient with a mitotic count of 2 and a PHH3 MI of 6 per 50 HPFs, distant metastasis occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In GISTs, the PHH3 MI correlated adequately with mitotic counts and can be used as a useful adjunctive to count mitotic figures efficiently.
Arm ; Biomarkers ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Humans ; Mitosis ; Mitotic Index ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology

There has been continuous effort to prevent transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI). Strategies to prevent TTI can be divided into two components: first, determining donor eligibility, and second, managing bacterial contamination of blood products. To determine donor eligibility, medical history taking and screening tests for infectious diseases should be performed. To prevent bacterial contamination, blood collection process should be aseptic, tests for bacterial detection should be performed, and an application of pathogen reduction technology should also be considered. In this review, screening test items and methods, including nucleic acid amplification tests for determining donor eligibility, and precautions for blood collection, bacterial detection methods, and pathogen reduction technology for the prevention of bacterial contamination of blood products were discussed in detail.
Communicable Diseases ; Donor Selection ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Medical History Taking ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Tissue Donors