Human diphyllobolthriasis is chiefly caused by infection with Diphyllobothrium latum(D. latum) through eating raw or unproperly cooked fish such as salmon, trout or perch. D. latum is worldwidely distributed, but not a common parasite of humans, and its prevalence in Korea is not high. The first worm-proven case of D. latum infection was first reported in 1971 and about 30 cases have been reported in Korea until now. However, with the increasing popularity of eating raw salmon, trout and perch, this tapeworm infection tends to increase in Korea. Most of the patients infected by D. latum have not showed the specific symptoms and only non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms(anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain). We report a case which includes a chain whitish, threadlike tapeworm segments spontaneously discharged in the patients stool. On reviewing the literature, the present case is the first report of D. latum infection by eating cultured salmon. The patient was treated with 600mg single dose of Praziquantel.
Cestoda ; Cestode Infections ; Diarrhea ; Diphyllobothrium* ; Eating ; Humans ; Korea ; Nausea ; Parasites ; Perches ; Praziquantel ; Prevalence ; Salmon ; Trout ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Risk Factors*

The word "Delayed" in the legend of Figure 2 should have been written as "Controls."

No abstract available.
Hypertriglyceridemia*

Obesity is one of the well-known risk factors of breast cancer. We evaluated the relationship between serum adiponectin and resistin levels and breast cancer risk in 41 biopsy-proven breast cancer patients and 43 age- and body mass index-matched controls. The mean serum adiponectin level was lower in the breast cancer group than the control group (6.93+/-3.2 microgram/mL, vs. 7.60+/-3.5 microgram/mL), but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.37). There was a statistically significant difference in serum resistin levels between the groups (breast cancer group 5.23+/-6.9 ng/mL vs. control 1.46+/-2.0 ng/mL; p<0.001). The risk of breast cancer was significantly increased in the highest tertile group for serum resistin level compared to the lowest tertile group (adjusted odds ratio 2.77 [95% CI 1.40-5.50]). The lymph node metastasis was significantly increased in the patients with less than the median adiponectin level (p=0.017). In the patients whose resistin level was higher than the median, the frequency of tumor with the highest histological grade was significantly increased (p=0.025). In conclusions, both the low serum adiponectin levels and high resistin levels are likely to be associated with increased breast cancer risk in Korean women.
Resistin/*blood ; Odds Ratio ; Middle Aged ; Insulin Resistance ; Humans ; Female ; Case-Control Studies ; Breast Neoplasms/*blood/etiology/pathology ; Adult ; Adiponectin/*blood

BACKGROUND: Recently in Korea, the rate of addictive drug abuse is rapidly increasing in men on salary, housewives, and even in adolescents, who have been considered to be free from drugs, which presents a serious problem to the society. Especially, the habituation to gateway drug, such as cigarettes and alcohol, before 15 years old, would lead to the increased possibility of other drug abuse, including illicit drugs. Thereupon in this study, we intended toreview the effect of adolescents smoking an the drug abuse and deviated behaviors. METHODS: On September, 1997, randomly selected were 12 classes, an the basis of 2 classes per grade, from the two schools which was located each in Seoul and Buchean. And survey was dane on 610 students with non non-nominl, self-reported questionnaire. RESULTS: The rate of adolescent smoking was 28.1% in male students and had increasing tendency of "the higher the grades, the higher the smoking rate"(17.0% in the 1st gade, 31.5% in the 2nd grade, 35.9% in the 3rd grade). The smoking rate of female students was 12.3%. From the 2nd grade of middle school to the 2nd grade of high school was the critical period when the smoking habit was initiated in almost 90% of the students. The experiencing rates of drug abuse in studied subjects were as follows : drinking(79.0%), stimulants(4.8%), sedatives(4.1%), hypnotics(3.1%), glue sniffing(1.5%), butane gas(0.7%), marijuana/hemp(0.2%). They were higher in the smoking group than in the nansMoking group, showing statistical significances in most items except hypnotics and marijuana/hemp. Also simihr results were shown in deviated behaviors between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: With the concerted efforts of family, school, society and natian, we as family physicians should make efforts to delay and prevent adolescent's smoking, which is a gateway to drug abuse and deviated behaviors, and to increase people's recognition of health risks caused by smoking, and to provide proper program for adolescents to stop smoking.
Adhesives ; Adolescent ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Female ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Korea ; Male ; Physicians, Family ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Seoul ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Street Drugs ; Substance-Related Disorders* ; Tobacco Products ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: We compared the effects of two different nano-sized calcium supplements (synthesized by wet-chemical method or the dry-grinding method of calcium carbonate) and one micro-sized calcium supplement (calcium carbonate) on intestinal absorption and bone turnover in 20 young women. MATERIALS & METHODS: This study was carried out with a three week cross-over design. The subjects ingested one of three different calcium supplements (1 dose of 500 mg Ca++) at 8 AM, which was repeated three times weekly. Serum and urine samples were collected before and after the calcium load using a time table (serum sampling 0, 2 hr, 4 hr, 8 hr after loading; urine sampling 0, 4 hr, 8 hr after loading). RESULTS: Serum ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations significantly changed in response to all calcium supplements loading, the difference among calcium supplements was not significant. However, the postload urinary excretion of calcium and the N-telopeptide/creatinine ratio were significantly different among three calcium supplement over time by repeated measured ANOVA. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest the effect of nano-sized calcium supplements synthesized by the wet-chemical method is superior to the other calcium supplements in intestinal calcium absorption and bone turn-over.
Absorption ; Calcium ; Cross-Over Studies ; Intestinal Absorption ; Parathyroid Hormone

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection is one of the most common diseases in primary practice. Although quantitative urine culture is the standard for diagnosis, a rapid screening test is needed for effective management. But numerous studies in the past were controversial. We evaluated the utility of dipstick urine analysis as a screening test for urinary tract infection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 311 patients who were admitted between May 1997, and April 1998 were chosen as subjects. Patients had a complete urine analysis, such as microscopic analysis, chemical analysis by dipstick and urine culture was performed as part of an evaluation for urinary tract infection or suspicious febrile illness. We compared dipstick analysis with microscopic examination and urine culture. The results of the dipstick urinalysis were compared with the results of the urine culture, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. RESULTS: A total of 311 cases were included in the study among which 122 cases were true positive in urine culture. For dipstick urine analysis 92 of 122 cases were leukocyte esterase positive and 39 of 122 were nitrite positive. On microscopic examination 44 of 122 cases were leukocyte positive and 40 of 122 were microorganism positive. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of the dipstick urinalysis seems higher than the microscopic examination in urinary tract infection. We conclude that the dipstick urinalysis is a useful screening test for urinary tract infection for those above 2 years old.
Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Mass Screening* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinalysis* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

PURPOSE: Adolescence is a period of growth and development in body structure and physiologic, psychologic, and social functioning. Smoking and drinking in this period are very harmful and may lead to other forms of substance abuse. We surveyed the actual aspects of smoking and drinking among Korean adolescents and analyzed associated factors. METHODS: A survey was performed among adolescents using a questionnaire about smoking and drinking. Data were collected from students who visited pediatric clinics for routine school examinations from July to November 2007. RESULTS: A total of 2,546 adolescents (smoking 1,512; drinking 1,034) participated in the study. The overall smoking and drinking rates were 29.2% and 48.2%, respectively, and the mean age at the first instance of smoking and drinking was 13.8 and 14.1 years, respectively. Among drinking adolescents, 30.1% were offered a drink by their parents, although most adolescents were encouraged to smoke or drink by their friends. Dissatisfaction with family and school life, economic status, and school performance was associated with a higher smoking and drinking rate (P<0.001). Broken families were associated with a high rate of smoking, but peer satisfaction was not related to smoking or drinking. The frequency and amount of smoking and drinking in adolescents were as high as those in adults. Social sanctions seemed insufficient to keep adolescents from smoking and drinking. CONCLUSION: Adolescent smoking and drinking are highly influenced by family and school environments, so more active social sanctions are required, including parental involvement and legislation preventing adolescents from smoking and drinking.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Drinking ; Friends ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Korea ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Substance-Related Disorders

No abstract available.