The purpose of this study was to obtain baseline data on dietary management of women's constipation. We estimated the prevalence of self reported constipation, bowel habits and foods & nutrients intake. The subjects were 169 female college students (normal = 92, constipation group = 77) aged 19 to 23 years. We conducted anthropometric measurements, an evacuation habits survey, and a dietary intake assessment for three days by a 24 hour recall method. The prevalence of self reported constipation was 46% (n = 77). Results showed that bowel habits (the difficulty of evacuation, the duration of evacuation and the feeling after evacuation) were significantly different between the two groups. Over 65% of constipation group used laxatives for constipation relief. Frequency of stress and deep sleeping were related with constipation. In daily food consumption and nutrients intake, there was not a significant difference between the groups. However in relation to bowel habits which factors influence constipation, the study showed that the intake of water, potatoes, kimchi, and fruits correlated with evacuation facility. Further, there were no findings in the difference of foods consumption and nutrients intake between the two groups. But some life style changes and food intakes (potato and kimchi) may be useful to improve constipation symptoms in young women.
Aged ; Constipation ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Laxatives ; Life Style ; Prevalence ; Self Report ; Solanum tuberosum ; Water

BACKGROUND: Natural moisturizing factors such as sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid and lactic acid may play an important role in increasing the moisture retention of isolated stratum corneum and reducing the incidence of dry and flaky skin in vivo. Although the precise mechanism of surfactant irritancy is not fully understood, it has been suggested that barrier dysfunction of stratum corneum by surfactants results in skin changes such as scaling, erythema, and even fissuring. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid(NaPCA) and lactic acid(LA) with several non-invasive measuring methods in the irritated skin reaction induced by sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) in normal persons and atopic dermatitis patients. METHODS: After skin irritation for 24 hours with patch test of 1% SLS on five volar sites of right forearm, we applied nothing(A), 3% LA+3% NaPCA(B), 3% LA(C), 3% NaPCA(D), and vehi cle(E) twice a day respectively. Visual score, transepidermal water loss(TEWL), water holding capa city(WHC), and erythema index were measured at 30 min, 24hr, 48hr and 72hr after patch removal. RESULTS: 1. After 72hr, the visual scores of B and C were significantly lower than that of A(control) in atopic dermatitis patients, and that of C in normal persons was significantly lower than that of A, D, and E. 2. TEWL values of B and C in both the normal (after 72hr) and atopic dermatitis group (after 48hr and 72hr) were significantly lower than that of A. 3. WHC values of B, C, D in both the normal and atopic dermatitis group were significantly higher than that of A after 48hr and 72hr. 4. After 72hr, erythema indices by Mexameter of B, C, and D in both the normal and atopic dermatitis group were significantly lower than that of A and values of C were significantly lower than that of E. In the atopic dermatitis group, values of D were also significantly lower than that of E. 5. The mean visual score was significantly correlated with TEWL value and erythema index of Mexameter (r=0.58, r=0.64) and the TEWL value was significantly correlated with erythema index of Mexameter (r=0.64). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that topical application of a moisturizing factor might improve the surfactant-induced disruption of permeability barrier with improvement of the water holding capacity of the stratum corneum.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Erythema ; Forearm ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lactic Acid* ; Patch Tests* ; Permeability ; Skin* ; Sodium* ; Surface-Active Agents

Hashimotos thyroiditis and Graves disease have been thought to be the autoirnmune diseases having their distinct and separate clinical and pathologic features. Because of the partial and complete simi1arity in histologic feature, it has been hypothesized that Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Oraves disease may be interrelated. Several patients who had been diagnosed as Graves disease showed features of hypothyroidism, and were proven to have histologie features of Hashimotos thyroiditis in their thyroid tissue. Two meehanisms had been suggested to explain tbis phenomenon. One is that the combined Hashimotos thyroiditis in Graves' disease may become predominant with time, The other is that the amount of TSH receptor blocking antibody may increase in the course of Graves disease. Early recognition of these patients would be impartant to estabilish therapeutic plan. Futhermcee, extensive study of these patients would give more understanding of the mechanism of these diseases. Here we report 5 cases of clinically diagnosed Graves disease with pathologic features of Hashimotos thyroiditis or focal lymphocytic thyroiditis.
Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune

PURPOSE: We were assessed the characteristic findings of defecography and cinedefecography in patients with pelvic outlet obstructive disease, and compared the characteristic physiologic findings between proctography and cinedefecography. METHODS: Physiologic findings of 196 patients who were performed at least two items of physiologic tests were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were categorized as rectocele (Group I: n=119), nonrelaxing puborectalis syndrome (Group II: n=58), rectoanal intussusception (Group III: n=16), significant sigmoidocele (Group IV: n=3). The proctographic and cinedefecographic features were analyzed according to disease categories. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, false positive rate, false negative rate, diagnostic rate, and reproducibility were calculated, and we analyzed the difference between proctography and cinedefecography according to the disease groups. RESULTS: On the proctographic examinations; 1) 112 patients were confirmed as a clinically significant rectocele (n=128, sensitivity; 94%, specificity; 79%, accuracy; 88%, false positive rate; 21%, false negative rate; 6%, kappa; 0.749). 2) A clinically significant nonrelaxing puborectalis were 36 patients (n=73, sensitivity; 62%, specificity; 73%, accuracy; 70%, false positive rate; 27%, false negative rate; 38%, kappa; 0.328). 3) 12 patients were confirmed as significant rectoanal intussusception (n=31, sensitivity; 75%, specificity; 89%, accuracy; 88%, false positive rate; 11%, false negative rate; 25%, kappa; 0.425). 4) 3 patients were confirmed as clinically significant sigmoidocele (n=15, sensitivity; 100%, specificity; 94%, accuracy; 94%, false positive rate; 6%, false negative rate; 0%, kappa; 0.316). On the combination of proctography and cinedefecography; 1) 117 patients were confirmed as a clinically significant rectocele (n=122, sensitivity; 98%, specificity; 94%, accuracy; 96%, false positive rate; 6%, false negative rate; 2%, kappa; 0.925). 2) A clinically significant nonrelaxing puborectalis were 50 patients (n=64, sensitivity; 86%, specificity; 90%, accuracy; 88%, false positive rate; 10%, false negative rate; 14%, kappa; 0.738). 3) 16 patients were confirmed as significant rectoanal intussusception (n=22, sensitivity; 100%, specificity; 97%, accuracy; 97%, false positive rate; 3%, false negative rate; 0%, kappa; 0.826). 4) 3 patients were confirmed as clinically significant sigmoidocele (n=9, sensitivity; 100%, specificity; 97%, accuracy; 97%, false positive rate; 3%, false negative rate; 0%, kappa; 0.488). As compared with combined study (proctography plus cinedefecography), the proctography show decreased diagnostic rates in the evaluation of rectocele (P<0.05), nonrelaxing puborectalis (P<0.01), and rectoanal intussusception (P<0.05). And, the proctography also show increased false positive rate in the evaluation of rectocele (P<0.01), nonrelaxing puborectalis (P<0.01), and rectoanal intussusception (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, proctography showed a tendency to overdiagnosis. Therefore, the combined study of proctography and cinedefecography should be taken as a diagnostic tools for pelvic outlet obstructive disease. Adhering to these findings, other anorectal physiologic studies should be added for the clinically significant diagnosis.
Defecography ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intussusception ; Rectocele ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute exacerbation (AE) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can occur spontaneously, and may be followed by HBeAg clearance. HBeAg seroconversion often coincides with the normalization of liver biochemical tests and clinical remission. The purpose of this study was to identify the etiology and the clinical consequence of severe AE in Korean patients with CHB. METHODS: The medical records of CHB patients with severe AE (defined by the sudden increase of ALT above 400 IU/L) who were admitted to Kyung Hee University Hospital between January 1992 and December 2001, were reviewed retrospectively. Forty-four patients were included in the severe AE group. RESULTS: The most common etiology of severe AE was spontaneous exacerbation (77%). Drugs (16%), alcohol (5%), and HCV coinfection (2%) were suspected of causing AE in the remaining patients. HBeAg seroconversion at 12, 18, and 24 months following severe spontaneous AE was 18.5%, 40.7%, and 48.1%, respectively. These were significantly higher compared to CHB patients without AE (4.3%, 4.3%, and 10.9%, respectively). Seroconversion within 3 months, however, occurred in only 15% of CHB patients with AE. There was a tendency to progress to liver cirrhosis more frequently in the patients with AE as compared to the patients without AE (17.6% vs. 5.5%, P<0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Severe AE in patients with CHB is mainly caused by spontaneous exacerbation. Although HBeAg seroconversion occurs frequently in these patients, the rates are relatively low compared to those reported in other countries and early seroconversion is expected only in a small proportion. Further studies will be warranted to determine the efficacy of the early use of antiviral agents at the time of AE.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; English Abstract ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*complications/diagnosis/virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors affecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination intention. Methods: For an anonymous online survey, recruitment notices were posted on an anonymous community by each university, and an online survey was conducted through online form from June to July 2021. COVID-19 knowledge and health-protective behavior were measured using a questionnaire based on previous literature and reflecting the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Response Guidelines. The psychological antecedents of vaccination were measured by 5C scale. Results: Two-hundred and ninety-four college students (women 67.3%) answered the survey; 179 (60.9%) reported that they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. The mean scores for COVID-19 knowledge and health-protective behavior were 22.97 ± 5.33 (out of 35) and 9.92 ± 2.22 (out of 12), respectively. For the psychological antecedents of vaccination, the mean scores for confidence, collective responsibility, calculation, complacency, and constraints were 4.45 ( ± 1.24), 5.61 ( ± 1.09), 5.09 ( ± 1.18), 2.42 ( ± 1.11), and 2.37 ( ± 1.19) out of 5 points, respectively. The confidence, calculation, and collective responsibility were associated with vaccination intention. Additionally, the top reason for those who were less prone to accept vaccination against COVID-19 was concern about vaccine safety. Conclusion The higher the confidence in the vaccine and the higher the collective responsibility, the higher the vaccination intention. As it is a factor related to an individual’s perception of COVID-19 information, it is necessary to increase confidence in the vaccines through obtaining accurate information on the safety, effectiveness, and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination.

Epidermal cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a tumor-associated antigen (TAA), which has been considered as a cancer vaccine candidate. The EpCAM protein fused to the fragment crystallizable region of immunoglobulin G (IgG) tagged with KDEL endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal (EpCAM-FcK) has been successfully expressed in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) and purified from the plant leaf. In this study, we investigated the ability of the plant-derived EpCAM-FcK (EpCAM-FcKP ) to elicit an immune response in vivo. The animal group injected with the EpCAM-FcKP showed a higher differentiated germinal center (GC) B cell population (~9%) compared with the animal group injected with the recombinant rhEpCAM-Fc chimera (EpCAM-FcM ). The animal group injected with EpCAM-FcKP (~42%) had more differentiated T follicular helper cells (Tfh) than the animal group injected with EpCAM-FcM (~7%). This study demonstrated that the plant-derived EpCAM-FcK fusion antigenic protein induced a humoral immune response in mice.

Benign schwannomas arise in neural crest-derived Schwann cells. They can occur almost anywhere in the body, but their most common locations are the central nervous system, extremities, neck, mediastinum, and retroperitoneum. Schwannomas occurring in the biliary tract are extremely rare and mostly present with obstructive jaundice. We recently experienced a case of extrahepatic biliary schwannomas in a 64-yr-old female patient who presented with intra- and extrahepatic bile duct and gallbladder stones during a screening program. To the best of our knowledge, extrahepatic biliary schwannomas associated with bile duct stones have not been reported previously in the literature.
Adult ; Bile Ducts/pathology ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic/*metabolism/*pathology ; Central Nervous System/pathology ; Cholangiography/methods ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prevents rebleeding by elevating the intragastric pH in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers after hemostasis has been achieved. We assessed if high-dose oral pantoprazole is as effective as high-dose intravenous pantoprazole for their ability to prevent rebleeding after having achieved initial hemostasis in patients with active bleeding or nonbleeding visible vessels. METHODS: Thirty eight patients with bleeding peptic ulcers who had achieved initial hemostasis were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. In the high-dose oral pantoprazole group (n=19), 40 mg of pantoprazole was given orally twice daily for 5 days. In the high-dose intravenous pantoprazole group (n=19), an 80 mg intravenous bolus of pantoprazole was given; this was followed by 8 mg/hour of continuous infusion daily for 3 days. Thereafter, 40 mg of pantoprazole was given orally once daily for 8 weeks. RESULTS: The two groups were similar with respect to all the background variables. Rebleeding occurred in 2 patients (10.5%) in the intravenous group and in 1 patient in the oral group (5.3%) by day 30 after enrollment (p=1.000). There was no significant difference in terms of the number of therapeutic endoscopic sessions (1 vs. 1.13+/-0.52), the surgery (0% vs. 0%), the bleeding related mortality (0% vs. 0%), and the mean number of units of transfused blood. CONCLUSIONS: The high-dose oral pantoprazole is as effective as an intravenous administration in reducing rebleeding episodes in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers after successful endoscopic therapy.
Administration, Intravenous ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mortality ; Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Proton Pumps* ; Protons*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a method widely used for long-term enteral nutrition in dysphagia. Mostly, it is preceded by nasogastric intubation (NI) for short-term enteral nutrition; endoscopic findings associated with NI are encountered during PEG. The purpose of this study was to discuss such findings and to delineate a relationship between these findings, especially esophageal lesions and the duration of NI. METHODS: This study involved 185 individuals who had undergone PEG at Kyung Hee Medical Center from January 1999 to May 2002. The medical records were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: The dysfunction of the CNS comprised 98.4% of the causes of dysphagia. The duration of NI was 15.2 weeks on average, with median value of 8.7 weeks, indicating that PEG was performed relatively soon. Endoscopic findings revealed esophagitis in 63 cases, esophageal ulcers in 27 and active bleedings in another 10. The incidence of esophageal lesions was shown to be higher in subjects with duration of NI under 12 weeks than in those with duration over 12 weeks (p=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: PEG was carried out in many cases during the early stages of dysphagia, and NI-associated esophageal lesions appeared to be more prevalent within 12 weeks of NI duration. These results may be of help in deciding the timing of PEG.
Adult ; Aged ; Deglutition Disorders/therapy ; *Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Enteral Nutrition ; Esophageal Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology ; Esophagus/*pathology ; Female ; *Gastrostomy ; Humans ; *Intubation, Gastrointestinal/adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged