No abstract available.
Behcet Syndrome*

Azopt (brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension, 1%)is a carbonic anhydrase type II inhibitor,which reduces intraocular pressure by suppression of aque-ous humor production in ciliary process. It was developed as an agent which has little systemic side effect and was adjusted to physiologic ophthalmic environment. We observed the effect of intrao- cular pressure, pulsatile ocular blood flow and side effect to investigate the clinical effectiveness of Azopt in normal Azopt was instilled to 10 eyes of 10 volunteers and artificial tear was instilled to the other 10 eyes of 10 volunteers three times daily, respectively. We measured intraocular pressure by Goldman applanation tonometer at twohours, 8 hours, 1 day and 7 days after instillation. Pulsatile ocular blood flow, pupil diameter, blood pressure and pulse rate were also measured. Decrease of intraocular pressure after instillation of Azopt was statistically significant (p<0.05), compared with the pressure before instillation of Azopt and the decrease of pressure after instillation of artifical tear. No systemic side effect and ophthalmic discomfort was noted except for temporary visual blurring. Therefore we expect that Azopt will have a great effect on glaucoma patients in Korea who must be treated for long duration.
Blood Pressure ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; Glaucoma ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Korea ; Pupil ; Tears ; Volunteers

Biliary papillomatosis (BP) is a rare disease that is classified as either the mucin-hypersecreting type or nonmucin-secreting type. Typical papillomas of the biliary tree mainly involve intrahepatic bile ducts or both intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. The isolated involvement of the extrahepatic bile duct is rare, and there is no report of BP confined to the gallbladder in Korea. We report a case of a 50-year-old man who developed obstructive jaundice due to hypersecreted mucin from papillomas of the gallbladder.
Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Biliary Tract ; Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Papilloma ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: Asthma exacerbation from human rhinovirus (HRV) infection is associated with deficient antiviral interferon (IFN) secretion. Although chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), an inflammatory upper airway disease, is closely linked to asthma, IFN-beta responses to HRV infections in human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) from CRS patients remain to be studied. We evaluated inflammatory and antiviral responses to HRV infection in HNECs from CRS patients. METHODS: HNECs, isolated from turbinate tissue of 13 patients with CRS and 14 non-CRS controls, were infected with HRV16 for 4 hours. The HRV titer, LDH activity, production of proinflammatory cytokines and IFN-beta proteins, and expression levels of RIG-I and MDA5 mRNA were assessed at 8, 24, and 48 hours after HRV16 infection. RESULTS: The reduction in viral titer was slightly delayed in the CRS group compared to the non-CRS control group. IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly increased to a similar extent in both groups after HRV infection. In the control group, IFN-beta production and MDA5 mRNA expression were significantly increased at 8 and 24 hours after HRV16 infection, respectively. By contrast, in the CRS group, IFN-beta was not induced by HRV infection; however, HRV-induced MDA5 mRNA expression was increased, but the increase was slightly delayed compared to the non-CRS control group. The RIG-I mRNA level was not significantly increased by HRV16 infection in either group. CONCLUSIONS: HRV-induced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in CRS patients was not different from that in the non-CRS controls. However, reductions in viral titer, IFN-beta secretion, and MDA5 mRNA expression in response to HRV infection in CRS patients were slightly impaired compared to those in the controls, suggesting that HRV clearance in CRS patients might be slightly deficient.
Asthma ; Cytokines ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans ; Interferon-beta* ; Interferons ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Rhinovirus ; RNA Helicases ; RNA, Messenger ; Turbinates

PURPOSE: To compare retrospectively the antegrade and retrograde nailing in the management of ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients (thirty-three injuries) were included in this study. Mean age of patients was 38 years-old in the antegrade nailing group (16 injuries) and 44 years-old in the retrograde nailing group (17 injuries). We compared the union of fractures and complications between two groups, and investigated the influencing factors. RESULTS: Femoral shaft fracture was united in 10 cases (63%) of antegrade group and 12 cases (71%) of retrograde group, at 28.2 and 27.3 weeks respectively. Nonunion was more prevalent in Winquist-Hansen III and IV (5 in antegrade nailing, 3 in retrograde nailing) than I and II. Femoral neck fracture was united with 1 case of nonunion in each group. Nonunion developed from Garden stage IV, but fractures of Garden stage I and II united regardless of methods. CONCLUSION: In ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures, the kinds of methods did not affect the results of shaft fractures. Minimally displaced neck fractures also were not influenced by kinds of methods, but retrograde nailing may have a benefit in fixing the displaced neck fractures
Agriculture ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Methods* ; Neck* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to establish a basis for improving or strengthening the preventive strategy against scrub typhus in Korea by comparing and analyzing the difference of prevention behaviors contributing to the occurrence of scrub typhus in Japan and Korea.METHODS: The survey was carried out in Jeollabuk-do, which is a high risk and high incidence area, and Fukuoka Prefecture, which is a high risk and low incidence area. The study included 406 Korean farmers and 216 Japanese farmers. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys by interviewers who had completed standardized education.RESULTS: Korean farmers have a higher percentage of agricultural working posture that involved contact with weeds than Japanese farmers (p < 0.05). The frequency and proportion of weeding were lower in Korean farmers than in Japanese farmers (p < 0.05). The level of knowledge about scrub typhus was significantly higher among Korean farmers than among Japanese farmers (p < 0.05). Mostly, the behavior of agriculture work was more appropriate for Japanese farmers than for Korean farmers (p < 0.05). The total average level of agricultural work was lower in Korea than in Japan, lower in men than women, and lower in part-time farmers than full-time farmers (p < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that it is reasonable to develop and provide a program that can improve the level of preventive behavior taking into consideration the characteristics of the subject in order to reduce the incidence of diseases in high-risk areas for scrub typhus.
Agriculture ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Education ; Farmers ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Male ; Posture ; Scrub Typhus

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to establish a basis for improving or strengthening the preventive strategy against scrub typhus in Korea by comparing and analyzing the difference of prevention behaviors contributing to the occurrence of scrub typhus in Japan and Korea. METHODS: The survey was carried out in Jeollabuk-do, which is a high risk and high incidence area, and Fukuoka Prefecture, which is a high risk and low incidence area. The study included 406 Korean farmers and 216 Japanese farmers. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys by interviewers who had completed standardized education. RESULTS: Korean farmers have a higher percentage of agricultural working posture that involved contact with weeds than Japanese farmers (p < 0.05). The frequency and proportion of weeding were lower in Korean farmers than in Japanese farmers (p < 0.05). The level of knowledge about scrub typhus was significantly higher among Korean farmers than among Japanese farmers (p < 0.05). Mostly, the behavior of agriculture work was more appropriate for Japanese farmers than for Korean farmers (p < 0.05). The total average level of agricultural work was lower in Korea than in Japan, lower in men than women, and lower in part-time farmers than full-time farmers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that it is reasonable to develop and provide a program that can improve the level of preventive behavior taking into consideration the characteristics of the subject in order to reduce the incidence of diseases in high-risk areas for scrub typhus.
Agriculture ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Education ; Farmers ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Japan* ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea* ; Male ; Posture ; Scrub Typhus*

Background: The Korean Society for Cytopathology introduced a digital proficiency test (PT) in 2021. However, many doubtful opinions remain on whether digitally scanned images can satisfactorily present subtle differences in the nuclear features and chromatin patterns of cytological samples. Methods: We prepared 30 whole-slide images (WSIs) from the conventional PT archive by a selection process for digital PT. Digital and conventional PT were performed in parallel for volunteer institutes, and the results were compared using feedback. To assess the quality of cytological assessment WSIs, 12 slides were collected and scanned using five different scanners, with four cytopathologists evaluating image quality through a questionnaire. Results: Among the 215 institutes, 108 and 107 participated in glass and digital PT, respectively. No significant difference was noted in category C (major discordance), although the number of discordant cases was slightly higher in the digital PT group. Leica, 3DHistech Pannoramic 250 Flash, and Hamamatsu NanoZoomer 360 systems showed comparable results in terms of image quality, feature presentation, and error rates for most cytological samples. Overall satisfaction was observed with the general convenience and image quality of digital PT. Conclusions As three-dimensional clusters are common and nuclear/chromatin features are critical for cytological interpretation, careful selection of scanners and optimal conditions are mandatory for the successful establishment of digital quality assurance programs in cytology.

Purpose: The association of serum lipids with gastric cancer is controversial. We clarified the role of serum lipids in the development, progression, and prognosis of gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: In total, 412 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer were prospectively recruited, and 2,934 control subjects who underwent screening endoscopy were enrolled from December 2013 to March 2017 to conduct a case-control study in a tertiary center. Serum lipid profiles, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and apolipoprotein B, and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. Results: The gastric cancer group showed significantly lower HDL-C, higher LDL-C, and lower apoA-I level than the control group. In multivariate analysis, old age (odds ratio [OR], 1.051; p < 0.001), smoking (OR, 1.337; p < 0.001), a family history of gastric cancer (OR, 2.038; p < 0.001), Helicobacter pylori seropositivity (OR, 4.240; p < 0.001), lower HDL-C (OR, 0.712; p=0.020), and higher LDL-C (p=0.002) were significant risk factors for gastric cancer. Lower HDL-C and higher LDL-C remained significant after adjustments for covariates, including age and sex. In a subgroup analysis of the gastric cancer group, lower TG levels were associated with undifferentiated histology. No serum lipids were associated with overall survival. Conclusion Lower HDL-C and higher LDL-C were associated with the risk of gastric cancer, even after adjusting for age, sex, and other factors. In the gastric cancer group, undifferentiated histology was associated with lower TG levels.

Purpose: The association of serum lipids with gastric cancer is controversial. We clarified the role of serum lipids in the development, progression, and prognosis of gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: In total, 412 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer were prospectively recruited, and 2,934 control subjects who underwent screening endoscopy were enrolled from December 2013 to March 2017 to conduct a case-control study in a tertiary center. Serum lipid profiles, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and apolipoprotein B, and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. Results: The gastric cancer group showed significantly lower HDL-C, higher LDL-C, and lower apoA-I level than the control group. In multivariate analysis, old age (odds ratio [OR], 1.051; p < 0.001), smoking (OR, 1.337; p < 0.001), a family history of gastric cancer (OR, 2.038; p < 0.001), Helicobacter pylori seropositivity (OR, 4.240; p < 0.001), lower HDL-C (OR, 0.712; p=0.020), and higher LDL-C (p=0.002) were significant risk factors for gastric cancer. Lower HDL-C and higher LDL-C remained significant after adjustments for covariates, including age and sex. In a subgroup analysis of the gastric cancer group, lower TG levels were associated with undifferentiated histology. No serum lipids were associated with overall survival. Conclusion Lower HDL-C and higher LDL-C were associated with the risk of gastric cancer, even after adjusting for age, sex, and other factors. In the gastric cancer group, undifferentiated histology was associated with lower TG levels.