No abstract available.
Mitral Valve*

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that obesity, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart diseases, metabolic syndrome and hypertension can combine with psoriasis. However, the metabolic comorbidities have not been clearly demonstrated in Korean psoriasis patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between psoriasis and metabolic abnormalities including obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension and dyslipidemia in our center. Treatment response of cyclosporine between a high body mass index (BMI) group and normal BMI group was also analyzed to investigate how obesity may affect psoriasis treatment. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was made on the obesity and metabolic status of psoriasis patients versus normal control group through electronic medical records from January 2008 to April 2009 at Department of Dermatology, Samsung Medical Center, (Seoul, Korea). Medical records, demographics and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score before and after cyclosporine treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the metabolic status between normal control and psoriasis patients. Also, there was no significant difference in the treatment response between high BMI group and normal BMI group, after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of cyclosporine treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that in Korean patients, an association between psoriasis and metabolic abnormalities is not obvious. This may reflect a different severity of obesity and metabolic abnormalities between Western and Asian populations.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Cyclosporine ; Demography ; Dermatology ; Dyslipidemias ; Electronic Health Records ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Medical Records ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Obesity* ; Psoriasis* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to reveal the health effects of air pollution on the residents living near waste treatment plant. METHODS: We sampled 190 residents as the hogh exposed group, 192 residents as the moderate group, and 139 residents as the low exposed group according to the geographical distances from the waste treatment plant. Self-administered questionnaires for prevalence of respiratory disease, irritation symptoms of mucous membrane (eye, nose, thoat, skin, and respiratory tract), gastrointestinal symptoms, other nonspecific symptoms were conducted. We measured the concentrations of total suspened partcles, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and As in 3 exposed area. RESULT: Airborne concentrations of total suspended particles measured in exposed area were 485, 365, and 332 micro gram/m(3) which excees the limit value. Airborne concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and As were not excees the limit value. The prevalence of respiratory disease of high exposed group (16.8%) was significantly higher than that of moderate group (3.6%) and low exposed group (5.0%). The sysptom score of irrtation sysptoms of mucous membrane, gastrointestinal sysptoms, and other nonspecific sysptoms were increased with exposed level. In multiple linear regression, exposure level was related to all sysptom scores significantly. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the air pollution of waste treatment plant would influence prevalence of respiratory disease, induce irritation of mucous membrane, gastrointestinal symptoms, and other nonspecific sysptoms.
Air Pollution ; Linear Models ; Mucous Membrane ; Nose ; Plants* ; Prevalence ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Mice*

The bcl-2 gene is a proto-oncogene which extends cell survival by blocking apoptosis. Bcl-2 expression has been detected in many types of nodal and MALT lymphoma. The p53 gene is a tumor suppressor gene and p53 mutation is the most common genetic alteration in human malignancies. The relationship between the expression of bcl-2 and p53 protein in primary gastric lymphoma has been rarely reported. The authors investigated the expression of bcl-2 and p53 protein in 37 cases of primary gastric lymphoma by immunohistochemical method using bcl-2 and p53 monoclonal antibodies. There were five cases of low grade B-cell MALT lymphomas and thirty two cases of high grade B-cell lymphomas. Fifteen of 37 cases (41%) showed bcl-2 protein expression in the cytoplasm of tumor cells and 26 cases (70%) showed p53 protein expression in the nucleus of tumor cells. Bcl-2 protein was detected in 4 of 5 (80%) low grade MALT lymphomas, and in 11 of 32 (34%) high grade lymphomas. There was no significant correlation between bcl-2 expression and histologic grade of primary gastric lymphomas (p>0.05). p53 protein was positive in 25 of 32 (78%) high grade lymphomas, and in 1 of 5 (20%) low grade MALT lymphomas. The expression of p53 protein is significantly higher in high grade lymphoma than in low grade MALT lymphoma (p<0.05). The p53 expression in the bcl-2 negative cases (86%) was significantly higher than in the bcl-2 positive cases (47%). There was an inverse relationship between bcl-2 and p53 expression in primary gastric lymphoma. These results suggest that bcl-2 and p53 expression in primary gastric lymphoma may be involved in the transition from low grade MALT lymphoma to high grade lymphoma.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Survival ; Cytoplasm ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; Proto-Oncogenes

Cervical lymph node metastasis is common in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Lateral neck node metastases are a significant consideration in surgical management of patients with DTC. However, the optimal extent of therapeutic lateral neck dissection remains controversial. Optimizing the surgical extent of lymph node dissection is fundamental to balancing the surgical morbidity and oncological benefits in DTC patients with lateral neck metastasis. Consideration of the individualized appropriate surgical extent of lateral lymph node is important in treatment of DTC patients.
Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck Dissection ; Neck* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: There are a few studies on the effects of job strain on the prevalence of sleep problems in the foreign countries. In Korea, it has not been studied till now. In this article, the combined effects of job strain, shift work and some life style on the prevalence of sleep proplems were studied among workers in middle aged men. METHODS: 998 cases were chosen from 1109 men who visited health screening center from October to November, 1999. Sleep problems were categorized to insomnia, sleep deprivation, daytime sleepiness and snoring on the base of result of factor analysis of 11 questions. Job strain was measured by 11 questions which developed by Karasek and Theorell. All data set were analyzed using Chi square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The 4 sleep proplems were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis in relation to job strain, shift work, occupation, obesity, sedentary life style, smoking, drinking. Insomnia was increased significantly from highest job strain group(Odds ratio (OR:2.02)) and non exercise group(OR:2.05). In these groups, daytime sleepiness was increased significantly(OR=1.92 in the highest job strain group, OR=1.72 in non exercise group). Sleep deprivation was increased in the highest job strain group(OR=2.18), managers & clerks(OR:1.67) and non exercise group(OR:1.78). Snoring was increased from BMI(Body mass index)> OR =25(OR=1.77), BMI> OR =27(OR=2.80) and non exercise group(OR:1.87). CONCLUSION: In the highest job strain group, insomnia, sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness was increased significantly. And sedentary life style increased all sleep problems.
Dataset ; Drinking ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged* ; Obesity ; Occupations ; Prevalence* ; Sleep Deprivation ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Snoring

BACKGROUND: Familial aggregation of the phenotypes can be caused by common environmental and genetic factors, but there has been no family study on familial aggregation of the bronchial asthma, and genetic role of atopy and bronchial responsiveness in the development of asthma in Korean families. OBJECTIVE: We did family study to evaluate the familial aggregation of bronchial asthma, and the genetic role of atopy and bronchial responsiveness in the development of asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaire, serum total IgE level, skin prick test with 10 common aeroallergens, and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine were performed in 154 parents of atopic asthmatics, 72 parents of atopic control, and 65 parents of non-atopic control. RESULTS: Bronchial asthma was more prevalent in parents of atopic asthmatics(7.1% ) than in parents of non-atopic control(0% ). Geometric mean of serum total IgE level was not different among parents of atopic asthmatics, atopic control, and non-atopic control(2.03+0.06, 2.10 +0.07, and 1.89 +0.09 IU/ml). Positive rates of skin prick test to 10 common aeroallergens were more prevalent in parents of atopic asthmatics(43.0% ) and atopic control(43.0% ) than in parents of non-atopic control(27.8%). Prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine was more prevalent in parents of atopic asthmatics(17.0% ) than in parents of atopic control(7.2%) and non-atopic control(1.5%), and slope of dose-response curve was more increased in parents of atopic asthmatics(11.0+ 1.5) than in parents of atopic control and non-atopic control(4.8+ 0.7 and 3.0+ 0.5). CONCLUSION: Bronchial asthma runs in Korean families, and genetic role of atopy and bronchial responsiveness may be important in the development of asthma.
Asthma* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Methacholine Chloride ; Parents ; Phenotype ; Prevalence ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Exercise can aggravate asthmatic symptoms in many patients with bronchial asthma. It is caused by that inhaled air bypasses nasal cavity and goes directly to the lower airways through open mouth dring exercise. Although the pathogenetic mechanisms of exercise-induced asthma(EIA) have not been clarified yet, there is evidence that chemical mediators, released from the inflammatory cells triggered by airway cooling or drying, might be responsible for induction of bronchoconstriction. However, it has been controversial which chemical mediators or cells are involved in such process. Objectiye . The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of activated mast cells in the pathogenesis of EIA and find out whether or not sulfidopeptide leukotrienes (LTC4/d4/E4) are involved in the exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eleven asthmatics with documented exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and 10 control subjects were studied. Before and 6 hours after free running for 6 minutes, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV,) and the concentrations of N- methylhistamine, LTE4, and creatinine in unine collected for 6 hours after exercise were determined. RESULT: Urinary concentrations of N-methylhistamine(mean+SE, ng/mg creatinine) of EIA patients before and after exercise were 159+40 and 450+75, respectively. Those of control subjects were 208+ 54 and 275+ 62, respectively. Uninary N-methylhistamine levels of EIA group increased significantly after exercise, while those of control group did not change. Urinary concentrations of LTE,(mean+SE, pg/mg creatinine) of EIA patients before and after exercise were 15.6 k2.6 and 22.2+5.8, respectively. Those of control subjects were 10.4+ 4.0, 18.2 +7.0, respectively. The concentrations of LTE4 in the urine samples collected before exerise revealed no difference between EIA and control subjects (p=0.07). There was no change after exercise in both groups. Percent fall of FEV, was 29.1+8.0% (mean+SD) in EIA group and 3.4 + 4.0% in control group, respectively. There was no correlation between reduction of FEV, and change in urinary concentrations of N-methyl-histmine after exercise. CONCLUSTION: Chemical mediators of activated mast cells may be involved in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, but there is little evidence for enhanced sulfidopeptide leukotriene generation as assessed by urinary LTE4.
Asthma ; Asthma, Exercise-Induced* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Creatinine ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Leukotriene E4 ; Leukotrienes ; Mast Cells ; Mouth ; Nasal Cavity ; Running