Purpose: Hyperglycemia accelerates the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a group of compounds formed via non-enzymatic glycation/glycoxidation. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is related to oxidative stress, resulting in some overgeneration of AGEs. The accumulation of AGEs in T2DM patients leads to increased inflammation, DNA damage, tissue damage, progression of diabetic microvascular disease, and nephropathy. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an intracellular enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of heme. Expression of HO-1 in the endothelium and in muscle monocytes/macrophages was upregulated upon exposure to reactive oxygen species or oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Cells activated by oxidative stress are reported to release HO-1 in the serum. In the current study, we discuss the oxidative status according to the level of AGEs and the association of HO-1 with AGEs or urinary DNA damage marker in type 2 diabetic Korean patients. Methods: This study enrolled 36 diabetic patients. Subjects were classified into two groups by serum AGEs level (Low AGEs group: < 0.85 ng/mL serum AGEs; High AGEs group: > 0.85 ng/ mL serum AGEs). Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Blood and urinary parameters were measured using commercial kits. Results: No significant differences were observed in the general characteristics and body composition between the two groups. Serum HO-1 concentration was significantly higher in the High AGEs group than in the Low AGEs group. After adjustment of age and gender, a correlation was performed to assess the association between serum HO-1 and serum AGEs or urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Our results indicate that serum HO-1 is positively correlated with serum AGEs and urinary 8-OHdG. Conclusion Taken together, our results indicate that in diabetes patients, a high level of HO-1 is associated with a high concentration of AGEs and 8-OHdG, probably reflecting a protective response against oxidative stress.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the changes in interpersonal relationships, behavioral patterns, and emotional states of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders and their caregivers immediately after the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Daegu, South Korea. Methods: A total of 147 patients and 147 caregivers participated in the Survey for Outing and Time Usage for Child, Adolescent, and Parents and the COVID-19 Visual Analog Scale for Emotion. We classified the patients and their caregivers into the internalizing disorder (ID) and externalizing disorder (ED) groups and compared the changes. Results: Parent–child relationships for adolescent patients and caregivers were interrupted, and friend relationships in all participants were disrupted, while sibling relationships improved in adolescent patients. They experienced negative emotional changes. Time spent outdoor decreased and digital screen time increased for all participants. Friend and parent–child relationships were interrupted in the ED group compared to those in the ID group. ED patients experienced negative changes in emotional states, while ID patients showed no significant changes. Conclusion Results are meaningful as a reference for predicting changes in interpersonal relationships and mental status of pediatric psychiatric patients and for determining healthcare system adaptations to allow mental health support during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the changes in interpersonal relationships, behavioral patterns, and emotional states of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders and their caregivers immediately after the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Daegu, South Korea. Methods: A total of 147 patients and 147 caregivers participated in the Survey for Outing and Time Usage for Child, Adolescent, and Parents and the COVID-19 Visual Analog Scale for Emotion. We classified the patients and their caregivers into the internalizing disorder (ID) and externalizing disorder (ED) groups and compared the changes. Results: Parent–child relationships for adolescent patients and caregivers were interrupted, and friend relationships in all participants were disrupted, while sibling relationships improved in adolescent patients. They experienced negative emotional changes. Time spent outdoor decreased and digital screen time increased for all participants. Friend and parent–child relationships were interrupted in the ED group compared to those in the ID group. ED patients experienced negative changes in emotional states, while ID patients showed no significant changes. Conclusion Results are meaningful as a reference for predicting changes in interpersonal relationships and mental status of pediatric psychiatric patients and for determining healthcare system adaptations to allow mental health support during the COVID-19 outbreak.

No abstract available.
Epilepsy ; Humans ; Ophthalmoplegia

The digastric muscle is located in the suprahyoid region which consists of anterior belly, intermediate tendon and posterior belly. This muscle is an important landmark when performing an operation of submental and upper neck region. Previous researches have reported about variations of the anterior and posterior belly of digastric muscle. However, there are few studies about the general morphology of the digastric muscle and the relationship with surrounding muscles. The purpose of this study was to analyze the morphology of the anterior belly of digastric muscle and confirm the topographic relationship between the digastric muscle and the stylohyoid muscle of Korean. Thirty-four cadavers (21 males, 13 females; mean age 65 years; range 24~89 years) were used in this study. The skin, subcutaneous tissues, superficial fascia and platysma were removed and a detailed dissection was performed, with extreme care being taken not to damage underlying the muscles of submental and upper neck region. After the dissections, all specimens were sketched and photographed. In 8 specimens, we observed the accessory bellies of the anterior belly of digastric muscle. We classified the accessory bellies into the crossover type (five specimens, 14.7%) that cross the mandibular raphe and unilateral type (three specimens, 8.82%). The findings resulting from observation of the anatomical relationship between the posterior belly of digastric and stylohyoid muscles, the posterior belly of digastric muscle perforated the stylohyoid muscle in 32 cases (65%) out of 49 sides. This case was subdivided into the belly of the stylohyoid muscle lean to the lateral (twenty-one specimens, 42.9%) or medial side (eleven specimens, 22.4%) of the posterior belly of digastric muscle. In 17 specimens (35%), the stylohyoid muscle existed on the medial side of the posterior belly of digastric muscle.
Anatomic Variation ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Neck ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tendons

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the association of low vitamin D status with thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in the Korean population according to sex and menopausal status in women. METHODS: This study was based on the data acquired from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We enrolled 4,356 subjects who had data of thyroid function, antithyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels. We excluded subjects who were pregnant and who had a history of thyroid disease or thyroid cancer, and those with transient thyroid dysfunction who tested negative for TPOAb (TPOAb[−]). RESULTS: TPOAb positivity (TPOAb[+]) with thyroid dysfunction (subclinical and overt hypothyroidism) was more prevalent in the vitamin D deficient group than in the vitamin D insufficient and sufficient groups including premenopausal (P=0.046) and postmenopausal women (P=0.032), although no significant differences were observed in men. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the TPOAb(+) with thyroid dysfunction group than in the TPOAb(+) with euthyroidism and TPOAb(−) groups of premenopausal women (P=0.001), although no significant differences were observed in men and postmenopausal women. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, body mass index, and current smoking status, showed that vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were significantly associated with TPOAb(+) with thyroid dysfunction in premenopausal women (P<0.001), although no significant associations were observed in men and postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION: Low vitamin D status was significantly associated with thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in the Korean population, especially in premenopausal women.
Autoimmunity ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Peroxidase ; Premenopause ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND: Lower back pain (LBP) is the most common musculoskeletal disease in adults over the age of 50. LBP is associated with physical activity and mental health such as depression or suicidal thoughts. We aimed to analyze the association between LBP and mental health and that between physical activity and depressive mood in LBP patients among Korean adults over the age of 50.METHODS: We included 2,681 adults in the analysis, who participated in the 2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and used a t-test, logistic regression analysis, and chi-squared test via complex sampling. We analyzed the association between LBP and mental health, various kinds of physical activity, and depressive mood after adjusting for confounding factors.RESULTS: Poor mental health (perception of stress, diagnosis of depression, depressive mood, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts) were significantly associated with LBP. The LBP group was 2.077 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression and was 4.666 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than the control group. Exercise, such as walking, was associated with a reduced risk of depressive mood in subjects with LBP.CONCLUSION: LBP patients were at high risk of being diagnosed with depression, experiencing suicidal thoughts and depressive mood, and attempting suicide. In LBP patients, walking was associated with a reduced depressive mood.
Adult ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain ; Mental Health ; Motor Activity ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Nutrition Surveys ; Suicide ; Walking

BACKGROUND: Causal hypotheses suggest that alcohol-related disorders may also cause psychiatric disorders and problems, or vice versa. The association between alcohol consumption and mental health is important from both research and therapeutic viewpoints. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the association between alcohol consumption and mental health (perceived stress, depressive mood, suicidal ideation, quality of life) in Korean adults over 19 years old.METHODS: We finally included 5,399 adults who had participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015, and analyzed the association between alcohol consumption and mental health, using logistic regression.RESULTS: Perceived stress was associated with alcohol consumption in problem drinkers (odds ratio [OR]=1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.13–1.61). Depressive mood was associated with alcohol consumption in moderate and problem drinkers (OR=0.90, 95% CI=0.71–1.11 and OR=1.35, 95% CI=1.06–1.70, respectively). Suicidal ideation was not associated with alcohol consumption in moderate and problem drinkers (P=0.063 and P=0.068, respectively). Quality of life was associated with alcohol consumption in moderate and problem drinkers (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.41–0.57 and OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.66–0.92, respectively).CONCLUSION: We found that moderate drinkers have a lower risk of depressive mood and a higher quality of life as compared to low drinkers. However, problem drinkers have a higher quality of life but a higher risk of perceived stress and depressive mood as compared to low drinkers.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcohol-Related Disorders ; Alcohols ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mental Health ; Nutrition Surveys ; Quality of Life ; Suicidal Ideation

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF-1) shows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance with complete penetrance and variable expression. Vascular abnormalities are frequently associated with NF-1. Pheochromocytoma occurs in 0.1-5.7% of patients with NF-1. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with NF-1-related pheochromocytoma is very rare. Herein, we report a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by multiple ruptured cerebral aneurysms in a patient with concurrent NF-1 and pheochromocytoma. Coil embolization of the aneurysms and subsequent adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma were successfully performed, and the patient remained normotensive thereafter. This case demonstrates the importance of a careful search for a remediable cause of episodic hypertension in patients with NF-1, who are predisposed to cerebral hemorrhage from fluctuating blood pressure.
Adrenalectomy ; Aneurysm ; Blood Pressure ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Penetrance ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Wills

No abstract available.
Humans ; Myotonia Congenita* ; Myotonia*