Larval nematodes belonging to genera Ancylostoma, Strongyloides, Rhabditis, Gnathostoma or microfilariae (Onchocerca volvulus)/adult filaria (Loa loa) can invade human skin, each making different lesion. In a 71-year old immunocompetent Koreanman with 23% eosinophilia and elevated serum IgG (2530 mg/dl), a skin biopsy was undertaken for a nodular lesion at abdominal wall. A longitudinal section of a larval nematode was recognized in mid-dermal tunnel surrounded by pseudolymphomatous diffuse lymphoreticular cell infiltration. The larval nematode, 15 um in maximum diameter, had outermost cuticular layer and pale intestinal cells. The nematode section was identified as a filariform larva of Strongyloides stercoralis mainly based on its maximum diameter. In Korea, this is the first description of a cutaneous larval nematode infection. This case did not show quick migration of lesion which is a typical manifestation of classical cutaneous larva migrans.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* ; Varicose Veins*

Allergic fungal sinusitis is characterized by eosinophilic allergic mucin with fungal hyphae in histopathologic aspect. "Allergic mucin sinusitis without fungus" or "Allergic fungal sinusitis-like syndrome" is a new term used to describe patients who have clinical and histopathologic features of allergic fungal sinusitis but fail to demonstrate fungi in histopathologic sections or cultures of sinus tissue. In this study, we report on a case of allergic mucin sinusitis which involved only sphenoid sinus of the left side in a 31 year old female.
Adult ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fungi* ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Mucins* ; Sinusitis ; Sphenoid Sinus

No abstract available.

Background: Dietary supplements (DS) use is known to be common among cancer survivors. However, detailed information on the factors influencing DS use seems insufficient, including cancer-related and psychological factors. Methods: Study subjects were 1,852 Korean adult cancer survivors recruited from cancer survivor clinic of two university-affiliated hospitals. Data were collected retrospectively through review of medical records and self-administered questionnaires. Psychological factors were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form. Factors associated the DS use were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for covariates. Results: The prevalence of long-term DS use was 15.7% in overall (17.5% in female and 11.6% in male). Female survivors were 3.14 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89–5.22) more likely to use DS than male. In male cancer survivors, ever-smoking and previous radiotherapy were positively associated with DS use. In females, breast cancer survivors were 0.32 times less likely to use DS compared with stomach cancer survivors, and survivors with family history of cancer were 1.39 times more likely to use DS than those without. After adjusting for sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors, survivors with anxiety (HADS ≥8) used DS 1.38 times (95% CI, 1.01–1.91) more frequently, compared with those without anxiety. Conclusion Diverse factors such as female sex, cancer treatment modality, smoking history, family history and anxiety status were associated with DS use in Korean cancer survivors. Targeted strategies with consideration of these factors are needed for counseling DS use for cancer survivors.

Background: Dietary supplements (DS) use is known to be common among cancer survivors. However, detailed information on the factors influencing DS use seems insufficient, including cancer-related and psychological factors. Methods: Study subjects were 1,852 Korean adult cancer survivors recruited from cancer survivor clinic of two university-affiliated hospitals. Data were collected retrospectively through review of medical records and self-administered questionnaires. Psychological factors were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form. Factors associated the DS use were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for covariates. Results: The prevalence of long-term DS use was 15.7% in overall (17.5% in female and 11.6% in male). Female survivors were 3.14 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89–5.22) more likely to use DS than male. In male cancer survivors, ever-smoking and previous radiotherapy were positively associated with DS use. In females, breast cancer survivors were 0.32 times less likely to use DS compared with stomach cancer survivors, and survivors with family history of cancer were 1.39 times more likely to use DS than those without. After adjusting for sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors, survivors with anxiety (HADS ≥8) used DS 1.38 times (95% CI, 1.01–1.91) more frequently, compared with those without anxiety. Conclusion Diverse factors such as female sex, cancer treatment modality, smoking history, family history and anxiety status were associated with DS use in Korean cancer survivors. Targeted strategies with consideration of these factors are needed for counseling DS use for cancer survivors.

Objective: : Isoflurane, a widely used common inhalational anesthetic agent, can induce brain toxicity. The challenge lies in protecting neurologically compromised patients from neurotoxic anesthetics. Choline alfoscerate (L-α-Glycerophosphorylcholine, α-GPC) is recognized for its neuroprotective properties against oxidative stress and inflammation, but its optimal therapeutic window and indications are still under investigation. This study explores the impact of α-GPC on human astrocytes, the most abundant cells in the brain that protect against oxidative stress, under isoflurane exposure. Methods: : This study was designed to examine changes in factors related to isoflurane-induced toxicity following α-GPC administration. Primary human astrocytes were pretreated with varying doses of α-GPC (ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 μM) for 24 hours prior to 2.5% isoflurane exposure. In vitro analysis of cell morphology, water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, proteome profiler array, and transcriptome sequencing were conducted. Results: : A significant morphological damage to human astrocytes was observed in the group that had been pretreated with 10.0 mM of α-GPC and exposed to 2.5% isoflurane. A decrease in cell viability was identified in the group pretreated with 10.0 μM of α-GPC and exposed to 2.5% isoflurane compared to the group exposed only to 2.5% isoflurane. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that mRNA expression of heme-oxygenase 1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, which were reduced by isoflurane, was further suppressed by 10.0 μM α-GPC pretreatment. The proteome profiler array demonstrated that α-GPC pretreatment influenced a variety of factors associated with apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing identified pathways significantly related to changes in isoflurane-induced toxicity caused by α-GPC pretreatment. Conclusion : The findings suggest that α-GPC pretreatment could potentially enhance the vulnerability of primary human astrocytes to isoflurane-induced toxicity by diminishing the expression of antioxidant factors, potentially leading to amplified cell damage.

Recent studies have shown that bilirubin is negatively associated with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the general population. The association between bilirubin and HbA1c in serum of diabetes patients has not yet been studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between total bilirubin and HbA1c in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 690 of the 1,275 type 2 diabetes patients registered with the public health centers in Seo-gu, Gwangju and Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do participated in this study. Following an overnight fast, venous blood and urine samples were collected and analyzed. The mean HbA1c values differed significantly according to total bilirubin (< or = 0.4 mg/dL, 7.6%; 0.5 mg/dL, 7.3%; 0.6-0.7 mg/dL, 7.2%; and > or = 0.8 mg/dL, 7.1%; P for trend = 0.016) after we adjusted for other confounding factors. When the odds ratio (OR) was adjusted for other confounding factors, there was a significant association between total bilirubin and HbA1c (OR, 0.4 [95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.8] for total bilirubin > or = 0.8 mg/dL versus < or = 0.4 mg/dL. In conclusion, total bilirubin concentrations in serum are negatively associated with HbA1c levels after adjustment for sex, age, and other confounding factors in type 2 diabetes patients.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bilirubin/*analysis/blood/urine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*blood/diagnosis ; Female ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/*analysis/urine ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors

Clustered occurrences of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in family have been noticed. We evaluated patients with AS confirmed by the modified New York criteria for familial history of AS (one or more first to third degree relatives). The clinical characteristics and the recurrence risks (number of AS patients/number of familial members) of the familial AS compared to sporadic AS were investigated. Out of a total of 204 AS patients, 38 patients (18.6%) reported that they had a familial history of AS. The recurrence risks in the familial AS patients for first, second and third degree family members were 14.5%, 5.2%, and 4.4% respectively. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (22.6+/-22.2 vs 35.4+/-34.4, P=0.029) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (1.24+/-1.7 vs 2.43+/-3.3, P=0.003) at diagnosis, body mass index (21.9+/-2.7 vs 23.7+/-3.3, P=0.002) and frequency of oligoarthritis (13.2% vs 33.7%, P=0.021) were significantly lower in the familial form. The presence of HLA-B27 (97.4% vs 83.1%, P=0.044) was significantly higher in familial AS. In conclusion, Korean familial AS patients show a lower frequency of oligoarthritis, lower BMI, lower ESR and CRP at diagnosis and higher presence of HLA-B27.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Arthritis, Juvenile/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Demography ; Family ; Female ; HLA-B27 Antigen/metabolism ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*diagnosis

Fibro-osseous pseudotumor is an unusual ossifying fibro-proliferative lesion. Typically, this lesion affects the young adults, mainly women, and presents as a painful, localized, fusiform, and often erythematous swelling in the soft tissue of the fingers, especially the region of the proximal phalange. We present a case of fibro-osseous pseudotumor on the left index finger of a 22-year-old woman. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic features, followed by complete excision of the lesion. At the 7-month follow-up, there was no recurrence. We suggest that fibro-osseous pseudotumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any digital mass.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Young Adult