BACKGROUND: There are many studies on lifestyle management of diabetic patients, but few provide sufficient data comparing a diabetic group with an abnormal fasting glucose group and a normal, non-diabetic group. In this study, we compare the lifestyle management of diabetic patients with those of others groups. METHODS: Among patients visiting the health promotion center of a single university hospital, we retrospectively collected medical records and survey responses regarding patient information. RESULTS: No difference was found in smoking status or smoking intake among the three groups. Alcohol consumption was high in the diabetes group, followed by the abnormal fasting glucose group and the normal group. The diabetes group reported a higher frequency of exercise per week than the normal group. With regard to systolic BP, both the diabetes and abnormal fasting glucose groups were higher than the normal group, with a level greater than the therapeutic goal of 130 mmHg. Both the diabetes group and the abnormal fasting glucose group had a higher triglyceride level than the normal group, with a measure greater than the therapeutic goal of 150 mg/d. The diabetes group had a higher highly sensitive C-reactive protein level than other two groups, with a level greater than 1 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: Management of smoking and alcohol consumption is not sufficient in diabetes patients, suggesting the need for tighter control of BP and triglyceride level in such individuals. For these patients, follow-up of highly sensitive C-reactive protein level should also be considered.
Alcohol Drinking ; C-Reactive Protein ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the predictors of midpalatal suture expansion by miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) in young adults. METHODS: The following variables were selected as possible predictors: chronological age, palate length and depth, midpalatal suture maturation (MPSM) stage, midpalatal suture density (MPSD) ratio, the sella-nasion (SN)-mandibular plane (MP) angle as an indicator of the vertical skeletal pattern, and the point A-nasion-point B (ANB) angle for anteroposterior skeletal classification. For 31 patients (mean age, 22.52 years) who underwent MARPE treatment, palate length and depth, MPSM stage and MPSD ratio from the initial cone-beam computed tomography images, and the SN-MP angle and ANB angle from lateral cephalograms were assessed. The midpalatal suture opening ratio was calculated from the midpalatal suture opening width measured in periapical radiographs and the MARPE screw expansion. Statistical analyses of correlations were performed for the entire patient group of 31 subjects and subgroups categorized by sex, vertical skeletal pattern, and anteroposterior skeletal classification. RESULTS: In the entire patient group, the midpalatal suture opening ratio showed statistically significant negative correlations with age, palate length, and MPSM stage (r = −0.506, −0.494, and −0.746, respectively, all p < 0.01). In subgroup analyses, a strong negative correlation was observed with the palate depth in the skeletal Class II subgroup (r = −0.900, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study indicated that age, palate length, and MPSM stage can be predictors of midpalatal suture expansion by MARPE in young adults.

Background: An increasing number of blood banks use an automated analyzer in ABO blood typing to reduce the high workload and impact of human error. On the other hand, the automated system often causes ABO discrepancies, where cell and serum typing do not match. Hence, the manual method is used for confirmation.This study evaluated the appropriateness of retesting with the manual method. In addition, the causes of ABO discrepancies were analyzed. Methods: A total of 77,590 blood samples were tested with the AutoVue Innova for ABO typing. Among them, 1280 samples were retested manually due to ABO discrepancies. The causes of the discrepancies were analyzed further through additional tests. The serum reaction grades in both methods were compared. Results: ABO typing of 76,906 samples (99.12%), which included 596 manually confirmed samples could be confirmed by the AutoVue system, while 403 samples (0.52%) continued to yield discrepant results. Weak serum reactions in the AutoVue system were observed, as previously reported. One hundred and thirty samples (66.7%), which were graded 0.5+ in the automated analyzer, yielded a negative serum reaction in the manual method, showing a greater serum reaction with the AutoVue system than with the manual method. Conclusion The AutoVue Innova performs reliably for blood typing. On the other hand, the manual method is still useful as retesting to address the ABO discrepancies and weak or strong serum reactions. In particular, it is important to confirm samples with 0.5+ grade serum reactions manually.

Although the management of benign pigmented skin tumors are mainly conducted by dermatologists, some Korean traditional doctors provide care. We aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of the medicinal knowledge of pigmented benign skin tumors that is recorded in the Korean traditional medicinal literature, in the context of modern medicine. We defined benign pigmented skin tumors as macules, papules, or nodules with homogeneous surfaces and coloration patterns, that are round or oval in shape, exhibit regular outlines, and have relatively sharp borders. We investigated textbooks and articles in the Korean traditional medicinal field to analyze descriptions of clinical classification, pathophysiology, histologic knowledge, and treatment method. We compared them with modern medicinal facts. In Korean traditional medicine, clinical classification of pigmented skin tumors is simple and did not include histologic natures. Unique theories, such as Yin-Yang and Qi, were applied to pathophysiologic understanding of these diseases. Interestingly, oral medications were used beside surgical methods. We could not find any comment about skin tumors with worrisome clinical features that warrant excision in Korean traditional medicinal literature. There is still a gap between traditional medicine and modern medicine regarding pigmented skin tumors. Traditional Korean medicinal knowledge about benign pigmented skin tumors seemed to be insufficient in the context of modern medicinal standards.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; History, Modern 1601- ; Medicine, Korean Traditional* ; Medicine, Traditional ; Melanoma ; Methods ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Qi ; Skin* ; Yin-Yang

BACKGROUND: Massive hemorrhage due to trauma is one of the major causes of death in trauma patients, and the quick supply of appropriate blood products is critical in order to reduce the mortality rate. We introduced a massive transfusion protocol (MTP) for safe and rapid transfusion of trauma patients. Using records collected since its adoption, we compared the characteristics of MTP applied group (MTP group) and MTP not applied group (non-MTP group) to determine whether there is an indicator for predicting patients to be treated with MTP. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records and laboratory findings of patients who received massive transfusions in the trauma emergency room of a single tertiary hospital from February to August 2018. We analyzed various laboratory test results, the amount and ratio of the transfused blood products, and the time required for blood products to be released for the MTP group and the non-MTP group. RESULTS: Of the 54 trauma patients who received massive transfusions, 31 were in the MTP group and 22 in the non-MTP group. There was no significant difference in initial vital signs (except blood pressure) and laboratory test results. Also there was no difference in the amount and ratio of blood products, but the time required for blood product release was shorter in the MTP group. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in clinical findings such as initial vital signs and laboratory test results between the MTP and non-MTP groups, but required blood products were prepared and released more quickly for the MTP group.
Cause of Death ; Electronic Health Records ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Vital Signs