OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to observe the changes of lipid levels during 4 years of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women. We also tried to determine whether lipid changes were different according to the treatment regimen and baseline lipid values. METHODS: A total of 108 postmenopausal women were treated with cyclic combined HRT (n=60), continuous combined HRT (n=19), and conjugate estrogen (n=29) alone. Serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were measured before and after HRT every year. RESULTS: After 4 years of HRT, HDL-cholesterol level raised significantly (10.1%, p=0.001), but total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were not changed (1,1%, -0.1%). Triglyceride level significantly raised at first year (22.2%, p=0.001) and maintained over three year, but the level became similar to the baseline value at fourth year. The changing patterns of HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were not different among cyclic HRT, continuous HRT and estrogen alone treatment group but total cholesterol levels at fourth year were significantly different according to the treatment regimen (-12.7% in continuous HRT, -0.3% in estrogen alone, and 7.3% in cyclic HRT, p=0.02). HRT had more favorable effect in women with baseline hypercholesterolemia compared to women with baseline normocholesterolemia since the reducing effects on total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and the raising effect on HDL-cholesterol were greater. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal HRT had a more beneficial effect on lipid profile in women with Hypercholesterolemia. This finding may suggest that those women could be the best candidates for HRT.
Cholesterol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Triglycerides

A 38-year-old Korean man was diagnosed with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN) type 2 because of his chronic sensory neuropathy and progressive acro-mutilation. Genetic analysis revealed that he was a compound heterozygous for two novel mutations in the HSN2 gene including a nonsense mutation (Gln73X) and a 1-bp insertion mutation (Asp379fsX1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a genetically confirmed case of HSAN type 2 in the Asian population and supports the genetic homogeneity of this rare disease.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Codon, Nonsense ; Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies ; Humans ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Rare Diseases

BACKGROUND: There have been many efforts to rectify lifestyles that contribute to obesity using a variety of methodologies in heterogeneous settings, but effective and sustainable interventions that are suitable for children are still needed. We developed a smartphone application called "HAPPY ME" for guiding health behavior decisions, which employs gamification and self-monitoring strategies. The aim of this paper is to outline the rationale and methods for the development and feasibility test of "HAPPY ME". METHODS: The study consisted of two phases: 1) description of theory-based conceptual framework and rationales for smartphone application development and 2) outline of a pre- and post-test design in 4th-6th grade of healthy elementary school students for 4 weeks. The students will be delivered missions or messages on a daily basis, which is to stretch the knowledge and skills for action. They will simultaneously be engaged in self-monitoring their eating and physical activities to clear daily quests. To measure acceptability and feasibility we will monitor usability, compliance, and satisfaction for a 4-week study period and evaluate the intervention effects on self-efficacy, readiness, and intention to engage in healthy behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the feasibility study will show whether the smartphone application "HAPPY ME" for children is acceptable, as well as if it is usable and feasible for self-directed health management. The results will provide preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of smartphone application-supported child behavioral modification for child obesity prevention and management.
Child Behavior ; Child* ; Compliance ; Eating ; Feasibility Studies ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Intention ; Life Style ; Missions and Missionaries ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Smartphone

BACKGROUND: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is an uncommon illness characterized by intermittent flaccid paralysis of skeletal muscle, usually accompanied by hypokalemia, in patient with hyperthyroidism. However. the pathophysiology of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis remains largely unexplained and controversial. This report describes the clnical and biochemical findings in 19 patients with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis who were examined at the Yeungnam University Medical Center (YUMC) during the past decade. METHODS: The medical records of 997 YUMC patients, seen between 1986 and 1996, with dignosis of hyperthyroidism were reviewed. Nineteen patients out of 997 hyperthyrodism patients were diagnosed, and examined by history, physical examination, serum electrolyte value, and thyroid function test during paralysis. On the basis of these results, compasons were made on age. sex, precipitating factors, timing, affected limbs, prognosis, serum potassium and serum phosphate and thyroid hormone levels. RESULTS: the prevalence of periodic paralysis in hyperthyroidism was 1.9 percent and the male to female prevalence ratio was 30:1 and in all patients, the development of perodic paralysis was correlated with hyperfuntional state of the throid gland. Eleven cases of periodic paralysis were associated with hypokalemia and their throid hormon levels were significantly more increased than those of the patients without hypokalemia. interestingly, our study shows the recurrence of paralysis after treatment. CONCLUSION: Although the precise pathophysiology of the disease is as yet undefined and controversial, it occurs primarily in Asians with an overwhelming male preponderance and prevalence of 2 percent in hyperthyrodism. The interactive roles of thyroid hormon. Na-K pump. and genetically inherited defect in the celluar membrance potential of the skeletal muscle can be speculated. Further investigation will be neede to firmly establish the mechanism of thyrotoxic periodic paraysis.
Academic Medical Centers ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypokalemia ; Hypophosphatemia ; Male ; Medical Records ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Paralysis* ; Physical Examination ; Potassium ; Precipitating Factors ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland