BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with many adverse clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients in Korea, evaluate the association between malnutrition and clinical outcomes, and ascertain the risk factors of malnutrition. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed with 300 patients recruited from among the patients admitted in 25 hospitals on January 6, 2014. Nutritional status was assessed by using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Demographic characteristics and underlying diseases were compared according to nutritional status. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of malnutrition. Clinical outcomes such as rate of admission in intensive care units, length of hospital stay, and survival rate were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition in the hospitalized patients was 22.0%. Old age (≥ 70 years), admission for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up, and underlying pulmonary or oncological disease were associated with malnutrition. Old age and admission for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up were identified to be risk factors of malnutrition in the multivariate analysis. Patients with malnutrition had longer hospital stay (SGA A = 7.63 ± 6.03 days, B = 9.02 ± 9.96 days, and C = 12.18 ± 7.24 days, P = 0.018) and lower 90-day survival rate (SGA A = 97.9%, B = 90.7%, and C = 58.3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition was common in hospitalized patients, and resulted in longer hospitalization and associated lower survival rate. The rate of malnutrition tended to be higher when the patient was older than 70 years old or hospitalized for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up compared to elective surgery.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Malnutrition ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

Conventional removable partial dentures (RPDs) with distal extensions are associated with some problems, including lack of stability that calls for frequent relining, and cantilever actions of claps that can produce excessive loading to abutment teeth, and the need for unesthetic retentive arm clasps. Therefore, IARPDs (Implant-assisted RPD) that use implants to support or retain RPDs has been reported to improve stability, esthetics and masticatory performance of RPDs. Also, an IARPD that has zirconia occlusal table can prevent the incongruity of occlusal plane and the extrusion of antagonistic tooth. In this case of partially edentulous patient with crossed occlusion, each edentulous area was restored with implant fixed prosthesis and implant retained partial denture to suit each situation. Through the procedure, satisfactory outcomes were achieved both in functional and esthetic aspects.
Arm ; Dental Occlusion ; Denture, Partial ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Mouth Rehabilitation* ; Mouth* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tooth

PURPOSE: Esophageal candidiasis (EC) is the most frequent opportunistic fungal infection in immunocompromised host. However, we have found EC in healthy individuals through esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for EC in healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 281 patients who had been incidentally diagnosed with EC. We also conducted age and sex matched case control study to identify the risk factor for EC. RESULTS: The prevalence of EC was 0.32% (281/88125). The most common coexisting EGD finding was reflux esophagitis (49/281, 17.4%). An antifungal agent was prescribed in about half of EC, 139 cases (49.5%). Follow-up EGD was undertaken in 83 cases (29.5%) and 20 cases of candidiasis was persistently found. Case control study revealed EC were more often found in user of antibiotics (p=0.015), corticosteroids (p=0.002) and herb medication (p=0.006) as well as heavy drinking (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of EC was 0.32% (281/88125) in Korea. Use of antibiotics, corticosteroids and herb as well as heavy drinking were significant risk factors for EC in healthy individuals.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Candidiasis/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Esophagitis, Peptic/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Preparations/therapeutic use ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Although a decrease in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related mortality has been documented in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, there are no published data comparing specific causes of death between pre-HAART and HAART era in Korea. Mortality and cause of death were analyzed in three treatment periods; pre-HAART (1990-1997), early-HAART (1998-2001), and late-HAART period (2002-2011). The patients were retrospectively classified according to the treatment period in which they were recruited. Although mortality rate per 100 person-year declined from 8.7 in pre-HAART to 4.9 in late-HAART period, the proportion of deaths within 3 months of initial visit to study hospital significantly increased from 15.9% in pre-HAART to 55.1% in late-HAART period (P < 0.001). Overall, 59% of deaths were attributable to AIDS-related conditions, and Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) was the most common cause of death (20.3%). The proportion of PCP as cause of death significantly increased from 8.7% in pre-HAART to 31.8% in late-HAART period (P < 0.001). Despite of significant improvement of survival, there was still a high risk of early death in patients presenting in HAART era, mainly due to late human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis and late presentation to care.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/mortality ; Adult ; *Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Cause of Death/*trends ; Female ; HIV Infections/drug therapy/*mortality ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/mortality ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are being used to treat malignancies originating from epithelia. Unfortunately, blocking the EGFR pathway leads to various side effects, most frequently acneiform eruptions. OBJECTIVE: To probe the mechanism underlying this side effect, we investigated the effect of EGFR inhibitors on cultured sebocytes. METHODS: To examine the effects of an EGFR inhibitor (cetuximab, Erbitux(R) 10 ng/ml) and the effects of EGFR ligands, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF, 10 ng/ml) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha, 5 ng/ml), on the production of inflammatory cytokines in cultured sebocytes, we used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunocytofluorescence and Western blots. Outcomes included the expression of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) and EGFR. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the expression of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, PPAR-gamma and EGFR between (a) groups treated with an EGFR inhibitor or an EGFR ligand and (b) the control group, except for a significant increase in the expression of IL-1 in the EGF-treated group. CONCLUSION: EGFR inhibitors and EGFR ligands do not provoke the expression of inflammatory biomarkers in cultured sebocytes. The role of the sebaceous glands in EGFR inhibitor-induced acneiform eruption should be investigated more thoroughly.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Biomarkers ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Ligands ; Peroxisomes ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Sebaceous Glands ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Up-Regulation

Sectional anatomy of human brain is useful to examine the diseased brain as well as normal brain. However, intracerebral reference points for the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes of brain have not been standardized in anatomical sections or radiological images. We made 2,343 serially-sectioned images of a cadaver head with 0.1 mm intervals, 0.1 mm pixel size, and 48 bit color and obtained axial, sagittal, and coronal images based on the proposed reference system. This reference system consists of one principal reference point and two ancillary reference points. The two ancillary reference points are the anterior commissure and the posterior commissure. And the principal reference point is the midpoint of two ancillary reference points. It resides in the center of whole brain. From the principal reference point, Cartesian coordinate of x, y, z could be made to be the standard axial, sagittal, and coronal planes.
Aged ; Anatomy, Cross-Sectional ; Brain/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Brain Mapping ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The tie-over dressing is the classic dressing method for a full thickness skin graft (FTSG) to secure the graft on the skin defect. Although many methods to secure the graft have currently been employed, they have some disadvantages such as stretching discomforts and irregular pressure delivery to the graft, resulting in partial necrosis or surface irregularity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a porous, flexible and distensible silicone wound contact layer (Mepitel(R)) for securing a graft as a bolster fixation in FTSG reconstruction. METHODS: Sixty seven patients with surgical defects following mainly malignant tumor excision were included in this study. After suturing and bolstering the graft in place, a piece of silicone contact layer was used to cover the graft, and then second sutures were placed to apply uniform pressure. RESULTS: Thirty three cases of basal cell carcinoma, 14 cases of malignant melanoma and 10 cases of squamous cell carcinoma were included as a cause of the defects. Forty six defects were located on the head and neck, and the rest were on the trunk and extremities. The size of the surgical defects ranged from 0.5 to 14.0 cm at the greatest diameter (mean: 4.0 cm). One major and 1 minor loss of graft developed. Mild to moderate scar formation, mainly marginal elevation, occurred in 9 patients. Sixty five percents of the patients who had facial defects were satisfied with their results. CONCLUSION: We suggested that a silicone wound contact layer for bolster fixation might be a useful material to secure a FTSG, and this is easy to apply and the resulting cosmesis is good and there are few problems with using it.
Bandages ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cicatrix ; Extremities ; Head ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Melanoma ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Silicones ; Skin ; Sutures ; Transplants

Patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma have been traditionally managed with mainly palliative therapy such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or biologic therapy, yet their overall survival is unsatisfactory. Several recent series have indicated a long-term survival benefit after complete resection, (termed "metastasectomy") of distant metastatic foci in patients with metastatic melanoma. Unlike other palliative modalities, surgery like metastasectomy can rapidly render a patient clinically disease-free with rather minimal morbidity, a short-term of hospitalization and a quick recovery time. This may prolong the survival and improve the quality of life of patients with stage IV melanoma if all the clinicoradiologically-evident tumors can be completely resected. We report herein on a case of performing metastasectomy in a patient who had malignant melanoma with soft tissue metastasis of the breast (T3a/bN0M1a), even though there was a regrettable result.
Biological Therapy ; Breast ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Metastasectomy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palliative Care ; Quality of Life

Microsporum (M.) ferrugineum has almost disappeared in Korea after three cases of tinea capitis that were reported in Jeonbuk province in 1993. It was most common cause of tinea capitis in Korea until 1970s. M. ferrugineum produces abundant chlamydospores. Another characteristic of the species is the production of distorted faviform hyphae and long, straight hyphae with thick septa that resemble segments of bamboo. We report a case of 27-year-old female with tinea corporis caused by M. ferrugineum.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Korea ; Microsporum ; Tinea ; Tinea Capitis

Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease (KFD) is a rare self-limiting necrotizing lymphadenitis found mainly in young women. Patients typically present with lymphadenopathy and often with a high fever. The etiology of the disease remains unknown, but various infection and autoimmune processes have been postulated to be the cause. We report here on a 22-year-old female with 7-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus presented with high fever and many enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Neck computed tomography scan showed multiple lymphadenopathies and KFD was proven by under sonographic guidance percutaneous needle biopsy.
Biopsy, Needle ; Female ; Fever ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis* ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neck ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult