BACKGROUND: The measurement of carbon monoxide concentration in expired air is used as an objective method to analyze the smoking status. This method has been proven to be reliable and is used throughout the world but it has been only recently accepted in Korea. Therefore the purpose of this study was to examine if measuring the concentration in expired air accurately reflects the Korean's smoking status. METHODS: The subjects were from ages of 19 through 75 healthy people including smokers and nonsmokers. The smokers had their carbon monoxide measured after answering a questionnaire. This questionnaire was formed to obtain information concerning smoking status, smoking habit and factors that influence carbon monoxide measurement. Micro II smokerlyzer (Bedfont Instruments Ltd., England) was used to analyze CO concentration in expired air. The method used for measuring CO concentration was to deeply inhale and hold one's breath for 15 seconds and measure CO concentration while exhaling. RESULTS: The total number of subjects was 148(143 males, 5 females) consisting of 114 smokers, 34 non smokers(never smokers 23, ex smokers 11). The average CO concentration in exhaled air in smokers was 17.247.30 ppm, in nonsmokers 6.031.06 ppm(in ex smokers 6.361.29 ppm, in never smokers 5.870.92 ppm). A significant difference was evident between smokers and non smokers(P<0.0001). The CO concentration values compared among the groups divided in terms of daily smoking rate were as the following 11.885.57 ppm in subjects smoking less than 10 cigarettes/day, 17.356.48 ppm in those smoking 11 20 cigarettes/day, 20.006.35 ppm in the 21 30 cigarettes/day group, and 24.889.70 ppm in the 31 cigarettes/day group (p<0.0001). In addition, the CO concentration was influenced by the change of the degree of inhalation and the elapsed time since last smoking. CONCLUSION: The measurement of CO concentration in exhaled air among the Koreans proved to be an accurate and reliable method reflecting the present smoking status.
Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Exhalation ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Male ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: RANTES is associated with chemotaxis and activation of eosinophils. RANTES is up-regulated in allegic inflammation and play a critical role in the pathogenesis of allegic inflammation. Recently, circulating form of RANTES have been identified in the peripheral blood. METHOD: In the present study, we measured soluble RANTES levels in 17 patients with atopic brochial asthma (8 patients: early response to allegen challenge, 8 patients: early and late response to allergen challenge) on 30mins, 2hrs and 8 hrs after allergen challenge with house dust mite, prechallenge period. RESULT: RANTES levels in sera from patients with bronchial astma in prechallenge conditions were higher than in normal control subjects. But, RANTES levels in sera from patients with bronchial asthma in 30mins, 2hrs and 8hrs after challenge were no significantly higher than prechallenge conditions. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RANTES plays a role in the pathogenesis of patients with atopic bronchial asthma and may be related to persistence of subclinical allergic inflammation.
Asthma* ; Chemokine CCL5* ; Chemotaxis ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Pyroglyphidae

BACKGROUND: Obesity and its complicatians are increasing as social ecanamic standard of living is improving and life style has been changing in Korea. There is growing evidence that the visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) on computed tomography (CI) is closely related to the obesity camplications. Therefore, it is important to determine whether the VSR reduction is praduced during weight loss. The purpose of this study was to observe and campare the amount of reduction of intraabdaminal fat between low calorie diet (LCD) alane and LCD with exercise. METHODS: Sixty obese females were randomly prescribed a LCD alone or a LCD with exercise. Thirty obese females were treated with a LCD of 1,000kcal/d for 8 weeks (group A). Another thirty obese females were treated with a LCD of 1,000kcal/d combined with supervised aerobic exercise for 8 weeks (group B). Weight, height, BMI, and body fat distribution were measured in all subjects immediately before and after 8 weeks of this study. The body fat distribution was assessed by CT, by which the total abdaminal adipose tissue area (AT), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT), intra-abdominal adipose tissue (VAT), and visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) were measured at the level of the umbilicus. A venous blood sample was taken after an overnight fast to determine lipid, glucose, and insulin concentrations in all subjects before and after 8 weeks of this study. RESULTS: Body weight, BMI, CI' measurement of total (AT), visceral (VAT), and subcutaneous (SAT) fat were found to be decreased significantly in the two groups. The VSR of the group A did not change after weight loss. In contrast, the VSR of the group B decreased significantly (P<0.05) during weight loss. Fasting plasma glucose and total cholesterol levels significantly decreased in the both groups (P<0.001). Fasting plasma insulin and triglyceride levels significantly decreased in the group B, but not in group A. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the VSR decreased significantly in group B, but not in group A. Fasting plasma insulin and triglyceride levels decreased significantly in group B, but not in group A. These results suggest that the LCD with exercise is more effective in reducing expected complications of obesity than LCD alone.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Blood Glucose ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Weight ; Caloric Restriction* ; Cholesterol ; Exercise ; Exercise Therapy ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Korea ; Life Style ; Obesity ; Plasma ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Triglycerides ; Umbilicus ; Weight Loss

Sakai's method has been known as the simplest one for determination of erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) activity using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). However the drawback of the method is that it is difficult to wash the erythrocyte for isolation. To search for the simpler method, we compared Sakai's method with other methods using whole blood treated with heparin and concanavalin A or whole blood treated with EDTA-2K instead of washing the erythrocyte. The mean concentrations of lead in blood samples collected from 44 male and 16 female workers who are healthy without any exposure to lead in their workplace were 4.30 +/- 1.31 microgram /dl (mean +/-standard deviation), which were measured by frameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Erythrocyte P5N activities were measured by 3 methods; Sakai's method(Method I), using whole blood treated with heparin and concanavalin A (Method II), and using whole blood treated with EDTA-2K (Method III). The results were obtained as follows ; 1. The mean of erythrocyte P5N activity by Sakai's method(Method I) were 12.7 +/-2.47 amole uridine/hr/gm of Hb. 2. The mean of erythrocyte P5N activity by the method using heparinized whole blood treated with concanavalin A(Method II) were 13.1 +/-2.41 micromole uridine/hr/gm of Hb. 3. The difference of mean erythrocyte P5N activity between Method I and Method was not significant. 4. The erythrocyte P5N activity by the method using whole blood treated with EDTA-2K (Method III) was significantly different from Method I. We thought that omission of incubation period which was required on Method III using EDTA-2K caused the difference between Method I and Method III. 5. Simple linear regression equation for erythrocyte P5N activity between Method I (Y) and Method II(X) was significant: Y = -0.012 + 0.9724 X. These results suggest that the method using whole blood treated with heparin and concanavalin A is simpler to examine the erythrocyte P5N activity as a biological indicator of lead intoxication than Sakai's method.
5'-Nucleotidase* ; Absorption ; Concanavalin A ; Erythrocytes* ; Female ; Heparin ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male

Sakai's method has been known as the simplest one for determination of erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) activity using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). However the drawback of the method is that it is difficult to wash the erythrocyte for isolation. To search for the simpler method, we compared Sakai's method with other methods using whole blood treated with heparin and concanavalin A or whole blood treated with EDTA-2K instead of washing the erythrocyte. The mean concentrations of lead in blood samples collected from 44 male and 16 female workers who are healthy without any exposure to lead in their workplace were 4.30 +/- 1.31 microgram /dl (mean +/-standard deviation), which were measured by frameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Erythrocyte P5N activities were measured by 3 methods; Sakai's method(Method I), using whole blood treated with heparin and concanavalin A (Method II), and using whole blood treated with EDTA-2K (Method III). The results were obtained as follows ; 1. The mean of erythrocyte P5N activity by Sakai's method(Method I) were 12.7 +/-2.47 amole uridine/hr/gm of Hb. 2. The mean of erythrocyte P5N activity by the method using heparinized whole blood treated with concanavalin A(Method II) were 13.1 +/-2.41 micromole uridine/hr/gm of Hb. 3. The difference of mean erythrocyte P5N activity between Method I and Method was not significant. 4. The erythrocyte P5N activity by the method using whole blood treated with EDTA-2K (Method III) was significantly different from Method I. We thought that omission of incubation period which was required on Method III using EDTA-2K caused the difference between Method I and Method III. 5. Simple linear regression equation for erythrocyte P5N activity between Method I (Y) and Method II(X) was significant: Y = -0.012 + 0.9724 X. These results suggest that the method using whole blood treated with heparin and concanavalin A is simpler to examine the erythrocyte P5N activity as a biological indicator of lead intoxication than Sakai's method.
5'-Nucleotidase* ; Absorption ; Concanavalin A ; Erythrocytes* ; Female ; Heparin ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male

BACKGROUND: The relation of initial depression and weight loss in a low calorie diet(LCD) alone or exercise combination in Korean wamen, was considered and change of emotional state after program was determined in this study. METHODS: Sixty obese females were randomly prescribed a LCD(low calorie diet) alone or a LCD with exercise. Thirty obese females were treated with a LCD of 1,000kcal/d for 8weeks(group A). Another thirtyt obese females were treated with a LCD of 1,000kcal/d combined with supervised aerobic exercise for 8 weeks(group B). Questionnaires including Korean-translated Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Korean- translated Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument(BEPSI) were reported before and after 8weeks fo this study. RESULTS: 21 out of 30 obese females in group A and 25 out of 30 obese females in group B completed the study. At the eighth week, mean weight loss was 5.7+/-2.2kg(8.0%) in group A, and 6.8+/-1.7kg(9.5%) in group B. Depression were decreased after program(decreased BDI score in combined group(6.86+/-6.31: p = 0.0001), group A(5.79+/-4.06:p=0.0001) and group B(7.68+/-7.58:p=0.0001), but no statistically significant difference between group A and B was noted(p=0.3309). Initial BDI score was negatively correlated with the percent of weight loss in group A(r =-0.659: p=0.0012). But initial BDI score was not correlated with the percent of weight loss in group B(r =0.099: p=0.637). In group A and B, the percent of weight loss was not correlated with change of BDI score. In group A and B, the change of BDI score was positively correlated with the initial BDI score(group A;r=0.504:p=0.028, group B;r=0.762:p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the exercise combination, LCD therapy seemed to decrease diepression. The degree of weight loss was negatively correlated with initial degree of depression. this negative correlation can be compensated by planned thorough exercise.
Caloric Restriction* ; Depression* ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Weight Loss* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to provide useful information for prevention and management of childhood obesity in a school-based setting. METHODS: One thousand and 981 elementary children from 2 different elementary schools in Seoul were studied. The survey concerning the risks of childhood obesity was carried out by having parents answer a questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood obesity was 18.1% showing significantly higher rate in boys than in girls (P<0.05). It was found that obese children had a higher intake of fish and meat (P<0.05) and a lower intake of vegetables compared to the non-obese group (P<0.05). Obesity was more prevalent among children who frequently skipped breakfast (P<0.05) and also more prevalent among an only child (P<0.05). The obese children significantly spent more time watching TV (P<0.05). There was a higher family history of obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM in the obese group (P<0.05). The factors which significantly attributed to childhood obesity were birth weight, parenteral BMI, and father's age (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of childhood obesity was 18.1%. There was a statistically significant correlation between childhood obesity and gender, eating habit, time spent on watching TV, number of siblings, birth weight, parenteral BMI, father's age and family history such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM.
Birth Weight ; Breakfast ; Child ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Meat ; Obesity ; Only Child ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul* ; Siblings ; Vegetables ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Primary idiopathic polymyositis is a condition of presumed autoimmune etiology in which the skeletal muscle is damaged by a nonsuppurative inflammatory process dominated by lymphocytic infiltration. We recently experienced a patient with primary idiopathic Polymyositis associated with hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia. About 4 months prior to admission, he was diagnosed as primary idiopathic polymyositis, and improved by treatment with prednisolone 60 mg/day. During steroid tapering, muscle weakness was recurred and accompanied by hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia. Despite retreatment with prednisolone 60 mg/day, muscle weakness, hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia persisted. He was then started to administer methotrexate(MTX) 15 mg/week which resulted in prompt improvement of muscle weakness, hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia. These findnigs suggest that primary idiopathic polymyositis is one of the cause of hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia, and that the hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia can be improved promptly by methotrexate treatment.
Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia* ; Methotrexate ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Polymyositis* ; Prednisolone ; Retreatment ; Thrombocytopenia*

The number of persons with HIV infection in Korea have increased steadily, total number of HIV infection in Korea were 478 on August, 1995. To investigate the clinicoimmunologic manifestation of AIDS in Korea, we reviewed complete blood counts (CBC), CD4 counts, serum beta2-microglobulin level, opportunistic infections and cause of death for 19 AIDS patients who had been admitted or visited at Pusan national university hospital during the period of January, 1990 to August, 1995. 1) The predominant mode of HIV transmission was heterosexual contact(18), other modes of transmission were homosexual contact(1). Clues of diagnosis of HIV infection were routine occupational health examination(14), and opportunistic infection symptoms such as fever, coughing(4). 2) Mean CD4 cell counts(/mm3) were 53 +/- 72 totally, 22 +/- 27 for 8 dead patients at mean 2 month before, 91 +/- 87 for 7 living patients. There were not significant difference(p>0.05). 3) Serum beta2-microglobulin(MG;ug/ml) was measured at 12 patients, mean serum beta2-MG level was4.8 +/- 7.3 totally, 7.1 +/- 10.3 for 6 dead patients at mean 1.3 month before, 2.5 +/- 0.4 for 6 living patients. There were not significant(p>0.05). 4) At CBC examination, WBC(/mm3) was 5,932 +/- 2,899 totally, 5,452 +/- 3,436 for 10 dead patients, 6,500 +/- 2,221 for 9 living patients(p>0.05). Hb(g/dl) was 11,4 +/- 2.8 totally, 9.4 +/- 1.8 for dead patients, 13.6 +/- 1.8 for living patients(p<0.05). Lymphocyte count(/mm) was 1,255 +/- 800 totally, 731 +/- 424 for dead patients, 1,838716 for living patients(p<0.05). ESR(mm/h) was 72 +/- 47 totally, 97 +/- 33 for dead patients, 47 +/- 47 for living patients(p<0.05). 5) Opportunistic infections had developed at 14 patients, candidiasis 7, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia 5, tuberculosis 3, cytomegalovirus infection 2, herpes zoster 3, toxoplasmosis 1, cryptococcal infection 2, bacterial pneumonia 5, and herpes simplex l. Malignant lymphoma had developed in 1 patient. 6) Mean survival interval from diagnosis of HIV infection to death was 32.8 +/- 19.1 months, and the most common cause of death was pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and other causes of death were meningitis, bacterial pneumonia and AIDS-wasting syndrome. Based on these results, We concluded that CD4 counts, serum beta2-microglobulin level, Hb, total lymphocyte count and ESR in AIDS patients are specific laboratory markers of progression and prognosis of AIDS, the most common opportunistic infection was candidiasis, and the most common cause of death in AIDS patients was pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
Biomarkers ; Blood Cell Count ; Busan ; Candidiasis ; Cause of Death ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Herpes Simplex ; Herpes Zoster ; Heterosexuality ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Homosexuality ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Occupational Health ; Opportunistic Infections* ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; Prognosis ; Toxoplasmosis ; Tuberculosis