PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of the anthropometric and serological parameters on the prostate-specific antigen(PSA) levels after adjusting for age and the prostate volume in Korean men who visited a health promotion center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to July 2007, among the 18,352 men(age range: 30 to 79) who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups, 1,230(14.9%) men who wanted their prostate evaluated were included in this study. Thereafter, 151 men whose PSA level was over 4.0ng/ml, or their urinalysis revealed pyuria(>5 white blood cells (WBCs)/high power fields(HPF)) were excluded. The data of the remained 1,079 men was then analyzed. All the men underwent transrectal ultrasonography, detailed anthropometric measurements and serological tests. The correlation of the PSA level with the various anthropometric and serological parameters was investigated. RESULTS: On the univariate analysis after adjusting for age and the prostate volume, the PSA level showed statistically significant positive correlation with the WBC, the red blood cell(RBC) and platelet(PLT) counts/micron l, and the PSA level was negatively correlated with height, weight, the body surface area(BSA), the body mass index(BMI), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and creatinine clearance(Ccr). On multivariate analysis, age, the prostate volume and the RBC/PLT counts/micron l were positively correlated with the PSA level, and the BSA was negatively correlated with the PSA levels, whereas the BMI was not. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of age, the prostate volume and the BSA were the independent factor influencing the PSA level, that is, the larger the BSA, the lower the PSA.
Male ; Humans

PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of the anthropometric and serological parameters on the prostate-specific antigen(PSA) levels after adjusting for age and the prostate volume in Korean men who visited a health promotion center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to July 2007, among the 18,352 men(age range: 30 to 79) who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups, 1,230(14.9%) men who wanted their prostate evaluated were included in this study. Thereafter, 151 men whose PSA level was over 4.0ng/ml, or their urinalysis revealed pyuria(>5 white blood cells (WBCs)/high power fields(HPF)) were excluded. The data of the remained 1,079 men was then analyzed. All the men underwent transrectal ultrasonography, detailed anthropometric measurements and serological tests. The correlation of the PSA level with the various anthropometric and serological parameters was investigated. RESULTS: On the univariate analysis after adjusting for age and the prostate volume, the PSA level showed statistically significant positive correlation with the WBC, the red blood cell(RBC) and platelet(PLT) counts/micron l, and the PSA level was negatively correlated with height, weight, the body surface area(BSA), the body mass index(BMI), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and creatinine clearance(Ccr). On multivariate analysis, age, the prostate volume and the RBC/PLT counts/micron l were positively correlated with the PSA level, and the BSA was negatively correlated with the PSA levels, whereas the BMI was not. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of age, the prostate volume and the BSA were the independent factor influencing the PSA level, that is, the larger the BSA, the lower the PSA.
Male ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: Aromatase is the key enzyme for the conversion of C19 steroids into estrogen in certain human tissues. We studied to evaluate the aromatase expression in eutopic endometirum and endometriotic lesion and its relationship to clinical and laboratory parameters. METHODS: The study included 78 cases of endometriotic lesion and 14 cases of eutopic endometrium and 30 cases of normal uterine endometrium obtained through laparoscopic surgery and curettage. The frozen tissue specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry using aromatase. Clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and operative findings were analyzed and compared in according to aromatase expression. RESULTS: We observed positive immunohistochemical expression for aromatase in endometriotic lesion from 46/78 patients (59.0%). Aromatase expression was elevated in comparison to eutopic endometrium (5/14 patients, P=0.032) and the difference was more pronounced when eutopic endometriums from patients with endometriosis were compared with those of healthy controls (2/30 patients, P<0.001). Aromatase-positive patients had more moderate-to-severe chronic pelvic pain, higher CA-125 level significantly. Also in operative findings, severe grade endometriosis, bilateral endometriomas, and associated leiomyoma and adenomyosis were more frequent in aromatase positive patients. High values of white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CA 19-9 were more frequent in aromatase positive patients notwithstanding insignificant differences. CONCLUSION: Unopposed local biosynthesis of estrogens by increased expression of aromatase in eutopic endometrium and endometrial tissue could be involved in the development or maintenance of endometriosis and other uterine estrogen-triggered diseases. Our findings suggest increased expression of aromatase may be related with severity, activity, and chronic pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis.
Adenomyosis ; Aromatase ; Blood Sedimentation ; Curettage ; Endometriosis ; Endometrium ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Leukocyte Count ; Pelvic Pain ; Steroids ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a sight-threatening ophthalmic emergency that requires vitrectomy unless prompt treatment is undertaken. It is usually caused by hematogenous spread from a distant endogenous focus of infection. We treated a patient with endogenous endophthalmitis who also had prostate and perianal abscesses caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Clinicians should entertain the possibility of endogenous endophthalmitis if a patient with a urologic disease such as a prostate abscess or acute prostatitis resulting in bacteremia complains of ophthalmologic symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Although idiopathic cardiomyopathies(i-CMP) are very important in all age groups, the epidemiology of i-CMP in children has not been well defined. A retrospective study in Korean children was performed in 1998 to obtain basic data on i-CMP. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The medical records of all patients aged birth to 15 years from the hospitals where pediatric cardiologists worked were reviewed to obtain information on i-CMP. Pediatric cardiologists from a total of 22 hospitals were participated in reviewing the medical records of their patients and filling up the protocol. The data were pooled to the study committee and reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 278 cases with i-CMP, there were dilated cardiomyopathy (d-CMP) in 182 (65.4%): hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (h-CMP) in 74 (26.6%): restrictive cardiomyopathy (r-CMP) and unclassified in 17 (6.1%) and 5 (1.9%) each. The average annual occurrence of new cases as a whole was 2.65 per 100,000 (95% CI: 1.5-3.7): d-CMP, 1.73/100,000/year (95% CI: 0.73-2.73): h-CMP, 0.71/100,000/year (95% CI: 0.35-1.07): r-CMP, 0.16/100,000/year (95% CI: 0.02-0.3). The median age at the time of diagnosis was 11 months in d-CMP: 3.0 years in h-CMP: 6.9 years in r-CMP. The survival rate in d-CMP was 76% at 1 year, 72.5% at 2 year, 70% at 5 year. There was no difference in survival rate according to age (in d-CMP, between children less than 2 years of age and over 2 years of age (74% vs. 79% at 1 year: 67% vs. 76% at 5 year, p=NS): in h-CMP, between children less than 1 year of age and over 1 year of age (84% vs. 96% at 1 year: 63% vs. 81% at 5 year, p=NS)). R-CMP showed the worst survival rate (72% at 1 year, 30.2% at 5 year). CONCLUSION: In spite of the inherent defects of retrospective analysis, this study provides the useful epidemiological data in children with i-CMP. However, more systemic approach is needed to define the nature of the i-CMP in children.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: It has been stressed that age itself as well as multiple organ failure are important prognostic factors in acute renal failure (ARF) in children. This study was performed to find out the significance of age factor and underlying disease of ARF in children. METHODS: We tried to review 58 pediatric ARF cases, retrospectively, in the pediatric intensive care unit (excluding the neonatal and surgical intensive care unit cases) of the Samsung Seoul Hospital of Sung Kyun Kwan University from Sept., 1994. to Dec., 1996. RESULTS: We classified the enrolled 58 cases into 5 age groups and more than half were younger than 1 year old. As underlying causes, heart and gastrointestinal disease were predominant in less than 1 month of age group. After 1 year of age, intrinsic renal disease was the most common cause (43-50%). Among the renal disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (10-15 year group), hemolytic uremic syndrome (1-10 year group), and obstructive uropathy (less than 1 year age group) were common etiologies. The mortality was the highest (46.7%) in less than 1 year group and lowest (21.4%) in 10-15 year age group. CONCLUSION: The underlying disorders of ARF in children were different among the age group. Among intrinsic renal diseases, hemolytic uremic syndrome was the most common cause. The difference in the mortality was dependent on age and underlying disease.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Age Factors ; Child* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Heart ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mortality ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Some bacterial and viral infections may reduce the risk of atopy, and this is based on the concept of their ability to divert the immune system towards the Th1 responses. Most of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections occur in the developing countries and this is where atopic disorders are least prevalent. Th1 responses are important for the viral clearance of HBV and also for antibody production. The aim of the study is to investigate whether the presence of antibodies to the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) is inversely associated with atopy in adults. METHODS: A random sample of 358 subjects, who were without hepatitis B surface antigen, was recruited; they were aged from 18 to 79 years (105 young adults aged < or=40 years and 253 older adults aged > 40 years). Determinations of the anti-HBs and skin prick tests using aeroallergens were performed. Those subjects with one or more positive skin reactions (a mean wheal diameter > or=3 mm) were considered atopic. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of atopy (p=0.035) or the sensitization to Dermatophagoides farinae (p=0.01) was significantly lower in the subjects with anti-HBs than in those subjects without anti-HBs for the young adults, but not for the older adults. The logistic regression analysis that was done on the young adults showed that the presence of anti-HBs was associated with a significantly lower risk of atopy (the odds ratio adjusted for confounding variables=0.40 [95% CI 0.16-0.98], p=0.046) or with the sensitization to D. farinae (0.20 [0.06-0.65], p=0.008). CONCLUSION: The presence of anti-HBs produced by a natural HBV infection or vaccination might be inversely associated with atopy in young adults.
Risk Factors ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Korea/epidemiology ; Immunologic Factors ; Immunoglobulin E/biosynthesis ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*immunology ; Humans ; *Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/*immunology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies/*immunology ; Hepatitis B/*virology ; Female ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Aged ; Age Factors ; Adult ; Adolescent

BACKGROUND: The increasing rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a threat to the public health and TB control. In Korea, about 75~80% of TB patients are treated in private hospitals and the rate has been continuously increasing since 2000. METHODS: On a retrospective basis, we enrolled 170 newly diagnosed with or retreated for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in 2004 from 21 private hospitals. We extracted the following demographics and treatment history from patient medical records: initial treatment outcomes, cumulative survival rates, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors. RESULTS: Of the 170 patients, the majority were male (64.1%), the mean age was 44.5 years old, and mean body-mass-index was 20.2 kg/m2. None of the patients tested positive for HIV. Eleven (6.5%) were confirmed to have extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) at treatment initiation. Treatment success rates were not different between XDR-TB (36.4%, 4/11) and non-XDR MDR-TB (51.6%, 82/159). Default rate was high, 21.8% (37/170). Far advanced disease on X-ray was a significant negative predictor of treatment success; advanced disease and low BMI were risk factors for all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: In private hospitals in Korea, the proportion of XDR-TB in MDR-TB was comparable to previous data. The treatment success rate of MDR-/XDR-TB remains poor and the failure rate was quite high. Adequate TB control policies should be strengthened to prevent the further development and spread of MDR-/XDR-TB in Korea.
Demography ; Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis ; HIV ; Hospitals, Private ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant