Objectives: . The association between pet sensitization and pet ownership remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the association between pet sensitization and pet ownership by age. Methods: . We retrospectively reviewed 2,883 patients who visited our allergy clinic for nasal symptoms from January 2003 to December 2014, of whom 1,957 patients with data on skin-prick tests and questionnaire responses were included and divided into adults (age >19 years) and children (age ≤19 years). The association between pet sensitization and pet ownership was evaluated in both groups. Results: . Among children, dog and cat sensitization showed no associations with dog and cat ownership, respectively. However, among adults, dog sensitization was significantly associated with dog ownership (odds ratio [OR], 3.283; P<0.001), and cat sensitization with cat ownership (OR, 13.732; P<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, familial history of allergy, sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, other pet ownership, and non-pet sensitization, significant associations remained between dog sensitization and dog ownership (adjusted OR [aOR], 3.881; P<0.001), and between cat sensitization and cat ownership (aOR, 10.804; P<0.001) among adults. Dog ownership did not show any association with allergic rhinitis, asthma, or atopic dermatitis, whereas atopic dermatitis had a significant association with cat ownership in adults (aOR, 4.840; P<0.001). Conclusion . Pet ownership in adulthood increased the risk of pet sensitization. However, pet ownership was not associated with the prevalence of atopic disorders, regardless of age, except for atopic dermatitis and cat ownership in adults.

Objectives: . The association between pet sensitization and pet ownership remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the association between pet sensitization and pet ownership by age. Methods: . We retrospectively reviewed 2,883 patients who visited our allergy clinic for nasal symptoms from January 2003 to December 2014, of whom 1,957 patients with data on skin-prick tests and questionnaire responses were included and divided into adults (age >19 years) and children (age ≤19 years). The association between pet sensitization and pet ownership was evaluated in both groups. Results: . Among children, dog and cat sensitization showed no associations with dog and cat ownership, respectively. However, among adults, dog sensitization was significantly associated with dog ownership (odds ratio [OR], 3.283; P<0.001), and cat sensitization with cat ownership (OR, 13.732; P<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, familial history of allergy, sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, other pet ownership, and non-pet sensitization, significant associations remained between dog sensitization and dog ownership (adjusted OR [aOR], 3.881; P<0.001), and between cat sensitization and cat ownership (aOR, 10.804; P<0.001) among adults. Dog ownership did not show any association with allergic rhinitis, asthma, or atopic dermatitis, whereas atopic dermatitis had a significant association with cat ownership in adults (aOR, 4.840; P<0.001). Conclusion . Pet ownership in adulthood increased the risk of pet sensitization. However, pet ownership was not associated with the prevalence of atopic disorders, regardless of age, except for atopic dermatitis and cat ownership in adults.

Objective: In September 2018, the traffic law revision has enforced all passengers in cars to wear seatbelts. Our study aims to investigate the effects of this law revision on fellow passengers involved in car accidents by considering their seatbelt-wearing rate and severity score. Methods: This study is a retrospective observational study. Data were collected from the Emergency Department-based Injury in-depth Surveillance (for the years 2017 and 2019), Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Candidates were patients who visited emergency rooms (ERs) of 23 hospitals from January to December in the years 2017 and 2019. Patients under the age of 15 years or without Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Score (EMR-ISS) data or having accidents on highways were excluded. Results: The total number of patients who visited ERs during the study periods was 91,506 and 14,806 in 2017 and 2019, respectively, and were included in our study. There were more fellow female passengers than male passengers during both the study periods: 5,559 in 2017 (67.9%) and 4,341 in 2019 (66.8%). Compared to 52.2% in 2017, the rate of wearing seatbelts increased to 54.5% in 2019. However, after adjusting for age, sex, use of ambulance, injury time, alcohol use, type of road, and counterpart, multivariate logistic regression revealed that compared to the 2017 group, the odds ratio of severe injuries in the 2019 group was 1.10 (95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.24). Conclusion Increased rate of wearing seatbelts after imposing the traffic law revision was not satisfactory. Therefore, it is necessary to tighten regulations on fellow passengers without seat belts and improve awareness through public relations.

BACKGROUND: Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Influenza virus, which causes epidemics every winter season, has the high possibility of appearing with new virus types every year due to antigen variation. Therefore, we intended to analyze the data on the epidemiology of influenza that had been acquired by laboratory surveillance in Incheon during the 2003/2004 and 2004/ 2005 seasons and to apply the knowledge to the control and prevention of influenza in Korea. METHODS: Specimens were inoculated into Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and, when cytopathic effect (CPE) was seen, culture supernatants were tested by mutiplex RT-PCR for typing and subtyping of influenza viruses. RESULTS: The first virus of the season was isolated at week 47 (3rd week on November) in 2003 during 2003/2004 and at week 43 (4th week on October) in 2004 during 2004/2005, which was about 4 weeks earlier than in the 2003/2004 season. From 532 specimens cultured for influenza virus during the 2003/2004 season. 330 (62.0%) viruses were isolated: 161 (48.8%) A/H3N2, 1 (0.3%) A/H1N1, and 168 (50.9%) B. During 2004/2005 season, 457 specimens were tested and 278 (60.8 %) were positive for influenza virus: 232 (83.5%) A/H3N2, 5 (1.8%) A/H1N1, and 38 (13.7%) B. The incidence of influenza was the highest in the school-age children and young adults of 7 to 19 years age group in both seasons. CONCLUSION: Influenza virus was isolated at a high rate (more than 60%) by the laboratory influenza surveillance system in Incheon during the 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 seasons: the predominant strain was influenza A/H3N2 subtype.
Antigenic Variation ; Child ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Incidence ; Influenza, Human* ; Kidney ; Korea ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Seasons ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the risk of rehospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) infection among premature infants discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study for rehospitalization for RSV infection and risk factors among premature infants who were admitted to NICU and discharged between May 2001 and April 2003 in Wonkwang University Hospital. RSV detection was utilized by direct fluorescent antibody tests in nasopharyngeal aspirates. We also reviewed various risk factors including gestational age, birth weight, sex, ventilatory care, surfactant administration, chronic lung disease(CLD), siblings in school or kindergarten age, and month of discharge. RESULTS: The rehospitalization rate for RSV infection was 6.6%(26/381) in premature infants and 22.2%(4/18) in premature infants with CLD. The most common season of rehospitalization for RSV infection was between November to January, this was 69.2%(18/26) in premature infants, the same as children: 61.2%(93/152). The risk factors for RSV rehospitalization among premature infants were CLD, siblings in school or kindergarten age and discharge between October to December from NICU. CONCLUSION: The risk for RSV rehospitalization among premature infants from NICU was low. Preterm infants subject to risk factors of CLD, siblings in school or kindergarten age, and discharge between October to December from NICU, were most likely to require hospitalization for RSV disease. In CONCLUSION: Prophylaxis for RSV infection should be considered one month before discharge from NICU in the RSV season between October and December.
Birth Weight ; Child ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Lung ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seasons ; Siblings

The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of digital infrared thermographic image(DITI) in patients with surgically treated lumbar disc disease. A series of 480 patients with lumbar herniated disc was studied. The mean age of the patients was 37 years, with a range of 18 to 64 years. Of which 126 cases of chemonucleolysis. 18 cases of percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy, and 336 cases of laminectomy with discectomy were performed. Among these patients, 336 cases of laminectomy were assessed by DITI preoperatively. The thermal differences(delta T) between the symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs were evaluated. We have categorized the types of herniations into 3 classes: 200 protruded, 99 extruded, and 37 sequestered. The thermal differences were classified into 3 groups: 177 patients had delta T < 0.5 degrees C, 74 patients had 0.5 degrees C < or = delta T < 0.8 degrees C and 85 patients had delta T > or = 0.8 degrees C. Among the group of patients with the sequestered disc, 30(i.e. 80%) had delta T > or = 0.8 degrees C. Among the surgically treated 336 patients, non-visualization of a part of the sciatic limb on preoperative DITI was the condition used to coin the term amputation sign by the authors. In the sequestered group, the "amputation sign" was observed in 28 cases(75%). We conclude that DITI can predict a sequestered disc disease, and it allows more precise indication regarding open surgery.
Amputation ; Diskectomy ; Extremities ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Laminectomy ; Numismatics

PURPOSE: Extra-thyroidal extension has been recognized as a poor prognostic factor for increased regional recurrence risk in papillary thyroid carcinoma, and is known to require treatment that is more aggressive. In the recent UICC TNM 6th Classification, an extra-thyroidal extension was divided into a minimal extra-thyroidal extension (T3) and a massive extra-thyroidal extension (T4). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of a minimal extra-thyroidal extension of a papillary carcinoma for the recurrence of regional cervical lymph nodes. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 154 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma where a thyroidectomy was performed from Feb. 2003 to May. 2006 at the Department of Surgery, with the exclusion of 6 patients with a massive extra-thyroidal extension. We divided the cases into a no extra-thyroidal extension group and a minimal extra-thyroidal extension group according to the grading of the extra-thyroidal extension. The grading of the extra-thyroidal extension was based on both pathological findings and intraoperative surgical findings. Clinicopathological factors associated with each group were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. We divided the cases into two groups according to age (<45 yrs, > or =45 yrs) and lymph node status (positive, negative), and compared each group with regards to disease free survival according to the grading of the extra-thyroidal extension. RESULTS: By univariate analysis, a minimal extra-thyroidal extension was related to lymph node metastasis, tumor size, mutifocality (P<0.05), and was not related to cervical lymph node recurrence statistically (P=0.108). Cervical lymph node recurrence was related to being male, lymph node metastasis and tumor size (P<0.05). By multivariate analysis, a minimal extra-thyroidal extension was independently related to tumor size, multifocality, and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). In both groups with regards to age and lymph node status, a minimal extra-thyroidal extension was not statistically related to disease free survival (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: We need to downstage to less than T3 for a minimal extra-thyroidal extension because there is no significant difference in disease free survival according to the grading of an extra-thyroidal extension in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; Classification ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

PURPOSE: Total knee arthroplasty using the extramedullary technique for alignment has some difficulty for detecting the center of the femoral head intra-operatively. In this study we tried to evaluate the usefulness and accuracy of a newly developed Mechanical Axis Marker that synchronizes the center of the knee joint and femoral head with the mechanical axis for the distal femoral cutting and femoral prosthesis alignment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2008 and January 2009, 255 knees in 156 patients underwent total knee arthroplasty. We measured the distance between each centers of the femoral head using the PACS system and we applied the distance to the newly developed Mechanical Axis Marker. Subsequently, we applied the new marker to patients to align the centers of knee, the femoral head and the marker in line with the mechanical axis intra-operatively. The accuracy of the marker was validated with C-arm fluoroscopy pre-operatively in 20 patients. Post-operatively we measured and analyzed the frontal femoral component angle to evaluate the coronal alignment of the femoral implant. The accuracy was rated as excellent when the alignment was <3degrees, as good when the alignment was 3-5degrees, and as poor when the alignment was >5degrees. RESULTS: The pre-operative validation study with the C-arm fluoroscopy showed that the distance between the femoral head center and the metal peg of the marker was within 5 mm in 95% of the patients, which implied acceptable accuracy. The average frontal femoral component angle against the mechanical axis was 89.0degrees+/-1.1 (range 86degrees-96.6degrees). The proportion of excellent, good, and poor alignments was 90.6% (231 cases), 8.6% (22 cases), and 0.8% (2 cases), respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient between the two observers for the frontal femoral component angle was 0.972 which showed high concordance. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the extramedullary technique assisted by our new Mechanical Axis Marker can easily identify the center of femoral head and improve the accuracy of frontal femoral component alignment with the proper mechanical axis.
Arthroplasty ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Fluoroscopy ; Head ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Prostheses and Implants

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), the most common acquired hypercoagulable condition, is diagnosed by persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and episodes of vascular thrombosis. It may be an important predisposing factor for stent thrombosis, resulting in poor outcomes. Also, anti-platelet therapy non-responsiveness is associated with stent thrombosis. We report a case of a 39-year-old man who after undergoing successful percutaneous coronary intervention for significant coronary artery disease suffered repeated stent thrombosis events leading to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Eventually, he underwent coronary artery bypass surgery because of uncontrolled thrombosis and was diagnosed as having APS and dual antiplatelet therapy non-responsiveness.
Adult ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Causality ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents* ; Thrombosis*

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the influence of depression on working memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. METHODS: Clinical and neuropsychological data of 43 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n=17) and dementia (n=26) who had visited Department of Psychiatry at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, were collected. The subjects were divided into depressed (n=18) and non-depressed (n=25) groups based on the Korean version of Short Geriatric Depression Scale. Two-way analysis of variance test was conducted to evaluate the influence of diagnosis (MCI and dementia), the presence of depression and their interaction on working memory which was measured by digit forward and backward span test. RESULTS: Among the patients with MCI, test score of digit backward span test in depressed group was significantly lower than in non-depressed group. However, among the patients with dementia, there was no significant difference in digit backward span test between depressed and non-depressed groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the depression could deteriorate working memory measured by digit backward span test in patients with MCI, relative to in patients with dementia and it also implicates the diagnostic assessment for depression has clinically importance in patients with MCI.
Dementia* ; Depression* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term* ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Seoul