No abstract available.
Humans ; Pneumoconiosis*

Tuberous sclerosis is a rare hereditary anomaly of variable penetrance characterized by mental retardation, epilepsy, and adenoma sebaceum. Pulmonary involvement is uncommon, but, when involve by tuberous sclerosis, it shows characteristic reticulonodular infiltration and cystic changes. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare disease of unknown cause that affects women of reproductive age. It is characterized by progressive proliferation of smooth muscle in the lung. We experienced one case of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis associated with tuberous sclerosis in a 26-year-old female patient. This case is reported with a brief of the literature.
Adult ; Angiomyolipoma* ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Lung ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Penetrance ; Rare Diseases ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

Neurilemmoma is a benign nerve sheath tumor derived from Schwann cells and occurs in the head, neck, flexor regions of the extremities, posterior mediastinum but extremely rare in the chest wall. They occur at all ages but are most common in persons between the ages of 20 and 50 years and develop spontaneously or possible as a result of trauma or irritation. The diagnosis of a neurilemmoma is confirmed histologically by the findings of Verocay bodies, Antoni A and B tissue patterns and the presence of S-100 protein. We experienced a case of chest wall neurilemmoma which was treated by local excision and report it with a brief review of the literature.
Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Head ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma* ; S100 Proteins ; Schwann Cells ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

Neurilemmoma is a benign nerve sheath tumor derived from Schwann cells and occurs in the head, neck, flexor regions of the extremities, posterior mediastinum but extremely rare in the chest wall. They occur at all ages but are most common in persons between the ages of 20 and 50 years and develop spontaneously or possible as a result of trauma or irritation. The diagnosis of a neurilemmoma is confirmed histologically by the findings of Verocay bodies, Antoni A and B tissue patterns and the presence of S-100 protein. We experienced a case of chest wall neurilemmoma which was treated by local excision and report it with a brief review of the literature.
Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Head ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma* ; S100 Proteins ; Schwann Cells ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

Telomeres undergo attrition with each cell division, and telomere length is associated with age-related diseases and mortality in the elderly. Estrogen can influence the attrition of telomeres by diverse mechanisms. This is a retrospective case control study that investigated the influence of long-term hormone therapy (HT) on telomere length in postmenopausal women. We recruited 130 postmenopausal women from 55 to 69 years of age for this study, and divided them into two groups. The first group included 65 women who had been on estrogen and progesterone therapy for more than five years (HT group). The other group was composed of 65 women matched in age to the HT group who had never had HT (non- HT group). The relative ratios of telomere length of study subjects to a reference DNA from a healthy young female were measured using quantitative PCR. Plasma levels of lipid profiles, total antioxidant status (TAS), C-reactive proteins (CRP), fasting glucose levels, and estradiol levels were measured. Age at menopause, vitamin use, and exercise, alcohol, and cigarette smoking histories were also assessed in a questionnaire. Mean duration (+/- SD) of HT was 8.4 +/- 2.3 years. Prevalence of vitamin use and regular exercise were higher in the HT group than in the non-HT group (p < 0.01). Relative telomere length ratios in the HT group were significantly greater than those in the non-HT group (p < 0.01). HT was significantly correlated with the relative telomere length ratio in multivariate analysis when potential confounding variables were controlled for (p < 0.05). In conclusion, telomere lengths were longer in postmenopausal women who had a history of long-term HT than in postmenopausal women without HT. Long-term HT in postmenopausal women may alleviate telomere attrition.
Aged ; DNA Damage ; Estrogens/*administration & dosage ; Female ; *Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; Progesterone/*administration & dosage ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Telomere/*drug effects ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: The incidence of obesity is acutely increasing resulting in increased mortality rate and medical expenses among Koreans. But it is rare to find effective obesity management program, that are readily accessible by general local community residents. This study was aimed to develop and evaluate an effective and specialized obesity management program utilizing the local public health institutes. METHODS: One hundred forty nine obese adults residing in Kwangju were enrolled in a tentative, 12-week scheduled obesity management program from August 2006 to October 2006. The program constituted of weekly education and practice by specialists, and exercise for more than an hour for 5 days a week. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated according to the change of body weight, body component, blood pressure, and serum lipid concentration. After the program was completed, each participant was surveyed on the degree of satisfaction and lifestyle changes. RESULTS: Ninety participants (60.4%) completed the program to the end. The average decrement of body weight after the program was 1.9+/-1.5 kg. Eleven participants (12.2%) lost more than 5% of the initial body weight. The waist circumference and average blood pressure significantly decreased among the group who lost more than 5% of the initial body weight. The total cholesterol and triglycerides also slightly decreased among this group. Overall 87.3% of the participants were satisfied with the results of the program. The lifestyle of the participants had also changed by the program. CONCLUSION: The authors expect that establishing easily- approachable obesity management program in local public health institutes will make a great contribution to the maintenance of proper body weight and decrement of cardiovascular diseases among local community residents.
Academies and Institutes ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Obesity ; Public Health ; Specialization ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

Susceptibilities of 5 different mice strains, including C3H/HeN, BALB/c, C57BL6, FvB and ICR, to Echinostoma hortense infection, was evaluated. The worm expulsion rate, worm size and egg production were observed from 1 to 8 weeks after infection with 30 metacercariae. C3H/HeN and ICR mice showed the highest worm maturation rates. The worm recovery rate and the number of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces was also higher in C3H/HeN and ICR mice than in BALB/c, C57BL6, and FvB mice. It is suggested that E. hortense is highly infectious to ICR and C3H/HeN mice, but not to the other strains of mice. Based on the results obtained, we believe that the susceptibility of different mouse strains to E. hortense infection is dependent on the genetic and immunologic background of mice.
Animals ; Echinostoma/*growth & development ; Echinostomiasis/genetics/*parasitology ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Intestines/parasitology ; Mice/*parasitology ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Parasite Egg Count

BACKGROUND: Serum gamma-GT is one of the biliary enzymes with the only enzymatic activity capable of cleaving extracellular glutathione, thus originating precursor amino acids for the intracellular resynthesis of glutathione. Several population-based studies have shown a strong cross-sectional association between serum gamma-GT concentration and cardiovascular risk factors. And prospective studies showed that serum gamma-GT concentration had a prognostic impact on cardiovascular mortality. But, the mechanism by which gamma-GT is associated with cardiovascular disease is not elucidated. We hypothesized that there was an association between serum gamma-GT and ferritin, a marker of oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum gamma-GT and serum ferritin. METHODS: By reviewing the medical records of 288 healthy adults, we determined the serum levels of gamma-GT and ferritin according to age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, hs-CRP, serum ferritin, AST, ALT, uric acid and smoking history. We studied the relationship between the variables by Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Mean values of serum gamma-GT according to the smoking history were compared using t-test. RESULTS: Serum gamma-GT correlated positively with serum ferritin (r=0.42; P<0.001). BMI, triglycerides, total cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, AST and ALT also showed statistically significant correlation. Smokers showed significantly higher serum gamma-GT. Serum gamma-GT correlated with serum ferritin, ALT, current smoking and triglycerides by multiple stepwise regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Serum gamma-GT correlated positively with serum ferritin.
Adult* ; Amino Acids ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Ferritins* ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase* ; Glutathione ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Oxidative Stress ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

BACKGROUND: There has been no systematic investigation of the necessary core procedures in primary care in Korea. The purpose of this study is to examine the core procedures necessary in primary care and to have the results reflected in residency programs. METHODS: A mail survey was conducted fram May 2, to August 20, 1997 among 478 physicians who qualified as a family physician specialist since 1989. The contents of the questionnaire included 1) sex, age, locatian and size of the hospital 2) of the 93 procedures that should be taught during residency pragrams as suggested by the [American Academy of Family Physicians] and the [Korean Academy of Family Physicians a) procedures taught in residency programs, b) procedures performed by practicing family physicians, and, c) procedures considered as necessary in primary care. RESULTS: 1) Of the 93 procedures, 78 were taught in residency programs, 35 were performed by practicing family physicians, and 77 were considered necessary in primary care. 2) All of the 35 procedures performed by family physicians were taught in the residency programs. Of the 77 procedures considered necessary in primary care, 71 were taught but the remaining 6 were infrequently taught. 3) 7 procedures were taught but was considered unnecessary ; Procedures taught but not actually performed amounted to a total of 43. 4) 42 procedures were considered necessary but not performed. 5) More procedures were performed by male doctors(p<0.05). Surgical procedures were performed more often in regional hospitals than those in Seoul and in the larger cities(p<0.05), and more were performed in private practice(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although almost all of the procedures considered necessary in primary care were taught in residency programs, many procedure's were not being performed in current medical practice. We suggest that it would be more effective to intensively train the core procedures than to provide exposure to a wide array of procedures. As the procedures performed were found to vary in relat
Humans ; Internship and Residency* ; Korea ; Male ; Physicians, Family ; Postal Service ; Primary Health Care ; Seoul ; Specialization ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: DHEA is the most abundant steroid hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex and has several roles such as increasing insulin sensitivity, lowering serum lipid, improving obesity, and anti-cancer effects. DHEA levels vary profoundly and levels decline as age increases. But the role of DHEA in the aging process is not yet fully understood. TAS which provides information of one's antioxidant capacity, also decreases with age. In this study, we investigated the relationship between TAS and serum DHEA-s concentration. METHODS: By reviewing the medical records of 197 healthy adults, we determined the serum levels of DHEA-s and TAS according to BMI, pulse pressure, WBC, hs-CRP, A/G ratio, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, ferritin, uric acid and total bilirubin. We studied the relationship between the parameters by Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean level for TAS and serum DHEA-s was 1.20 mml/L and 177.3 ug/mL, respectively. Serum DHEA-s correlated positively with TAS (r=0.44) and negatively for age (r=-0.44). WBC triglyceride and uric acid also showed statistically significant correlations. But, according to multiple regression analysis DHEA-s only correlated with TAS and age. CONCLUSION: Serum DHEA-s correlates positively with TAS.
Adrenal Cortex ; Adult* ; Aging ; Bilirubin ; Blood Pressure ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Medical Records ; Obesity ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid