BACKGROUND: The Korean population is aging rapidly and the number of health threats is increasing. The elderly obese population is also increasing and this study aimed to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life in the elderly Korean population. METHODS: The Korean version Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was administered to elderly subjects (≥60 years) selected from welfare and health centers, and university hospitals. Sociodemographic information and subjects' height and weight were also recorded. RESULTS: The study population's mean age was 74.2±7.1 years, and the average BMI was 24.5±3.2 kg/m². The 542 participants were segregated based on BMI quartiles. The SF-36 scores were compared among the sex-stratified quartile groups after adjusting for age, education level, income, smoking, alcohol, and arthritis diagnosis. The SF-36 scores were compared for four BMI quartiles stratified by sex, after adjusting for age, education level, income, smoking, alcohol consumption, and arthritis diagnosis. Men in the Q3 and Q4 groups had higher mental health scores than men in Q2 group. Additionally, men in the Q3 group had higher social function scores than those in the Q2 and Q4 groups. No differences were observed for the remaining six domains; no significant score differences were observed in any of the survey domains for the female subjects. CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between a high BMI and a low quality of life in the elderly Korean population selected from hospitals and welfare centers, as assessed using the SF-36 scores.
Aged* ; Aging ; Alcohol Drinking ; Arthritis ; Body Mass Index* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Obesity ; Quality of Life* ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic factors of early endometrial cancer. METHODS: Medical records of patients with endometrial cancer stage I and II were reviewed retrospectively between 1999 and 2005. Progress-free survival rates of each prognostic factor were obtained. RESULTS: The mean age of 45 patients was 49 (27-74). Thirty-nine patients had stage I, 6 patients had stage II of the disease. Most cases of histology were diagnosed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma (42 patients, 93.3%). Twenty-three patients had grade 1, 16 patients had grade 2, and 6 patients had grade 3 histology. Thirty patients had myometrial invasion of less than 50%, while 15 patients had myometrial invasion of more than 50%. Thirty-one patients showed no lympho-vascular space involvement (LVSI), and 14 patients were LVSI positive. All patients were primarily treated by surgery. Twenty-four patients received adjuvant radiotherapy, and 1 patient received concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In univariate analysis, FIGO stage (p=0.004), tumor grade (p=0.043), myometrial invasion (p=0.030), and LVSI (p=0.003) had statistical significance with PFSR. However, age, parity, menopause, lymphadenectomy, and histology did not. CONCLUSION: Stage, tumor grade, myometrial invasion, and LVSI seemed to be statistical prognostic factors in early endometrial cancer.
Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Medical Records ; Menopause ; Parity ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT) is useful for both, the spatially resolved measurement of the tympanic membrane (TM) oscillation and high-resolution imaging. We demonstrated a new technique capable of providing real-time two-dimensional Doppler OCT image of rapidly oscillatory latex mini-drum and in vivo rat TM and ossicles. METHODS: Using DOCT system, the oscillation of sample was measured at frequency range of 1–4 kHz at an output of 15 W. After the sensitivity of the DOCT system was verified using a latex mini-drum consisting of a 100 μm-thick latex membrane, changes in displacement of the umbo and contacted area between TM and malleus in normal and pathologic conditions. RESULTS: The oscillation cycles of the mini-drum for stimulus frequencies were 1.006 kHz for 1 kHz, 2.012 kHz for 2kHz, and 3.912 kHz for 4 kHz, which means that the oscillation cycle of the mini-drum become short in proportional to the frequency of stimuli. The oscillation cycles of umbo area and the junction area in normal TM for frequencies of the stimuli showed similar integer ratio with the data of latex mini-drum for stimuli less than 4 kHz. In the case of middle ear effusion condition, the Doppler signal showed a tendency of attenuation in all frequencies, which was prominent at 1 kHz and 2 kHz. CONCLUSION: The TM vibration under sound stimulation with frequencies from 1 kHz to 4 kHz in normal and pathologic conditions was demonstrated using signal demodulation method in in vivo condition. The OCT technology could be helpful for functional and structural assessment as an optional modality.
Animals ; Ear, Middle ; Latex ; Malleus ; Membranes ; Methods ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; Rats ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Tympanic Membrane ; Vibration

Purpose: The strategy of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment in household tuberculosis (TB) contacts has been expanding in South Korea. However, there is little evidence of the cost-effectiveness of LTBI treatment in patients over 35 years of age. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of LTBI treatment among household TB contacts in different age groups in South Korea. Materials and Methods: An age-structured model of TB was developed based on the reports from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the National Health Insurance Service. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and the averted number of TBrelated deaths were estimated along with discounted costs for a measure of incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results: The number of cumulative active TB cases would decrease by 1564 and 7450 under the scenario of LTBI treatment for those aged <35 years and <70 years, respectively, relative to the no-treatment scenario. The treatment strategies for patients aged 0 to <35 years, <55 years, <65 years, and <70 years would add 397, 1482, 3782, and 8491 QALYs at a cost of $660, $5930, $4560, and $2530, respectively, per QALY. For the averted TB-related deaths, LTBI treatment targeting those aged 0 to <35 years, <55 years, <65 years, and <70 years would avert 7, 89, 155, and 186 deaths at a cost of $35900, $99200, $111100, and $115700 per deaths, respectively, in 20 years. Conclusion The age-specific expansion policy of LTBI treatment not only for those under 35 years of age but also for those under 65 years of age among household contacts was cost-effective in terms of QALYs and averted TB deaths.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between body composition, especially truncal or non-truncal fat mass (FM), and bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal women in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV and V (2008–2011). Total lean mass (LM), total FM (TFM), truncal FM, and non-truncal FM, and BMD of the total femur, femoral neck (FN), and lumbar spine were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The association between body composition and BMD was analyzed using multiple linear regression. The risk of low BMD according to quartiles of TFM, truncal FM, and non-truncal FM was calculated using logistic regression. Subgroup analysis according to body mass index was also performed. RESULTS: In 4,343 premenopausal women, total LM was positively associated with BMD regardless of weight adjustment. TFM, truncal FM, and non-truncal FM were inversely associated with BMD after adjusting for weight. Odds ratios (ORs) for low BMD and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the highest quartile of TFM, truncal FM, and non-truncal FM compared with the lowest quartile were calculated. The risk of low BMD of the FN was higher in the highest quartile of TFM (OR, 4.48; 95% CI, 1.11–18.01) and truncal FM (OR, 5.48; 95% CI, 1.75–17.20). Truncal FM and not-truncal FM had an inverse association with BMD in the non-obese and obese subgroups of women. CONCLUSION: Total LM has a protective effect on BMD and FM can have a detrimental effect on BMD besides its skeletal loading effect.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density* ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Korea* ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Osteoporosis ; Premenopause ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the non-speech mechanism function in relation with functional status and find out the relationship between nutritional status and non-speech mechanism function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: Eighty four children with CP were participated in this study. Non-speech mechanism function was investigated with a simple scale of oral motor status (OMS) and a feeding-swallowing evaluaton protocol for children (FEP-C). Higher score represents more severe in dysfunction in both tests. As well, Gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), the nutritional status based on body mass index were assessed in these subjects. GMFCS level I to III were grouped into high functioning group while GMFCS level IV and V were grouped into low functioning group. RESULTS: Fifty seven (67.9%) individuals with CP showed dysphagia symptoms (OMS sore > or =1). The mean scores of non-speech mechanism function in low functioning group were higher than in high functioning group (p<0.05). The mean scores of both OMS and FEP-C were higher in individuals with underweight (p<0.05). Compared to high functioning individuals with CP, underweight was more prevalent along with higher scores in oral motor function in low functioning group. OMS scores were significantly correlated with the mean scores of non-speech mechanism in all subareas (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Non-speech mechanism function was closely related with GMFCS level. As well, this study revealed that the oromotor function and nutritional status in these individuals with CP related with non-speech mechanism function.
Body Mass Index ; Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Deglutition Disorders ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Thinness

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the drug compliance and factors that have an influence on drug compliance of spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: From January to June in 2009, spinal cord injured patients who visited our hospital for regular prescription were asked to fill out questionnaires about demographic data, comprehension and compliance of medication. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients completed questionnaires. Thirty-three were male and the rest were female. Twenty were tetraplegic and 26 paraplegic. Twenty-two were completely injured and 26 had incomplete injuries. The level of awareness of names, shapes and effects of medication were 70.8%, 87.5% and 77.1%, respectively. The compliant group that had more than 80% of drug compliance was 38 patients. The non-compliant group that had less than 80% compliance had 10 patients. In respect of compliance of medication, the patients tended to miss the time of administration more than the number of administration. Twenty patients didn't tell their doctors that they hadn't been taking their medication properly. There were no statistically significant differences between drug compliance and the following: patient's age, sex, spinal cord injury type, education level, time elapsed since the injury, number of medication per day, and comprehension of name, shapes and effects of medication. CONCLUSION: Drug compliance of spinal cord injured patients was high. Education on necessity, side effects and usage of medication may be needed to maintain high drug compliance. To investigate the drug compliance and factors that have an influence on drug compliance of spinal cord injured patients.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Compliance ; Comprehension ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients ; Prescriptions ; Questionnaires ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries

OBJECTIVES: The study was done to evaluate the efficacy of optical coherence tomography (OCT), to detect and analyze the microdamage occurring around the microimplant immediately following its placement, and to compare the findings with micro-computed tomography (μCT) images of the samples to validate the result of the present study. METHODS: Microimplants were inserted into bovine bone samples. Images of the samples were obtained using OCT and μCT. Visual comparisons of the images were made to evaluate whether anatomical details and microdamage induced by microimplant insertion were accurately revealed by OCT. RESULTS: The surface of the cortical bone with its anatomical variations is visualized on the OCT images. Microdamage occurring on the surface of the cortical bone around the microimplant can be appreciated in OCT images. The resulting OCT images were compared with the μCT images. A high correlation regarding the visualization of individual microcracks was observed. The depth penetration of OCT is limited when compared to μCT. CONCLUSIONS OCT in the present study was able to generate high-resolution images of the microdamage occurring around the microimplant. Image quality at the surface of the cortical bone is above par when compared with μCT imaging, because of the inherent high contrast and high-resolution quality of OCT systems. Improvements in the imaging depth and development of intraoral sensors are vital for developing a real-time imaging system and integrating the system into orthodontic practice.
Algorithms ; Animals ; Bone and Bones/pathology* ; Cattle ; Contrast Media ; Cortical Bone/physiology* ; Equipment Design ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Orthodontics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Software ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods* ; X-Ray Microtomography/methods*