OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to examine the healthy lifestyle influenced on the metabolic syndrome among the elderly in the rural area. We examined the changes of risk factors of metabolic syndrome after two years. METHOD: Out of 134 who did health screening at the J county health center from July 1 to August 31, 2006, 65 aged people confirmed to metabolism syndrome were selected as subjects. For the final analysis, 62 aged people who revisited after two years were selected our subjects. The data were analyzed using SPSS PC+ 12.0 program for descriptive, Chi-square test, t-test and ANOVA analysis. RESULT: The result of this study indicated that 62 metabolic syndrome patients in 2006 decreased into 53, and women were higher than men. The difference in the metabolic syndrome came from level of education, smoking, health practices, and past illness history. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the change of lifestyle needs to be induced by the level of education, and for the group of smoking, non-exercise, and past illness history not only regular checkups to prevent metabolic syndrome but also education to have interest on themselves may need intensively.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Porphyrins ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

Intravascular catheter embolism is common and the most important complication of subclavian catheterization. The catheter fragment can lead to pulmonary embolism, vascular perforation, sepsis, arrhythmia, and even death. The intravascular foreign body can be removed using surgical or non-surgical methods. With technological advances, the percutaneous retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies has become a relatively common procedure. A commonly used method for retrieving intravascular foreign bodies is the loop snare. Sometimes biopsy forceps can be used. We experienced a case of non-surgical retrieval of an intravascular foreign body. We used the standard loop snare technique to remove a 5-cm catheter fragment from the left pulmonary artery.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biopsy ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Embolism ; Foreign Bodies ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Sepsis ; SNARE Proteins ; Surgical Instruments

Common clinical manifestations in patients with IgG subclass deficiency include recurrent respiratory tract infection, recurrent otitis media and sinopulmonary infection by virus or bacteria. The administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been regarded as the most effective therapy in these patients. We experienced a 22-year-old patient with IgG3 subclass deficiency and recurrent fungal infection of oral cavity and lips. IVIG was given at 0.2g/kg/dose twice a month for 6 months. After treatment with IVIG, the patient improved clinically.
Bacteria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Lip ; Mouth* ; Otitis Media ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton is one of the most common genera of dermatophytes. It has been reported that Trichophyton spp. might be one of the causative allergens in patients with asthma, rhinitis, urticaria and angioedema. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the sensitization rate of Trichophyton, to determine serum specific IgE antibody, and to confirm Trichophyton as a causative antigen in patients with allergic diseases. METHODS: A total of 1,806 patients were enrolled in this study. Skin prick test was performed with 50 common inhalant allergens and 20 food allergens. Serum specific IgE antibodies were determined by ELISA using Trichophyton mentagrophytes antigen in 60 patients among positive skin responders to Trichophyton antigens and in 20 controls. For evaluation of cross-reactivity between Trichophyton and other fungal species, competitive ELISA inhibition test was performed. SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblot analysis using T. mentagrophytes antigen were applied in 7 patients with high specific IgE titers. RESULTS: 102 patients (5.7%) showed positive response to T. mentagrophytes on skin prick test, and six patients showed isolated positive responses. Serum specific IgE increased according to skin reactivity (p<0.05). SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblot showed 10 IgE-binding components (11, 17, 27, 32, 35, 38, 42, 48, 49, 51 kDa) within Trichophyton extracts. Trichophyton-ELISA inhibition test showed dose-dependent inhibitions with additions of Trichophyton antigens, while minimal inhibitions were noted with additions of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Clados- porium. CONCLUSIONS: Trichophyton could induce IgE sensitization in allergy patients. The sensitization rate on skin prick test was 5.7%. Trichophyton antigen should be included in skin prick test battery to screen causative agents for allergy patients.
Allergens* ; Alternaria ; Angioedema ; Antibodies ; Arthrodermataceae ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fusarium ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Rhinitis ; Skin ; Trichophyton* ; Urticaria

A multiple primary malignant tumor is a disease mainly encountered in the of the older age groups. Attempts should be made to rule out a second primary malignant neoplasm in the elderly patients with unusual signs and symptoms. We encountered a case of a 67-year-old male with triple primary malignant tumors of the stomach, larynx, and lung. The patient had been treated with a subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer in 1991 and a Laser laryngectomy for the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in 2003. In 2005, lung cancer was found with the biopsy revealing an adenosquamous carcinoma. Systemic chemotherapy was performed.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drug Therapy ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Laryngectomy ; Larynx* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) and TGF beta1 have been known as a central regulator in airway remodeling. There have been some reports demonstrating expression of EGFR and TGF beta1 in airway mucosa of asthmatic patients. However, the expression of EGFR and TGF beta1 in bronchial epithelium of TDI-induced asthmatics has not been observed. The aim of this study was to observe expression of EGFR and TGF beta1 and evaluate their roles in pathogenic mechanism of TDI-induced asthma. METHODS: EGFR and TGF beta1 expression were compared using immunohistochemistry technique in bronchial mucosa from 22 subjects with TDI-induced asthma(group I: 10 newly diagnosed, group II: 12 TDI-induced asthma patients with persistent asthma symptoms for more than 5 years after diagnosis), 7 non-asthmatics undergoing pneumonectomy from lung tumor, and 3 healthy subjects. The intensity of expression was analyzed by two observers. The grade of intensity was presented from 0 to 3. Subepithelial basement membrane (SBM) thickness was measured using an image analyzer. RESULTS: EGFR expression was significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in wntrois (p>0.05), while no significant difference were nosed in TGF beta1 expression (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in EGFR expression between group I and II (p>0.05). However, grade of TGF beta1 expression was significantly higher in group II than those of group I (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in EGFR/TGF beta1 ratio between between group I and II (2.31+/-0.27 vs 1.28+/-0.11, p<0.05). SBM thickness of TDI-induced asthma was significantly higher than those of non-asthmatics (p<0.05), while there was no significant difference between group I and II (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EGFR and TGF beta1 may contribute to pathogenesis of TDI-induced asthma. However, further studies are required to evaluate the role of EGFR and TGF beta1 in the pathogenesis of TDI-induced asthma.
Airway Remodeling ; Asthma* ; Basement Membrane ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; Mucous Membrane* ; Nose ; Pneumonectomy ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate* ; Toluene* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1* ; Transforming Growth Factors*

Metronidazole may produce a number of neurologic side effects including peripheral neuropathy, seizure, encephalopathy. We experienced neurological side effects of metronidazole. The 32-year-old female patient with spinal cord injury was diagnosed as encephalophathy and peripheral polyneuropathy resulting from complication of metronidazole. It was difficult to diagnose at first glance using clinical findings because of paraplegia due to spinal cord injury. But through magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion weighted imaging and electrophysiologic study, the patient showed to have characteristic abnormalities that of a person suffering from metronidazole-induced encephalopathy and peripheral polyneuropathy. Whether the symptoms were caused by a peripheral nerve lesion or MIE, the patient's paraplegia prevented to appear other symptoms, such as ataxic gait and seizure, from manifesting. In such case as this, an active differentiated diagnosis is crucial.
Adult ; Diffusion ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Metronidazole ; Paraplegia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Polyneuropathies ; Seizures ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stress, Psychological

Metronidazole may produce a number of neurologic side effects including peripheral neuropathy, seizure, encephalopathy. We experienced neurological side effects of metronidazole. The 32-year-old female patient with spinal cord injury was diagnosed as encephalophathy and peripheral polyneuropathy resulting from complication of metronidazole. It was difficult to diagnose at first glance using clinical findings because of paraplegia due to spinal cord injury. But through magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion weighted imaging and electrophysiologic study, the patient showed to have characteristic abnormalities that of a person suffering from metronidazole-induced encephalopathy and peripheral polyneuropathy. Whether the symptoms were caused by a peripheral nerve lesion or MIE, the patient's paraplegia prevented to appear other symptoms, such as ataxic gait and seizure, from manifesting. In such case as this, an active differentiated diagnosis is crucial.
Adult ; Diffusion ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Metronidazole ; Paraplegia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Polyneuropathies ; Seizures ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are clinically heterogeneous because its diagnosis is based solely on clinical observation and there are no definitive biomarkers. We dissected the clinical heterogeneity of KD patients using the KD-associated genetic variants. METHODS: We performed a genetic association analysis in several KD subgroups categorized by clinical characteristics using the KD-associated variants of the B lymphoid tyrosine kinase (BLK; rs6993775) and Fc gamma receptor II a (FCGR2A; rs1801274) in a large number of case (n=1,011) and control (n=4,533) samples. RESULTS: BLK and FCGR2A were very significantly associated with KD in Korean KD patients (odds ratio [OR],1.48; p=4.63×10⁻¹¹ for BLK, and OR, 1.26; p=1.42×10⁻⁴ for FCGR2A). However, in KD subgroup analysis, we found that neither BLK nor FCGR2A were associated with either incomplete Kawasaki disease (iKD) type patients or those older than 5 years of age (p>0.2), suggesting that patients with iKD or those older than 5 years of age are a unique subgroup of KD. In genetic association analysis after excluding iKD patients and those older than 5 years old, we found that BLK was associated with all KD subgroups, whereas FCGR2A was specifically associated with male KD patients younger than 1 year of age (OR, 2.22; p=2.35×10⁻⁵). CONCLUSIONS KD is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease. These findings will provide new insights into the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of KD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are clinically heterogeneous because its diagnosis is based solely on clinical observation and there are no definitive biomarkers. We dissected the clinical heterogeneity of KD patients using the KD-associated genetic variants. METHODS: We performed a genetic association analysis in several KD subgroups categorized by clinical characteristics using the KD-associated variants of the B lymphoid tyrosine kinase (BLK; rs6993775) and Fc gamma receptor II a (FCGR2A; rs1801274) in a large number of case (n=1,011) and control (n=4,533) samples. RESULTS: BLK and FCGR2A were very significantly associated with KD in Korean KD patients (odds ratio [OR],1.48; p=4.63×10⁻¹¹ for BLK, and OR, 1.26; p=1.42×10⁻⁴ for FCGR2A). However, in KD subgroup analysis, we found that neither BLK nor FCGR2A were associated with either incomplete Kawasaki disease (iKD) type patients or those older than 5 years of age (p>0.2), suggesting that patients with iKD or those older than 5 years of age are a unique subgroup of KD. In genetic association analysis after excluding iKD patients and those older than 5 years old, we found that BLK was associated with all KD subgroups, whereas FCGR2A was specifically associated with male KD patients younger than 1 year of age (OR, 2.22; p=2.35×10⁻⁵). CONCLUSIONS: KD is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease. These findings will provide new insights into the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of KD.
Biomarkers ; Diagnosis ; Genetic Heterogeneity ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Population Characteristics ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases