BACKGROUND: Spirometry should be compared with the normal predictive values obtained from the same population using the same procedures, because different ethnicity and different procedures are known to influence the spirometry results. This study was performed to obtain the normal predictive values of the Forced Vital Capacity(FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second(FEV1), Forced Expiratory Volume in 6 Seconds(FEV6), and FEV1/FVC for a representative Korean population. METHODS: Based on the 2000 Population Census of the National Statistical Office of Korea, stratified random sampling was carried out to obtain representative samples of the Korean population. This study was performed as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Korea in 2001. The lung function was measured using the standardized methods and protocols recommended by the American Thoracic Society. Among those 4,816 subjects who had performed spirometry performed, there was a total of 1,212 nonsmokers (206 males and 1,006 females) with no significant history of respiratory diseases and symptoms, with clear chest X?rays, and with no significant exposure to respiratory hazards subjects. Their residence and age distribution was representative of the whole nation. Mixed effect models were examined based on the Akaike's information criteria in statistical analysis, and those variables common to both genders were analyzed by regression analysis to obtain the final equations. RESULTS: The variables affecting the normal predicted values of the FVC and FEV6 for males and females were age2, height, and weight. The variables affecting the normal predicted values of the FEV1 for males and females were age2, and height. The variables affecting the normal predicted values of the FEV1/FVC for male and female were age and height. CONCLUSION: The predicted values of the FVC and FEV1 was higher in this study than in other Korean or foreign studies, even though the difference was < 10%. When compared with those predicted values for Caucasian populations, the study results were actually comparable or higher, which might be due to the stricter criteria of the normal population and the systemic quality controls applied to the whole study procedures together with the rapid physical growth of the younger generations in Korea.
Age Distribution ; Censuses ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Quality Control ; Spirometry* ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the influences of skin temperature and age on latency and amplitude of the sympathetic skin response (SSR). METHOD: We examined the sympathetic skin responses in 77 normal subjects aged 25 to 73 years. With stimulation of both median nerve and both tibial nerve at the wrist and ankle, the SSRs were recorded from both palms and soles simulaneously. To determine the effects of skin temperature change on SSR, we examined the SSRs in 12 healthy subjects before and after heating. The heat was applied on right forearm by infra-red lamp. RESULTS: The mean latency and the mean amplitude of SSR with stimulation of the right median nerve at the wrist were 1.47 sec and 6.08 mV at the right palm, 1.50 sec and 6.07 mV at the left palm, 1.95 sec and 3.38 mV at right sole, and 1.95 sec and 3.09 mV at left sole. There was no side-to-side difference in the latency and the amplitude. Regardless of the site of stimulation, latency was longer at the sole than at the palm, and amplitude was greater at the palm than at the sole (p<0.05). The latency of the SSR was positively correlated with the age of subjects (p<0.05), and the amplitude was negatively correlated with the age of subjects (p<0.05). At higher skin temperature, the latency of SSR was shortened and the amplitude was reduced significantly (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The amplitude of the SSR decreases with aging and the latency increases with aging. As the skin temperature rises, the latency and amplitude show tendency to decrease. We suggest that the skin temperature and age are important factors to be considered carefully in assessing the SSR parameters.
Aging* ; Ankle ; Forearm ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Median Nerve ; Skin Temperature* ; Skin* ; Tibial Nerve ; Wrist

Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites is a disorder characterized by necrotic skin reactions and systemic generalized symptoms subsequent to mosquito bites. This disease has been reported mostly in Japanese patients in their first two decades of life. Recent studies have revealed that hypersensitivity to mosquito bites is frequently associated with chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection and natural killer cell leukemia/lymphoma. We describe here a Korean male adolescent who had hypersensitivity to mosquito bites accompanied by chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection and atypical lymphocytosis.
Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Culicidae* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphocytosis* ; Skin