OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship of serum uric acid to cardiovascular risk factors in Korean male workers. METHODS: We screened 522 male workers at an electrical manufacturing company by a periodic health examination and a questionnaire survey in 2000. We collected data relating to age, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum lipid, fasting blood glucose and serum uric acid. The data were analyzed using a variety of methods, including ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multivariate regression analyses, to examine the association between uric acid and cardiovascular risk factors with a cross-sectional study design. RESULTS: The concentration of serum uric acid showed positive associations with BMI, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol; it was also significantly correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Life-style characteristics, such as smoking and alcohol drinking showed no significant association. From the multivariate regression analyses, BMI, total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels were found to be independent positive predictors of uric acid; while age, blood pressure and smoking status give no independent contribution explaining the variability of serum uric acid levels. Conclusions : This study demonstrates that serum uric acid level have a significant association with cardiovascular risk factors, such as BMI, total cholesterol and blood glucose in some Korean male workers.
Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fasting ; Humans ; Male* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid*

Benign tumors of the testis are rare, accounting for one percent of all testicular tumors including epidermoid cyst of the testis. Herein we report one case of epidermoid cyst of the testis and discuss the pathological criteria for diagnosis and clinical management of the lesion.
Diagnosis ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Testicular Neoplasms ; Testis*

We report of a successfully treated case of fatal bronchospasm, which developed after N-acetylcysteine bolus intratracheal instillation in a 49-year-old female patient with bronchial asthma undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. N-acetylcysteine has been widely used as a potent mucolytic agent since 1963, with few reported adverse reactions. Its mucolytic action is due to the breakage of disulfide bonds in mucus mucoproteins. Most adverse reactions to N-acetylcysteine are usually mild and respond to the termination of the medication and symptomatic treatment with antihistamine. However, several cases of fatal bronchospasm have been reported in asthmatic patients after inhaled or intravenous N-acetylcysteine. N-acetylcysteine induced bronchospasm could be avoided in most asthmatic patients if its concentration is not allowed to exceed 10%, and concomitant beta2-selective bronchodilators are utilized. Nevertheless, asthma is still a potent risk factor and requires special precautions, including careful risk-versus-benefit assessment, close observation and the immediate availability of resuscitation equipment and staff in the event of life-threatening bronchospasm.
Acetylcysteine* ; Asthma* ; Bronchial Spasm* ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucoproteins ; Mucus ; Resuscitation ; Risk Factors

Basophils ; Dental Cementum ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Transplants

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Humans ; Joints ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus

Purpose: To assess awareness of prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening in high risk Korean men 40 years and older.
Materials and Methods: The Korean Urological Oncology Society implemented an online survey of 600 men aged 40 years or older from July 30 to August 6, 2019 to ask questions about prostate cancer and screening.
Results: Of the 600 respondents, 96.5% (579 of 600) were aware of prostate cancer and 49.8% (299 of 600) thought they were at risk. Men in their 60s, men with a family history and men with urological conditions were more concerned about prostate cancer. Most respondents (83.3%, 500 of 600) had never received prostate cancer screening. When asked why they had not, (multiple choices: first, second and third priority), the most common responses were: “They had no symptoms of prostate cancer”; “They were in good health”; “Cost burden of screening”; and “They thought screening was included in the National Health Examination Program.” Only 9.7% (58 of 600) were aware of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). After being informed about PSA, 97.7% (586 of 600) wanted it to be included in national cancer screening.
Conclusions In this survey, 96.5% of respondents were aware of prostate cancer, and 44.2% recognized the need for early screening. However, only 16.7% had received screening. Awareness of prostate cancer risks tended to be high in elderly people, people with a family history and people with urological conditions. The results also indicate that there is support for national-level management and early screening programs for prostate cancer. (Korean J Urol Oncol 2020;18:40-46)

PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis (AR), nationwide in random children and adolescents of Korea. METHODS: A modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire survey was done in 1,820 children from elementary, middle, and high school nationwide in Korea. The subjects were selected by the stratifying sampling method by school grade and five regions. Current AR was defined as having AR symptoms during the last 12 months with a history of physician-diagnosed AR. Skin prick tests for 18 common allergens were performed. RESULTS: The number of males was 945, and that of females was 875. The mean age of the patients was 12.61+/-3.40 years. The prevalence of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Risk factors for current AR were male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.486; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.189-1.856), family history of paternal AR (aOR, 3.208; 95% CI, 2.460-4.182), family history of maternal AR (aOR, 3.138; 95% CI, 2.446-4.025), antibiotic use in infancy (aOR, 1.547; 95% CI, 1.228-1.949), mold exposure during infancy (aOR, 1.416; 95% CI, 1.103-1.819), mold exposure during the last 12 months (aOR, 1.285; 95% CI, 1.012-1.630), and sensitization on skin prick tests (aOR, 2.596; 95% CI, 2.055-3.279). Risk factors for atopic current AR were the same as those of current AR, whereas breast-milk feeding (aOR, 0.720; 95% CI, 0.530-0.976) was a protective factor. Sensitized allergens as risk factors for current AR were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, ragweed, mugwort, oak, alder, birch, Japanese hop, cat, and dog. CONCLUSION: The prevalences of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Male, sex parental AR, antibiotic use in infancy, mold exposure during the last 12 months, mold exposure during infancy, and atopic sensitization were risk factors for current AR. Breast-milk feeding was a protective factor for atopic current AR. Aeroallergen sensitization was an important risk factor for AR.
Adolescent ; Allergens ; Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Betula ; Cats ; Child ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dogs ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Prevalence* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis* ; Risk Factors* ; Skin

Background/Aims: H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) have been used to treat gastritis by inhibiting gastric acid. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are more potent acid suppressants than H2RA.However, the efficacy and safety of low-dose PPI for treating gastritis remain unclear. The aim was to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose PPI for treating gastritis. Methods: A double-blind, noninferiority, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial randomly assigned 476 patients with endoscopic erosive gastritis to a group using esomeprazole 10 mg (DW1903) daily and a group using famotidine 20 mg (DW1903R1) daily for 2 weeks. The full-analysis set included 319 patients (DW1903, n=159; DW1903R1, n=160) and the per-protocol set included 298 patients (DW1903, n=147; DW1903R1, n=151). The primary endpoint (erosion improvement rate) and secondary endpoint (erosion and edema cure rates, improvement rates of hemorrhage, erythema, and symptoms) were assessed after the treatment. Adverse events were compared. Results: According to the full-analysis set, the erosion improvement rates in the DW1903 and DW1903R1 groups were 59.8% and 58.8%, respectively. According to the per-protocol analysis, the erosion improvement rates in the DW1903 and DW1903R1 groups were 61.9% and 59.6%, respectively. Secondary endpoints were not significantly different between two groups except that the hemorrhagic improvement rate was higher in DW1903 with statistical tendency. The number of adverse events were not statistically different. Conclusions DW1903 of a low-dose PPI was not inferior to DW1903R1 of H2RA. Thus, lowdose PPI can be a novel option for treating gastritis (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05163756).