OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to survey the requirements of Oriental Medical Informatics, and to suggest a direction that Oriental Medical Informatics development may take. METHODS: Consumers and medical experts were randomly selected, and 14 uestions for consumers and 17 questions for medical experts were sent to respondents by mail and e-mail. RESULTS: Both consumers and medical experts were greatly concerned with the systemized dissemination of Oriental Medical Information, but they were not satisfied with it because of the perceived low quality of the information. Medical experts responded that they need standards and statistical evidences for Oriental Medicine. Consumers demanded good-quality information about diseases and health management. CONCLUSION: To carry out Oriental Medical Informatics, it is necessary to conduct a joint research between the sectors of Oriental Medicine and Information Technology, followed by the development of a standard information infrastructure. Oriental Medicine must also have standards in terms of medical data content, data format, and data communication, to ensure the reliability of the disseminated information on Oriental Medicine.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Electronic Mail ; Joints ; Medical Informatics ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional* ; Postal Service

Background: Chronic diseases increase the risk of depression. We selected the most frequent chronic eye diseases and their combinations. We compared the risk of diagnosis and the current prevalence of depression based on eye diseases and their combinations. Methods: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021), which included responses from 10,910 adults aged 18 years or older who answered a questionnaire on eye diseases and diagnosis of depression, were analyzed. The study group and control group consists of 3,007 and 7,903 individuals. In the study group, individuals with a single eye disease were categorized as having cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases. Patients with two eye diseases were categorized as having glaucoma with cataracts, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts with macular degeneration, or two other eye diseases. The remaining patients were classified as having three or more eye diseases. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis using correction variables were used for statistical analysis. Results: The high-risk factors for depression in the past were cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The risk of current depression was statistically significant only for cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts, and dry eye. Conclusion Patients with eye diseases that are highly associated with depression require active screening and treatment.

Background: Chronic diseases increase the risk of depression. We selected the most frequent chronic eye diseases and their combinations. We compared the risk of diagnosis and the current prevalence of depression based on eye diseases and their combinations. Methods: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021), which included responses from 10,910 adults aged 18 years or older who answered a questionnaire on eye diseases and diagnosis of depression, were analyzed. The study group and control group consists of 3,007 and 7,903 individuals. In the study group, individuals with a single eye disease were categorized as having cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases. Patients with two eye diseases were categorized as having glaucoma with cataracts, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts with macular degeneration, or two other eye diseases. The remaining patients were classified as having three or more eye diseases. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis using correction variables were used for statistical analysis. Results: The high-risk factors for depression in the past were cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The risk of current depression was statistically significant only for cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts, and dry eye. Conclusion Patients with eye diseases that are highly associated with depression require active screening and treatment.

Background: Chronic diseases increase the risk of depression. We selected the most frequent chronic eye diseases and their combinations. We compared the risk of diagnosis and the current prevalence of depression based on eye diseases and their combinations. Methods: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021), which included responses from 10,910 adults aged 18 years or older who answered a questionnaire on eye diseases and diagnosis of depression, were analyzed. The study group and control group consists of 3,007 and 7,903 individuals. In the study group, individuals with a single eye disease were categorized as having cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases. Patients with two eye diseases were categorized as having glaucoma with cataracts, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts with macular degeneration, or two other eye diseases. The remaining patients were classified as having three or more eye diseases. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis using correction variables were used for statistical analysis. Results: The high-risk factors for depression in the past were cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The risk of current depression was statistically significant only for cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts, and dry eye. Conclusion Patients with eye diseases that are highly associated with depression require active screening and treatment.

Background: Chronic diseases increase the risk of depression. We selected the most frequent chronic eye diseases and their combinations. We compared the risk of diagnosis and the current prevalence of depression based on eye diseases and their combinations. Methods: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021), which included responses from 10,910 adults aged 18 years or older who answered a questionnaire on eye diseases and diagnosis of depression, were analyzed. The study group and control group consists of 3,007 and 7,903 individuals. In the study group, individuals with a single eye disease were categorized as having cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases. Patients with two eye diseases were categorized as having glaucoma with cataracts, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts with macular degeneration, or two other eye diseases. The remaining patients were classified as having three or more eye diseases. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis using correction variables were used for statistical analysis. Results: The high-risk factors for depression in the past were cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The risk of current depression was statistically significant only for cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts, and dry eye. Conclusion Patients with eye diseases that are highly associated with depression require active screening and treatment.

OBJECTIVES: This research was conducted to identify the consumers' food choice factors that affect the consumers' replacement of soft drinks with carbonated water. METHODS: The present study used secondary data from a consumer panel survey conducted by the Rural Development Administration of Korea, and the data included the panel members' purchase records based on their monthly spending receipts. The survey asked the participants about their food choice factors and their personal responsibility for their health. This survey included independent variables for the consumers' food purchase factors. As a dependent variable, two types of groups were defined. The replacement group included those people who increased their purchase of carbonated water and decreased their purchase of soft drinks. The non-replacement group included those people who did not change their purchase patterns or they increased their purchase of soft drinks and they decreased their purchase of carbonated water. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the consumers' food choice factors that were associated with replacing soft drinks with carbonated water. RESULTS: The replacement group was significantly associated with (1) a younger age (OR=0.953), (2) being a housewife (OR=2.03), (3) higher income (OR=1.001) and (4) less concern about price (OR=0.819) when purchasing food. This group also showed (5) higher enjoyment (OR=1.328) when choosing food and (6) they took greater responsibly for their personal health (OR=1.233). CONCLUSIONS: This research is the first study to mainly focus on soft drinks and carbonated water. The result of this research showed that young, health-conscious consumers with a higher income and who are more interested in food have more possibilities to replace soft drinks with carbonated water. These research findings may be applied to consumers who have characteristics that are similar to the young health-conscious consumers and the results can help to suggest ways to reduce sugar intake and improve public health. However, this research has a limitation due to the application of secondary data. Therefore, a future study is needed to develop detailed survey questions about food choice factors and to extend these factors to all beverages, including soft drinks made with sugar substitutes, so as to reflect the growth of alternative industries that use artificial sweeteners or different types of sugar to make commercially available drinks.
Beverages ; Carbon ; Carbonated Beverages ; Carbonated Water ; Consumer Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Public Health ; Social Planning ; Sweetening Agents

PURPOSE: Gallbladder cancer had poor prognosis because it is usually detected at a late stage. Some GB polyps are diagnosed as cancerous on the postoperative pathology. Because of the significance of the early detection of the cancer, the relationship between GB polyp and cancer is important. METHODS: From January 1994 to May, 2004, 94 cases of GB polypoid lesions were identified and diagnosed after cholecystectomy was performed at the Korea University Medical Center Anam hospital. The pateints' age, gender, the symptoms and signs, the diagnostic tools, the operative methods and the histopathologic findings were investigated. RESULTS: For the 94 patients, the mean age was 50.3+/-13.1 years and there were 42 males (44.7%). 92 patients were evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography, and it had a sensitivity of 72.8%. On the histopathologic results, there were 76 cases of benign polyps and 18 cases of malignant polyps. The diameter of the malignant polyps was 17.3+/-8.5 mm and the diameter of the benign polyps was 6.4+/-3.0 mm, so the malignant polyps were larger than the benign polyps. The mean age of the malignant polyp group was 62.6+/-14.2 years and the mean age of the benign polyp group was 47.1+/-11.1. The patients of the malignant polyp group were older than the patients of the benign polyp group. 19 GB polyps were greater than 10 mm in diameter and among them, there were 15 cases of malignant polyps (78.94%). CONCLUSION: The size of the polyps and the patient's age could be risk factors for malignant polyps, and the malignant potential was high for the polyps that exceeded 10 mm and for a patient age that exceeded 60 years. Surgical treatment is recommended for these patients.
Academic Medical Centers ; Cholecystectomy ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Pathology ; Polyps* ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of a nosocomial FCV-VSD outbreak involving 18 cats in Korea. Methods: Medical records of cats diagnosed with FCV-VSD from March to September 2018 at a referral veterinary hospital were reviewed. The patient’s signalment, history, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis were evaluated. Results: Two outbreaks involving 18 cats diagnosed with FCV-VSD occurred over a 6-month period at a referral hospital in Korea. Anorexia, lethargy, fever, and limb edema were the most commonly observed clinical symptoms. Lymphopenia and macrothrombocytopenia were the most common hematological findings, and hyperbilirubinemia and increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and serum amyloid A were the most frequent results of serum biochemistry. FCV was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 11 patients and the remaining 7 were suspected with FCV-VSD. The overall mortality rate was 72.2%. The hospital was closed and disinfected twice, and no additional outbreaks have occurred since the last patient. Conclusions and Relevance: The clinical and diagnostic characteristics and outcomes of FCV-VSD described in this study can be used to recognize and contain infectious diseases through quick action. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a nosocomial outbreak of FCV-VSD in Asia.

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells develop in the thymus upon recognition of CD1d expressed on developing thymocytes. Although CD4 and CD8 coreceptors are not directly involved in the interaction between CD1d and the T cell receptors (TCRs) of iNKT cells, a conspicuous lack of CD8+ iNKT cells in mice raised the question of whether CD8+ iNKT cells are excluded due to negative selection during their thymic development, or if there is no lineage commitment for the development of murine CD8+ iNKT cells. To address this question, we analyzed iNKT cell-specific TCR Valpha14+ transgenic mice, where the Valpha14 transgene forces the generation of iNKT cells. This allows detailed study of the iNKT cell repertoire. We were able to identify CD8+ iNKT cells which respond to the NKT cell-specific glycolipid ligand alpha-galactosylceramide. Unlike conventional iNKT cells, CD8+ iNKT cells produce predominantly IFN-gamma but not IL-4 upon antigen stimulation. We also confirmed the presence of CD8+ iNKT cells in wild type mice. Our results suggest that CD8+ NKT cells do exist in mice, although their population size is quite small. Their Th1-skewed phenotype might explain why the population size of this subtype needs to be controlled tightly.
Animals ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology/metabolism ; Galactosylceramides/immunology ; Interferon-gamma/immunology ; Interleukin-4/immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Natural Killer T-Cells/*immunology/metabolism ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/*genetics ; Transgenes

Osler-Weber-Rendu disease is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of fibrovascular tissues, characterized by a classic triad of mucocutaneous telangiectasias, recurrent hemorrhages, and a familial occurrence. Portosystemic encephalopathy in a patient with Osler-Weber-Rendu disease is rare, but we experienced a case presenting with recurrent portosystemic encephalopathy in Osler-Weber-Rendu disease. We report on a case of a 75-year-old female presenting with an altered mentality. Initial studies including brain imaging study did not reveal any specific cause for her mental status. She was diagnosed with the rare disease after a series of tests and received conservative treatment. Her neurological status recovered fully without complication after conservative treatment and she was discharged after 18 hospital days. This case demonstrated an extremely rare case of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease presenting as portosystemic encephalopathy treated successfully with conservative treatment. For patients who have shown hepatic encephalopathy without a definite cause, we recommend evaluation for the possibility of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease. Conservative treatment based on treatment of advanced liver cirrhosis could be an alternative solution.
Aged ; Brain/diagnostic imaging ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pedigree ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Malformations/etiology