OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and foot parameters. METHOD: We examined 1, 107 feet of 872 volunteers (male: 325, female: 547) with 3D foot scanner (Nexcan , K & I, Korea). The relations of BMI and foot parameters were analyzed by partial correlation analysis with adjusted height. We classified subjects into 4 groups by BMI; low-weight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal-weight (18.5~22.9 kg/m2), over- weight (23.0~24.9 kg/m2) and obesity (>25 kg/m2) group. The relations of these groups and foot parameters were analyzed by univariate ANOVA with fixed height. RESULTS: Instep point length, ball width and girth, waist, instep height and girth, and vamp height showed a positive relation to BMI (p<0.01). However, foot parameters related to longitudinal length and medial longitudinal arch had no significant relation to BMI (p<0.01). Ball width and girth, waist, instep height and girth, vamp height were significantly highest in obesity group compared to the other groups (p<0.05). However, foot parameters related to longitudinal length and medial longitudinal arch showed no significant difference between these 4 groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that BMI was positively related to height, width, girth of foot. But, BMI had no significant relation to length of foot, and medial longitudinal arch.
Body Mass Index* ; Female ; Foot* ; Humans ; Obesity ; Volunteers

The human genome has evolved as a consequence of evolutionary forces, such as natural selection. In this study, we investigated natural selection on the human genes by comparing the numbers of nonsynonymous(NS) and synonymous (S) mutations in individual genes. We initially collected all coding SNP data of all human genes from the public dbSNP. Among the human genes, we selected 3 different selection groups of genes: positively selected genes (NS/S > or = 3), negatively selected genes (NS/S < or = 1/3) and neutral selection genes (0.9 < NS/S < 1.1). We characterized human genes targeted by natural selection. Negatively selected human genes were markedly associated with disease occurrence, but not positively selected genes. Interestingly, positively selected genes displayed an increase in potentially deleterious nonsynonymous SNPs with an increased frequency of tryptophan and tyrosine residues, suggesting a correlation with protective effects against human disease. Furthermore, our nonsynonymous/synonymous ratio data imply that specific human genes, such as ALMS1 and SPTBN5 genes, are differentially selected among distinct populations. We confirmed that inferences of natural selection using the NS/S ratio can be used extensively to identify functional genes selected during the evolutionary adaptation process.
Clinical Coding ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Selection, Genetic ; Tryptophan ; Tyrosine

A 10-year-old female patient presented with a rapidly growing nodular mass lesion on her right frontal area. On skull radiography and computed tomography (CT) imaging, this mass had a well-demarcated punch-out lesion with a transdiploic, exophytic soft tissue mass nodule on the frontal scalp. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed the presence of a 1.5x1.2x1 cm sized calvarial lesion. This lesion was hypointense on T1 and heterogenous hyperintense on T2 weighted MR images, and exhibited heterogeneous enhancement of the soft tissue filling the punch-out lesion after intravenous administration of gadolinium. En block removal of the tumor with resection of the rim of the normal bone was performed. The pathological diagnosis was intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH). After surgery, no recurrence was found for 8 months. IPEH is a rare and benign reactive lesion usually found in thrombosed subcutaneous blood vessels. Involvement of skull bone is rare. In this article, we present a case of IPEH involving the calvarium, in a 10-year-old woman.
Administration, Intravenous ; Blood Vessels ; Child ; Female ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Skull

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilia in hemodialysis (HD) patients has been associated with allergic reactions to dialyzers and exaggerated activation of complement during HD. Complement activation can lead to cytokine production. The cause of the eosinophilia is controversial and maybe multifactorial. Eosinophilia is stimulated by T lymphocytes and maybe related to the immune dysfunction of uremic patients. The aim of this study is to elucidate the relationship between the eosinophilia and serum cytokine concentrations in maintenance HD patients and to reveal whether the eosinophilia in HD patients reflects HD-associated cytokine production. METHODS: We examined 40 HD patients who were stable for a minimum of 3 months at our hemodialysis unit. We measured eosinophil count and eosinophil percent on peripheral blood smear. Eosinophilia was defined as >or=350 cells/mm3 or >or=5% on smear. The serum concentrations of Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-5 (IL-5), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA before (pre) and after (post) dialysis. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with eosinophilia were compared 27 patients without eosinophilia. In patients with eosinophilia, serum concentrations of IL-1beta and IL-2 were significantly elevated after dialysis than before dialysis (p<0.05). Post-HD IL-6 concentrations also were elevated, but statistically insignificant. IL-5 concentrations were not elevated after dialysis. In patients without eosinophilia, serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-2 and IL-6 were significantly elevated after dialysis (p<0.05). IL-5 concentrations were not elevated after dialysis. The eosinophil counts were not correlated to age, gender, underlying disease, serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, albumin, CRP and the levels of post dialysis cytokines. CONCLUSION: Independently on eosinophilia in HD, the serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2 and IL-6) were elevated after HD. IL-5 concentrations were not elevated after dialysis. But we could not reveal whether the eosinophilia in maintenance HD patients may be a surrogate marker for the reflection of exaggerated cellular cytokine production during HD or not by this study.
Biomarkers ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Complement Activation ; Complement System Proteins ; Creatinine ; Cytokines ; Dialysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophilia* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukin-6 ; Renal Dialysis* ; T-Lymphocytes

Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is an abnormal localized accumulation of fat tissues in the epidural space. It is strongly related with steroid administration. The symptoms of SEL are various and range from back pain to paraplegia. In severe cases, decompressive laminectomy is the choice of treatment. A 32-year-old woman who had been under long-term steroid administration after suprasellar tumor resection was admitted for both leg radiating pain and weakness. She was diagnosed with SEL and had a decompressive laminectomy. During the operation, we found the nerve roots were compressed by epidural fat tissues and engorged vessels. After the operation, her radiating pain was relieved and motor weakness was improved.
Anticoagulants ; Back Pain ; Dental Cements ; Epidural Space ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Lipomatosis ; Paraplegia

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of tranilast on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in an animal model and on the EMT signaling pathway in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs).METHODS: We performed in vitro studies (cytotoxicity, cell morphology, and western blot analyses) on HPMCs from human omenta, along with in vivo studies (peritoneal membrane function and morphometric and immunohistochemical analyses) on Sprague Dawley rats. Thirty-two rats were divided into three groups: control (C) group (peritoneal dialysis [PD] catheter but not infused with dialysate), PD group (4.25% glucose-containing dialysate), and PD + tranilast group (4.25% glucose-containing dialysate along with tranilast).RESULTS: In in vitro experiments, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) increased α-smooth muscle actin and Snail expression and reduced E-cadherin expression in HPMCs. TGF-β1 also reduced cell contact, induced a fibroblastoid morphology, and increased phosphorylation of Akt, Smad2, and Smad3 in HPMCs. Tranilast significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced EMT and attenuated these morphological changes in HPMCs. In in vivo studies, after 6 weeks of experimental PD, the peritoneal membrane was significantly thicker in the PD group than in the C group. Tranilast protected against PD-induced glucose mass transfer change and histopathological changes in rats.CONCLUSION: Tranilast prevented EMT both in HPMCs triggered with TGF-β1 and in rats with PD-induced peritoneal fibrosis. Thus, tranilast may be considered a therapeutic intervention that enables long-term PD by regulating TGF-β1 signaling pathways.
Actins ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cadherins ; Catheters ; Dialysis ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Fibrosis ; Glucose ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Membranes ; Models, Animal ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Fibrosis ; Peritoneum ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Snails

Irbesartan is a new selective angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonist. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of irbesartan in patients with mild to moderate hypertension and renal disease. On 24 hypertensive patients, oral irbesartan 150mg a day was administered. In cases whose seated diastolic blood pressure did not decrease to 85mmHg after treatment for 4 weeks, the dose of irbesartan was increased to 300mg per day. Every 4 weeks, blood pressure, heart rates, and adverse effects were monitored. And we assessed WBC counts, hemoglobin, hematocrits, platelets, creatinine, BUN, total protein, albumin, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, sodium, potassium, calcium, uric acid and urine protein/creatinine ratio to evaluate the change of renal and hepatic function and other adverse effects. Seated systolic blood pressure was decreased from 157.1+/-3.1mmHg to 135.5+/-3.7mmHg, and seated diastolic blood pressure was also decreased from 99.2+/-1.7mmHg to 84.3+/-2.5mmHg. Irbesartan was effective in lowering blood pressure in 20 among 24 patients, and the effective rate of this drug was 83.3%. After treatment, a non clinically significant increase of heart rates and statistically significant decrease of total cholesterol level were noted. There was no dose-related adverse effect. We conclude that irbesartan is a safe and effective angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonist for lowering blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate hypertension and renal disease.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Angiotensin II ; Bilirubin ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Fasting ; Heart Rate ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Uric Acid

OBJECTIVES: The escalating burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a critical public health issue worldwide. CVD, especially acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke, is the leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in Korea. We aimed to develop algorithms for identifying AMI and stroke events from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database and validate these algorithms through medical record review. METHODS: We first established a concept and definition of “hospitalization episode,” taking into account the unique features of health claims-based NHIS database. We then developed first and recurrent event identification algorithms, separately for AMI and stroke, to determine whether each hospitalization episode represents a true incident case of AMI or stroke. Finally, we assessed our algorithms’ accuracy by calculating their positive predictive values (PPVs) based on medical records of algorithm- identified events. RESULTS: We developed identification algorithms for both AMI and stroke. To validate them, we conducted retrospective review of medical records for 3,140 algorithm-identified events (1,399 AMI and 1,741 stroke events) across 24 hospitals throughout Korea. The overall PPVs for the first and recurrent AMI events were around 92% and 78%, respectively, while those for the first and recurrent stroke events were around 88% and 81%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS We successfully developed algorithms for identifying AMI and stroke events. The algorithms demonstrated high accuracy, with PPVs of approximately 90% for first events and 80% for recurrent events. These findings indicate that our algorithms hold promise as an instrumental tool for the consistent and reliable production of national CVD statistics in Korea.