No abstract available.

Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites is defined as the appearance of intense skin reactive lesions and systemic symptoms subsequent to mosquito bites. Most cases of hypersensitivity to mosquito bites reported thus far have been associated with chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection or natural killer cell leukemia/lymphoma. In this study, we describe the case of an 18-year-old Korean boy who had hypersensitivity to mosquito bites associated with primary systemic anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. After a mosquito bite, the patient developed a progressive cutaneous nodule on his left lower leg and regional lymphadenopathy in the left inguinal area. The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings suggested anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the left T4 vertebrae, left external iliac lymph nodes, left inguinal lymph nodes, and lateral subcutaneous region of the left lower leg. According to the clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings, as well as the imaging data, the patient was diagnosed with primary systemic anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Consequently, the patient received a total of 6 cycles of cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + vincristine + prednisolone chemotherapy at 3-week intervals, after which the lesions regressed.
Adolescent ; Culicidae* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Electrons ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leg ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic* ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Skin ; Spine ; Vincristine

BACKGROUND: Incontinence and muscle loss are important senior health issues. Nevertheless, there are no available domestic or international studies on the association between urinary incontinence and muscle loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between muscle loss and urinary incontinence in elderly Korean woman. METHODS: Korean women (1,313) > or =65 years of age whose complete body composition data were collected using dual X-ray absorptiometry were analyzed from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys. Class I and II losses of the appendicular, truncal, and total muscle mass were defined using adjustments for weight and height. Each participant's incontinence status was collected using constructed questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the association between muscle loss and incontinence. RESULTS: On the basis of physician-diagnosed incontinence, weight- and height-adjusted muscle loss showed no association with urinary incontinence (weight-adjusted muscle loss: class I adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34 to 1.73; class II aOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.59 to 3.18; height-adjusted muscle loss: class I aOR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.18 to 1.51; class II aOR, 1.86; 95% CI, 0.22 to 15.79). Similar results were observed for truncal muscle and total muscle mass as well as self-reported urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: Our study found no association between urinary incontinence and appendicular, truncal, and total muscle loss in elderly Korean women.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged* ; Body Composition ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscular Atrophy ; Odds Ratio ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Incontinence*

BACKGROUND: Neck circumference, as a predicator of obesity, is a well-known risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular diseases. However, little research exists on neck length associated with these factors. This study explored the association of neck length with sleep and cardiovascular risk factors by measuring midline neck length (MNL) and lateral neck length (LNL). METHODS: We examined 240 patients aged 30 to 75 years who visited a health check-up center between January 2012 and July 2012. Patients with depressive disorder or sleep disturbance were excluded from this study. MNL from the upper margin of the hyoid bone to the jugular notch and LNL from the mandibular angle to the mid-portion of the ipsilateral clavicle were measured twice and were adjusted by height to determine their relationship with sleep and cardiovascular disease risk factors. RESULTS: Habitual snorers had shorter LNL height ratios (P = 0.011), MNL height ratios in men (P = 0.062), and MNL height ratios in women (P = 0.052). Those snoring bad enough to annoy others had shorter MNL height ratios in men (P = 0.083) and women (P = 0.035). Men with objective sleep apnea had longer distances from the mandible to the hyoid bone to the mandible (P = 0.057). Men with metabolic syndrome had significantly shorter LNL height ratios (P = 0.021), and women with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome had shorter MNL height ratios (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that a short neck by measuring the MNL is probably associated with snoring. In addition, MNL is related to cardiovascular disease risk factors in women.
Anthropometry ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Clavicle ; Depressive Disorder ; Female ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Hyperlipidemias ; Male ; Mandible ; Neck* ; Obesity ; Risk Factors* ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Snoring

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate some of the major risk factors of myocardial infarction including dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with premature myocardial infarction (age <50 years old) and myocardial infarction (age > or =50 years). METHODS: This is a parallel case-control study on 50 premature myocardial infarction patients and 50 myocardial infarction patients. We also recruited 50 matched participants for each of the two groups. Patients and their control groups were assessed for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate serum level, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension. In addition, family history of cardiovascular disease and current smoking was recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate predictors of premature myocardial infarction and myocardial infarction. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the demographic data of patients and their controls. The dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate serum level was significantly higher in patients with premature myocardial infarction compared with controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed only serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level to be significantly associated with premature myocardial infarction (odds ratio, 2.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.44 to 4.877; P = 0.002). Additionally, hypertension was found to be associated with myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level are associated with premature myocardial infarction but not with myocardial infarction, and this association is independent of the effects of other risk factors.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Case-Control Studies ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking

Cardiac myxoma is often discovered as an incidental finding and presents with various subtle symptoms and signs. Electrocardiographic findings are mostly non-specific. Atrial flutter or conduction abnormalities are known to be rare. We report a case of large left atrial myxoma that was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography at a primary care clinic. An asymptomatic, 71-year-old woman presented with serial abnormal electrocardiogram changes during a routine consultation. A diagnosis of left atrial myxoma was obtained through transthoracic echocardiography. We report this case with a review of literature on cardiac myxoma associated with arrhythmia.
Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Flutter ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Myxoma* ; Primary Health Care

A 39-year-old Caucasian man was referred to University Hospital Salamanca from a primary care unit due to the presence of an erythematous violaceous nodule at the superior portion of his nose. Physical examination indicated that the firm, fixed erythematous violaceous nodule measured approximately 2 cm in diameter and was located inferior to a scar on the nasal bridge. Cutaneous involvement in sarcoidosis occurs in 25% of cases. A wide range of clinical presentations of cutaneous sarcoidosis is recognized. Skin lesions are classified as either non-specific, of which erythema nodosum is the most representative and specific, or as granulomatous, which includes maculopapular nodules, plaques, infiltrated scars, lupus pernio, ulcerations, warty lesions and erythroderma. Scar sarcoidosis is a type of cutaneous sarcoidosis.
Adult ; Chilblains ; Cicatrix ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Erythema Nodosum ; Humans ; Nose ; Physical Examination ; Primary Health Care ; Sarcoidosis* ; Skin ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become the most common cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Health screening is associated with higher outpatient visits for detection and treatment of CVD-related diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia). We examined the association between health screening, health utilization, and economic status. METHODS: A sampled cohort database from the National Health Insurance Corporation was used. We included 306,206 participants, aged over 40 years, without CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, and cerebral hemorrhage), CVD-related disease, cancer, and chronic renal disease. The follow-up period was from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005. RESULTS: Totally, 104,584 participants received at least one health screening in 2003–2004. The odds ratio of the health screening attendance rate for the five economic status categories was 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24 to 1.31), 1.05 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.08), 1, 1.16 (95% CI, 1.13 to 1.19) and 1.50 (95% CI, 1.46 to 1.53), respectively. For economic status 1, 3, and 5, respectively, the diagnostic rate after health screening was as follows: diabetes mellitus: 5.94%, 5.36%, and 3.77%; hypertension: 32.75%, 30.16%, and 25.23%; and dyslipidemia: 13.43%, 12.69%, and 12.20%. The outpatient visit rate for attendees diagnosed with CVD-related disease was as follows for economic status 1, 3, and 5, respectively: diabetes mellitus: 37.69%, 37.30%, and 43.70%; hypertension: 34.44%, 30.09%, and 32.31%; and dyslipidemia: 18.83%, 20.35%, and 23.48%. CONCLUSION: Thus, higher or lower economic status groups had a higher health screening attendance rate than the middle economic status group. The lower economic status group showed lower outpatient visits after screening, although it had a higher rate of CVD diagnosis.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Dyslipidemias ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; National Health Programs ; Odds Ratio ; Outpatients ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: Youth suicide is increasingly being recognized as a major social problem in South Korea. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of parental support on the relationship between life stress and suicidal ideation among middle-school students. METHODS: This study analyzed data from a cross-sectional study on mental health conducted by the South Korea National Youth Policy Institute between May and July of 2013. Questionnaire responses from 3,007 middle-school students regarding stress factors, thoughts of suicide during the past year, and parental support were analyzed in terms of 3 subscale elements: emotional, academic, and financial support. RESULTS: Among the participants, 234 male students (7.8%) and 476 female students (15.8%) reported experiencing suicidal ideation in the past year. Life stress significantly influenced suicidal ideation (P<0.001), and parental support and all of the subscale elements had a significant influence on decreasing suicidal ideation. As shown in model 1, life stress increased suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.318; P<0.001), and, in model 2, the effect of life stress on suicidal ideation decreased with parental support (aOR, 1.238; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Parental support was independently related to a decrease in suicidal ideation, and life stress was independently related to an increase in suicidal ideation. Parental support buffered the relationship between life stress and suicidal ideation.
Adolescent ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Financial Support ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mental Health ; Negotiating* ; Odds Ratio ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents* ; Social Problems ; Stress, Psychological* ; Suicidal Ideation* ; Suicide

BACKGROUND: We examined the association between salivary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and chronic fatigue combined with depression and insomnia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 58 healthy adults with moderate to severe fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory [BFI] ≥4) for longer than 6 months. Subjects were classified as those without combined symptoms, with either depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] ≥13) or insomnia (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] ≥5), or with both depression and insomnia. Salivary mtDNA copy number was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The association was evaluated using a general linear model. RESULTS: About 76% of participants had either depression or insomnia as additional symptoms. These subjects were predominately female, drank more alcohol, and exercised less than those without combined symptoms (P<0.05). The group with both depression and insomnia exhibited significantly higher BFI and lower mtDNA copy number than those without combined symptoms (P<0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, significant negative associations between mtDNA copy number and usual fatigue were found in the group without combined symptoms, whereas the negative associations in the group with combined symptoms were attenuated. BDI and PSQI were not associated with mtDNA copy number. CONCLUSION: Chronic fatigue is negatively associated with salivary mtDNA copy number. Salivary mtDNA copy number may be a biological marker of fatigue with or without combined symptoms, indicating that a separate approach is necessary.
Adult* ; Biomarkers ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Fatigue* ; Female ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Mental Fatigue ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sleep Wake Disorders