No abstract available.
Epilepsies, Partial* ; Paragonimiasis*

PURPOSE: Stone size and location are generally considered the most important factors associated with spontaneous ureter stone passage (SSP). Several parameters related to inflammatory changes have been identified as predictors associated with SSP. Our aim was to investigate the predictive role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for SSP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 131 patients who were referred to the urology outpatient clinic and diagnosed with unilateral ureteral stones at our emergency department between July 2016 and December 2016. The presence of ureteral stones was confirmed with non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (NCCT) for all patients. SSP was confirmed with either the patient collecting the stone during urination or by NCCT performed at 3 weeks from the first stone episode. Physical examination, urinalysis, complete blood count, serum chemistry and inflammatory markers, plain radiographs, and NCCT at initial presentation were reviewed to analyze predictors of future SSP. RESULTS: Of 113 patients included for analysis, 90 (79.6%) passed their stones spontaneously. The SSP rates within 3 weeks according to the stone's size (5–10 mm and ≤5 mm) were 62.2% and 88.2%, respectively. A lower stone location [odds ratio (OR), 11.54; p=0.001], smaller stone size (≤5 mm) (OR, 8.16; p=0.001), and NLR (<2.3) (OR, 9.03; p=0.003) were independent predictors of SSP. CONCLUSION: Low NLR (<2.3) may predict SSP in patients with ureter stones ×1.0 cm in size. Our results suggest that ureteral inflammation plays an important role in SSP. Early intervention may be considered for patients presenting with high NLR (≥2.3).
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Blood Cell Count ; Calculi ; Chemistry ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Physical Examination ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter* ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Calculi ; Urination ; Urology

Barrett's esophagus is a metaplasia of the esophageal epithelium of any length, such that normal squamous epithelium is replaced by specialized columnar epithelium with goblet cells. It is important to diagnose and survey Barrett's esophagus because it is believed to be the major risk factor for development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in Korea is low. Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a systemic disorder in which patients have combinations of the clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and polymyositis. Although gastroesophageal reflux disease is common in esophageal involvement in MCTD, long-segment Barrett's esophagus in MCTD has not been reported in Korea. We report here a 15 cm-long segment of Barrett's esophagus extending to the proximal esophagus in a female patient who has had MCTD for 2 years, and we review the literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Barrett Esophagus ; Epithelium ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Metaplasia ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Polymyositis ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Scleroderma, Systemic

Barrett's esophagus is a metaplasia of the esophageal epithelium of any length, such that normal squamous epithelium is replaced by specialized columnar epithelium with goblet cells. It is important to diagnose and survey Barrett's esophagus because it is believed to be the major risk factor for development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in Korea is low. Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a systemic disorder in which patients have combinations of the clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and polymyositis. Although gastroesophageal reflux disease is common in esophageal involvement in MCTD, long-segment Barrett's esophagus in MCTD has not been reported in Korea. We report here a 15 cm-long segment of Barrett's esophagus extending to the proximal esophagus in a female patient who has had MCTD for 2 years, and we review the literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Barrett Esophagus ; Epithelium ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Metaplasia ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Polymyositis ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Scleroderma, Systemic

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of reversing the coiling direction of nickeltitanium closed-coil springs (NiTi-CCSs) on the force-deflection characteristics. METHODS: The samples consisted of two commercially available conventional NiTi-CCS groups and two reverse-wound NiTi-CCS groups (Ormco-Conventional vs. Ormco-Reverse; GAC-Conventional vs. GAC-Reverse; n = 20 per group). The reverse-wound NiTi-CCSs were directly made from the corresponding conventional NiTi-CCSs by reversing the coiling direction. Tensile tests were performed for each group in a temperature-controlled acrylic chamber (37 ± 1℃). After measuring the force level, the range of the deactivation force plateau (DFP) and the amount of mechanical hysteresis (MH), statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: The Ormco-Reverse group exhibited a significant shift of the DFP end point toward the origin point (2.3 to 0.6 mm), an increase in the force level (1.2 to 1.3 N) and amount of MH (1.0 to 1.5 N) compared to the Ormco-Conventional group (all p < 0.001), which indicated that force could be constantly maintained until the end of the deactivation curve. In contrast, the GAC-Reverse group exhibited a significant shift of the DFP-end point away from the origin point (0.2 to 3.3 mm), a decrease in the force level (1.1 to 0.9 N) and amount of MH (0.6 to 0.4 N) compared to the GAC-Conventional group (all p < 0.001), which may hinder the maintenance of force until the end of the deactivation curve. CONCLUSIONS The two commercially available NiTi-CCS groups exhibited different patterns of change in the force-deflection characteristics when the coiling direction was reversed.

We have determined and analyzed the full-length cDNA sequence of a coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) Korean isolate (CVB3-Korea/97) which has been known as a general human pathogen. The whole genome contains 7,400 nucleotides and has a single large open reading frame with 6,555 nucleotides that encodes a potential polyprotein precursor of 2,185 amino acids. The genome also contains a 5' non-coding region (NCR) of 741 bases and a 3' NCR of 104 bases followed by poly(A) tail. Sequence homologies of nucleotides and deduced amino acids between the CVB3-Korea/97 strain and the prototype (Nancy strain) were 81.7% and 91.5%, respectively. The genes encoding the functional proteins including viral protease and RNA dependent RNA polymerase showed higher homology than those encoding the structural proteins. We have further analyzed the sequences of 5' NCR, VP1 and VP2 of CVB3-Korea/97, which are known as cardiovirulent determining factors at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. Although the CVB 3-Korea/97 strain was isolated from an aseptic meningitis patient without cardiomyopathy, its 234th nucleotide and 165th amino acid were uracil and Asn as same as those of other cardiovirulent strains one. However, the 155th amino acid of VR1, which closely associated with cardiovirulence, was replaced with Arg155 by single nucleoptide substitution from A2916 to T2916. Moreover, additional amino acid substitutions were observed in the flanking region of Asp155. Taken together, aminoacid(s) substitution in VP1 may play a critical role in determining cardiovirulence of the CVB3-Korea/97 strain rather than individual nucleotide replacements in the 5' NCR and/or an amino acid substitution in VP2.
Amino Acid Substitution ; Amino Acids ; Cardiomyopathies ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; DNA, Complementary* ; Genome ; Humans ; Korea* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Nucleotides ; Open Reading Frames ; RNA Replicase ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis* ; Sequence Homology ; Uracil

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There has been no nationwide population-based study of the prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea in Korean adolescents. The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea in Korean high-school students and to evaluate their association with daytime sleepiness. METHODS: An online survey was used to investigate 12,672 students at 75 high schools across the 15 nationwide districts of South Korea. The variables were obtained using a self-reported questionnaire. The students answered questions about self-perceived snoring/apnea during the past 30 days. Daytime sleepiness was measured using a validated Korean version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, which was modified for adolescents. Covariates were the sex, school grade, frequency of self-perceived snoring/apnea, body mass index, sleep duration during a school day, and subjective perception of sleep duration. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea was 22.8% (26.4% for males vs. 18.8% for females, p<0.001) and 9.2% (10.5% for males vs. 7.7% for females, p<0.001). Obesity was significantly associated with self-perceived snoring [odds ratio (OR)=2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.94–2.46] and apnea (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.33–1.86). Multivariate analysis showed that any frequency of self-perceived snoring/apnea was significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). The OR of EDS increased significantly with the frequency of snoring and apnea. Female, sleep duration of <5 hours during a school day, and subjective perceptions of insufficient and considerable sleep durations were also significantly associated with EDS. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea was significantly higher in students who were male and obese. Students with self-perceived snoring/apnea exhibited more significant EDS and an increased risk of EDS as the frequency of snoring and apnea increased.
Adolescent ; Apnea* ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Prevalence* ; Snoring*

Human placenta contains various kinds of nutritional elements essential for embryonic development. Currently, human placenta extracts are widely overused in Korea to improve certain health conditions (postmenopausal syndrome, liver function, and cosmetic purposes) without scientific evidence that they actually work. The use of placenta extracts should be restricted, due to a lack of systematic research on the therapeutic effectiveness and adverse results from these treatments. While the common adverse effects that have been reported are fever, rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, breast pain, and rare cases of anaphylactic shock, there have been no reports of pulmonary complications such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Recently, we experienced a patient with hypersensitivity pneumonitis following a placenta extract injection. To our knowledge, this is the first case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with placenta extract use.
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ; Anaphylaxis ; Cosmetics ; Embryonic Development ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Liver ; Mastodynia ; Nausea ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily in Korean patients with lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction(BPO) treated for up to 1 year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred eleven patients were enrolled from 6 centers and 146 patients were included in the analysis. The primary efficacy parameters were improvements in the total, obstructive and irritative International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS) and maximal urinary flow rate(Qmax). The secondary efficacy parameters were a decrease of >or=30% in IPSS and an increase of >or=30% in Qmax from baseline. Changes in parameters between baseline and 52 weeks were assessed using Student's paired t-test. RESULTS: Statistically significant, gradual improvements in all efficacy parameters were observed over the 1-year period. Tamsulosin 0.2 mg/day produced progressive improvements in total IPSS(41.1%) and Qmax(39.6%, 4.56 ml/sec)(p<0.001). Tamsulosin was well tolerated. The incidence of adverse events was only 6.2%. And There were no withdrawals as a result of adverse events. There were no significant changes in blood pressure or pulse rate during the study. CONCLUSION: Long-term 1-year treatment with tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily in Korean BPO patients is safe, well tolerated and effective in improving LUTS and urinary flow. The effect on symptoms was apparent after 12 weeks of treatment, and symptom improvement was achieved for up to 1 year at every follow-up period respectively.
Blood Pressure ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Prostate ; Single-Blind Method* ; Urinary Tract

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is an uncommon hematological disorder that manifests as fever, splenomegaly, and jaundice, with hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow and other tissues pathologically. Secondary HPS is associated with malignancy and infection, especially viral infection. The prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients is approximately 16%. Nevertheless, HPS in UC superinfected by CMV is very rare. A 52-year-old female visited the hospital complaining of abdominal pain and hematochezia for 6 days. She was diagnosed with UC 3 years earlier and had been treated with sulfasalazine, but had stopped her medication 4 months earlier. On admission, her spleen was enlarged. The peripheral blood count revealed pancytopenia and bone marrow aspiration smears showed hemophagocytosis. Viral studies revealed CMV infection. She was treated successfully with ganciclovir. We report this case with a review of the related literature.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*complications/drug therapy ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/*complications/drug therapy ; Female ; Ganciclovir/therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Agents/therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/drug therapy/*virology ; Middle Aged ; Sulfasalazine/therapeutic use ; Superinfection/*complications