BACKGROUND: Obesity is linked to a wide range of respiratory diseases. Several studies have shown that body weight at baseline and weight change were related to pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between change in body mass index (BMI) and pulmonary function in adults. METHODS: Of those aged 40-64 years at baseline who had initially visited the health promotion center at one university-level hospital from January 2000 to December 2002, 499 (men: 309, women: 190) patients revisited the center over a 5-year period up to December 2009 and were enrolled in the study. Subjects were classified into 4 groups- group 1: normal-normal, group 2: normal-obese, group 3: obese-normal, and group 4: obese-obese, based on their BMI at baseline and follow-up. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured by spirometry. RESULTS: Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly associated with change in BMI for men in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3 and between group 1 and 4. Changes in FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were significantly associated with change in BMI for women in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1 was significantly different between group 3 and 4, and change in FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a change in BMI is negatively associated with change in pulmonary function. Obesity itself can be a risk factor for pulmonary dysfunction, and a decrease in BMI through weight reduction could reduce pulmonary dysfunction or improve pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Vital Capacity ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: To evaluate normal variations and thus to avoid confusion in differentiation from lesions of the accessory structures (rhomboid fossa, foramen for supraclavicular nerve, conold tubercle) of the clavicle in chest radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the variations of the clavicle in 300 chest radiographs (134 men, 166 women) and 355 dry bones (right 166, left 189; 151 men, 74 women, 130 unknown sex). RESULTS: In chest radiographs, the incidence of the depressed rhomboid fossa was 229 cases (39.5%;male 52.0%, female 29.9%);the flat type was 329 cases (56.9%;male 45.7%, female 65.7%);and the elevated type was 20 cases (3.5%; male 2.4%, female 4.3%). In the dry bones, the incidence of the depressed thombold fossa was 129 cases (57.3%;male 59.6%, female 52.7%);the flat type was 65 cases (28.9%;male 24.5%, female 37. 8%) ;and the elevated type was 31 cases (13.8%;male 15.9%, female 9.5%). The incidence of the foramen for supraclavicular nerve was 0.8% in chest radiographs, and 1.4% in the dry bones. The incidence of the elevated conold tubercle was 65.1% (male 64.0%, female 65.9%) in chest radiographs, and 96.9% (male 95.4%, female 100.0%) in the dry bones. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of the depressed rhomboid fossa in chest radiographs was higher in men and the right clavicle. The incidence of flat rhombo~d fossa in chest radiographs decreased according to increase of age. The foramen for supraclavicular nerve was occasionally found (0.8% in chest radiographs; 1.4% in the dry bones).
Clavicle* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: To evaluate normal variations and thus to avoid confusion in differentiation from lesions of the accessory structures (rhomboid fossa, foramen for supraclavicular nerve, conold tubercle) of the clavicle in chest radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the variations of the clavicle in 300 chest radiographs (134 men, 166 women) and 355 dry bones (right 166, left 189; 151 men, 74 women, 130 unknown sex). RESULTS: In chest radiographs, the incidence of the depressed rhomboid fossa was 229 cases (39.5%;male 52.0%, female 29.9%);the flat type was 329 cases (56.9%;male 45.7%, female 65.7%);and the elevated type was 20 cases (3.5%; male 2.4%, female 4.3%). In the dry bones, the incidence of the depressed thombold fossa was 129 cases (57.3%;male 59.6%, female 52.7%);the flat type was 65 cases (28.9%;male 24.5%, female 37. 8%) ;and the elevated type was 31 cases (13.8%;male 15.9%, female 9.5%). The incidence of the foramen for supraclavicular nerve was 0.8% in chest radiographs, and 1.4% in the dry bones. The incidence of the elevated conold tubercle was 65.1% (male 64.0%, female 65.9%) in chest radiographs, and 96.9% (male 95.4%, female 100.0%) in the dry bones. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of the depressed rhomboid fossa in chest radiographs was higher in men and the right clavicle. The incidence of flat rhombo~d fossa in chest radiographs decreased according to increase of age. The foramen for supraclavicular nerve was occasionally found (0.8% in chest radiographs; 1.4% in the dry bones).
Clavicle* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thorax*

Antibiotics were reported to be able to alter bacterial surface properties in subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs). The effects of sub-MICs of certain antibiotics on a bacterial surface property such as hemagglutination, as well as on the cell morphology were studied using Streptococcus gordonii and Staphylococcus aureus. The effect of sub-M1Cs of antibiotics on the binding of these bacteria to immobilized fibrinogen were also investigated. The MICs of antibiotics were determined by culturing S. gordonii and S. aureus in media supplemented with serially diluted drug solutions, and one-half the MIC was used as the sub-MIC of the drugs, unless stated otherwise. Sub-MICs of antibiotics did not affect bacterial agglutination of erythrocytes. Microscopic observation of S. gordonii grown at sub-MIC concentration of 0.02 ug/ml of amoxicillin revealed cell enlargement of 1.6 times those grown without the drug. When grown in the sub-MIC amount of 0.08 ug/ml of cefazolin, most S. gordonii cells were enlarged and elongated into rod-shape, resulting in 3 times the size of the cells grown without the antibiotic. The data from the fibrinogen-binding experiments showed that the binding of S. gordonii to immobilized fibrinogen was increased with all the B-lactam drugs tested; the binding of S. aureus to immobilized fibrinogen, on the other hand, was decreased with the same drugs. The results show that low concentrations of certain B-lactam antibiotics are able to cause alterations in cellular morphology of S. gordonii and affect the binding of S. gordonii and S. aureus to immobilized fibrinogen.
Agglutination ; Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Bacteria ; Cefazolin ; Cell Enlargement ; Erythrocytes ; Fibrinogen ; Hand ; Hemagglutination ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Streptococcus gordonii* ; Streptococcus* ; Surface Properties*

Background: Onychomycosis is a common nail disease that accounts for 50% of abnormal nails. Accurate diagnosis of onychomycosis is essential before long-term antifungal treatment. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a rapid real-time imaging technique that is widely used for the diagnosis of skin diseases. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of RCM and standard diagnostic methods in the diagnosis of onychomycosis and to determine their sensitivity and specificity. Methods: We evaluated 60 Korean patients with suspected onychomycosis using three diagnostic methods: KOH smear, culture, and RCM. RCM diagnosis was based on the presence of specific structures and filamentous and/or spore-like spherical structures. To compare the usefulness of the diagnostic methods, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for each method were calculated. Results: Of the patients, 57 had at least one positive value for these diagnostic methods. RCM was the most sensitive test for the diagnosis of onychomycosis, with a sensitivity of 84.21%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 25%, and accuracy of 85%. Among the 48 patients who showed positive results on RCM, RCM images presented hyphae structures in 35 cases (72.9%), conidia structures in 39 cases (81.3%), and coexistence of both structures in 26 cases (54.2%). Conclusion In this study, RCM was the most sensitive method for the diagnosis of onychomycosis. The fungal morphology and load can be identified in vivo by RCM and can be used in clinical situations.

The authors clinically analyzed 240 patients of optic nerve diseases who visited the Department of Ophthalmology of Kyung Hee University hospital during four and a half years from July 1985 to February 1990. The most common optic nerve disease was optic nerve atrophy(59.2%), followed by optic neuritis, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, papilledema, compressive optic neuropathy, retrobulbar optic neuritis, toxic neuropathy, and anomaly of optic nerve. According to sex, there was no significant difference between female and male. In comparison with age groups, the largest group was in the age group of 21-30 years. In cases of optic nerve atrophy, the most common cause was trauma(29.1%), most common age group was 21-30 years. In cases of optic neuritis, the most common cause was idiopathic(61.7%), most common age group was 31-40 years. Visual improvement was seen in 85.3%. In cases of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, the most common cause was idiopathic(35.0%), most common age group was 41-50 years. Visual improvement was seen in 15%. In cases of papilledema, the most common cause was brain tumor (88.2%), most common age group was 41-50 years.
Atrophy ; Brain Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Ophthalmology ; Optic Nerve Diseases* ; Optic Nerve* ; Optic Neuritis ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Papilledema

The basic technique for total reconstruction of the microtia was established by Tanzer, who utilized autologous rib cartilages for constructing the auricular framework. In order to decrease the number of surgical stages and to achieve maximal convolution, we employed a surgical procedure with simultaneous three layered costal cartilage grafting for the high profiled auricle, concha formation and lobule rotation. However, we performed ear elevation as an additional procedure for some patients who had decreased helical height due to absorption of cartilage framework or postoperative trauma and who had wanted to wear the spectacles or to have more natural appearance of auriculocephalic sulcus. From August 1988 to October 1997 we had performed surgeries for the ear elevation of 58 patients in 177 patients with total ear reconstruction, using various elevation methods; skin graft, local flap, and local with costal cartilage block. When the ear elevation was performed with skin graft, postoperative contraction of the grafted skin was inevitable. In cases with two skin flaps, it was difficult to stabilize and maintain the correct projection of the constructed ear. So we elevated the reconstructed ear by utilizing a costal cartilage block, two skin flaps to cover the posterior region and skin graft. We conclude that the local flap with costal cartilage block is one of the most favorable methods in ear elevation which can maintain the adequate projection and make natural looking auriculocephalic sulcus.
Absorption ; Cartilage ; Ear* ; Eyeglasses ; Humans ; Ribs ; Skin ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Dermoid Cyst*

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most frequent nosocomial infections and are frequently associated with indwelling urinary catheters. It is known that adherence to standard infection control measures for urinary catheters can reduce UTIs in hospitals. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of education in reducing catheter-related UTIs (CR-UTIs) in intensive care units (ICUs) of a university hospital. METHODS: CR-UTIs were prospectively monitored for all patients with indwelling urinary catheters in ICUs from July 2006 through December 2007. Recommendations based on previously known guidelines for catheter insertion, catheter management, and specimen collection to prevent CR-UTIs were formulated and educated in March 2007. Knowledge and adherence level were evaluated before and after educating healthcare workers about the recommendations using questionnaire. Changes in knowledge and adherence level before and after education were compared by Chi-square test. Changes in the rate of CR-UTIs and urinary catheter utilization ratios were also analyzed by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: After education, knowledge level of and adherence level to most of the recommendations were improved significantly. The rate of CR-UTIs significantly decreased by 48% from 7.43/1,000 catheter-days before intervention to 3.87/1,000 catheter-days after intervention (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Surveillance for nosocomial infections and education for standard infection control measures are very important in preventing CR-UTIs in ICUs.
Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Prospective Studies ; Specimen Handling ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is an important health concern among the postmenopausal women. Therefore, it is necessary to find out acceptable screening tools for osteoporotic patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Risk Index by OSTA as a screening test for osteoporosis. METHODS: The study population was 322 naturally caused menopausal women in Korea. Their was of femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD measured by DEXA. Risk Index by OSTA, based on weight and age, was calculated and the sensitivity and specificity for osteoporosis and osteopenia were evaluated. To find out the proper cut-off point for osteoporosis and osteopenia among the postmenopausal women in Korea, we also compared the sensitivity and specificity of each Risk Index value. RESULTS: The mean age and ages at menopause were 59.1(+/-6.2) and 50.7 (+/-2.7) years, respectively. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 9.6% with femoral neck BMD. For oeteoporosis, using a cut-off point of -1 yielded a sensitivity of 74.3% and a specificity of 52.2% with femoral neck BMD. Using a cut-off of -2 yielded a sensitivity of 87.3% and a specificity of 70.9%. The ROC curve showed an AUROC 0.88 for Risk Index in identifying osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: The Risk Index is an acceptable, simple and useful method in the diagnosis of osteoporosis with a Risk Index of -2 in Korean postmenopausal women.
Bone Diseases, Metabolic* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis* ; Prevalence ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spine