To determine the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension we performed cross-sectional study in a rural area. We measured BP and body mass index(BMI), and interviewed adult residents over 30-year-old age. 337 males and 357 females participated the survey. BP was checked twice and the mean was used to determine age and sex specific mean BP and prevalence of hypertension. Prevalence of definite hypertension(BP>or=160/95 or on medication) was 14. 0% in males and 17. 7% in females. Risk factor for hypertension was analysed by multiple logistic regression; age (10years: OR=l. 7) and BMI(1 BMI unit: OR=l. 2) were positively associated with hypertension but smoking(1 pack year: OR=0.9) was shown to have inverse relationship.
Adult* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors

The clinical applications of free have been extended tremendously in head and neck reconstruction. In a nine-year period, 92 microvascular free flaps were performed to repair the defects following major head and neck ablative surgery. Twenty-one transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, 18 radial foream flaps, 15 latissimus dorsi muscle flaps, 12 jejunal flaps, 8 fibular osteocutaneous flaps, 6 rectus abdominis muscle flaps, 6 iliac osteomyocutaneous flaps, 2 groin fasciocutaneous flaps, 1 scapular fasciocutaneous flap, 1 parascapular osteocutaneous flap, 1 tensor fascia lata muscle flap and 1 serratus anterior muscle flap were used for reconstruction. Twenty-five maxillary defects including the orbit or skull base, 16 pharyngoesophageal defects, 15 intraoral defects, 15 mandibular defects, 13 scalp defects, 1 cervical region and 7 other facial region were covered with various free flaps. The overall success rate of the flaps was 95.6%. The complications included total flap loss (3 cases), partial flap loss (1 case), recurrence of primary tumors (15 cases), cerebrospinal fluid leakage (3 cases), fistula formation (3 cases) and infection (5 cases). Superficial temporal artery, facial artery, superior thyroidal artery, lingual artery, occipital artery, transverse cervical artery were commonly used recipient arteries and 7 cases of vein grafts were used if indicated. End to end anastomosis was performed in 84 cases and end to side anastomosis in 8 cases. The average follow-up period was 42 months, ranging from 6 months to 8 years. One patent died during postoperative intensive care due to sepsis and 19 patients died because of recurrence of tumors and underlying medical diseases during the follow-up period. Although free flaps may appear to be riskier than traditional forms of reconstruction, they offer the surgeon a greater spectrum of reconstructive options. Free flap reconstruction also improves the quality of life and minimizes the loss of function. Limitations of the use of free flaps result only from a lack of technical skills and specialized equipment.
Arteries ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Fascia Lata ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Groin ; Head* ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Neck* ; Orbit ; Quality of Life ; Rectus Abdominis ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Sepsis ; Skull Base ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Temporal Arteries ; Thyroid Gland ; Transplants ; Veins

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

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease*

OBJECTIVES: To determine if hysterectomy with or without ovarian preservation is asso-ciated with obesity in premenopausal women. METHODS: 581 women for routine check up from Jan. 1985 to Dec. 1995 in the depart-m ent of Gynecology at Korea Veterans Hospital were included. The obesity was evaluated by BMI(body mass index) scores. 80% of hysterectomy were confirmed from the hospital records. The age, weight, height, blood pressure, menstr- ual history, history of DM and hypertension, social history of alcohol and smoking and other cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides were checked. The 248 women with natural postmenopausal status before hysterectomy, taking hormonal replacement therapy after hysterectomy and having performed hysterectomy due to malign- ancy were excluded. RESULTS: All women performed hysterectomy were in premenopausal status in this study. Therefore, the final numbers of subjects included in the analysis was 333. Hysterectomy wit- hout ovarian preservation were performed in 58 cases and hysterectomy with ovarian pres- ervation were in 57 cases. The 218 premenopausal cases which did not performed hystere- ctomy were considered control group. BMI scores were higher in cases without ovarian pres- ervation than with ovarian preservation. And BMI score was associated with the postoper- ative duration in hysterectomy with ovarian preservation. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that hysterectomy without ovarian preservation in premeno- paussal women were associated with increased obesity, especially BMI scores.
Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hospital Records ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hysterectomy* ; Korea ; Obesity* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: Reexpansion pulmonary edema (REPE) is a rare but potentially lethal complication of treatment for pneumothorax. This study was designed to compare the frequency of REPE after treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) with 6 French (Fr) small bore catheterization and 14-20 Fr chest tube thoracostomy. METHODS: The medical records of PSP patients treated with thoracostomy from January 2010 to May 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. We compared the group treated using a 6 Fr small bore catheter with the group treated using a 14-20 Fr chest tube for clinical and demographic factors. The main outcome was the frequency of REPE between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients were enrolled. No significant differences in catheter indwelling time, lengths of hospital stay, and treatment failures were observed between the two groups. REPE developed in 21 patients (10.7%). The frequencies of REPE after 6 Fr small bore catheter and 14-20 Fr chest tube were 6.0% (7 of 114 patients) and 17.1% (14 of 82 patients), respectively (p=0.015). In logistic regression analysis, drainage via 14-20 Fr chest tube showed significant correlation with the occurrence of REPE (odds ratio=3.03, p=0.038). CONCLUSION: A 6 Fr small bore catheter offers a safe and effective alternative to a chest tube for treatment of pneumothorax. We suggest that drainage via a small bore catheter should be considered as the initial treatment of choice for PSP patients in terms of frequency of development REPE.
Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Chest Tubes* ; Demography ; Drainage ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Pneumothorax* ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracostomy* ; Thorax* ; Treatment Failure

No abstract available.

The present study has been conducted to assess the possible mechanism of cultured rabbit lens epithelial cell(LEC) damage and generation of oxygen free radicals after UVB exposure as well as to investigate the role of antioxidants to the survival rate of epithelial cells. Cultured rabbit LECs were exposed to various fluences of UVB radiation. The release of oxygen radicals(superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide) and the activity of antioxidants(SOD, catalase) were also measured. The protective effects of various antioxidants on LECs damage after UVB exposure were measured. UVB radiation brought about a decrease in the survival fraction of cultured rabbit LECs. Exposure of the cells to fluences of 400 mJ/cm2, 1,600 mJ/cm2 and above 2,400 mJ/cm2 of UVB radiation resulted in 50%, 10%, nearly 0% in cell survival fraction, respectively. Cultured rabbit LECs exposed to UVB and hydrogen peroxide. The activity of intracellular SOD(esp. Cu, Zn-SOD) was significantly increased, but the activity of intracellular catalase was not changed. Antioxidants pretreatment(SOD, catalase, purpurogillin and allopurinol) ameliorated the cytoxoxic effect of UVB on the cultured rabbit LECs. These rusults indicate that the release of oxygen radicals are enhenced by exposure of LECs to UVB radiation. The oxygen radicals seem to play a specific role in the cytotoxic effect of LECs after UVB exposure.
Antioxidants ; Catalase ; Cataract ; Cell Survival ; Epithelial Cells* ; Free Radicals ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Oxygen ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Survival Rate

To evaluate pathophysiology of Hyperlaxity of conjunctiva which induces itching, tearing and foreign body sensation, we examed conjunctival specimens of 11 hyperlaxity of conjunctiva patients, 13 pterygium, and 10 normal controls. It is hypothesized that mast cells may influence subconjunctival connective tissue for loosening, long standing edema and induce irreversible tissue destruction during the delelpoment of hyperlaxity of conjunctiva. We did the histologic evaluation, toluidine blue staining for counting mast cells in submucosal connective tissue and alcian blue/safranin staining for distinguisment of two phenotypes of mast cells(1. connective tissue mast cell(CTMC) 2. mucosal mast cell(MMC). We also compared it`s count, distributions with each groups. In normal specimens, the mean mast cell count was 3.5 and CTMC/MMC ratio was 2.0, whereas significant increase was noted in hyperlaxity of conjunctiva patients. Mast cell count and CTMC/MMC ratio were 13.5 and 5.5, in pterygium patients, 11.6 and 5.1 respectively. This result indicates that hyperlaxity of conjunctiva was closely related to the action of mast cell especially CTMC, which may destruct conjunctival architecture. Further evaluation is needed to reveal the role of mast cell in ocular surface disorders.
Conjunctiva* ; Connective Tissue ; Edema ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Mast Cells* ; Phenotype ; Pruritus ; Pterygium ; Sensation ; Tears ; Tolonium Chloride

To evaluate the progression of the cataract, we examined the retroillumination and the slit image of the lens by using EAS-1000 Scheimpflug photography in 50 individuals(91 eyes) with senile cataract from September 1990 to January 1996. We analyzed the cataract progression periodically by retroillumination for opacity area(%) change and Scheimpflug photography for density change of at each eyes at the same time. And we examined cataract type progression by aging and medication effect. In the retroillumination image, the monthly increment of opacity areas were 1.24%. In the Scheimpflug photography(slit image), the monthly incerement was 4.23 CCT. Both the opacity area(%) changes and the density changes at each cataract type were faster in the young age group than other age group. Both the opacity area changes and the density changes were slower in the anticataract medication group than non-medication group, but it was statistically insignificant.
Aging ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Photography