No abstract available.
Foot* ; Hand*

No abstract available.
Appendicitis* ; Pregnancy*

Body Mass Index ; Child ; Humans ; Insulin ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Pediatric Obesity ; Prevalence ; Waist Circumference

Background: The role of vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms has been established in many autoimmune diseases, including vitiligo, but the result is still controversial. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the serum vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients and to compare the association of VDR gene polymorphisms in vitiligo patients and healthy controls. Methods: We collected the data of age, sex, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) level, thyroid autoantibodies, disease duration, types of vitiligo, family history and the affected body surface area of vitiligo from 172 patients. And we analyzed the VDR gene polymorphisms in 130 vitiligo and 453 age-sex-matched control subjects. Results: The mean serum level of 25(OH)D in 172 vitiligo patients was 18.75 ± 0.60 ng/mL, which had no significant difference with a mean serum value of 25(OH)D in the Korean population. However, there were significant differences according to the duration of the disease and family history. Also, there were no significant differences in the genotypic and allelic distributions of 37 examined SNPs of VDR gene between vitiligo patients and healthy controls. Conclusion Serum level of 25(OH)D in vitiligo patients was not significantly different from the mean serum value of the Korean population. Also, there were no significant differences in the genotypic distributions of VDR gene between vitiligo patients and healthy controls.

A Pancoast tumor is a rare form of lung cancer that occurs mainly in the apex of the lung as the main symptom of upper extremity pain. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is not a common symptom. This case report describes a 57-year-old male patient with a Pancoast tumor who presented with oropharyngeal dysphagia. The patient's symptoms included left shoulder and arm pain. The chest computed tomography revealed a mass in the apex of the left lung, invading the mediastinum and compressing the left brachial vein and brachial plexus. He was discharged after receiving palliative chemotherapy. The patient returned to the hospital with dyspnea and was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. The cranial nerve exam confirmed hoarseness and an absent gag reflex. In addition, the laryngeal elevation decreased, and the bedside water test was positive. A video fluoroscopic swallow study confirmed the presence of oropharyngeal dysphagia, which was attributed to left glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve damage associated with the Pancoast tumor. This case highlights the need to be aware that a Pancoast tumor can cause oropharyngeal dysphagia. If oropharyngeal dysphagia is suspected, VFSS should be performed to prevent complications leading to mortality from lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays the addictive use of internet is becoming a serious social and health problem. The authors performed a study in PC bang users to evaluate the prevalence of addictive internet use and the association between addictive internet use and behavioral and psychological factors. METHODS: A face-to-face interview survey of 900 Korean internet users at six PC-bangs was performed between 11th and 19th of December, 2002, using standardized questionnaires composed of Young's internet addiction scale, scale of unwillingness to communicate, patient problem questionnaire for screening depression and anxiety, and questions asking internet using patterns and socio- demographic factors. RESULTS: Of the final 888 participants, 3.4% were identified as addictive users and 41.3% as over-users of internet service. The subjects who were male, unemployed, less educated, using internet mainly at PC bang, using internet more frequently, starting or finishing off internet use usually in the morning, using internet service usually for doing games tended to be more addictive users of internet (P<0.05). In proportional odds model analysis, increasing duration of internet use (OR=1.22; 95% CI, 1.16~1.30), daily use of internet (OR=2.06; 95% CI, 1.21~3.51), finishing off internet use between midnight and 6 a.m. (OR=2.00; 95% CI, 1.30~3.07), anxiety (OR=5.38; 95% CI, 2.86~10.1), and increasing approach avoidance (OR=1.05; 95% CI, 1.03~1.08) were significantly associated with a higher degree of internet addiction. CONCLUSION: Addictive use of internet should be suspected in a person who uses internet for long time, daily, and over midnight. An active evaluation and management for anxiety are needed among addictive internet users.
Anxiety* ; Demography ; Depression* ; Humans ; Internet* ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Psychology ; Reward

PURPOSE: Although advancement in treatment and diagnostic tools related to hepatocelluar carcinoma has been much improved, long term survival rates of hepatocellular carcinoma are still low because of delayed clinical manifestations and underlying diseases causing the cancer. Various kinds of modalities to treat hepatocellular carcinoma have developed but surgical resection is still recognized as the best method. Therefore, we studied the associated factors of long-term survival after liver resection. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 184 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma from May 1990 to December 2002. Associated factors of long-term survival classified as preoperative, operative, pathological and recurrence factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done using cross tabulation analysis and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The cumulative 1-, 3- and 5- year survival rates were 66%, 50% and 30%, respectively. Preoperative factors, significantly associated with long-term survival, were age of 60 years and under, tumor size, HBe Ag status and preoperative tumor marker level. As pathological factors, the vascular invasion and lymphatic invasion status were significantly associated. But cirrhosis of the liver was not associated with long-term survival. And in cases of recurrence, patients who had undergone repeat resection survived significantly longer. CONCLUSION: The most significant factors of multivariate analyses were lymphatic invasion status. Tumor size, ICG-R15 and HBe Ag status followed second. We should correct the preoperative factors through screening and early diagnosis. And when recurrence occurs, if the recurring cancer has resectability, repeat hepatectomy will increase the patient's lifespan.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Early Diagnosis ; Fibrosis ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Painful plantar callosities under the second, third or fourth metatarsal head have been controverted about its treatment mordalities. We performed the vertical chevron osteotomy in patients with painful callosities on the second and third metatarsal head, and evaluated the outcome clinically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen cases from 10 patients who had plantar keratosis were operated by vertical chevron osteotomy from March 2005 to October 2008. We used K-wire fixation for all cases. We evaluated the clinical results by the patients' satisfaction and disappearance of plantar lesion. RESULTS: The plantar keratosis was completely disappeared in 8 cases and partially in 5 cases. In 2 cases, patients expresses their pain caused by constant metatarsalgia that was suspected to be dorsal incisional pain and joint capsulitis. Transmetatarsalgia was not appeared. CONCLUSION: We consider vertical chevron osteotomy as a good surgical method for treatment of plantar keratosis.
Callosities ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Keratosis ; Metatarsal Bones ; Metatarsalgia ; Osteotomy

PURPOSE: Painful plantar callosities under the second, third or fourth metatarsal head have been controverted about its treatment mordalities. We performed the vertical chevron osteotomy in patients with painful callosities on the second and third metatarsal head, and evaluated the outcome clinically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen cases from 10 patients who had plantar keratosis were operated by vertical chevron osteotomy from March 2005 to October 2008. We used K-wire fixation for all cases. We evaluated the clinical results by the patients' satisfaction and disappearance of plantar lesion. RESULTS: The plantar keratosis was completely disappeared in 8 cases and partially in 5 cases. In 2 cases, patients expresses their pain caused by constant metatarsalgia that was suspected to be dorsal incisional pain and joint capsulitis. Transmetatarsalgia was not appeared. CONCLUSION: We consider vertical chevron osteotomy as a good surgical method for treatment of plantar keratosis.
Callosities ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Keratosis ; Metatarsal Bones ; Metatarsalgia ; Osteotomy

Kidney length is the most useful parameter for clinical measurement of kidney size, and is useful to distinguish acute kidney injury from chronic kidney disease. In this prospective observational study of 437 normal children aged between 0 and < 13 years, kidney length was measured using sonography. There were good correlations between kidney length and somatic values, including age, weight, height, and body surface area. The rapid growth of height during the first 2 years of life was intimately associated with a similar increase in kidney length, suggesting that height should be considered an important factor correlating with kidney length. Based on our findings, the following regression equation for the reference values of bilateral kidney length for Korean children was obtained: kidney length of the right kidney (cm) = 0.051 × height (cm) + 2.102; kidney length of the left kidney (cm) = 0.051 × height (cm) + 2.280. This equation may aid in the diagnosis of various kidney disorders.
Age Factors ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Height ; Body Surface Area ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney/*diagnostic imaging ; Kidney Diseases/diagnosis ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values ; Republic of Korea ; Ultrasonography