We examined dietary habits, food intakes, health status, and school and community life of meal skipping children, and investigated factors predicting meal skipping of children. A sample was composed of 944 children in low-income families who were provided with public meal service. The sample was obtained from the Survey of Meal Service for Poor Children conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2007. Meal skipping was significantly associated with a lower nutrition and health status, and poor school performance of children, as hypothesized. The school age of child, family structure, region, job of caretaker, concern about diet, and the child's visit to welfare center significantly predicted frequency of meal skipping. We suggested a few implications for community practice to reduce meal skipping of children.
Child ; Diet ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Korea ; Meals ; Risk Factors

In 1938, Jarcho and Levin initially described shortening of the trunk, prominent occiput, broad forehead, multiple vertebral defects and ribs anomaly, short neck, increased anteroposterior chest diameter, lordosis, kyphoscoliosis. After that, Jarcho-Levin syndrome is an eponym that has been used to describe a variety of clinical phenotypes. We examined a girl who was suspected as suffering from Jarcho-Levin syndrome because she had shortening of the trunk, multiple vertebral defects and ribs anomaly, short neck, increased anteroposterior chest diameter, lordosis, kyphoscoliosis. We report a case of Jarcho-Levin syndrome with intrathoracic kidney, and review related literature.
Animals ; Eponyms ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Lordosis ; Neck ; Phenotype ; Ribs ; Thorax

Drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis is characterized by renal interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and commonly presents as acute renal failure. This is caused mainly by methicillin, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, sulfonamide diuretics such as thiazide, but cases induced by furosemide are rare. We report a patient with acute interstitial nephritis causing reversible acute renal failure and dermatitis while she was taking furosemide. A 37-year old woman was referred to our hospital because of generalized skin rash and non-oliguric acute renal failure. She had peripheral eosinophilia (1,577/mm3) and serum creatinine level of 6.8mg/dL. Skin biopsy showed leukoclastic vasculitis and percutaneous renal biopsy showed severe interstitial infiltration of lymph ocyte and mild interstitial fibrosis with focal tubular atrophy. After withdrawal of furosemide, renal function and skin lesions were completely recovered.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Dermatitis ; Diuretics ; Eosinophilia ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Furosemide* ; Humans ; Methicillin ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Skin ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Deafness is the most common sensory deficit and hereditary defect in human populations. The present study investigated the causative gene in circling mice using the complementation test. In addition, the phenotypes and histopathologic findings in circler mice, spinner mice, and compound heterozygote mice were analyzed to elucidate the mechanism of causative gene in inner ear deafness. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In order to analyze inner ear pathology in time sequence for the circler mice, spinner mice, and compound heterozygote, five groups of the homozygous mutants of different ages were used: 10, 18, 21, 35, and 90 days old. The organs of Corti and spiral ganglion neurons in the basal and middle turns were included for quantification. For the preparation of genomic DNA, tail tissues were used. RESULTS: The hair cells in the organ of Corti degenerated in a time-dependent manner. In the basal and middle turns, the volume ratio of spiral ganglion neurons significantly decreased as the mutant aged. RT-PCR analysis indicated that transmembrane inner ear (Tmie) was absent in the case of circler mice, similar to spinner mouse of which is defective Tmie gene. Therefore the variations may be a result from strain-specific allelic differences of the Chr 9 Tmie gene itself (allelic heterogeneity). CONCLUSION: The cir mutant is a suitable mouse model for neuroepithelial defects. PCR and RT-PCR analyses suggest that the Tmie transcript is absent in circler mice. This model represents another candidate for human genetic hearing loss.
Animals ; Deafness* ; DNA ; Ear, Inner ; Genes, Recessive ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Hair ; Hearing Loss ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; Organ of Corti ; Pathology ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spiral Ganglion ; Tail

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Meniere's disease is a paroxysmal disorder with vertigo and hearing loss. Its episodic nature of vertigo attacks and responsiveness to diuretics is similar to several neurologic disorders with channelopathy. We performed this study to identify the possibility sodium channelopathy in the patients with Meniere's disease. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty patients with definite Meniere's disease and 25 normal controls were included in this study. Clinical features of the patients with Meniere's disease were collected using dizziness chart. Whole blood was taken from all the patients with Meniere's disease and normal controls and used for DNA testing. alphaENaC gene was screened for mutations using direct DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Patients with Meniere's disease in this study showed the various clinical features of onset age, number of attacks and hearing levels. Many of them showed the caloric response reduction and abnormal electrocochleogram. Genetic analysis did not identify any mutations or differences in alphaENaC gene in normal controls and the patients with Meniere's disease. CONCLUSION: Na channelopathy due to alphaENaC gene mutation might not be a pathogenesis of Meniere's disease. Further studies with other subunits of ENaC and other ion channel genes are needed to explore the possibility of channelopathy as a pathogenesis of Meniere's disease.
Age of Onset ; Channelopathies* ; Diuretics ; Dizziness ; DNA ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; Meniere Disease* ; Nervous System Diseases ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sodium* ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Meniere's disease is a paroxysmal disorder with vertigo and hearing loss. Its episodic nature of vertigo attacks and responsiveness to diuretics is similar to several neurologic disorders with channelopathy. We performed this study to identify the possibility sodium channelopathy in the patients with Meniere's disease. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty patients with definite Meniere's disease and 25 normal controls were included in this study. Clinical features of the patients with Meniere's disease were collected using dizziness chart. Whole blood was taken from all the patients with Meniere's disease and normal controls and used for DNA testing. alphaENaC gene was screened for mutations using direct DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Patients with Meniere's disease in this study showed the various clinical features of onset age, number of attacks and hearing levels. Many of them showed the caloric response reduction and abnormal electrocochleogram. Genetic analysis did not identify any mutations or differences in alphaENaC gene in normal controls and the patients with Meniere's disease. CONCLUSION: Na channelopathy due to alphaENaC gene mutation might not be a pathogenesis of Meniere's disease. Further studies with other subunits of ENaC and other ion channel genes are needed to explore the possibility of channelopathy as a pathogenesis of Meniere's disease.
Age of Onset ; Channelopathies* ; Diuretics ; Dizziness ; DNA ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; Meniere Disease* ; Nervous System Diseases ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sodium* ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diphtheria has been markedly reduced and almostly eradicated by widespread use of DTP vaccines in developed countries. However, outbreaks of this disease may be occurred under some circumstances of ineffective immunization. In recent time, some studies reported persistent outbreaks of diphtheria in developed countries and indicated the existence of a large pool of susceptible individuals with potential for epidemic infection. In Korea, diphtheria vaccination has been well maintained since 1956 with high acceptant vaccination rates. So, there has been no reported diphtheria patient since 1987. But, there has been few study to diphtheria serosuvey, and no assessment of diphtheria immunization. Also, we do not use Td vaccine in adults for maintenance of diphtheria immunity. In this aspect, we conducted age related seroepidemiology of diphtheria and indirectly assessed the immunity of diphtheria vaccines, used in Korea. METHODS: For the evaluation of age related serosurvey of diphtheria immunity in Korean populations, study subjects below 10 years old aged children were classified into 10 groups (A~J) with one year interval, and beyond this age to 60 years old aged adults were classified into 5 group (K~O) with 10 years interval. And the adults over 60 years old age was classified into the last group (P). The numbers of each group were 100, and sex distributions of each group were almostly equal. And for the indirect assessment of diphtheria immunization in Korean children, children under 15 years old were classified into 6 groups (I~ VI) according to the status of DTaP vaccination. The numbers of this each group were 30, and sex ratio was almostly equal. Detection of specific IgG antibody to diphtheria toxin were determined by ELISA (contained fragment A & B toxin; IBL, Germany). RESULTS: In age related groups, the antibody titers to diphtheria toxin were well maintained until 10 years old age group, thereafter the titers abruptly decreased below 0.1 IU/mL and then slightly elevated after 30 years old age group and then maintained with low levels. In the groups related DTaP vaccine status, the antibody titers were very low (below 0.07 IU/mL) in prevaccination status, but the titers after primary vaccinations were markedly increased and maintained (above 0.6 IU/mL) until 15 years. And diphtheria antitoxin levels in the groups (L, M, N) showed no significant differences between males and females. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed that the antibody titers to diphtheria toxin in the 20~50 years old aged groups dramatically decreased. This result indicated that vaccine induced diphtheria immunity did not last throughout life, and Td vaccination program in adults should be considered for maintenance of diphtheria immunity. And the immunity to diphtheria in Korean children indicated that 3 timesprimary and 2 times booster diphtheria immunizations were optimal.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Developed Countries ; Diphtheria Antitoxin ; Diphtheria Toxin ; Diphtheria* ; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines ; Disease Outbreaks ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Sex Distribution ; Sex Ratio ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a major risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Arterial stiffness has been identified as an important determinant of cardiovascular risk. Augmentation index is an indicator of arterial stiffness, which can be quantified noninvasively. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of current smoking status on augmentation index (AIx) in Korean male subjects. METHODS: A total of 70 males without clinical cardiovascular diseases were studied in this cross sectional study. AIx was measured in 35 current smokers and 35 nonsmokers by recording pressure waveforms using radial applanation tonometry in a SphygmoCor device. RESULTS: Augmentation index was significantly higher in the current smokers (19.4+/-12.9% vs. 9.7+/-12.8%; P<0.05). A multiple regression model confirmed that smoking status was independently associated with arterial stiffness (beta=0.350, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Current smoking is associated with increased augmentation index, which is a marker of cardiovascular disease. Further studies are required to investigate clinical applications of arterial stiffness.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Male* ; Manometry ; Mortality ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Vascular Stiffness

BACKGROUND: The incidence of tetanus in adults and neonatal tetanus have been markedly reduced by world-wide use of DTP vaccines. But, tetanus is still one kind of major health problems in many developing countries, and several serosurvey stduies in developed countries revealed that substantial proportions of adult population may lack immunity against tetanus and immunity level against tetanus is continuously decreasing by age. In Korea, tetanus outbreaks have been disappeared since the 1980s by high acceptant DTaP vaccination rates. Annually, few tetanus patient has been reported since 1990s. But, there have been no seroepidemiological studies to tetanus, no trials to assess tetanus immunizations. And we do not use Td vaccine in adults for maintaning tetanus immunity. In this aspect, we conducted age related survey of immunity to tetanus and indirectly assessed the immunogenecity of tetanus vaccines, used in Korea. METHODS: For the evaluation of age related serosurvey of tetanus immunity in Korean population, study subjects were classified into 16 groups (A~J group; below 10 years with one year interval, K~O group; 11~60 yrs with 10 years interval, P group; over 60 yrs). The numbers of each group were 100, and sex distributions of each group were almostly equal. And for the indirect assessment of tetanus immunization in Korean children, children under 15 years old age were classified into 6 groups (I~VI) according to the status of DTaP vaccination. The numbers of this each group were 50, and sex ratio was almostly equal. Specific IgG antibody to tetanus toxin were detected by ELISA. And the ANOVA repeated t-test was used to compare antibody levels in study groups. RESULTS: In age related groups, the antibody levels to tetanus toxin were well maintained until 20 years old age group (L group), but thereafter the titers abruptly decreased below 0.1 IU/mL and over 75% populations among the groups over 30 years old age needed maintenance of protective immunity to tetanus. The antibody level of male was statistically higher than that of female in P group. In the groups related DTaP vaccination status, the antibody titer was very low in prevaccination group (I), but the titers after primary vaccinations were sharply increased and highly maintained until 15 years. CONCLUSOIN: The results of our study revealed that the immunity to tetanus was dramatically decreased in age groups over 30 years old. This result indicates that Td vaccination program in adults should be considered for maintenance of immunity to tetanus. And our study indicate that DTaP vaccination programs and vaccines, used in Korea, are effective for acquisition and maintenance of tetanus immunity in Korean children.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Disease Outbreaks ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Sex Ratio ; Tetanus Toxin ; Tetanus* ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Young Adult

Background: The leaves of Perilla frutescens, commonly called perilla and used for food in Korea, contain components with a variety of biological effects and potential therapeutic applications. The purpose of this study was to identify the components of 70% ethanol extracted Perilla frutescens (EEPF) and determine its inhibitory effects on oral microbial activity and production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated Raw264.7 macrophages, consequently, to confirm the possibility of using EEPF as a functional component for improving the oral environment and preventing inflammation. Methods: One kg of P. frutescens leaves was extracted with 70% ethanol and dried at −70o C. EEPF was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, and antimicrobial activity against oral microorganisms was revealed using the disk diffusion test. Cell viability was elucidated using a methylthiazolydiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay, and the effect of EEPF on LPS-induced morphological variation was confirmed through microscopic observation. The effect of EEPF on LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators, NO and PGE2 was confirmed by the NO assay and PGE2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The main component of EEPF was rosemarinic acid, and EEPF showed weak anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects against microorganisms living in the oral cavity. EEPF did not show toxicity to Raw264.7 macrophages and had inhibitory effects on the morphological variations and production of pro-inflammatory mediators, NO and PGE2 in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 macrophages. Conclusion EEPF can be used as a functional material for improving the oral environment through the control of oral microorganisms and for modulating inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators.