This study investigated the epidemiology (prevalence, risk factors, and impact on quality of life) of knee pain and its severity in elderly Koreans. The subjects (n=3,054) were participants aged > or =50 yr from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted in 2010. Knee pain was defined as pain in the knee lasting > or =30 days during the most recent 3 months; severity was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. EQ-5D was used to measure quality of life. The prevalence of knee pain was 23.1% (11.7% in men, 31.9% in women). The prevalences of mild, moderate, and severe knee pain were 4.3%, 9.1%, and 9.7%, respectively (2.8%, 5.4%, and 3.5% in men and 5.4%, 12.0%, and 14.4% in women). Old age, female gender, a low level of education, a manual occupation, obesity, and radiographic osteoarthritis were risk factors for knee pain, and were associated with increased severity of knee pain. Excluding men with mild knee pain, people with knee pain had significantly lower quality of life than those without knee pain. Early interventional approaches are needed to reduce the medical, social, and economic burden of knee pain in elderly Koreans.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/complications ; Odds Ratio ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/complications/epidemiology/radiography ; Pain/*epidemiology/etiology ; Prevalence ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: The personality traits are substantially heritable, and therefore very likely result from the interplay of genetic variations with environmental influences. Recently, there is a growing enthusiasm for biological approaches to personality, especially genetic research on identifying responsible genes. So, the aim of this study is to investigate the associations between serotonin transporter promoter linked region (5-HTTLRP) polymorphism and personality traits. METHODS: We recruited unrelated normal 114 female subjects. The Korean version of temperament and character inventory (TCI) were used to assess personality traits. From the blood, DNA was isolated using standard techniques and the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis. We classified the subject as s/s, s/l, and l/l group according to their genotype. The differences of TCI scores between l allele non-carrier group (s/s genotype) and l allele carrier group (s/l+l/l genotype) were tested after inclusion of age as covariate in the analysis of variance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: Under the control of age, there were no associations between harm avoidance, novelty seeking, reward dependence, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence scores and genotypes. But, persistence and self-directedness score of l allele non-carrier group was significantly higher than that of l allele carrier group. CONCLUSION: The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may be associated with persistence and self-directedness score of TCI in normal Korean female population.
Alleles ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Female* ; Genetic Research ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic* ; Reward ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins* ; Serotonin* ; Temperament

Fibrous dysplasia infrequently involves the cranium with wide range of variety. Recently, we have expierenced a case of diffuse sclerotic type of fibrous dysplasia which involves frontal and sphenoid bone with vault deformity. Furthermore, we stressed the diagnostic procedures such as carotid angiography, orbital venoraphy & C-T scan, are valuable in recognization of the extent of involvement and in differential diagnosis.
Angiography ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Orbit ; Skull* ; Sphenoid Bone

PURPOSE: The severity of electrical injury depends on the intensity and pathway of the electric current. We hypothesized that erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a sequelae of electrical injury. Therefore, in this study, the prevalence of ED in electrical injury patients was estimated, and the results correlated with the electric voltage and pathway of the electric current at the time of the injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mail and phone surveys were undertaken by 416 electrical injury patients admitted with electrical injury to our burn care center, between November, 1998 and December, 2003. Patients were given a self-administered questionnaire, which included the five item Korean version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). The voltage, pathway of electric current at the time of injury and other diseases, such as hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM) and neurological disease, were also reviewed. Of the 416 (66%) subjects, 276 agreed to participate, but 20 (7%) of these were excluded due to HTN, DM and neurological disease. RESULTS: The remaining 256 patients constituted our patient population. The mean age was 39.2 (range 21 to 66) years. 52.7% of the 256 patients had ED. According to age, the prevalence of ED in patients in their third, forth, fifth and sixth decades were 43.8, 54.2, 55.8 and 42.9%, respectively; no patient in their seventh decade showed ED. There was no statistically significant difference among the age groups. 58.4, 21.2 and 33.3% patients with high, low and unknown voltage injuries had ED, which was statistically significant. The prevalence of ED according to the pathway of the electric current were 100, 70.3, 44.4, 31.9, 15.4 and 22.2% for whole body, upper-lower body, lower-lower body, upper-upper body, electrical spark burn and for unknown pathways, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study of ED in electrical injury patients. 52.7% of patients with electrical injury had ED. High voltage injures showed a higher prevalence of ED than low voltage injuries. Whole and upper-lower body pathways of the electric current showed a higher prevalence of ED compared to focal/local involvement (electrical spark burn), lower-lower body and upper-upper body pathways.
Burns ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Postal Service ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We report a case of nutcracker syndrome diagnosed with 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3-D CTA). Nutcracker syndrome had been confirmed by conventional venography until recent years. Nowadays, with the development of imaging techniques, color Doppler sonogram and 3-D CTA are replacing venography for the diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome. The patient, a 20-year-old male, had abrupt gross hematuria and left abdominal pain 6 months previously and intermittent microscopic hematuria thereafter. Including renal biopsy, the results of conventional hematuria study showed no abnormalities. 3-D CTA showed left renal vein compression between the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery and collateral veins. The angle and distance between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta at the level of the left renal vein were 35degrees and 3.0 mm, respectively. We diagnosed nutcracker syndrome and later confirmed the diagnosis with venography.
Abdominal Pain ; Angiography ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Biopsy ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Phlebography ; Renal Veins ; Veins ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: There is a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) after electric injuries, but our medical understanding of ED after electric injuries is scanty at best. Thus, the authors attempted to investigate nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), bulbocavernosus reflex latency (BCRL) and penile duplex Doppler ultrasonography (PDDU) for the patients who suffer from ED after electric injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the patients who visited our Burn Care Center between January 2005 and February 2006, ten male patients (aged 20 or older) who complaining of ED after electric injuries underwent NPT, BCRL and PDDU. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 38.1 years (age range: 25-54), and the numbers of patients exposed to whole body, upper-lower extremity and upper-upper extremity pathways of the electrical current were 1, 2 and 7, respectively. For the patient exposed to the whole body pathway, abnormal findings were observed on all the tests. For one patient who experienced two upper-lower extremity pathways, normal findings were seen on all the tests, while the other patient showed an abnormal NPT, an normal BCRL and an arteriogenic ED. Three of the patients who experienced the upper-upper extremity pathway showed normal findings on all the tests. The other two in the group showed an abnormal NPT, a normal BCRL and arteriogenic ED; the other one showed a normal vascular function, a abnormal NPT and no reaction to BCRL; the other one showed an abnormal NPT, a delayed BCRL and an arteriogenic ED. CONCLUSIONS: More abnormal findings were seen in NPT, BCRL and PDDU for the cases associated with upper-lower body or whole body electrical current pathways, as compared to patients whose electrical pathways were limited to the upper body.
Burns ; Electric Injuries* ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Prevalence ; Reflex ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is an unusual locally aggressive cutaneous neoplasm of low grade malignancy. We report the case of a 47 years- old male who presented with an asymptomatic erythematous firm protruding mass in the left peri-inguinal area. Histopathologically, the tumor showed spindle-shape cells, arranged in a storiform pattern. The tumor cells stained positively for Vimentin and CD34 on immunohistochemical staining. Herein, we report a case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Vimentin

PURPOSE: Human acellular dermal matrix(ADM) is widely used in the treatment of congenital anomalies and soft tissue deficiencies. But it is rapidly degraded in the body and does not provide satisfactory results. There is a need to improve collagen fiber stability through various methods and ultimately regulate the speed of degradation. METHODS: The ADMs were added with various cross- linking agents called glutaraldehyde, dimethyl 3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate to produce cross-linked acellular dermal matrices. 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether solution was applied with a pH of 4.5 and 9.0, respectively. The stability of cross-linked dermal matrix was observed by measuring the shrinkage temperature and the degradation rates. The cross- and non-cross linked dermis were placed in the rat abdomen and obtained after 8, 12 and 16 weeks. RESULTS: The shrinkage temperature significantly increased and the degradation rate significantly decreased, compared to the control(p<0.05). All of cross- linked dermises were observed grossly in 16 weeks, but most of non-cross linked dermis were absorbed in 8 weeks. Histologically, the control group ADM was found to have been infiltrated with fibroblasts and most of dermal stroma were transformed into the host collagen fibers. However, infiltration of fibroblasts in the experiment was insignificant and the original collagen structure was intact. CONCLUSION: Collagen cross-linking increases the structural stability and decreases degradation of acellular dermis. Therefore, decrease in body absorption and increase in duration can be expected.
Abdomen ; Absorption ; Acellular Dermis ; Animals ; Butylene Glycols ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Ether, Ethyl ; Fibroblasts ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Imidoesters ; Rats

Acute necrotizing esophagitis (AEN), also called "black esophagus," is a rare disorder with an unknown pathogenesis. Endoscopic findings generally show black pigmentation throughout the esophagus. This case also offered rare views of the gross anatomy of this disorder. Histological examination revealed that the mucosal and submucosal layers of the esophagus were involved in the severe necrotizing inflammation. The chief manifestation of this disease is hematemesis from hemorrhage of the upper gastrointestinal tract with a typically multifactorial etiology. AEN is also characterized by a clear boundary at the gastroesophageal junction where the necrosis stops. In this study, we report an autopsy case of a 61-year-old man with necrotizing inflammation throughout the esophagus and esophageal necrosis from the laryngopharynx to the gastroesophageal junction. The patient was a disabled person with a history of alcohol abuse who was also diagnosed with mild coronary arteriosclerosis and fatty liver on the basis of the underlying diseases. In this case, the main etiology for poor perfusion from the distal esophageal area was likely underlying illness, history of alcoholism, and malnutrition.
Alcoholism ; Autopsy* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Disabled Persons ; Esophagitis* ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Fatty Liver ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Inflammation ; Malnutrition ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Perfusion ; Pigmentation ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract