PURPOSE: To verify the association between cigarette smoking and bladder cancer in the Korean population, as smoking is well known as a risk factor on bladder cancer. The risk of bladder cancer was compared among never-smokers, ex-smokers and current-smokers using a multivariate adjusted incidence rate and the mortality rate of bladder cancer of Koreans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 348,010 participants were enrolled in this prospective study between 1993 (to 1994) and 2002. All participants completed a self administered questionnaire on cancer risk factors, including smoking habit. Follow up for incident bladder cancer was established. We classified all participants into three categories: current-smoker, ex-smoker and never-smoker, on the basis of their smoking habits. We confirmed bladder cancer from the data of the Korea National Cancer Registry and National Health Insurance Corporation up to (December?) 2002. The multivariate adjusted incidence and the mortality due to bladder cancer were used for both genders for a statistical analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The incidence rate of bladder cancer per 100,000 persons in male never-smokers, ex-smokers and current-smokers were 27, 41 and 48, respectively, and the multivariate adjusted relative risks (RR) were 1.3 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9-2.0) and 1.7 (95% CI, 1.2-2.3) in ex- and current smokers, respectively. The incidence rate of bladder cancer in women was 4.7, 8.4 and 13, respectively. There was no significant association between the risk of bladder cancer and the amount and duration of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that current smokers have an increased incidence and mortality rate of bladder cancer in both genders in the Korean population, but there was no significant difference in relation to the amount and duration of smoking.
Cohort Studies* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; National Health Programs ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate differences in unmet dental care needs according to employment status and if factors have relevance to unmet dental care needs due to "economic burden" and "no time to spare for visiting". METHODS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors that affected the prevalence of unmet dental care needs due to "economic burden" and "no time to spare for visiting" in an economically active population comprised of subjects aged 20-64 years. RESULTS: Compared to regular workers, part-time workers experienced 1.28-times more unmet dental care needs, while students experienced 0.64-times fewer unmet dental care needs. With regard to reasons related to "economic burden", the rate of experiencing unmet dental care needs was 1.37-times higher for part-time workers than for regular workers. Regarding reasons related to "no time to spare for visiting", the rate of experiencing unmet dental care needs was 0.51-times lower in part-time workers compared with regular workers. In economically inactive people, these values were 0.51-times lower in the unemployed, 0.37-times lower in students, 0.23-times lower in house workers, 0.20-times lower in subjects with disease and injury, and 0.20-times lower in early retirees compared to regular workers. CONCLUSIONS: Part-time workers experienced more unmet dental care needs compared with regular workers. With regard to "economic burden", a significant difference in unmet dental care needs was observed between regular workers and part-time workers. Additionally, regarding "no time to spare for visiting", people who were economically inactive because of unemployment, student or house-worker status, diseases and injury, and retirement experienced fewer unmet dental care needs compared with regular workers.
Dental Care* ; Employment* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Retirement ; Unemployment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate social and behavioral factors associated with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in men in California, United States, who were over 40 years of age and had ever heard about PSA screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This survey was administered as a random-digit-dialing telephone survey to produce reliable estimates of medium-sized counties. It surveyed 42,000 households and interviewed 58,407 people randomly. It considered socioeconomic status and health behavior as affecting PSA screening. Access to health care was measured as having regular health care access. The main outcome measure was self-report of ever having undergone PSA screening at least once in the respondent's lifetime. RESULTS: Of 8,864 respondents, 82.2% were White, 7.7% were Latin, 4.2% were African American, and 5.9% were Asian. The respondents' mean age was 60.13 years. Age was the significant factor for PSA screening. Respondents aged 50-59 years were 3.5 times as likely to have undergone PSA screening as were those aged 40-49 years (OR=3.49, p< or =0.001). Race was not statistically significant after considering other factors. People who had never married had statistically significantly lower screening than did people who were married (OR=0.71, p=0.001). Poverty levels were statistically significant in both the unadjusted and the adjusted analysis. People who had no regular health care access were much less likely to have undergone PSA screening than were people who had regular health care access (OR=0.22, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of PSA screening was positively associated with increased age, marital status (married), higher socioeconomic status (higher federal poverty level and higher educational attainment), and health care access. However, there was no statistically significant association of PSA screening with race, employment, exercise, smoking, or drinking status.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; California ; Continental Population Groups ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Drinking ; Employment ; Family Characteristics ; Health Behavior ; Health Services Accessibility ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Poverty ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Single Person ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class ; Telephone ; United States

BACKGROUND: Superficial fungal infections are common diseases acid the prevalence of superficial fungal diseases are not static but change under the influence of various forces such as climate, migration of peoples and development in prophylaxis and therapy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the present status of superficial dermatiphytoses and some changes on the frequency of the diseases, sex distributions and varieties of the casiative organisms. MEHTODS: The clinical and rnycological aspects of superficial fungal diseases of 3,222 patients from July 1989 to June 1992 were analyzed. Results : 1) The incidence of superficial fungal diseases was 25.4% of total out-patients. 2) The superficial fungal diseases showed a higt incidence in the third(26.4%) and the fourth decade(24.3%). 3) The ratio of male to female was 2.11:1(2,188:1,034). 4) The monthly prevalence of super ficial fungal diseases was high inhuly(17.8%), August(15.2%) and June(1.7%). 5) The incidence of superficial fungal diseases in order of frequency were tinea pedis ,28.1%, tinea cruris(19.5%), onychomycosis(15.6%), tinen orporis(11.5%), tinea manus(7.8%), tinea versicolar(7.8%), candidiasis(7.4%) and tinea capitis(2.3%), 6) Coexisting fungal infections were found in 644 patients(19.9%) and the case of tinea pedis with onychomycosis was the most common. 7) The positive rate of KOH scraping was 54.0% and the positive rate of culture on ordinary Salourauds dextrose agar media was 42.7%. 8) Trichophyton rubr,im was the most common causative orantism of superficial dermatophytes(38.4%), and other in decreasing frequency were Candida albicans(36.9%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes(23.6%) Microsporum canis(0.7%), Trichophyton ferrvgiteum(0.3%) and Epidermophyton floccosum(0.1%). CONCLUSION: These results are not significantly different from those iif previous studies. But the incidence rate of the superficial pungal diseases(25.4%) were higher thar, previous studies and showed a high incidence in young male patients and in the summer. The positiv rate of KOH scraping(54.0%) was lower than previous studies. The most common causative organism was Trichophyton rubrum(38.4 %).
Agar ; Candida ; Climate ; Epidermophyton ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Microsporum ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Sex Distribution ; Tinea ; Tinea Pedis ; Trichophyton

PURPOSE: Recent studies have revealed close relationships between hepatic injury, metabolic pathways, and gut microbiota. The microorganisms in the intestine also cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to examine whether IBS was associated with elevated hepatic enzyme [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) levels, and metabolic syndrome (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, case-control study. The case and control groups comprised subjects who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups from June 2010 to December 2010. Of the 1127 initially screened subjects, 83 had IBS according to the Rome III criteria. The control group consisted of 260 age- and sex-matched subjects without IBS who visited our health promotion center during the same period. RESULTS: Compared to control subjects, patients with IBS showed significantly higher values of anthropometric parameters (body mass index, waist circumference), liver enzymes, gamma-GT, and lipid levels. The prevalences of elevated ALT (16.9% vs. 7.7%; p=0.015) and gamma-GT (24.1% vs. 11.5%; p=0.037) levels were significantly higher in patients with IBS than in control subjects. A statistically significant difference was observed in the prevalence of MS between controls and IBS patients (12.7% vs. 32.5%; p<0.001). The relationships between elevated ALT levels, MS, and IBS remained statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our study results, IBS may be an important condition in certain patients with elevated ALT levels and MS.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/analysis/*metabolism ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/analysis/*metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diagnosis/*enzymology/epidemiology ; Liver/metabolism ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/complications/diagnosis/*enzymology/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Waist Circumference ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/analysis/*metabolism

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the anglographic finding and clinical result of transarterial embolotherapy(TAE) in patients with injuries of renal artery branches by blunt trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on retrospective analysis of seven cases, in which TAE was attempted for the control of traumatic renal arterial bleeding. All procedures were performed via the transfemoral approach. TAE was performed with stainless steel coil in two cases, Gelfoam in one case, and Gelfoam and stainless steel coil in four cases. RESULTS: Angiographic findings of vascular injuries were pseudoaneurysm in four cases, extravasation in two cases and arteriocalyceal fistula in one case. All procedures were performed successfully without complication. CONCLUSION: Pseudoaneurysm is a common anglographic finding in patients with injury of renal artery branches and TAE is considered a safe and effective method for treating such cases.
Aneurysm, False ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Fistula ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Renal Artery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stainless Steel ; Vascular System Injuries

PURPOSE: We investigated whether psychological factors could influence on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis based on general population that have not previously been examined or treated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August and November 2000, we randomly selected 100 male residents in the area of Chung-nam including Daejoen city. The participants completed self- administered questionnaires. Based on our inclusion criteria, 87 participants were included in this study. RESULTS: Scores of Beck Depression Inventory of participants with higher pain and urinary symptoms domain scores were significantly higher than those with lower pain and urinary symptoms domain scores of the National Institutes of Health-chronic prostatitis symptom index (p=0.001 and p=0.028, respectively). However, anxiety did not influence on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis based on the results of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Based on the results of Bem Sex Role Inventory, masculinity score of participants with higher urinary symptoms domain scores were significantly lower than those with lower urinary symptoms domain scores (p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that psychological problems may involve in an early stage of chronic prostatitis and have a causative role in chronic prostatitis.
Academies and Institutes ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Male ; Masculinity ; Prostatitis* ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Here we report a case of the classical inclusion body myositis. The muscle pathology in a 61-year-old male patient with slowly progressive proximal muscle weakness and atrophy revealed basophilic rimmed vacuoles on light microscope and intracytoplasmic filamentous inclusions with membranous whorls through electron microscope. He did not respond to steroid therapy.
Atrophy ; Basophils ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Weakness ; Myositis, Inclusion Body* ; Pathology ; Vacuoles

The problem of difficult intubation is well known to anesthesiologists. However, difficulties associated with the extubation of endotracheal tubes are not common, and few reports exist. However, untoward incidents of diverse etiology can occur and the complications of difficult extubation may be fatal. We experienced 2 cases of difficult extubations. One was due to adhesion of the tube to the tracheal wall and the other was due to a fold in the deflated cuff of an excessively large-sized tube. We managed these difficult extubations by rotating the tube with a MaGill forcep under direct laryngoscopy. We report upon these clinical experiences and include a brief review of the literature.
Intubation ; Laryngoscopy ; Surgical Instruments

PURPOSE: The cartilage lesions of routine MRI (no cartilage-specific image sequences) compared with those of arthroscopy for detecting how much we can predict. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We made a retrospective study of 53 patients with cartilage lesions of medial femoral condyle in the knee arthroscopy from Nov. 2003 to Jan. 2006. We analyzed the extent of agreement in cartilage lesions between arthroscopy and routine MRI using modified Outerbridge classification. RESULTS: All patients were categorized by modified Outerbridge Grade I~IV. In arthroscopy, 3, 4, 24, 22 cases were reported in each category: on routine MRI, 3, 10, 12, 23 cases were reported in each category and there were 5 normal cases. The sensitivity of cartilage lesions on MRI was high (90.6%), however, the agreement of those was low (K=0.24). We found 24 cases (45.2%) that MRI levels and arthroscopy levels were matched. We found 29 cases (54.7%) that those two levels were not matched. CONCLUSION: It is important to make a close inspection of chondral surfaces even in routine MRI. And cartilage lesions in routine MRI should be considered as those of higher grade in arthroscopy.
Arthroscopy* ; Cartilage* ; Classification ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies