Background: To investigate the relationship between hand grip strength (HGS) and self-rated health in middleand old-aged Korean subjects. Methods: The data used for this study were derived from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. A total of 9,132 participants were enrolled using the year 2006 as the baseline, with additional data collected throughout the followup period until 2016. Chi-square test and generalized estimating equation regression models were used for data analysis. HGS was measured in a sitting position with the elbow fixed at 90° on both sides using a dynamometer, and calculated using the values measured from both sides. Relative HGS was measured by dividing HGS by the subject’s body mass index. Self-rated health was assessed with the question “How would you rate your current health in general?” and answers were categorized as “excellent,” “moderate,” or “poor.” Results: HGS was shown to be inversely associated with self-rated health (odds ratio [OR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93–0.94; P<0.0001). Patients aged 65 years or older with lower scores were more likely to report poor self-rated health. Similar results were obtained with relative HGS (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.36–0.45; P<0.0001), but standard HGS had better model fitting (quasi-likelihood under independence model criteria=33,890). Conclusion HGS may be considered an index for the diagnosis of sarcopenia and may also affect self-rated health, which is a multidimensional indicator of an individual’s health status and can identify patients who may require special attention.

Haemophilus aphrophilus, a fastidious, gram-negative oropharyngeal species grouped as a HACEK organism, is a rare cause of infective endocarditis. Three cases of endocarditis with Haemophilus aphrophilus were reported in Korea, and all of them required valve replacement surgery. We describe a case of native valve infective endocarditis with cerebral embolism and infarction caused by Haemophilus aphrophilus in a 61-year-old woman who was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks without valve replacement surgery.
Embolism ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Haemophilus ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intracranial Embolism ; Korea ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Angiogenesis is a necessary process for solid tumor to grow in human body, and thought to play an important role in metastasis. In some solid tumor such as the breast cancer and prostatic cancer, the angiogenesis is thought to be one of the most significant prognostic factors that predict the patient survival rate and metastasis. The purpose of this study is to define the significance of angiogenesis in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We measured the microvascular density (MVD) using immunohistochemistry with anti-CD34 antibody in 40 HNSCC. The maximal and average MVD was compared with the clinical parameters such as stage, cervical lymph node metastasis, recurrence, and survival rate, obtained through the retrospective review of the medical records. RESULTS: 1) The maximal and average MVD correlated with overall stage, T stage and N stage statistically. The MVD were increased according to the increasement of the T and N stage. 2) The maximal and average MVD showed a significant relationship with 3 year survival rate. 3) There were no relationship between maximal and average MVD and local or regional recurrence. CONCLUSION: The maximal and average MVD may be a significant prognostic factors which can predict the survival rate of the patients with HNSCC.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Head* ; Human Body ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Neck* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Infliximab is currently used for the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of infliximab therapy and to determine the predictors of response in Korean patients with CD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 317 patients who received at least one infliximab infusion for active luminal CD (n=198) and fistulizing CD (n=86) or both (n=33) were reviewed retrospectively in 29 Korean referral centers. Clinical outcomes of induction and maintenance therapy with infliximab, predictors of response, and adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS: In patients with luminal CD, the rates of clinical response and remission at week 14 were 89.2% and 60.0%, respectively. Male gender and isolated colonic disease were associated with higher remission rates at week 14. In week-14 responders, the probabilities of sustained response and remission were 96.2% and 93.3% at week 30 and 88.0% and 77.0% at week 54, respectively. In patients with fistulizing CD, clinical response and remission were observed in 85.0% and 56.2% of patients, respectively, at week 14. In week-14 responders, the probabilities of sustained response and remission were 94.0% and 97.1%, respectively, at both week 30 and week 54. Thirty-nine patients (12.3%) experienced adverse events related to infliximab. Serious adverse events developed in 19 (6.0%) patients including seven cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: Infliximab induction and maintenance therapy are effective and well tolerable in Korean patients with luminal and fistulizing CD. However, clinicians must be aware of the risk of rare yet critical adverse events.
Colonic Diseases ; Crohn Disease* ; Humans ; Infliximab* ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary