BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to examine the trends of government-supported health promotion research projects conducted in Korea over the past 12 years. METHODS: Research type, area of interest, organization, and expense of 726 research projects conducted from 1998 to 2009 were examined and the health promotion content analyzed. RESULTS: In Korea, 361 health policy researches (HPR) and 365 general health researches (GHR) were supported by the government during the defined time period. A total of 60.5 health promotion research were conducted annually with a total amount of 27.1 billion won provided (2.26 billion won per year). With the average research project lasting 8.5 months, HPR (7.7 months) projects were completed sooner than GHR (9.2 months). Those who majored in preventive medicine completed 177 research (24.4%), the most number of research projects, followed by public health (22.5%), and family medicine (15.6%). There were 641 health promotion research projects done mostly on policies, legal systems, and grasping current conditions, and only 85 (11.7%) clinical test research on the development or effects of health promotion programs. CONCLUSIONS: HPR have been increasing annually. However, our study could not be certain of how close the studies were to the government's health promotion policies. Furthermore, the main health promotion area, 'healthy living', was not researched as often as should be. Additionally, to improve applicability of the research projects, interdisciplinary cooperation should be promoted.
Hand Strength ; Health Policy ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Preventive Medicine ; Public Health

We conducted this cohort analytic study to determine whether women with unexplained elevations of maternal serum hCG at 15-18 weeks' gestation are at increased risk for pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes. The inclusion criteria were a singleton gestation, a confirmed gestational age, and an hCG level greater than 2.0 multiples of the median (MoM). The exclusion criteria were fetal anomalies, an abnormal karyotype, molar pregnancy, and an MSAFP level greater than 2.5 multiples of the median (MoM). A group of randomly selected women with hCG levels under 2.0 MoM served as controls. Patients with elevated levels of hCG had a significantly higher risk for PIH (17.9% versus 4.5%; P <.05) and preterm delivery (17.9% versus 3.5%; P<, 05) than control. But no significant differences were observed in the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight and in the newborn weight. We suggested that pregnancies with unexplained elevated hCG levels should be regarded as high-risk pregnancies. And these patients require careful monitoring with adequate obstetric management.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, High-Risk

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the effects of mobile health (mHealth), using mobile phones as an intervention for weight loss in obese adults. METHODS: An electronic search was carried out using multiple databases. A meta-analysis of selected studies was performed. The effects of mHealth were analyzed using changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: We identified 20 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 2,318 participants who fit our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that body weight was reduced with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of −2.35 kg (95% confidence interval [CI], −2.84 to −1.87). An examination of the impact of duration of intervention showed that weight loss was greater after 6 months of mHealth (WMD = −2.66 kg) than between three and four months (WMD = −2.25 kg); it was maintained for up to 9 months (WMD = −2.62 kg). At 12 months, weight loss was reduced to a WMD of −1.23 kg. BMI decreased with a WMD of −0.77 kg/m2 (95% CI, −1.01 to −0.52). BMI changes were not statistically significant at 3 months (WMD = −1.10 kg/m2), but they were statistically significant at 6 months (WMD = −0.67 kg/m2). CONCLUSIONS: The use of mHealth for obese adults showed a modest short-term effect on body weight and BMI. Although the weight loss associated with mHealth did not meet the recommendation of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network, which considers a reduction of approximately 5 to 10 kg of the initial body weight as a successful intervention. Well-designed RCTs are needed to reveal the effects of mHealth interventions.
Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cell Phones ; Humans ; Mobile Applications ; Obesity ; Telemedicine* ; Weight Loss

Objective: Vasospasm remains the leading cause of cerebral damage after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although magnesium regulates the calcium influx in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, it has not been reported whether L-type calcium channels are involved in magnesiuminduced vascular relaxation in rat basilar artery. So, the effect of magnesium sulfate on L-type calcium currents in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from rat basilar artery was investigated. Methods: The smooth muscle cells were isolated from rabbit basilar artery by enzyme treatment. L-type Ca2+ currents were identified using cesium chloride, a potassium channel blocker and Bay K8644, an activator of L-type Ca2+ channel. Currents were recorded under step pulse whole cell patch clamp technique. Results: In the presence of cesium chloride (in pipette solution), inward currents were observed by depolarizing step pulses. The inward currents were significantly reduced by nimodipine (n=4, p<0.05), an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker and increased by Bay K8644 (n=5, p<0.05), an L-type Ca2+ channel activator. The L-type calcium currents (156±17.0 pA, n=12) were significantly reduced by the application of 5 mM magnesium sulfate (53.8±7.0 pA, n=12, p<0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that magnesium may relax cerebral vessel of rat basilar artery through decreasing intracellular Ca2+ ion by inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channels.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether upright position is effective in labor through systematic review in randomized controlled trials. METHODS: We established the PICO (Patient-Intervention-Comparator-Outcome) strategy, and reviewed 282 literatures from national and international electronic databases, and finally selected 9 references based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. We evaluated the quality of references and carried out a meta-analysis. RESULTS: The maternal outcomes showed that the duration of their second-stage labor was 2.29 minutes shorter than that of the women in the recumbent position, and were less likely to have episiotomy. The other outcomes, including the mode of delivery, blood loss, hemoglobin level, use of oxytocin, use of analgesics, and perineal laceration, did not differ between the groups. The fetal heart rate abnormality occurred less than in the control group. The Apgar scores of the groups did not differ. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that an upright position in the second stage of labor reduces the duration of the second stage of labor, the incidence of episiotomy, and an abnormal fetal heart rate.
Analgesics ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Episiotomy ; Female ; Heart Rate, Fetal ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lacerations ; Oxytocin ; Postpartum Period ; Posture ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to explore body-shape satisfaction and adjustment functions in 410 adolescent school girls. METHODS: After underweight, normal-weight and overweight groups were identified among 410 high school girls according to BMI(body mass index), we compared current weight & height, ideal weight & height, subtracted value of ideal weight from current weight, subtracted value of ideal height from current height, subtracted value of ideal BMI from current BMI, weight dissatisfaction, height dissatisfaction,body-shape dissatisfaction,and EAT-26(Eating attitude Test-26),OSIQ(Offer Self-Image Questionnaire for Adolescents), STAI(State-Trait Anxiety Inventory),BDI(Beck Depression Inventory),BITE(Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh) among the three group. RESULTS: 1) The subjects consisted with overweight group(BMI > 25,N=27,6.6%), normal-weight group(19< or = BMI < or =25,N=278,67.8%),and underweight group(BMI<19, N=105, 25.6%). 2) In comparison to other groups, overweight group was significantly different in subtracted value of ideal weight from current weight and subtracted value of ideal height from current height. These results suggest that overweight group wants greater body-shape change than other groups. Overweight group was significantly shorter in height than underweight group there were no significant differences in ideal height among the groups. 3) Overweight group and normal-weight group showed significantly highter weight dissatisfaction than underweight group. There were no significant differences in height dissatisfaction and body-shape dissatisfaction among the three groups. All groups showed higher weight, height dissatisfaction and body-shape dissatisfaction except higher weight dissatisfaction in underweight group. 4) In comparison of overweignt group with other groups by mean difference of each scale, there was significant difference in superior adjustment subscale of the OSIQ and symptom subscale of the BITE between overweight group and other groups. There was also significant difference in symptom severity subscale of the BITE between overweight and underweight groups. There was no significant difference in EAT-26,STAI,BDI,other subscales of OSIQ among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The distribution rate of overweight group was lower than in western studies. 2) These results suggest that overweight group wants greater body-shape change than other groups, and overweight group may have binge-eating behavior and poor coping system.
Adolescent* ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Female* ; Humans ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thinness

A lumbar juxtafacet cyst is a rare disease that causes low back pain, radiculopathy and neurological claudication by compressing the nerve roots. A 34-year-old male complained of severe low back pain and radicular pain in the right lower extremity. Magnetic resonance images revealed a cyst at the lateral recess of the spinal canal between the L3-4 disc and posterior facet joint that extended to the L4 body level. Under the guidance of an image intensifier, needle aspiration of the cyst was performed, which extracted 1.5 ml of serous, yellowish colored fluid. After the aspiration, the symptoms subsided dramatically. The follow-up magnetic resonance images showed no recurrence of the cyst. To the best of the author’s knowledge, there are no reports of lumbar juxtafacet cyst treated with needle aspiration in Korea. This case is reported with a review of the relevant literature.

Vascular anomalies are congenital localized abnormalities that result from improper development and maintenance of the vasculature. The lesions of vascular anomalies vary in location, type, and clinical severity of the phenotype, and the current treatment options are often unsatisfactory. Most vascular anomalies are sporadic, but patterns of inheritance have been noted in some cases, making genetic analysis relevant. Developments in the field of genomics, including next-generation sequencing, have provided novel insights into the genetic and molecular pathophysiological mechanisms underlying vascular anomalies. These insights may pave the way for new approaches to molecular diagnosis and potential disease-specific therapies. This article provides an introduction to genetic testing for vascular anomalies and presents a brief summary of the etiology and genetics of vascular anomalies.

Although adenosine (Ado) is being recently recognized as a potent inducer of apoptosis, molecular mechanism of apoptosis by Ado remains to be elucidated. In this study we observed that c-Myc was rapidly down-regulated in the apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells treated with Ado. To establish the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of apoptosis, we tested the specific effects of several antagonists of Ado receptors or inhibitors of Ado transporter on the induction of apoptosis. Treatment of dipyridamole (DPD), an Ado transport inhibitor, effectively suppressed both c-Myc reduction and DNA fragmentation, suggesting that the induction of apoptosis and down-regulation of c-Myc is mediated by active Ado transporter. It was another evidence supporting the entrance of Ado into cells undergoing apoptosis that Ado cytotoxicity was potentiated by a addition of methylation cycle intermediates. These results suggest that the active Ado transporter-mediated Ado entrance into HL-60 cells leads to the induction of apoptosis through down-regulation of c-Myc.
Adenosine* ; Apoptosis* ; Dipyridamole ; DNA Fragmentation ; Down-Regulation* ; HL-60 Cells* ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Methylation

Biliary-enteric fistula is in 0.5% to 5% of patients undergoing biliary tract surgery. The most common cause of biliary-enteric fistula is gallstones and their complications, Much less common causes are complieation of peptic ulcer, malignancy, trauma, and rarely, Crohns, disease. The most common type of biliary-enteric fistula is cholecysto-duadenal. Cholecysto-colic, cholecysto-gastric, and choledocho-duodenal fistula are reported much less frequently. The combination of cholecysto-duodenal fistula with cholecysto-colic fistula is a very rare. Symptoms are generally nonspecific, so diagnosis has depended on plain film of abdomen and barium studies. Recently, endoscopic examination and cannulation of the fistula for precise radiographic delineation will help to make a diagnosis. A 78-year-old man was admitted our hospital because of epigastric discomfort, indigestion, nausea and vomiting for 10 days. He was confirmed as cholecysto-duodeno-colic fistula by gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and endoscopic cholangio-graphic techniques. So, we report a case of cholecysto-duodeno-colic fistula of the patient with a review of relevant literatures.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Barium ; Biliary Tract ; Catheterization ; Colic* ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Dyspepsia ; Fistula* ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Nausea ; Peptic Ulcer ; Vomiting