Background: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs. Methods: Levin’s formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used. Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030. Conclusion The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

Background: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs. Methods: Levin’s formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used. Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030. Conclusion The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

Background: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs. Methods: Levin’s formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used. Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030. Conclusion The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

Background: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs. Methods: Levin’s formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used. Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030. Conclusion The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

Background: This study investigated a safe and effective bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) with dexmedetomidine for dental treatments. The depth of sedation, vital signs, and patient satisfaction were investigated to demonstrate safety. Methods: Thirty patients requiring dental scaling were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups based on bolus doses and lockout times: group 1 (low dose group, bolus dose 0.05 µg/kg, 1-minute lockout time), group 2 (middle dose group, 0.1 µg/kg, 1-minute), and group 3 (high dose group, 0.2 µg/kg, 3-minute) (n = 10 each). ECG, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, end-tidal CO2 , respiratory rate, and bispectral index scores (BIS) were measured and recorded. The study was conducted in two stages: the first involved sedation without dental treatment and the second included sedation with dental scaling. Patients were instructed to press the drug demand button every 10 s, and the process of falling asleep and waking up was repeated 1-5 times.In the second stage, during dental scaling, patients were instructed to press the drug demand button. Loss of responsiveness (LOR) was defined as failure to respond to auditory stimuli six times, determining sleep onset. Patient and dentist satisfaction were assessed before and after experimentation. Results: Thirty patients (22 males) participated in the study. Scaling was performed in 29 patients after excluding one who experienced dizziness during the first stage. The average number of drug administrations until first LOR was significantly lower in group 3 (2.8 times) than groups 1 and 2 (8.0 and 6.5 times, respectively). The time taken to reach the LOR showed no difference between groups. During the second stage, the average time required to reach the LOR during scaling was 583.4 seconds. The effect site concentrations (Ce) was significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. In the participant survey on PCS, 8/10 in group 3 reported partial memory loss, whereas 17/20 in groups 1 and 2 recalled the procedure fully or partially. Conclusion PCS with dexmedetomidine can provide a rapid onset of sedation, safe vital sign management, and minimal side effects, thus facilitating smooth dental sedation.

Gua Sha is a traditional Asian medicine with different names in many Asian countries. It is a treatment to scrape the petechiae of the skin with ointment. It has generally been administered to patients with upper respiratory infections, heat syndrome, and pain. Herein, we report the case of a 31-year-old Cambodian man who was found dead at a farm accommodation. During the autopsy, multiple linear intradermal hemorrhages without subcutaneous damage were observed in the upper chest and both shoulders. The cause of death was sudden unexpected nocturnal death syndrome because he was a young Asian man who died while sleeping without specific findings. Since it is an unfamiliar traditional medicine in Korea compared to other Asian countries, forensic officers without background knowledge about Gua Sha initially suspected that he was severely assaulted or pressed against a particular object enough to cause crush asphyxia. Because of the difficulty of going to the hospital during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Gua Sha was used to treat headaches and mild fever. Therefore, this case shows that understanding the culture of other countries could be helpful for investigations especially with the increase of multicultural families in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgery on long-term (5-year) subjective outcomes, including sleep disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms and other complications, in patients with OSA. METHODS: We enrolled patients who underwent diagnostic polysomnography for OSA between January 2006 and December 2006 in ten hospitals. Patients either were treated for OSA or were not treated for OSA. All patients completed a brief telephone survey regarding their SDB signs and symptoms (e.g., snoring, apnea, nocturnal arousals, and daytime sleepiness), positive airway pressure (PAP) compliance, and any adverse effects of either the surgery or PAP. A positive subjective outcome for either surgery or no treatment was taken to be the alleviation of apnea, defined as a > or =50% increase in score. A positive subjective outcome (compliance) for PAP was defined as a PAP usage of > or =4 hours per night and > or =5 days per week. RESULTS: A total of 229 patients were included in this study. Patients were divided into three groups: a surgery group (n=87), a PAP group (n=68), and a control (untreated) group (n=74). The surgery group exhibited significant improvement in all SDB symptoms compared with the control group. The long-term subjective outcomes of the surgery (52.9%) and PAP (54.4%) groups were significantly better than those of the control group (25.0%). The subjective outcome of the surgery group was not significantly different from that of the PAP group. The overall surgical complication rate was 23.0% (20 of 87) in the surgery group, and 55.0% (22 of 40) of all patients with PAP experienced adverse effects. CONCLUSION: The extent of SDB symptoms was consistently improved in patients with OSA at 5 years postsurgery. Information about the potential long-term subjective outcomes should be provided to patients when considering surgery.
Apnea ; Arousal ; Compliance ; Humans ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Snoring ; Telephone ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Uncomplicated acute cystitis (CA-UAC) is one of the most common infections treated with antibiotics in the community. However, few data on etiology of CA-UAC and its susceptibility to antibiotics are available, primarily because, in Korea, insurance does not allow reimbursement for microbiological evaluation of CA-UAC. However, microbiologic data on community-acquired uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis (CA-UAPN) are available. The objective of the study was to evaluate the question of whether microbiologic data on CA-UAPN can be used for treatment of CA-UAC; therefore, etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility were compared between pathogens of CA-UAC and those of CA-UAPN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 2008, 538 CA-UACs and 1,265 CA-UAPNs were recruited retrospectively from 14 hospitals (UTI research group). Microbiologic data on etiology and susceptibility to antibiotics were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: Urine culture was positive in 131 CA-UACs (131/469, 27.9%) and 719 CA-UAPNs (719/1249, 57.6%). Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen in both groups [83.2% (109/131) in CA-UAC vs. 91.9% (661/719) in CA-UAPN]. Susceptibility to common UTI regimens, such as ciprofloxacin, extended-spectrum cephalosporins, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole did not differ between urinary pathogens of CA-UACs and CA-UAPNs, however, a significant difference was observed in rates of resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam (16.5% vs. 42.9%, P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of resistance of E. coli from CA-UAC and CA-UAPN to most antibiotics did not differ. For proper treatment, further microbiological evaluation for CA-UAC is mandatory.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cephalosporins ; Ciprofloxacin ; Cystitis ; Escherichia coli ; Insurance ; Korea ; Pyelonephritis ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vasospastic angina (VA) is a specific type of coronary artery disease and develops as a result of coronary artery spasm. Recently, a few studies have revealed that VA caused by coronary artery spasm is related to genetic traits. The objective of this study was to use the recently developed technique of array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to screen the genetic aberrations of VA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To identify candidate genes that might be causally involved in the pathogenesis of VA, genomic deoxyribonucleic acids were extracted from whole blood of 28 patients with VA who presented at Department of Cardiology at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea. The copy number profiles of these patients was then analyzed using array CGH and reverse transcriptase (RT) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Array CGH revealed gains in 31 different regions, with losses in the 4q35.2, 7q22.1, 10q26.3, 15q11.2, 16p13.11, 17p11.2 and 19q13.3 regions (more than 32% aberration in these regions). Several loci were found to be frequently including gains of 5p and 11q (50% of samples). The most common losses were found in 7q (54% of samples). Copy number aberrations in chromosomal regions were detected and corresponding genes were confirmed by RT quantitative PCR. The fold change levels were highest in the CTDP1 (18q23), HDAC10 (22q13.33), KCNQ1 (11p15.5-p15.4), NINJ2 (12p13.33), NOTCH2 (1p12-p11.2), PCSK6 (15q26.3), SDHA (5p15.33), and MUC17 (7q22.1) genes. CONCLUSION: Many candidate chromosomal regions that might be related to the pathogenesis of VA were detected by array CGH and should be systematically investigated to establish the causative and specific genes for VA.
Cardiology ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; DNA ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Spasm

In order to study the treatment of aneurysms, the technique of making experimental aneurysms in laboratory animals must be established. In our study, to examine the feasibility of making experimental aneurysm and selective angiography on the common carotid artery in rabbits and to determine the size of experimental aneurysm after surgery, saccular aneurysms were fashioned on the right common carotid artery in 17 rabbits using a vein pouch technique. Selective angiography of the common carotid artery was performed immediately after surgery, and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after surgery. Also, histological changes in the aneurysms were observed. In 16 rabbits with established successful experimental aneurysm, no differences were found in diet intake and behavior before and after surgery. The patency of the carotid artery was confirmed by selective angiography. The average size of the aneurysm immediately after surgery was similar to that of 1 week postoperatively in selective angiography, however it increased with time at 4weeks and 8 weeks. Histologically, infiltration of inflammatory cells and hemorrhage were found at the junction of the carotid artery and the vein pouch at 1 week, which disappeared at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. This study suggests experimental saccular aneurysm using the vein pouch technique might form aneurysms similar to that of the human in its properties such as increment of size, and selective angiography might be suitable for assessment of experimental aneurysm. Therefore, this animal model may be suitable for investigating new treatment methodologies for human aneurysms.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Animals, Laboratory ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Diet ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Rabbits ; Veins