OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBI) and autistic symptoms in Korean high functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children and to examine the structure of RRBI. METHODS: Participants included 147 high functioning ASD subjects and 181 unaffected siblings. ASD subjects were divided into two groups based on the presence of RRBI. The domain scores of the Korean version of Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R), Korean version of Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale and total scores of Korean translated version of Social Responsiveness Scale, Korean version of Social Communication Scale were used for comparison of ASD symptoms between the groups. Eleven items from the RRBI domain of the K-ADI-R were used in principal axis factor analysis (PAF). RESULTS: A statistically lower nonverbal IQ score was observed for ASD with RRBI than for ASD without RRBIs, and more social deficit, communication deficit, and behavioral and emotional problems were observed for ASD with RRBI compared to ASD without RRBI. Using PAF, two distinct factors were identified. 'Resistance to trivial changes in environment', 'Difficulty with minor changes in personal routine & environment', and 'Compulsion/ritual' were included as one factor. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the data suggests that the presence of RRBI in high functioning ASD is associated with a more severe presentation of autistic disorder. In addition, there appears to be heterogeneity within RRBI in autism except insistence on sameness.
Asperger Syndrome ; Autistic Disorder ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Child* ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Population Characteristics ; Siblings

OBJECTIVE: Despite the good prognosis of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), a few BOT patients experience the relapse of disease, either borderline or malignant. However, the risk of recurrence of BOTs is somewhat controversial. We intended to find out the specific characteristics and prognosis of the recurrence of BOTs. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2012, 130 women were diagnosed with BOTs at a single institution. Eleven patients diagnosed and treated for the recurrence of BOTs including seven cancerous and four borderline relapses were included for the analysis in this retrospective study. Clinicopathological characteristics and surgical procedures as well as follow-up data with overall survival were assessed. Statistical analyses was performed using the chi2 test, t-test and log-rank test with Cox regression. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients with mean follow-up of 65.8 months were evaluated, of whom half were below 40 years old at their first diagnosis of BOTs. Among 11 recurrent cases (8.5%), 7 cancerous transformations (5.4%) and 4 borderline recurrences (3.1%) were detected with median time of 6 and 71 months after the primary surgery, respectively. Nine out of 11 recurrences were happened at their equal or below 40-years-old age at the primary diagnosis (P=0.027). Also, all 7 cancerous relapses arose from premenopausal women of median age of 35 years old. Twenty (15%) patients had laparoscopic surgery and they were all treated conservatively. Among those 20, 5 were suffered from relapse of BOTs and laparoscopic approach was proved to be a significant risk factor for disease relapse in our study (P=0.013). Although laparoscopic surgery was revealed had meaningful influence on disease free survival (P=0.024), it was not significant on overall survival (P=0.226). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic conservative surgery for BOTs can be accepted under close follow-ups. And younger patients should be followed for long period to evaluate recurrence.
Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of bisphosphonates for osteoporotic fracture has been consistently reported in recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling hundreds of patients. The objective of this study was to update knowledge on the efficacy of available bisphosphonates in the prevention of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. METHODS: An approach “using systematic reviews” on PubMed and Cochrane Library was taken. Twenty-four RCTs investigating the effects of bisphosphonates for the prevention of osteoporotic fracture were included in final analysis. A pairwise meta-analysis was conducted with a random effects model. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the type of bisphosphonate. RESULTS: The use of bisphosphonate decrease the risk of overall osteoporotic fracture (odds ratio [OR] 0.62; P<0.001), vertebral fracture (OR 0.55; P<0.001) and non-vertebral fracture (OR 0.73; P<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that zoledronic acid showed the lowest risk reduction (OR 0.61; P<0.001) for overall osteoporotic fractures but no significance was observed for etidronate (OR 0.34; P=0.127). CONCLUSIONS: This update meta-analysis re-confirmed that bisphosphonate use can effectively reduce the risk of osteoporotic fracture. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding etidronate for the prevention of osteoporotic fracture.
Diphosphonates* ; Etidronic Acid ; Humans ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures* ; Risk Reduction Behavior

PURPOSE: Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation decreases epidermal hydration, which is maintained by reduction of natural moisturizing factors (NMFs). Among various NMFs, free amino acids (AA) are major constituents generated by filaggrin degradation. This experiment was conducted to determine whether or not dietary supplementation of green tea extract (GTE) in UV-irradiated mice can improve epidermal levels of hydration, filaggrin, free AAs, and peptidylarginine deiminase-3 (PAD3) expression (an enzyme involved in filaggrin degradation). METHODS: Hairless mice were fed a diet of 1% GTE for 10 weeks in parallel with UV irradiation (group UV+1%GTE). As controls, hairless mice were fed a control diet in parallel with (group UV+) or without (group UV-) UV irradiation. RESULTS: In group UV+, epidermal levels of hydration and filaggrin were lower than those in group UV-; these levels increased in group UV+1% GTE to levels similar to group UV-. Epidermal levels of PAD3 and major AAs of NMF, alanine, glycine and serine were similar in groups UV- and UV+, whereas these levels highly increased in group UV+1% GTE. CONCLUSION: Dietary GTE improves epidermal hydration by filaggrin generation and degradation into AAs.
Alanine ; Amino Acids ; Animals ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements ; Epidermis* ; Glycine ; Metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless* ; Serine ; Tea*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare perioperative and postoperative morbidity of older and younger women undergoing sacrocolpopexy (SCP). METHODS: A retrospective study included 271 patients who underwent laparotomic SCP for symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse from November 2008 to June 2013 at our institution. By the review of medical records, perioperative and postoperative data including the length of the surgery, estimated blood loss, blood transfusion, the length of hospital stay, wound complications and febrile morbidity were collected. In addition, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or neurological adverse events were retrieved. The need for an indwelling urinary catheter or performance of clean intermittent self-catheterization, mesh erosion rate and the number of days required for each were included in the postoperative outcomes. For the outcome variable analyzed in this study, the patients was dichomotized into women aged 65 and older and those younger than 65. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-five (49.8%) patients were younger than 65 and 136 (50.2%) were aged 65 and older. Older women had higher body mass index, vaginal parity and prior surgery for hysterectomy than younger women (P<0.05). And older women had higher baseline comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease (P<0.05), and their American society of Anesthesiologist class was higher (P<0.001). In the perioperative and postoperative complication, older group showed no differences in most of the operation-related complication rates, but gastrointestinal complication rate. Also, mesh erosion rate was not found to be significantly different between the two groups at the last visit. CONCLUSION: Older women undergoing laparotomic SCP have similar perioperative and postoperative morbidities as younger women, suggesting surgeons can counsel older and younger women similarly in terms of operative risks.
Blood Transfusion ; Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hysterectomy ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Parity ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Catheters ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the magnitude of distress after breast cancer diagnosis and to investigate factors associated with distress, as well as to determine the effectiveness of psychological intervention. METHODS: This study was performed retrospectively, reviewing 264 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between November 2011 and May 2014. Distress was measured using the distress thermometer (DT) and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) questionnaires before, as well as at 3 and 6 months postsurgery. Psychological intervention was recommended to high risk patients (DT score ≥5 or CES-D score ≥16). RESULTS: In total, 149 patients (56.4%) were classified as high risk in the initial assessment. In the following assessments, the proportion of those in the high risk group was 38.5% and 25.0% at 3 and 6 months postsurgery, respectively. Mastectomy was significantly associated with high levels of distress compared to breast-conserving surgery in the univariate (p=0.048) and multivariate analyses (p=0.014). However, there was no significant relationship between any of the various socioeconomic factors and distress. Distress level was reduced over time in both scales. Of the 149 high risk patients, only 21 received the psychological intervention. Using linear mixed models, the psychological intervention resulted in marginally significant reductions in DT (p=0.051) and CES-D (p=0.077) scores. CONCLUSION: More than half of patients experienced distress upon initial diagnosis, and the determined surgery type was an important factor associated with high distress level. It is important to identify high risk patients and to manage distress during the initial phase.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Thermometers ; Weights and Measures

Objective: : This study aims to investigate the incidence of vestibular schwannoma (VS) and demographic characteristics in Korea using population-based National Health Insurance Service data. Methods: : This study analyzed Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 2005 to 2020, based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th version, Clinical Modification codes D333 and D431. Only those patients who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging and audiologic tests were considered definitive cases. Demographic variables included age, sex, treatment modality, hypertension, diabetics, dyslipidemia, smoking history, alcohol history, and income status. Results: : The total number of VS patients was 5751. The average incidence rate was 0.71 per 100000 from 2005 to 2020, and the annual incidence rate increased from 0.33 in 2005 to 1.32 in 2019 but decreased to 0.80 in 2020. Incidence was highest in those aged 60–69 years (1.791) and lowest in those younger than 20 years (0.041). Incidence was higher in females, and the number of patients who received radiosurgery (46.64%) was largest compared to the wait and scan group (37.96%), microsurgery group (12.85%), or the group who received both (2.56%). Diabetes, dyslipidemia, and alcohol consumption increased the risk of VS, while cigarette smoking reduced the risk of VS. Conclusion : The incidence of VS exhibited an increasing trend from 2005 to 2019. Radiosurgery (46.64%) was the most common treatment modality. Diabetes, dyslipidemia, and alcohol consumption increased the risk of VS, while cigarette smoking reduced the risk of VS.

Despite evidence that bacteria-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are activated in salivary gland tissues of Sjogren syndrome (SS) patients, the role of oral bacteria in SS etiopathogenesis is unclear. We previously reported that two SS-associated oral bacteria, Prevotella melaninogenica (Pm) and Rothia mucilagenosa (Rm), oppositely regulate the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) in human salivary gland (HSG) cells. Here, we elucidated the mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of MHC I expression by these bacteria. The ability of Pm and Rm to activate TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 was examined using TLR reporter cells. HSG cells were stimulated by the TLR ligands, Pm, and Rm. The levels of MHC I expression, bacterial invasion, and viability of HSG cells were examined by flow cytometry. The hypoxic status of HSG cells was examined using Hypoxia Green. HSG cells upregulated MHC I expression in response to TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 activation. Both Pm and Rm activated TLR2 and TLR9 but not TLR4. Rm-induced downregulation of MHC I strongly correlated with bacterial invasion and cell death. Rm-induced cell death was not rescued by inhibitors of the diverse cell death pathways but was associated with hypoxia. In conclusion, Pm upregulated MHC I likely through TLR2 and TLR9 activation, while Rm-induced hypoxia-associated cell death and the downregulation of MHC I, despite its ability to activate TLR2 and TLR9. These findings may provide new insight into how oral dysbiosis can contribute to salivary gland tissue damage in SS.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the clinical outcomes of women who underwent a midurethral sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence and compare postoperative urinary symptoms among different body mass index (BMI) groups. Methods: A retrospective cohort study on results after midurethral sling surgery according to BMI was conducted at the institution of the current study from January 2010 to December 2019. The study population was classified into three groups according to patients’ BMI (in kg/m2 ) during surgery: normal weight (BMI < 23.0 kg/m2 ), overweight (BMI, 23.0–24.9 kg/m2 ), and obese (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 ). The primary outcome was the recurrence of urinary symptoms after surgery. The secondary outcomes were operation time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results: This study included 376 patients (normal weight, 148; overweight, 74; and obese women, 154) who underwent midurethral sling surgery. No significant difference was noted in urinary symptom recurrence after midurethral sling surgery. Of the patients, 6.8% (n = 10), 9.5% (n = 7), and 7.8% (n = 12) were normal weight, overweight, and obese women, respectively (P = 0.775). Moreover, operation time (P = 0.589), blood loss (P = 0.138), and complication rate (P = 0.865) showed no significant difference. Conclusions Midurethral sling surgery is effective regardless of BMI. Even when midurethral sling surgery was performed as a concomitant surgery, no significant difference in urinary symptom recurrence, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and complication rate was noted among different BMI groups.

Objective: To identify the factors associated with unsuccessful pessary fitting and reasons for pessary discontinuation in Korean women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods: The medical records of 234 patients who underwent pessary fitting for the management of symptomatic POP were retrospectively reviewed. A ring pessary with or without support was used. Successful pessary fitting was defined as the ability to wear a pessary for 2 weeks without any discomfort. Factors associated with unsuccessful pessary fitting were determined using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was obtained to examine the probability of continuing pessary use over the follow-up period. The reasons for the discontinuation of pessary were identified. Results: Two-hundred-and-twenty-five women were included in the analysis. The rate of unsuccessful pessary fitting was 40%. Prior hysterectomy (odds ratio [OR], 4.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.81-9.42) and POP quantification stage III-IV (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.28-4.85) were independent risk factors for unsuccessful pessary fitting. Among the patients with successful pessary fitting, the median time to discontinuation of pessary use was 4 years. The most common causes of discontinued use were vaginal erosion (45.3%) and urinary incontinence (26.5%). Conclusion Patients with a history of hysterectomy and advanced-stage POP are at risk for an unsuccessful fitting of the ring pessary. Vaginal erosion is the main reason for discontinued use among patients with successful pessary fitting.