Background: Data illustrating the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on lives of adults with AD in South Korea are limited. Objective: To assess the AD disease severity and its impact on quality of life (QoL) in patients with AD from South Korea. Methods: Patients with AD utilizing the specialist dermatology services of major hospitals in South Korea were assessed for disease severity using Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, for QoL using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (for QoL), and for comorbidities and treatment experience via retrospective review of 12-month medical records. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were also measured. Results: Of the 1,163 patients, 695 (59.8%) were men (mean age [years]±standard deviation: 31.6±12.1). Overall, 52.9% (n=615) patients had moderate-to-severe disease (EASI>7).The QoL of 72.3% (n=840) patients was affected moderately-to-severely (DLQI score: 6~30).Systemic immunosuppressants were used ≥1 over past 12 months in 51.9% (n=603) patients, and the most commonly used were cyclosporines (45.7%, n=531) and systemic corticosteroids (40.5%, n=471). Approximately, 10.8% (n=126) patients consulted or received treatment for AD-related eye problem. Of these, 40% (n=50) patients reported poor, very poor, or completely blind status; approximately, 16.7% patients (n=192) reported having depression or anxiety; and 35.5% (n=410) reported suicidal ideation or suicidal attempt. Conclusion A large proportion of patients had moderate-to-severe AD, a compromised QoL, and ocular or mental health comorbidities, indicating a high disease burden despite systemic treatment. These findings highlight the importance of a holistic approach for the evaluation and treatment of patients with AD.

BACKGROUND: Research into the Baumann skin type (BST) has recently expanded, with growing interest in the development of an efficient and effective skin type classification system for better understanding of this skin condition. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify male-specific skin type characteristics with investigation into the distribution of BST by age and region in the Korean male population and to determine the intrinsic and extrinsic factors related to skin type. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to collect information about age, region, working behavior, drinking behavior, smoking behavior, usual habit of sun protection, medical history, and the BST which consisted of four parameters; oily (O) or dry (D), sensitive (S) or resistant (R), pigmented (P) or non-pigmented (N), and wrinkled (W) or tight (T). RESULTS: We surveyed 1,000 Korean males aged between 20 and 60 years who were divided equally by age and region. Of the total respondents, OSNW type accounted for the largest percentage and ORPW type the lowest. In terms of Baumann parameters, O type was 53.5%, S type was 56.1%, N type was 84.4% and W type was 57.5%. Several behavioral factors were found to have various relationships with the skin type. CONCLUSION: The predominant skin type in the Korean male respondents was OSNW type, and the distribution of skin types with regards to age and region was reported to be distinct. Therefore, skin care should be customized based on detailed skin types considering the various environmental factors.
Classification ; Drinking Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Skin Care ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Solar System ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Myocardial infarction (MI) secondary to coronary artery fistula and the subsequent occlusion of the distal right coronary artery (RCA) after blunt chest trauma is a rare entity. Here, we describe a case of coronary artery fistula and occlusion with an inferior MI that occurred following blunt chest trauma. At the initial visit to the emergency room after a car accident, this patient had been undiagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, readmitted five months after ischemic insult, and revealed to have experienced MI due to RCA-right atrial fistula and occlusion of the distal RCA. He underwent coronary surgery and recovered without complications.
Coronary Vessels* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Thorax*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to survey the current clinical practice of first-trimester ultrasonography among members of the Korean Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (KSUOG) and to provide basic data for making practical recommendations about first-trimester ultrasonography scan in Korea. METHODS: This survey was conducted using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. The first-trimester in this survey was divided into two parts: early and late first-trimester. The survey was focused on safety issue, nuchal translucency (NT) cutoff, the anatomic structures they check, and the need for practical recommendations or educational courses during the first-trimester. RESULTS: During the study period, 194 KSUOG members participated into this survey. The survey on early first-trimester scan reveal that 173 (89.2%) of respondents had used pulsed-wave Doppler or color Doppler imaging to monitor fetal heart beat. For the late first-trimester scan, 145 (74.7%) of respondents was found to check for fetal anatomical assessments during their NT screening performance; however, the clinical practice patterns were considerably varied among participants. More than half of the respondents used the criterion of NT > or =3.0 mm to define increased NT. Approximately 80% of respondents stated that the screening ultrasonography of fetal structures in the first-trimester was necessary. Furthermore, 187 (96.4%) of respondents were in favor of a recommendation for first-trimester ultrasonography in Korea. CONCLUSION: This is the first survey of the current clinical practice of first-trimester ultrasonography in Korea. Our survey findings highlight the need for the practical recommendation or educational course for first-trimester ultrasonography.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Female ; Fetal Heart ; Fetus ; Gynecology* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement ; Obstetrics* ; Physician's Practice Patterns* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

A 17-year-old man was diagnosed as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) because of pigmented lip and multiple gastrointestinal polyps. He had anemia and underwent polypectomy on the duodenum and colon. His maternal family members were patients with PJS. His mother used to be screened with endoscopy to remove large polyps. One and half years later, he underwent jejunal segmental resection due to intussusceptions. He underwent endoscopic polypectomy every 2 to 3 years. When he was 23 years old, high-grade dysplasia was found in colonic polyp and his mother underwent partial pancreatectomy due to intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma. When he was 27 years old, diffuse gastric polyps on the greater curvature of corpus expanded and grew. Therefore, wide endoscopic polypectomy was done. Histological examination revealed focal intramucosal carcinoma and low-grade dysplasia in hamartomatous polyps. We report cases of cancers occurred in first-degree relatives with PJS.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Adolescent ; Anemia ; Colon ; Colonic Polyps ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Intussusception ; Lip ; Mothers ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; Polyps ; Stomach Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive behavioral therapy and social skills training have been proposed as a promising modality for treatment of patients with schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Social Skill Training (CBSST) in patients with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS: Twenty six middle- or older-aged hospitalized patients with schizophrenia were selected in a mental hospital. Eleven participants were randomly assigned to undergo treatment with CBSST and 15 participants were assigned to receive the usual treatment. CBSST was administered in a single group over 12 sessions for a period of weeks, and the participants were assessed by blinded raters at base line and end point, and end of treatment. RESULTS: Compared to patients who received the usual treatment, those who received treatment with CBSST showed a significant reduction of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score, however, scores for other psychiatric symptoms did not differ significantly. In terms of Quality of life (QoL) analysis, scores for overall quality of life showed a more significant increase in the CBSST group, compared with the group of patients who received the usual treatment. According to results of the Independent Living Skill Survey, patients receiving CBSST showed significantly greater involvement in social activities than patients receiving usual treatment group. CONCLUSION: Psychosocial intervention for patients with chronic schizophrenia is very important, not only for management of primary psychiatric symptoms, but also for QoL and social rehabilitation. The results of this study, showing improvement of depressive mood, overall life quality, and social activities, suggest that CBSST could be an effective treatment for these patients. This study is a pilot study performed in an inpatient treatment setting. Further studies are required in order to clarify the advantage of CBSST in treatment of patients with chronic schizophrenia, esp. under outpatient settings.
Cognitive Therapy ; Depression ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Independent Living ; Inpatients ; Nitro Compounds ; Outpatients ; Pilot Projects ; Quality of Life ; Schizophrenia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of contact cryotherapy as an adjuvant therapy after intralesional curettage and autoiliac bone graft of enchondromas of the hand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty seven cases in 30 patients (17 males, 13 females) with enchondromas of the hand who underwent curettage, contact cryotherapy and autoiliac bone graft between July 2004 and March 2010 were reviewed with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Radiologic evaluations were done periodically. Mean follow-up period was 26 months (range: 12-54 months). The radiologic results were evaluated according to the degree of new bone formation based on the Tordai's criteria. RESULTS: According to the Tordai's criteria, 33 cases (89%) were group I, and 4 cases (11%) were group II. There was no case of group III, which meant recurrence. Bone healing was achieved at average 4.8 months (range: 4-5.3 months) after the operation. There was no cryotherapy-related complication such as pathologic fracture, bone necrosis and skin necrosis during the follow-up periods. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the contact cryotherapy can be used as an effective adjuvant therapy for treatment of enchondroma of the hand without complications.
Chondroma ; Cryotherapy ; Curettage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Osteogenesis ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: While many studies have shown the good efficacy and safety of exenatide in patients with diabetes, limited information is available about exenatide in clinical practice in Korean populations. Therefore, this retrospective cohort study was designed to analyze the effects of exenatide on blood glucose level and body weight in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We reviewed the records of the patients with diabetes who visited Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and for whom exenatide was prescribed from June 2009 to October 2011. After excluding subjects based on their race/ethnicity, medical history, whether or not they changed more than 2 kinds of oral hypoglycemic agents with exenatide treatment, loss to follow-up, or whether they stopped exenatide therapy within 6 months, a total of 52 subjects were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: The mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level and weight remarkably decreased from 8.5+/-1.7% to 6.7+/-1.0% (P<0.001) and from 82.3+/-15.8 kg to 78.6+/-16.3 kg (P<0.001), respectively. The multiple regression analysis indicated that the reduction in HbA1c level was significantly associated with a shorter duration of diabetes, a higher baseline HbA1c level, and greater weight reduction, whereas weight loss had no significant correlation with other factors. No severe adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a 6-month exenatide injection therapy significantly improved patients' HbA1c levels and body weights without causing serious adverse effects in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.
Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Peptides ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Venoms ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.