Patients with acromegaly have a reduced life expectancy rnainly due to cardiovascular, respiratory or cerebrovascular diseas-. Malignancy also seems to occur with greater than the expected incidence. In particular, the published retrospective or prospective studies have suggested a strong association of colonic neoplasia with acromegaly. But, there were a few reports of thyroid cancer in acrornegaly. We report a case of thyroid papillary cancer derived from diffuse goiter in acromegaly, sugge- sting the possible carcinogenic role of growth hormone.
Acromegaly ; Bites and Stings ; Colon ; Goiter ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Expectancy ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

Purpose: This study analyzed the relationship between degree of disability and edema index [extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) ratio] values in a rural population of older adult patients with osteopenia, sarcopenia, or osteosarcopenia (OS). Materials and Methods: This study used data from the Namgaram-2 cohort. The degree of disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 12, and ECW/TBW ratio was calculated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Based on ECW/TBW ratio, the participants were stratified into normal (<0.391) and abnormal (≥0.391) groups, and the mean WHODAS 12 scores were compared between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis corrected for demographic factors, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, and serological test results was also conducted. Results: Significant differences in mean WHODAS 12 scores were observed in the healthy group (5.8±7.4 vs. 9.2±9.7, p=0.008), the osteopenia only group (7.4±8.7 vs. 12.9±12.0, p<0.001), and the OS group (16.0±13.2 vs. 23.1±17.1, p=0.004). However, no significant difference in mean WHODAS 12 score was observed in the sarcopenia only group (14.9±13.4 vs. 20.7±14.8, p= 0.051). There were significant differences in ECW/TBW ratio values between the abnormal and normal groups in the osteopenia only group (B=4.646 and p=0.001), the sarcopenia only group (B=5.097 and p=0.016), and the OS group (B=5.653 and p=0.043). Conclusion This study found that the degree of disability is related to the edema index in older patients with osteopenia, sarcopenia, or OS. Since the edema index indicates the nutritional status of an individual, proper nutrition and fluid intake are important to reduce disability.

OBJECTIVES: Use of dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals is growing in Korean adults, especially in pregnant and lactating women. Vitamin and mineral supplements are available in different composition and in a wide range of contents. The purposes of the study were to examine nutrient composition and content of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women and assess their appropriateness as dietary supplements. METHODS: Information on the name, manufacturer, nutrient composition, and usage of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women were obtained from the homepage of the Food Safety Information Portal managed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Korean Index of Medical Specialties. A total of 264 products were identified. RESULTS: Among 264 products, 26.1% were single nutrient products, and 73.9% were multinutrient products. The most commonly included nutrient was iron (70.1%), folic acid (66.3%), vitamin B12 (45.8%), vitamin C (38.6%), and vitamin B6 (38.6%). Although more than 50% of products contained nutrients less than 150% of Recommended Nutrient Intakes or Adequate Intakes for daily use, some products contained inappropriately high amounts of nutrients. When a maximum daily dose of supplements was taken as described on the label, iron in 73 products (39.5%), folic acid in 14 products (8.0%) were likely to be consumed in amounts greater than Tolerable Upper Intake Levels. Most products were assessed as inappropriate for pregnant women due to the possibility of excessive intake of vitamins or minerals when compared with Dietary Reference Intakes. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant and lactating women need to carefully select dietary supplements containing adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists should provide guidelines regarding selection of appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Minerals ; Miners ; Nutritionists ; Pregnant Women ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVES: Use of dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals is growing in Korean adults, especially in pregnant and lactating women. Vitamin and mineral supplements are available in different composition and in a wide range of contents. The purposes of the study were to examine nutrient composition and content of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women and assess their appropriateness as dietary supplements. METHODS: Information on the name, manufacturer, nutrient composition, and usage of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women were obtained from the homepage of the Food Safety Information Portal managed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Korean Index of Medical Specialties. A total of 264 products were identified. RESULTS: Among 264 products, 26.1% were single nutrient products, and 73.9% were multinutrient products. The most commonly included nutrient was iron (70.1%), folic acid (66.3%), vitamin B12 (45.8%), vitamin C (38.6%), and vitamin B6 (38.6%). Although more than 50% of products contained nutrients less than 150% of Recommended Nutrient Intakes or Adequate Intakes for daily use, some products contained inappropriately high amounts of nutrients. When a maximum daily dose of supplements was taken as described on the label, iron in 73 products (39.5%), folic acid in 14 products (8.0%) were likely to be consumed in amounts greater than Tolerable Upper Intake Levels. Most products were assessed as inappropriate for pregnant women due to the possibility of excessive intake of vitamins or minerals when compared with Dietary Reference Intakes. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant and lactating women need to carefully select dietary supplements containing adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists should provide guidelines regarding selection of appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Minerals ; Miners ; Nutritionists ; Pregnant Women ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

No abstract available.
Anaphylaxis* ; Basophils*

We report a case of a 74-year-old woman who was incidentally found to have a single thyroid nodule. Laboratory evaluation showed undetectable serum thyroid stimulating hormone and elevated free thyroxine levels. (99m)Tc thyroid scan showed a hyperfunctioning autonomous nodule in a right lobe of the thyroid. Thyroid ultrasonography showed a 2.2 cm sized nonhomogeneous spiculated nodule with microcalcification, and which was identical with the hyperfunctioning nodule confirmed in thyroid scan by (99m)Tc single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography. Fine needle aspiration was done, and cytology reported as suspicious of malignancy. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, and pathology was consistent with papillary thyroid carcinoma. This case report demonstrates that diagnosis of a hyperfunctioning autonomous thyroid nodule does not preclude the possibility of thyroid cancer. Clinicians should consider further evaluation such as ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration in patients with hyperfunctioning autonomous nodules.
Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Neck Dissection ; Pathology ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine ; Ultrasonography

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of intradural disc herniation (IDH) around conus medullaris. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: IDH is rare with an incidence of less than 1% of all lumbar disc herniations. It is important to differentiate IDH from other condition with accurate diagnosis and subsequent surgical treatment. IDH has a higher risk of neurologic deficit, like conus medullaris syndrome and cauda equina syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 62 year-old male was affected by lumbar back pain radiating to the anterolateral aspect of the right thigh for 5 days. MRI showed a mass that existed on the anterior portion of the conus medullaris. We performed partial laminectomy at the L1-L2level. The mass located anteriorly in the intradural space was eliminated after durotomy by a posterior approach. RESULTS: We confirmed the IDH for histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: IDH usually needs accurate differential diagnosis. Preoperative MRI scans are necessary to differentiate IDH from other intradural lesions. The confirmative diagnosis can be done only in the operative field.
Back Pain ; Conus Snail ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laminectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Polyradiculopathy ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Thigh

Thymic carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm of the thymic epithelium, distinguished from benign or invasive thymoma by the presence of malignant cytology and a greater incidence of local invasion and embolic metastases. The true incidence of this neoplasm is unknown. Nearly three fourth of their patients had symptoms of an anterior mediastinal mass, including cough, chest pain, and superior vena cava syndrome. These patients rarely have myasthenia gravis or other thymoma-associated paraneoplastic syndromes. The treatment of thymic carcinoma remains a controversial matter. We report eight cases of thymic carcinoma treated in our institution from 1990 to 1997.
Chest Pain ; Cough ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mediastinum ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome ; Thymoma*

Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) is a stress biomarker in human diseases, but there are no reports of sAA measurements in diseased dogs. This study measured the sAA and serum alpha-amylase (AA) levels in 16 healthy dogs and 31 diseased dogs using a kinetic enzyme assay to assess the stress status. The sAA and serum AA levels were significantly higher in the diseased dogs than in healthy dogs (p < 0.05), but there was no correlation between the 2 groups (r = 0.251, p = 0.089). This suggests that sAA can be useful as a stress biomarker in diseased dogs.
alpha-Amylases ; Animals ; Dogs ; Enzyme Assays ; Humans ; Saliva

PURPOSE: We wanted to retrospectively evaluate the clinical significance of radiolucent zones surrounding the pedicle screws after spinal fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spinal surgery was performed between May 2003 and December 2005 on elective patients with degenerative lumbar disorders and they underwent transpedicular screw fixation and posterolateral fusion and these patients were the subjects of the study. There were 124 cases with more than 2 years of follow up. Determination of the radiolucent zones around pedicle screws was done using simple x-rays and the cases were divided in to 4 different groups: segmental fixation with short (2 or less segments) or, long (3 or more segments) segmental fixation and those cases with or without sacral fixation. Comparative analysis was done according to osteoporosis, the location of the pedicle screws, the degree of bony-union and fixation of the anterior cortex of the sacrum. RESULTS: Among the 124 cases and 846 pedicle screws, 189 pedicle screws (22%) had radiolucent zones; 151 of the 189 pedicle screws with a radiolucent zone (27%) were in the sacral fixed group, while 38 of the 189 pedicle screws with a radiolucent zone (13%) were in the non-sacral fixed group, and the difference was significant (p=0.001). In the case of anterior cortical fixation in the sacral fixed group and the complete bony-union, the radiolucent zones had a significantly lower incidence, while the group of patients with osteoporosis (a T score lower than -2.5) had a higher incidence of radiolucent zones. CONCLUSION: The radiolucent zones surrounding the pedicle screws after spinal fusion were closely related to spinal fusion with sacral fixation and pseudarthrosis, and these radiolucent zones mostly occurred before complete bony-union. The existence of osteoporosis and the techniques of sacral fixation and many different contributing factors must be considered, and careful monitoring is needed even if the radiolucent zone progressive after complete bony-union.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Osteoporosis ; Pseudarthrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Spinal Fusion