BACKGROUND: Passive smoking is an important worldwide public health issue. In many Korean studies, parental smoking has been reported to be associated with reduced pulmonary function in children. But few studies have evaluated the effects of passive smoking on pulmonary function in adults. Therefore, we looked into this association in the study. METHODS: Participants in the study included non-smoking, healthy men (n=46) and women (n=326) from rural Korea enrolled from June to December 2006. Exposure to passive smoking was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire, and standardized pulmonary function tests were performed. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1, % of predicted) and forced mean expiratory flow rate 25-75% (%) among the men exposed to passive smoke compared with those not exposed (55.7 vs 75.8, P=0.010; 33.9 vs 58.6, P=0.029, respectively). There were significant reductions in FEV1 among men exposed at both workplace and home compared with men exposed only at either workplace or home (42.8 vs 49.3, 64.6; P=0.034). No significant difference in pulmonary function was found between women exposed to passive smoke compared those not exposed. There were, however, reductions in FEV1 and FEV1/forced vital capacity among the women exposed at workplace. Regression analysis showed that passive smoking negatively affected lung function, which were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, particularly at the workplace, adversely affects pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Parents ; Public Health ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Vital Capacity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The purpose of this survey was to investigate the relationship among obese children, dietary intake and environmental factors. Therefore, this survey compared obese children with normal children on dietary intake and environmental factors. The survey were 110 obese children and 110 normal children whose age, height, and sex were same as the obese children of 21 elementary school in Inchon. The statistical analysis of data was completed using SAS program. The results were summarized as follows : 1) The student's obesity was related to parent's obesity and number of their siblings. There were significant differences between obese groups and normal group for these two factors. 2) Meal time of the obese group showed more irregularity than that of the normal group. Otherwise, the normal group were more "piclity" about special food than the obese group(p<0.05). Also obese children showed unconsious eating while reading or watching TV(p<0.01). The normal group attended physical education class more eagerily the obese group(p<0.001). There was no significant difference between obese children and normal children for learning habits. 3) Obese children shoed higher intake of nutrients compared to normal children. Among all the nutrients, minerals and vitamins showed significant differences. Therefore, further study on obese children and their intake of minerals and vitamin is needed. Also, in order to prevent factors which influence obesity, nutrition education at home as well as school was needed.
Child* ; Eating ; Education ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Learning ; Meals ; Minerals ; Obesity ; Physical Education and Training ; Siblings ; Vitamins

Inflammatory polyposis of the colon is rare portion of the colon polyp entity. We experienced three patieats who suffered from colitis of unknown'etiology and discovered membranous retkular with/ without filiform polyp in the distal sigmoid colon of the them. Case 1, 56-year-old female, combined with basaloid cercinoma of the rectal canal that confirmed by pathology after abdominoperineal resection. So we obtained specimen of inflammtory polyp end tried to evaluate the mechanism of it. We found healed ulcer under the mucosal bridge. Case 2. 55-year-old male, had been suffered from irritable bowel syndrome. Prior to visit outpatient clinic, he complained tenesmus with diarrhea for a week. Inflammatory polyp was discovered by colonoacopy but his symptoms relieved by tranqulizers only. Case 3. 57-year-old male, has been a good health. He undertook colonoscopy for routine check thst revealed membranous reticular with filiform inflammatory polyp from distal sigmoid colon to hepatic flexure. Such shape of inflammatory polyp was not documented in Korea, so we reported three cases of it with review of the literature.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pathology ; Polyps* ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Longevity* ; Scrub Typhus*

Therapeutic irradiation can induce angiosarcoma. Radiation-induced angiosarcoma constitutes 20% of all angiosarcomas. Although its common site of origin is the skin and subcutaneous tissue, it rarely arises in small or large bowels with a presentation as multifocal abdominal angiosarcomatosis. We report a case of intra-abdominal angiosarcomatosis involving the jejunum, ileum, transverse colon, mesentery and right ovary in a 63-year-old female. It developed 10 years after therapeutic irradiation for squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix. She developed panperitonitis due to intestinal perforation. She died from sepsis 3 days after segmental resection of the small bowel and right oophorectomy. We reviewed the previously reported cases and describe the clinicopathologic features of this tumor.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Colon, Transverse ; Female ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestinal Perforation ; Jejunum ; Mesentery ; Middle Aged ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue

BACKGROUND: Obesity is linked to a wide range of respiratory diseases. Several studies have shown that body weight at baseline and weight change were related to pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between change in body mass index (BMI) and pulmonary function in adults. METHODS: Of those aged 40-64 years at baseline who had initially visited the health promotion center at one university-level hospital from January 2000 to December 2002, 499 (men: 309, women: 190) patients revisited the center over a 5-year period up to December 2009 and were enrolled in the study. Subjects were classified into 4 groups- group 1: normal-normal, group 2: normal-obese, group 3: obese-normal, and group 4: obese-obese, based on their BMI at baseline and follow-up. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured by spirometry. RESULTS: Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly associated with change in BMI for men in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3 and between group 1 and 4. Changes in FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were significantly associated with change in BMI for women in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1 was significantly different between group 3 and 4, and change in FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a change in BMI is negatively associated with change in pulmonary function. Obesity itself can be a risk factor for pulmonary dysfunction, and a decrease in BMI through weight reduction could reduce pulmonary dysfunction or improve pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Vital Capacity ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.

Ultrasonography affords an accurate assessment of the presence, size, location and internal consistency of apelvic mass. We present our experience of 105 cases of pelvic masses in female patients by ultrasonography, andthe results are as described; 1. Ultrasonography is nonspecific, however, the possibility of mucinous cystadenomaof ovary, teratoma(dermoid cyst), uterine leiomyoma and trophoblastic disease can be suggested due to theircharacteristic internal consistency. 2. This smooth internal septation seen within mucinous cystadenoma, eccentricsolidmural component of dermoid cyst, enlarged uterine wall with lobulated outer margin of leiomyoma, andyesicular appearance of trophoblastic disease were the specific sonographic features. 3. Loculated ascites and hydronephrosis were identified with malignant ovarian neoplasm and pelvic metastasis. 4. Accurate ultrasonographicdiagnosis was made in 88 cases (83.7%) and it may be improved with clinical history of the mass in question.
Ascites ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Dermoid Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Leiomyoma ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary ; Trophoblasts ; Ultrasonography

There has been no adequate diagnostic method for the diagnosis of intrascrotal lesions until recent days. Butafter the development of radionuclide testicular scan, early and relatively accurate diagnosis of the testicularlesions are possible. So the authors analyzed the 32 cases of patients who were examined by testicular scan andconfirmed by follow up study or operation, and the results are as follows; 1. These 32 cases consists of 13 casesod epididymitis, 7 cases of testicular torsion, 4 of cryptorchism, 2 of testicular tumor and etc. The over alldiagnostic accuracy is about 69%. 2. In epididymitis, the diagnostic accuracy is 85%(11/13) and the findings ofscan are increased perfusion in radionuclide angiogram and hot activity noted mainly in peripheral portion of thetesticle in static image. 3. In cases o testicular torsion, diagnostic accuracy is 86%(6/7). Acute torsion showsnormal perfusion in angiogram and round cold area instatic image. But in missed torsion, perfusion is increasedand round cold area wit surrounding hyperemia is noted in static image. Radionuclide testicular scan seems to benoninvasive, inexpensive, easily available and simple to perform with low gonadal radiation dose. So it can bevery useful as the first study in patients with acute testicular symptoms.
Cryptorchidism ; Diagnosis ; Epididymitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gonads ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Male ; Methods ; Perfusion ; Spermatic Cord Torsion

Chronic actinic dermatitis is a rare disease worldwide and also in Korea. However there has been no clinicohistologic and photobiological analysis of chronic actinic dermatitis in Korea. We examined 11 patients who were diagnosed as chronic actinic dermatitis and the results of this study were compared with previous reports. Most patients were elderly men who had erythematous papules or lichenified plaques on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, and dorsum of the hands with severe itching sensation. All patients had severe sensitivity to UVB and biopsied specimens showed findings of chronic eczema. Five patients had positive photopatch test materials. The patients were treated with systemic and topical steroid, cyclosporine and antihistamine.
Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Photosensitivity Disorders/pathology ; Photosensitivity Disorders/etiology* ; Photosensitivity Disorders/drug therapy ; Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects