BACKGROUNDS/OBJECTOVES: Family has an impact on dietary intake of children as a proximal food environment and family structures are changing and becoming more diverse. This study was performed to identify the association between family structure and food group intake of children aged 3-18 years in Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 3,217 children with complete data on variables for household information, dietary intake and sampling weights were obtained from 2010-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Children's family structure was classified into 3 groups (Living with both parents, Living with one parent and Living without parents). To evaluate children's food group intake, scores of individual food groups ('Grains', 'Meat, Fish, Eggs and Beans', 'Vegetables', 'Fruits' and 'Milk and Dairy products') was calculated from percent adherence to the recommended servings of the Korean Food Guidance System (KFGS). 'Food group mean score' was obtained by calculating the average of five food group scores. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, number of family members, and household income, children living with both parents had higher scores in 'Fruits' (P < 0.01), 'Milk and Dairy products' (P < 0.05), and mean score of individual food group score (P < 0.001) compared to children living with one parent. Individual food group scores and mean scores of individual food group scores were associated with different socio-demographic factors in study children. Family structure was associated with 'Fruits,' 'Milk and Dairy products' score and mean scores of food group scores. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that different approach might be required to solve nutrition problem in children depending on their family structure and other socio-demographic factors.
Child* ; Eggs ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys ; Ovum ; Parents ; Weights and Measures

Paragangliomas (PGs) of the thyroid are very rare tumors. Based on the medical literature, thyroid PGs invariably affected women and they were always thought to be benign, and they have always been mistaken for other more common lesions. We report here on the first case of PG of the thyroid in a 45-year-old man in Korea. Ultrasonographically, the tumor showed hypoechoic features. Microscopically, the tumor showed the typical zellballen pattern. The small to medium-sized tumor cells contained moderate amounts of finely granular eosinophilic cytoplasm and round to oval nuclei with fine chromatin. The tumor invaded the thyroid capsule and the extrathyroidal tissue with vascular and perineural invasion. Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed positivity for chromogranin, S-100 protein, CD56a, and synaptophysin and negativity for calcitonin, thyroglobulin, galectin-3, p53, CK19, and EMA. The Ki-67 labeling Index was 10%. We concluded that our case has a high potential of metastasis, and a close follow up would be important.
Female ; Male ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is usually the earliest sign of Behcet's disease. Hyperhomocysteinemia can damage endothelial cells and progress to obstructive vascular disease. It has been reported that hyperhomocysteinemia is a marker of activation in Behcet's disease. Enzyme 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase may be one of the main factors that regulates plasma homocysteine levels. Homozygosity for the C677T (MTHFR C677T) mutation is associated with reduced activity of this enzyme and considered the most common genetic cause of elevated serum homocyteine levels. However its relationship to vascular injury in Behcet's disease remains controversial, and its relationship to RAS is unknown. Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) has both immunoregulatory and anti-infective features. Search for Apo E polymorphism and lipid composition in RAS patients might be a clue to pathogenesis of RAS. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship of MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism, several epidemiologic factors such as age and sex, smoking, lipid composition and Apo E polymorphism to vasculitis in RAS, we assessed the MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism, Apo E polymorphism and lipid composition in RAS and normal population. METHODS: We analyzed data from the General Health survey conducted on 1,243 participants (M:F=281:962) over a 20 year-old in Incheon city. Medical interview and laboratory test for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism, apolipoprotein E polymorphism were completed. Statistical significance was analyzed by chi-square test and multistep logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among normal population over the age of twenty, a total of 34.2% (426/1,243) had RAS. Female predominance (4.5:1, p=0.003) was noted. The incidence of RAS in age group 20 to 39 year old is higher than the over 40 age group. The incidence is higher in smoking group compared to the nonsmoking group in multistepwise logistic regression analysis. Frequency of the MTHFR C677T genotypes was highest at CT compared to CC and TT homozygous genotype in normal and RAS patients group. There was no significant statistical differences in MTHFR genotypes in RAS patients compared to the control group. Similarly, Apo E genotype analysis revealed no significant statistical differences either. Apo E genotype and total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride level didn't show any associations. CONCLUSION: This study revealed insignificant association between the MTHFR C677T mutation and RAS. Apo E genotype didn't show a significant statistical difference in RAS patients compared to normal controls.
Apolipoproteins ; Apolipoproteins E ; Cholesterol ; Endothelial Cells ; Epidemiologic Factors ; Female ; Genotype ; Health Surveys ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Oxidoreductases ; Plasma ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomatitis, Aphthous ; Tetrahydrofolates ; Vascular Diseases ; Vascular System Injuries ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: As doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is considered irreversible, early detection of cardiotoxicity and prevention of overt heart failure is essential. Although there are monitoring guidelines for cardiotoxicity, optimal timing for early detection of subclinical doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is still obscure. The purpose of this study is to determine optimal timing of cardiac monitoring and risk factors for early detection of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in young adult patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Medical records of 1,013 breast cancer patients diagnosed from January 2009 to December 2010 is being reviewed and analyzed. Properly monitored patients are defined as patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography before and after the chemotherapy. The definition of subclinical cardiotoxicity (SC) either decreases left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) more than 10% or the LVEF declines under 55% from baseline without heart failure symptoms. RESULTS: Twenty-nine out of 174 (16.7%) properly monitored young adult female patients (mean age, 52+/-10 years old) developed SC. The mean interval of cardiac evaluation of SC group was 5.5+/-3.0 months. Among the risk factors, the history of coronary artery disease, cumulative dose of doxorubicin > or =300 mg/m2 and use of trastuzumab after doxorubicin therapy were associated with development of SC. At cumulative dose of doxorubicin 244.5 mg/m2, SC can be predicted (sensitivity, 71.4%; specificity, 70.9%; area under the curve, 0.741; 95% confidence interval, 0.608-0.874; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: In young adult patients with breast cancer, SC was common at cumulative dose of doxorubicin <300 mg/m2 and early performance of cardiac monitoring before reaching the conventional critical dose of doxorubicin might be a proper strategy for early detection of SC.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Doxorubicin ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke Volume ; Young Adult ; Trastuzumab

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aims of our study were to reassess the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in Korean patients with psoriasis and to evaluate their clinical features according to gender. METHODS: We evaluated 156 consecutive patients with psoriasis who visited the dermatology clinic in Seoul National University Hospital between the September 2004 and January 2005. A dermatologist diagnosed psoriasis and determined its type and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). Medical interview, joint examination and diagnosis of PsA were made by a rheumatologist. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (14.1%) were diagnosed with PsA among patients with psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis were more frequent in patients with PsA (47.4%) than those without arthritis (9.2%), and plaque psoriasis were less frequent in patients with PsA (42.1%) than those without arthritis (82.6%). Nail change was found in 77.3%, being more common compared to those without PsA (51.2%). Psoriasis was followed by arthritis in 81.8% of PsA patients with the interval of 15.3+/-9.7 years (mean+/-SD). Spondylitis was predominant (36.4%). Clinical features were similar between men and women. However, males with PsA had a shorter duration of psoriasis, and older onset of arthritis than females. CONCLUSION: We characterized the clinical features of PsA in Korean patients on single center base. The prevalence of PsA in patients with psoriasis was 14.1%. Plaque type psoriasis was less common and pustular psoriasis was more common in patients with PsA than those without arthritis. Males with PsA had a shorter duration of psoriasis and older onset of arthritis than females.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Psoriatic ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Nails ; Prevalence ; Psoriasis ; Spondylitis

BACKGROUND: With prolonged life expectancies, mental illness has emerged as a disabling disorder among people with HIV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of depression and its risk factors among Korean patients with HIV infections. Eighty-two HIV-infected patients completed structured questionnaires including the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Subjects with depression were compared to those without depression in terms of demographics, comorbidities, CD4 T-cell count, RNA copy numbers, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens, and adherence. RESULTS: The estimated depression rate was 21% (17 of 82 subjects). Comorbidities (47% vs. 20%, P = 0.01) and unemployment (65% vs. 31%, P = 0.02) were risk factors for depression. Depressive patients were more likely to be anxious (71% vs. 29%, P < 0.01), to frequently miss clinical appointments each year (P = 0.04), and to have higher cumulative time lost to follow-up per month (P <0.01) compared to non-depressive patients. Only three depressive patients were referred to neuropsychologists. CONCLUSIONS: More than 20% of the Korean HIV patients in this study suffered from depression associated with poor adherence. Considering the low level of recognition of depression by clinicians, risk factor-based active assessment is recommended to manage depression properly in HIV-infected patients.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Anxiety ; Appointments and Schedules ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Comorbidity ; Demography ; Depression ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; RNA ; T-Lymphocytes ; Unemployment ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of orthostatic stress with a head-up tilt on the autonomic nervous system and to determine how a cerebral stroke influences the cardiac autonomic function, using the power spectral analysis(PSA) of heart rate variability(HRV). METHOD: We studied 11 stroke patients with a left hemiplegia and 14 patients with a right hemiplegia. Their hemispheric brain lesions were confirmed by the MRI. The ECG and respiration signals were recorded at the tilt angle of 0o and 70o for 5 minutes under the condition of frequency controlled respirtaion(0.25 Hz). Data were compared with the age- and sex-matched 12 healthy controls. RESULT: In a control group, the normalized high frequency power showed a significant decrease during the head-up tilt(p<0.05), whereas the normalized low frequency power showed a significant increase(p<0.05). But for the left and right hemiplegia groups, there were no significant changes of normalized high and low frequency power under the orthostatic stress(p>0.05). Compared with the right hemiplegia and control groups, the left hemiplegia group was associated more with a reduced low and high frequency power and showed no significant changes under the orthostatic stress. CONCLUSION: PSA of HRV can identify the reduced cardiac autonomic activity in stroke patients, with a greater reduction in the left hemiplegia group than in the right hemiplegia group, which may cause a high risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Brain ; Death, Sudden ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Respiration ; Stroke*

Sweet syndrome or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis is characterized by abrupt onset of fever, leucocytosis, and tender erythematous nodules or plaques that respond to systemic corticosteroids. It occurs most commonly in middle aged women and is rare in children. We report a 2-year-old boy with Sweet syndrome who had fever, leukocytosis, neutrophilia and presented with erythematous maculopapules with tiny pustules over the whole body. Additionally he had an antecedent infection. Our evaluation and long term follow-up of this child failed to reveal evidence of an underlying malignancy or a chronic systemic illness.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Child ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Middle Aged ; Preschool Child ; Sweet Syndrome

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Psoriatic* ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Korea* ; Prevalence* ; Psoriasis ; Spondylitis

Purpose: While the incidence of Barrett’s neoplasia has been increasing in Western countries, the disease remains rare in Asian countries. Therefore, very few studies have investigated the endoscopic treatment for Barrett’s neoplasia in Korea. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) enables en bloc and complete resection of gastrointestinal neoplastic lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes of ESD for Barrett’s neoplasia in a single center in Korea and to examine the predictive factors for incomplete resection. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 18 patients who underwent ESD for superficial Barrett’s neoplasia (dysplasia and early cancer) between January 2010 and December 2019 at Pusan National University Hospital. The therapeutic outcomes of ESD and procedure-related complications were analyzed. Results: En bloc resection, complete resection, and curative resection were performed in 94%, 72%, and 61% of patients, respectively. Histopathology (submucosal or deeper invasion of the tumor) was a significant predictive factor for incomplete resection (P=0.047). Procedure-related bleeding and stenosis were not observed, whereas perforation occurred in one case. During the median follow-up period of 12 months (range, 6–74 months), local recurrence occurred in 2 patients with incomplete resection, one patient underwent repeat ESD, and the other patient received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The 3-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were 73% and 93%, respectively. Conclusions ESD seems to be an effective and safe treatment for superficial Barrett’s neoplasia in Korea. Nevertheless, the suitability of ESD for Barrett’s cancer cases should be determined considering the high risk of deep submucosal invasion.