PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of the anthropometric and serological parameters on the prostate-specific antigen(PSA) levels after adjusting for age and the prostate volume in Korean men who visited a health promotion center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to July 2007, among the 18,352 men(age range: 30 to 79) who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups, 1,230(14.9%) men who wanted their prostate evaluated were included in this study. Thereafter, 151 men whose PSA level was over 4.0ng/ml, or their urinalysis revealed pyuria(>5 white blood cells (WBCs)/high power fields(HPF)) were excluded. The data of the remained 1,079 men was then analyzed. All the men underwent transrectal ultrasonography, detailed anthropometric measurements and serological tests. The correlation of the PSA level with the various anthropometric and serological parameters was investigated. RESULTS: On the univariate analysis after adjusting for age and the prostate volume, the PSA level showed statistically significant positive correlation with the WBC, the red blood cell(RBC) and platelet(PLT) counts/micron l, and the PSA level was negatively correlated with height, weight, the body surface area(BSA), the body mass index(BMI), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and creatinine clearance(Ccr). On multivariate analysis, age, the prostate volume and the RBC/PLT counts/micron l were positively correlated with the PSA level, and the BSA was negatively correlated with the PSA levels, whereas the BMI was not. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of age, the prostate volume and the BSA were the independent factor influencing the PSA level, that is, the larger the BSA, the lower the PSA.
Male ; Humans

PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of the anthropometric and serological parameters on the prostate-specific antigen(PSA) levels after adjusting for age and the prostate volume in Korean men who visited a health promotion center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to July 2007, among the 18,352 men(age range: 30 to 79) who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups, 1,230(14.9%) men who wanted their prostate evaluated were included in this study. Thereafter, 151 men whose PSA level was over 4.0ng/ml, or their urinalysis revealed pyuria(>5 white blood cells (WBCs)/high power fields(HPF)) were excluded. The data of the remained 1,079 men was then analyzed. All the men underwent transrectal ultrasonography, detailed anthropometric measurements and serological tests. The correlation of the PSA level with the various anthropometric and serological parameters was investigated. RESULTS: On the univariate analysis after adjusting for age and the prostate volume, the PSA level showed statistically significant positive correlation with the WBC, the red blood cell(RBC) and platelet(PLT) counts/micron l, and the PSA level was negatively correlated with height, weight, the body surface area(BSA), the body mass index(BMI), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and creatinine clearance(Ccr). On multivariate analysis, age, the prostate volume and the RBC/PLT counts/micron l were positively correlated with the PSA level, and the BSA was negatively correlated with the PSA levels, whereas the BMI was not. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of age, the prostate volume and the BSA were the independent factor influencing the PSA level, that is, the larger the BSA, the lower the PSA.
Male ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal androgen, may regulate Th1/Th2 cytokines. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether DHEA have a preventive effect against the development of asthma, a Th2-associated disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were fed with a standard diet incorporated with 0.1% (w/w) of DHEA for 1 week before sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA, 20 microgram i.p. twice with 2-week intervals). Enhanced pause (Penh) was monitored after 1% OVA inhalations for 3 successive days, and then the methacholine bronchoprovocation tests were performed using a whole-body plethysmography system. Analyses of inflammatory cells, cytokines, and OVA-specific IgE were carried out. RESULTS: Both the excessive airway narrowing (maximum Penh) and the airway hypersensitivity (PC200, mg/mL) to methacholine were significantly suppressed with the DHEA pretreatment (P<.05 and P<.01, respectively). However, the numbers of the inflammatory cells and the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the production of IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma by Con A-stimulated splenocytes, and the serum IgE level in DHEA group were not significantly different from those in asthma group. CONCLUSION: DHEA pretreatment could suppress the development of asthmatic airway hyperresponsiveness without suppression of Th2 cytokines and airway inflammation.
Animals ; Asthma ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cytokines ; Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Interferons ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukins ; Methacholine Chloride ; Mice* ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Plethysmography

BACKGROUND: BCG, a potent inducer of Th1 immune response, has been suggested to suppress Th2 response which is known to mediate IgE-mediated allergic disorders, in particular allergic asthma. Schultz-Dale reaction is known to be a model of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity. This study was done to investigate whether BCG infection suppresses the Schultz-Dale reaction by inhibiting Th2 response and allergen-specific IgE production. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were sensitized and provoked with ovalbumin (OVA). A pretreatment of 6 x 10(4) colony forming units of BCG or saline was done 7 days before sensitization. The Schultz-Dale reaction was represented as tracheal smooth muscle contractions to 50 micrograms/mL OVA challenge in vitro. Serum OVA-specific IgE levels and IFN-gamma and IL-4 concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. RESULTS: The Schultz-Dale reaction and serum OVA-specific IgE levels were significantly decreased in BCG infected and OVA sensitized rats compared with only sensitized rats (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). As compared with only sensitized rats, IL-4 concentration and a ratio of IFN-gamma:IL-4 in BCG infected and OVA sensitized rats were significantly decreased (p < 0.001) and increased (p < 0.05), respectively. The Schultz-Dale reaction was correlated with OVA-specific IgE levels (r = 0.50, p < 0.05), IL-4 concentration (r = 0.69, p < 0.001), and ratio of IFN-:IL-4 (r = -0.44, p < 0.05). OVA-specific IgE levels were correlated with IL-4 concentration (r = 0.61, p < 0.01) and ratio of IFN-gamma:IL-4 (r = -0.48, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that BCG infection prior to allergen sensitization may inhibit Schultz-Dale reaction developed in the sensitized rat tracheal smooth muscle via the suppressive effects of Th2 immune response and allergen-specific IgE production.
Animal ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/*chemistry ; Comparative Study ; Cytokines/analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*immunology ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin E/*analysis ; Male ; Mycobacterium bovis/*immunology ; Probability ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Tuberculosis/*immunology/veterinary

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a sight-threatening ophthalmic emergency that requires vitrectomy unless prompt treatment is undertaken. It is usually caused by hematogenous spread from a distant endogenous focus of infection. We treated a patient with endogenous endophthalmitis who also had prostate and perianal abscesses caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Clinicians should entertain the possibility of endogenous endophthalmitis if a patient with a urologic disease such as a prostate abscess or acute prostatitis resulting in bacteremia complains of ophthalmologic symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Even though tuberculosis (TB) is still a major public concern in Korea, there is little data on the management of TB patients and its outcomes in the private sector. This study evaluated the status of TB treatment in the private sector. METHODS: Sixteen-hundred-sixty-six TB patients who were notified in a private university hospital from 2001 to 2002 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into pulmonary (TB(P)), extrapulmonary (TB(E)), and combined (TB(P+E)) groups, and were also divided into initial and retreatment groups. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment regimens, and outcomes were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The mean age of the 1,666 patients was 48.9 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. The number of patients in the initial and retreatment groups of TB(P), and those of (TB(E) + TB(P+E)) were 809, 276, 480, 101, respectively. A bacteriological study was performed in 92.0% of cases, and a positive culture was confirmed in 58.1% and 31.7% of patients with TB(P) and (TB(E) + TB(P+E)), respectively (p<0.05). The AFB smear was positive in 45.4% of the TBP patients. PCR was carried out in 60.4% of the (TB(E) + TB(P+E)) group. The MDR was detected in 14.0% of isolates. Overall, the treatment completion, default, and death rates were 70.2%, 13.5% and 1.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Even though the management of TB patients in a private hospital was satisfactory in terms of the national guidelines, the high default rate was is still a problem. Efforts to decrease the default rate either independently or in cooperation with the public sector will be needed.
Diagnosis* ; Hospitals, Private ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Private Sector ; Public Sector ; Retreatment ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis*