Background/Aims: Prokinetic agents and neuromodulators are among the treatment options for functional dyspepsia (FD), but their comparative efficacy is unclear. We aimed to compare the efficacy of mosapride controlled-release (CR) and nortriptyline in patients with FD after 4 weeks of treatment. Methods: Participants with FD were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive mosapride CR (mosapride CR 15 mg and nortriptyline placebo) or nortriptyline (mosapride CR placebo and nortriptyline 10 mg) in double-placebo, double-blinded, randomized controlled, parallel clinical study. The primary endpoint was defined as the proportion of patients with overall dyspepsia improvement after 4 weeks treatment. The secondary endpoints were changes in individual symptom scores, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Results: One hundred nine participants were recruited and assessed for eligibility, and 54 in the mosapride CR group and 50 in the nortriptyline group were included in the modified intention-to-treat protocol. The rate of overall dyspepsia improvement was similar between groups (53.7% vs 54.0%, P = 0.976). There was no difference in the efficacy of mosapride CR and nortriptyline in a subgroup analysis by FD subtype (59.3% vs 52.5% in postprandial distress syndrome, P = 0.615; 44.4% vs 40.0% in epigastric pain syndrome, P = > 0.999; 50.0% vs 59.1% in overlap, P = 0.565; respectively). Both treatments significantly improved anxiety, depression, and quality of life from baseline. Conclusion Mosapride CR and nortriptyline showed similar efficacy in patients with FD regardless of the subtype. Both treatments could be equally helpful for improving quality of life and psychological well-being while also relieving dyspepsia.

Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between environmental pollution and various health conditions in individuals residing in industrial complexes. To evaluate the effects of pollution from industrial complex on human health, we performed a pooled analysis of environmental epidemiologic monitoring data for residents living near national industrial complexes in Korea. The respiratory and allergic symptoms and the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases, including cancer, were used as the outcome variables for health effects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between exposure to pollution from industrial complexes and health conditions. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, occupational exposure, level of education, and body mass index, the residents near the industrial complexes were found to have more respiratory symptoms, such as cough (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.31) and sputum production (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24), and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20). Among residents of the industrial complexes, the prevalence of acute eye disorders was approximately 40% higher (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.84) and the prevalence of lung and uterine cancer was 3.45 times and 1.88 times higher, respectively, than those among residents of the control area. This study showed that residents living in the vicinity of industrial complexes have a high risk of acute and chronic diseases including respiratory and allergic conditions. These results can be used as basic objective data for developing health management measures for individuals residing near industrial complexes.
Body Mass Index ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Education ; Employment ; Environmental Pollution* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Uterine Neoplasms

Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between environmental pollution and various health conditions in individuals residing in industrial complexes. To evaluate the effects of pollution from industrial complex on human health, we performed a pooled analysis of environmental epidemiologic monitoring data for residents living near national industrial complexes in Korea. The respiratory and allergic symptoms and the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases, including cancer, were used as the outcome variables for health effects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between exposure to pollution from industrial complexes and health conditions. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, occupational exposure, level of education, and body mass index, the residents near the industrial complexes were found to have more respiratory symptoms, such as cough (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.31) and sputum production (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24), and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20). Among residents of the industrial complexes, the prevalence of acute eye disorders was approximately 40% higher (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.84) and the prevalence of lung and uterine cancer was 3.45 times and 1.88 times higher, respectively, than those among residents of the control area. This study showed that residents living in the vicinity of industrial complexes have a high risk of acute and chronic diseases including respiratory and allergic conditions. These results can be used as basic objective data for developing health management measures for individuals residing near industrial complexes.
Body Mass Index ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Education ; Employment ; Environmental Pollution ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Uterine Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate a relationship between the blood concentrations of toxic metals and the blood pressure in people living near the copper smelter. METHODS: The study included 570 adults living within 4km of the smelter. We compared systolic and diastolic blood pressure between tertiary groups for blood cadmium, mercury and lead levels, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors affecting systolic and diastolic blood pressures. RESULTS: In male subjects, there is a significant difference in the mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between tertiary groups of blood cadmium and mercury levels, but in women, there was no significant difference in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures in all tertiary groups of heavy metals. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that age, BMI, and cadmium concentration in men were risk factors for blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Residents living near the Janghang smelter showed high concentrations of blood lead and cadmium, suggesting that they were exposed to high concentrations of heavy metals released from the smelter in the past. Such exposure may have caused some blood pressure increase. Especially, the concentration of cadmium in the case of men and the concentration of mercury in blood in the case of women were found to be significantly related to the increase of blood pressure. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize cardiovascular disease, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.
Adult ; Blood Pressure* ; Cadmium ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Copper* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Metals* ; Metals, Heavy ; Risk Factors

Concentrations of heavy metals exceed safety thresholds in the soil near Janghang Copper Refinery, a smelter in Korea that operated from 1936 to 1989. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of exposure to toxic metals and the potential effect on health in people living near the smelter. The study included 572 adults living within 4 km of the smelter and compared them with 413 controls group of people living similar lifestyles in a rural area approximately 15 km from the smelter. Urinary arsenic (As) level did not decrease according to the distance from the smelter, regardless of gender and working history in smelters and mines. However, in subjects who had no occupational exposure to toxic metals, blood lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and urinary Cd decreased according to the distance from the smelter, both in men and women. Additionally, the distance from the smelter was a determinant factor for a decrease of As, Pb, and Cd in multiple regression models, respectively. On the other hands, urinary Cd was a risk factor for renal tubular dysfunction in populations living near the smelter. These results suggest that Janghang copper smelter was a main contamination source of As, Pb, and Cd, and populations living near the smelter suffered some adverse health effects as a consequence. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize potential health effects, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.
Acetylglucosaminidase/urine ; Adult ; Aged ; Arsenic/*urine ; Bone Density ; Cadmium/*blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemical Industry ; Creatinine/urine ; *Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants/*analysis/blood/urine ; Female ; Humans ; Lead/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

BACKGROUND: Korean regression models for spirometric reference values are different from those of Americans. Using spirometry results of Korean adults, goodness-of-fits of the Korean and the USA Caucasian regression models for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were compared. METHODS: The number of study participants was 2,360 (1,124 males and 1,236 females). Spirometry was performed under the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society. After excluding unsuitable participants, spirometric data for 729 individuals (105 males and 624 females) was included in the statistical analysis. The estimated FVC and FEV1 values were compared with those measured. Goodness-of-fits for Korean and USA Caucasian models were compared using an F-test. RESULTS: In males, the expected values of FVC and FEV1 using the Korean model were 12.5% and 5.7% greater than those measured, respectively. The corresponding values for the USA Caucasian model were 3.5% and 0.6%. In females, the difference in FVC and FEV1 were 13.5% and 7.7% for the Korean model, and 6.3% and 0.4% for the USA model, respectively. Goodness-of-fit for the Korean model regarding FVC was not good to the study population, but the Korean regression model for FEV1, and the USA Caucasian models for FVC and FEV1 showed good fits to the measured data. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the USA Caucasian model correlates better to the measured data than the Korean model. Using reference values derived from the Korean model can lead to an overestimation regarding the prevalence of abnormal lung function.
Adult ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Prevalence ; Reference Values ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: For standardizing the pathology report and diagnosis of colorectal cancers, the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists has developed a pathology reporting format for colorectal cancer in collaboration with the Korean Society of Coloproctology. RESULTS: The diagnostic parameters are divided into two parts: the standard part and the optional part. The standard part contains most of the items listed in the Japanese classification, the TNM classification by AJCC, and the WHO classification. We included detailed descriptions on each item. CONCLUSIONS: The standardized pathology report for colorectal cancers is adequate for its application to routine surgical pathology reports, and it is also helpful to decrease the discrepancies that occur during the pathologic diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Furthermore, this reporting format could encourage nationwide multi-center collaborative studies.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cooperative Behavior ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pathology* ; Pathology, Surgical

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists developed a standardized pathology reporting format for gastric cancer in collaboration with the Korean Gastric Cancer Association. RESULTS: The diagnostic parameters are divided into two part: the standard part and the optional part. The standard part contains most of the items listed in the Japanese classification, the TNM classification by UICC, the WHO classification, and the Korean Gastric Cancer Association classification. Therefore, the standard part is adequate for routine surgical pathology service. We included detailed descriptions on each item. CONCLUSIONS: The authors anticipate that this standardization can improve the diagnostic accuracy and decrease the discrepancies that occur in the pathologic diagnosis of gastric cancer. Furthermore, the standard format can encourage large scale multi-institutional collaborative studies.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Cooperative Behavior ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pathology* ; Pathology, Surgical ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Although there has not yet been a clear determination of the structures responsible for nasal tip support, it is generally agreed that for Caucasians the components of nasal tip support include the attachment between the upper and lower lateral cartilage, the attachment between the lateral crus and the pyriform aperture, the attachment between the paired domes of the lower lateral cartilages, and the medial crural attachments of the caudal septum. To our knowledge, there has been no anatomical study of the nasal tip supporting structures for Asian patients. The purpose of this study is to determine these structures and how they differ from those of Caucasian patients. Ten noses of fresh cadavers were investigated. Dissection was performed and the above-mentioned nasal tip supporting structures were observed and excised. Histological examination was done with hematoxylin and eosin stains and Van Gieson elastin stains. Based on our results, we propose that the structures between upper and lower lateral cartilages, between lateral crus and pyriform aperture, between the paired domes of lower lateral cartilages should referred to as an intercartilaginous ligament, sesamoid fibromuscular tissure, and interdomal loose connective tissue, respectively. There is no identified specific tissue between medial crus and caudal septum. We consider that the loose connection between the domes of the middle crura and the lack of a specific structure between the medial crus and caudal septum might be the reasons why the nasal tips of Asian patients tend to be broad and unprojected with a wide base.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cadaver ; Cartilage ; Coloring Agents ; Connective Tissue ; Elastin ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Nose

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors belong to the group of sex-cord stromal tumors of the ovary. They account for less than 0.5% of all ovarian tumor. They occur predominantly at premenopausal women and rarely at postmenopausal and prepubertal. Most common symptom is menstrual disorder including vaginal bleeding. This symptom is the results of excessive testosterone production of Leydig cell. Masculinization is occasionally accompanied by this symptom. but approximately 50% of patients with SLCT have no endocrine manifestations. Prognosis prove generally favorable with 5-year survival rate of 70-90%. Recurrence is rare.The majority of these tumors are benign and are unilaterally (97-98%) localized. Surgery varies with patient age, tumor stage, and differentiation from unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and total hysterectomy concomitant with pelvic lymph node dissection. Herewith, we experienced a case of treatment advanced-stage Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with poorly differentiation in that is ascitic and metastatic in a 53 years old menopause woman who has no virilizing symptom. After all the tumor has resulted in fatal outcome despite of surgery and aggressive chemotherapy. Therefore we present it with review of literature.
Drug Therapy ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor* ; Survival Rate ; Testosterone ; Uterine Hemorrhage