Purpose: To determine subjective symptoms and medical history of patients with intermittent exotropia in a large study population. Methods: The Korean Intermittent Exotropia Multicenter Study (KIEMS) is a nationwide, observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted by the Korean Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus including 5,385 patients with intermittent exotropia. Subjective symptoms and medical history of patients with intermittent exotropia were extracted by a comprehensive survey based on a self-administered questionnaire according to the study protocol of the KIEMS. Results: The mean age of symptom onset was 5.5 years. The most common symptom reported in patients with intermittent exotropia was photophobia (52.1%), followed by diplopia at near fixation (7.3%) and distance fixation (6.2%). Preterm birth was found in 8.8%, and 4.1% had perinatal complications. A family history of strabismus was present in 14.9%, and 5.5% of patients had a family member who underwent strabismus surgery. Conclusions The KIEMS is one of the largest clinical studies on intermittent exotropia. Intermittent exotropia frequently caused photophobia and diplopia, and patients with a family history was not uncommon.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of self-esteem as a moderator of the factors influencing suicidality among middle-schoolers. METHODS: Moderated multiple regression analysis was applied to assess the influence of happiness, depression, and hostility on suicidality and to determine the degree to which self-esteem served as a moderator of those relationships. Data were collected from 268 students at a middle school in Busan, Korea, using a self-administered structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Happiness, depression, and hostility had significant direct effects on suicidality. Self-esteem showed no direct effect, but had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between hostility and suicidal behavior. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that various interventions, such as counseling programs, should be designed to alleviate hostility and depression and to enhance happiness and self-esteem among early adolescents.
Adolescent ; Busan ; Counseling ; Depression ; Happiness ; Hostility ; Humans ; Korea

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of self-esteem as a moderator of the factors influencing suicidality among middle-schoolers. METHODS: Moderated multiple regression analysis was applied to assess the influence of happiness, depression, and hostility on suicidality and to determine the degree to which self-esteem served as a moderator of those relationships. Data were collected from 268 students at a middle school in Busan, Korea, using a self-administered structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Happiness, depression, and hostility had significant direct effects on suicidality. Self-esteem showed no direct effect, but had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between hostility and suicidal behavior. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that various interventions, such as counseling programs, should be designed to alleviate hostility and depression and to enhance happiness and self-esteem among early adolescents.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The extent of weight gain and its association with clinical factors in patients undergoing radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer remain unclear. We analyzed clinical factors related to sustained weight gain after serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation for radioiodine (I-131) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 301 adult patients who underwent total thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine therapy and visited the thyroid clinic regularly. Group 1 received a single radioiodine therapy treatment, while group 2 received multiple radioiodine treatment. Data on transient weight gain, defined as weight gain that resolved (±5%) within 1 year after radioiodine therapy, were collected from medical records. Sustained weight gain was defined as body mass index after treatment (BMI(post)) - BMI before treatment (BMI(pre)) ≥2 kg/m2 more than 1 year following radioiodine therapy. Subjective symptoms were scored by questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed using various clinical and laboratory factors to identify risk factors associated with sustained weight gain. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-nine (86%) patients showed transient weight gain and 23 (8%) patients showed sustained weight gain. TSH at therapy and T4-on TSH differed significantly in all patients and in the patients in group 1 with sustained weight gain. The proportion of patients with basal BMI≥25 kg/m2 in group 1 with sustained weight gain also differed significantly. Univariate analysis revealed that high serum levels of TSH at therapy (≥100 µIU/mL) and hypercholesterolemia were associated with sustained weight gain in group 1. Multivariate analysis showed that TSH at therapy levels ≥100 µIU/mL was associated with sustained weight gain in group 1. Of 283 patients remaining after excluding those with insufficient TSH suppression during follow-up, T4-on TSH levels were lower in the sustained weight gain group compared to those without sustained weight gain. TSH at therapy levels ≥100 µIU/mL were significantly associated with sustained weight gain in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Most patients (86%) had transient weight gain after TSH at therapy, while 8% of patients showed sustained weight gain. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed relatively high TSH levels (≥100 µIU/mL) to be a risk factor for patients that received a single dose of radioiodine therapy. Insufficient T4 dose was not associated with sustained weight gain.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin* ; Weight Gain*

The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a national program designed to assess the health and nutritional status of the noninstitutionalized population of South Korea. The KNHANES was initiated in 1998 and has been conducted annually since 2007. Starting in the latter half of 2008, ophthalmologic examinations were included in the survey in order to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of common eye diseases such as visual impairment, refractive errors, strabismus, blepharoptosis, cataract, pterygium, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye disease, and color vision deficiency. The measurements included in the ophthalmic questionnaire and examination methods were modified in the KNHANES IV, V, and VI. In this article, we provide detailed information about the methodology of the ophthalmic examinations in KNHANES in order to aid in further investigations related to major eye diseases in South Korea.
*Epidemiologic Methods ; Eye Diseases/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Nutrition Surveys/*statistics & numerical data ; Ophthalmology/*methods ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; *Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: We evaluated hemodynamic significance of stenosis on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using acetazolamide perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 171 patients, stenosis in internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) (ICA-MCA) on MRA and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) of MCA territory on SPECT was measured using quantification and a 3-grade system. Stenosis and CVR grades were compared with each other, and their prognostic value for subsequent stroke was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 342 ICA-MCA, 151 (44%) presented stenosis on MRA; grade 1 in 69 (20%) and grade 2 in 82 (24%) cases. Decreased CVR was observed in 9% of grade 0 stenosis, 25% of grade 1, and 35% of grade 2. The average CVR of grade 0 was significantly different from grade 1 (p<0.001) and grade 2 stenosis (p=0.007). In quantitative analysis, average CVR index was -0.56+/-7.91 in grade 0, -1.81+/-6.66 in grade 1 and -1.18+/-5.88 in grade 2 stenosis. Agreement between stenosis and CVR grades was fair in patients with lateralizing and non-lateralizing symptoms (kappa=0.230 and 0.346). Of the factors tested, both MRA and CVR were not significant prognostic factors (p=0.104 and 0.988, respectively), whereas hypertension and renal disease were significant factors (p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: A considerable proportion of ICA-MCA stenosis detected on MRA does not cause CVR impairment despite a fair correlation between them. Thus, hemodynamic state needs to be assessed for evaluating significance of stenosis, particularly in asymptomatic patients.
*Acetazolamide ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain/blood supply/radionuclide imaging ; Carotid Artery, Internal/physiopathology/radionuclide imaging ; Carotid Stenosis/physiopathology/*radionuclide imaging ; *Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diuretics ; Female ; *Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension/physiopathology ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; *Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Radiopharmaceuticals ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon/*methods

Brunner's gland adenoma is a rare tumor of duodenum. Patients are usually aymptomatic and most are discovered incidentally during the upper gastrointestinal (GI) series or esophagogastroduodenoscopy. These lesions are most commonly located in the duodenal bulb and clinical manifestations are variable. In symptomatic patients, the most common manifestations are GI hemorrhage and duodenal obstruction. On histologic examination, Brunner's gland adenoma that causes clinical symptoms is composed of hyperplastic Brunner's glands and contains mostly an admixture of glandular, adipose, and muscular tissues. We report a case of large Brunner's gland adenoma causing upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a 47-year-old woman which was successfully removed by endoscopic resection without complications such as bleeding or perforation. Microscopically, it was entirely composed of variable Brunner's glands.
Adenoma/complications/*pathology/surgery ; Brunner Glands/*pathology/surgery ; Duodenal Neoplasms/complications/*pathology/surgery ; Duodenoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of attenuation correction (AC) and scatter correction (SC) on the quantification of PET count rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To assess the effects of AC and SC, 18F-FDG PET images of phantom and cat brain were acquired using microPET R4 scanner. Thirty-minute transmission images using 68Ge source and emission images after injection of FDG were acquired. PET images were reconstructed using 2D OSEM. AC and SC were applied. Regional count rates were measured using ROIs drawn on cerebral cortex including frontal, parietal, and latral temporal lobes and deep gray matter including head of caudate nucleus, putamen and thalamus for pre- and post-AC and SC images. The count rates were then normalized with the injected dose per body weight. To assess the effects of AC, count ratio of "deep gray matter/cerebral cortex" was calculated. To assess the effects of SC, ROIs were also drawn on the gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM), and contrast between them ((GM-WM)/GM) was measured. RESULTS: After the AC, count ratio of "deep gray matter/cerebral cortex" was increased by 17+/-7%. After the SC, contrast was also increased by 12+/-3%. CONCLUSION: Relative count of deep gray matter and contrast between gray and white matters were increased after AC and SC, suggesting that the AC would be critical for the quantitative analysis of cat brain PET data.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Brain* ; Cats* ; Caudate Nucleus ; Cerebral Cortex ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Head ; Putamen ; Rabeprazole ; Temporal Lobe ; Thalamus

PURPOSE: There are differences between Standard Uptake Value (SUV) of CT attenuation corrected PET and that of 137Cs. Since various causes lead to difference of SUV, it is important to know what is the cause of these difference. Since only the X-ray CT and 137Cs transmission data are used for the attenuation correction, in Philips GEMINI PET/CT scanner, proper transformation of these data into usable attenuation coefficients for 511 keV photon has to be ascertained. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy in the CT measurement and compare the CT and 137Cs-based attenuation correction in this scanner. METHODS: For all the experiments, CT was set to 40 keV (120 kVp) and 50 mAs. To evaluate the accuracy of the CT measurement, CT performance phantom was scanned and Hounsfield units (HU) for those regions were compared to the true values. For the comparison of CT and 137Cs-based attenuation corrections, transmission scans of the elliptical lung-spine-body phantom and electron density CT phantom composed of various components, such as water, bone, brain and adipose, were performed using CT and 137Cs. Transformed attenuation coefficients from these data were compared to each other and true 511 keV attenuation coefficient acquired using 68Ge and ECAT EXACT 47 scanner. In addition, CT and 137Cs-derived attenuation coefficients and SUV values for 18F-FDG measured from the regions with normal and pathological uptake in patients' data were also compared. RESULTS: HU of all the regions in CT performance phantom measured using GEMINI PET/CT were equivalent to the known true values. CT based attenuation coefficients were lower than those of 68Ge about 10% in bony region of NEMA ECT phantom. Attenuation coefficients derived from 137Cs data was slightly higher than those from CT data also in the images of electron density CT phantom and patients' body with electron density. However, the SUV values in attenuation corrected images using 137Cs were lower than images corrected using CT. Percent difference between SUV values was about 15%. CONCLUSION: Although the HU measured using this scanner was accurate, accuracy in the conversion from CT data into the 511 keV attenuation coefficients was limited in the bony region. Discrepancy in the transformed attenuation coefficients and SUV values between CT and 137Cs-based data shown in this study suggests that further optimization of various parameters in data acquisition and processing would be necessary for this scanner.
Brain ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography* ; Water

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of whole body 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the patient with a recurrence of a previously treated colorectal malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight cases were scanned using PET at the PET Center of Seoul National University Hospital between May 1995 and Aug 2002. All the patients had had a previous operation for a colorectal malignancy. The PET scans were performed for the following reasons: - investigation of a recurrence (n=12), investigation of the operability (n=38) and clinical follow up (n=8). In these 58 cases, 47 of the CT scans and 55 of the CEA (Carcinoembryonic antigen) were checked prior to the FDG- PET. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the PET scans were calculated, and compared with those of conventional CT scan and CEA, which were also compared with the previous reported data. Eight cases, whose managements were influenced by the PET findings, were analyzed. RESULTS: Recurrences, or metastases, of colorectal cancer developed in 51 cases, with 49 of these being detected by the PET. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the PET were 96.6 (56/58), 96.1 (49/51) and 100% (7/7), respectively. The PPV and NPV of the PET were 100 (49/49) and 77.8% (7/9), respectively. The accuracy and sensitivity of the PET were higher than those of the CT (85.1 and 88.1%), with the differences being statistically significant (p-value 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that a FDG-PET scan is a more accurate and sensitive diagnostic tool than a CT scan for the detection of a recurrence or metastasis in a colorectal malignancy. In addition, a FDG-PET may alter the management of patients with recurrent colorectal cancer. Therefore, it is recommended that a PET should be considered when a tumor recurrence is suspected during conventional follow up.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed