PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid dysfunction in obese children in Korea. METHOD: We measured body mass index and thyroid hormone in obese, overweight, and normal weight children who visited a pediatric clinic in Jeonju, Korea, from January 2009 to September 2012. RESULTS: The free thyroxoine (FT4) level of the obese group (16.35 +/- 2.79 pmol/L) was lower than levels of the overweight (17.65 +/- 2.31 pmol/L) and normal weight (17.28 +/- 2.35 pmol/L; P=0.012) groups. The average value of FT4 in severely obese children (15.71 +/- 1.68 pmol/L) was lower than those of mildly and moderately obese children (16.40 +/- 2.88 pmol/L). We found no significant difference in thyroid stimulating hormone level between the obese group and normal weight group. CONCLUSION: The FT4 level is lower in obese children than in normal weight children.
Body Mass Index ; Child ; Humans ; Korea ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyrotropin

Behcet's disease is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disorder. Genetic, environmental, and immunological factors have been suggested as possible causes of Behcet's disease. Although seen at any age, Behcet's disease generally begins when individuals are in their 20s or 30s. The common major symptoms of Behcet's disease include recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, and eye inflammation. The disorder may also cause various skin lesions, arthritis, bowel inflammation, meningitis, and cranial nerve palsies. The common urinary system manifestations are glomerulonephritis, cystitis, epididymitis, orchitis, and genital ulceration, whereas ureteral ulcers and strictures are uncommon. Here, we report an uncommon case of a ureteral ulcer and stricture in a 34-year-old man with Behcet's disease.
Adult ; Arthritis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Cystitis ; Epididymitis ; Eye ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Inflammation ; Male ; Meningitis ; Oral Ulcer ; Orchitis ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Ureter

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to investigate the professionalism, job stress and job satisfaction in western and oriental doctors in Korea. METHODS: The authors conducted a survey using a selfadministered questionnaire, conducted between August and September, 2001. The study subjects were 457 western doctors and 161 oriental doctors practicing at local clinics in Daegu City. RESULTS: For the professionalism scale, the score for 'belief in service to the public' of western doctors was significantly higher than that of oriental doctors (p< 0.05) whereas the scores for 'sense of calling to the field' and 'feeling of autonomy' were higher in oriental doctors (p< 0.01). For the job stress scale, the scores for 'work factor', and 'clinical responsibility/decision factor' of western doctors were significantly higher than those of oriental doctors (p< 0.01). Of the western doctors, 59.7% expressed satisfaction with their job as a doctor, 69.5% responded that the role of a doctor was appropriate to their aptitude, and 61.8% answered that they wouldn't consider other kinds of job even if offered. In case of oriental doctors, these responses were83.1%, 82.5%, and 82.3%, espectively. CONCLUSION: The job stress scores of western doctors were higher than those of oriental doctors, but the job satisfaction was lower. The reasons for the above results are not clear. Further studies are required to understand the characteristics of job stress and job satisfaction in doctors.
Aptitude ; Daegu ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Professionalism

BACKGROUND: The role of second-line chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is known to be limited. Recently, ZD1839, the small molecule epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been developed and has shown anti-tumor activity in patients with solid malignant tumors including lung cancer. We evaluated the response rate and toxicities of ZD1839 in patients with advanced NSCLC which has progressed after previous chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 83 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with ZD1839 for more than 1 month in Korea Cancer Center Hospital during the period from January 2002 to September 2003. All the patients were enrolled in the international expanded access program (EAP) with ZD1839 by AstraZeneca. The administered dose of ZD1839 was 250 mg once daily. Chest radiography and laboratory tests were followed-up. We evaluated the response rate, median survival, and toxicity after treatment. RESULTS: Median age of the patients was 59 years (range 33-76). The most predominant cell type was adenocarcinoma and the most stage of the patients was IV. ECOG performance status was as follows; grade 0-1 in 10, grade 2 in 42, and grade 3 in 31 patients. Partial response was achieved in 12 patients (14.5%). Median overall survival was 9.2 (range 1.3-21.6+) months and median time to progression was 3.1 (range 1-21.2+) months. The most common adverse effect of ZD1839 was skin eruption which developed in 25 patients (25.8%). Significantly higher response rate and survival was found in patients with adenocarcinoma or good performance status. CONCLUSION: ZD1839 showed modest activity and tolerable toxicity in the treatment for patients with NSCLC which has progressed after previous chemotherapy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Drug Therapy* ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Phosphotransferases ; Radiography ; Skin ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to investigate professional job perception, job stress and job satisfaction in doctors. METHOD: The authors conducted a survey using a self-administered questionnaire, conducted between August and September, 2001. The study subjects were 457 doctors practicing at local clinics in Daegu City. RESULTS: For the professionalism scale, the score for 'sense of calling to field' and 'feeling of autonomy' were relatively high. Age, working hours per day, and perception of socioeconomic status significantly influenced the professionalism scale scores (p< 0.01). For the job stress scale, the scores for 'clinical responsibility/ decision' factor were the highest of all the surveyed factors. Working hours per day significantly influenced the job stress scores (p< 0.01). To investigate the overall relationship between the variables, the authors conducted a linear structural equation model analysis. The equation was statistically appropriate and a good fit. The job stress, and the professionalism factors, respectively influenced job satisfaction negatively and positively (T> 2.0). The working hours per day and status perception also influenced their job satisfaction (T> 2.0). CONCLUSION: To promote the job satisfaction of doctors, the development of coping tools and other intervention methods are needed to increase doctor's professional job perception and reduce their job stress. Further studies are required to understand the characteristics of job satisfaction and for its promotion with doctors.
Daegu* ; Job Satisfaction* ; Methods ; Professionalism ; Social Class

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the total cholesterol levels and related factors in a rural adult population. METHODS: 3,207 adults( 1,272 men and 1,935 women) were examined in 1997. Their heights, weights, and fasting serum total cholesterol levels were measured, and their body mass indices were calculated. A questionnaire interviewing method was used to collect risk factor data. RESULTS: The mean value of total cholesterol were 190.5 mg/dl, and 198.8 mg/dl, and the age-adjusted prevalence rates for hypercholesterolemia (above 240 mg/dl) were 13.7% and 10.2%, in men and women, respectively. From simple analyses, age, educational level, coffee intake, amount of meat and food intake, waist circumference, waist-hip circumference ratio(WHR), and body mass index(BMI) were significant risk factors in men (p<0.05) relating to serum total cholesterol levels. In women, age, educational level, hypertension history, diabetes history, herbal drug history, amount of food intake, alcohol consumption, waist circumference, WHR, BMI, and menopausal status were significant risk factors (p<0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, waist circumference (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), and coffee intake (p<0.05) proved to be significant risk factors in men. Whereas, menopausal status (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), herbal drug history (p<0.01), amount of food intake (p<0.05), waist circumference (p<0.05), and alcohol consumption (p<0.05) were significant risk factors in women. Conclusions : The significant risk factors, for both men and women, relating to the serum total cholesterol were waist circumference and BMI. Thus, for the reduction of serum total cholesterol level, it is recommended that health education for the control of obesity should be implemented.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cholesterol* ; Coffee ; Eating ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Linear Models ; Male ; Meat ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to automatically improve the completeness and validity of the Daegu Cancer Registry, using cross record linkage of many data sources, and to develop a computerized patient enrollment system for efficient communication among cancer researchers via the internet. METHOD: We analyzed 10,229 cancer patients who were reported in the National Cancer Registry, and from pathological reports, health insurance cancer claims lists, cancer patient records at hospital information centers and death certificates from the Korea National Statistical Office. RESULT: We confirmed 4,624 cancer patients and found 897 of new cases from a review of medical chart. The new cases were detected efficiently using cross record linkage. We developed a computerized patient enrollment system, based on a client-server model, for the input of cancer patients, and then developed a web-based reporting homepage and patient enrollment system for the internet. CONCLUSION: This system could manage cancer databases systematically, and could be given to other researchers as a basic database.
Daegu* ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Death Certificates ; Humans ; Information Centers ; Insurance, Health ; Internet ; Korea ; Medical Record Linkage ; Registries

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to automatically improve the completeness and validity of the Daegu Cancer Registry, using cross record linkage of many data sources, and to develop a computerized patient enrollment system for efficient communication among cancer researchers via the internet. METHOD: We analyzed 10,229 cancer patients who were reported in the National Cancer Registry, and from pathological reports, health insurance cancer claims lists, cancer patient records at hospital information centers and death certificates from the Korea National Statistical Office. RESULT: We confirmed 4,624 cancer patients and found 897 of new cases from a review of medical chart. The new cases were detected efficiently using cross record linkage. We developed a computerized patient enrollment system, based on a client-server model, for the input of cancer patients, and then developed a web-based reporting homepage and patient enrollment system for the internet. CONCLUSION: This system could manage cancer databases systematically, and could be given to other researchers as a basic database.
Daegu* ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Death Certificates ; Humans ; Information Centers ; Insurance, Health ; Internet ; Korea ; Medical Record Linkage ; Registries

Immunoglobulin deficiency with increased IgM, as defined by World Health Organization classification of primary immunodeficiency, is characterized by normal or increased concentrations of serum IgM and, in some cases, IgD, but decreased or absent IgG, IgA, and IgE. Patients with these disorders have a high incidence of recurrent pyogenic infections, including otitis media, pneumonia, and septisemia. We recently experienced a case of immunoglobulin deficiency with increased IgM in a 25-year old man. He had been suffered from recurrent pyogenic infections-pneumonia, otitis media-since about 6 months of his age. He was admitted due to pneumonia, and Haemophilus influenza was isolated from the sputum culture. Also chest X-ray showed bronchiectasis. His serum immunoglobulin levels revealed increased concentration of IgM and decreased IgG and IgA. He was successfully treated with antibiotics, and now he is being followed-up. So we present this case with the review of literature.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bronchiectasis ; Classification ; Haemophilus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin D ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Incidence ; Influenza, Human ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Pneumonia ; Sputum ; Thorax ; World Health Organization

Urethral caruncles are the most common benign tumors in the female urethra, and are usually found in the posterior lip of the urethral meatus of post-menopausal women. It is very rare in young girls. Its etiology is unknown. We add a case of urethral caruncle occurring in a 2 year and 5 month-old girl's mid-urethra. We believe that further accumulation of unusual cases may be helpful in discovering the pathogenesis.
Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Urethral Neoplasms/*pathology