Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Treatment outcomes for colon cancer are steadily improving due to national health screening programs with advances in diagnostic methods, surgical techniques, and therapeutic agents.. The Korea Colon Cancer Multidisciplinary (KCCM) Committee intends to provide professionals who treat colon cancer with the most up-to-date, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve outcomes and help them make decisions that reflect their patients’ values and preferences. These guidelines have been established by consensus reached by the KCCM Guideline Committee based on a systematic literature review and evidence synthesis and by considering the national health insurance system in real clinical practice settings. Each recommendation is presented with a recommendation strength and level of evidence based on the consensus of the committee.

Stump appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the residual appendix and is a rare complication after appendectomy. The physician should be aware of the possibility of stump appendicitis in patients with right lower abdominal pain after appendectomy so that delayed diagnosis and treatment can be prevented. Stump appendicitis is usually treated by surgical resection, and endoscopic treatment has not been reported previously. A 48-year-old man who had undergone appendectomy 35 years earlier presented to the hospital because of right lower quadrant discomfort. A computed tomography scan showed a large stone in the residual appendix. Colonoscopic findings revealed a large, smooth, protruding lesion at the cecum with a stone inside the appendiceal orifice. Endoscopic removal after incision of the appendiceal orifice was performed successfully.
Abdominal Pain ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Cecum ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged

This study attempted to calculate and investigate the incidence of hospitalized acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke in Korea. Using the National Health Insurance claim data, we investigated patients whose main diagnostic codes included AMI or stroke during 2006 to 2010. As a result, we found out that the number of AMI hospitalized patients had decreased since 2006 and amounted to 15,893 in 2010; and that the number of those with stroke had decreased since 2006 and amounted to 73,501 in 2010. The age-standardized incidence rate of hospitalized AMI, after adjustment for readmission, was 41.6 cases per 100,000-population in 2006, and had decreased to 29.4 cases in 2010 (for trend P < 0.001). In the case of stroke was estimated at 172.8 cases per 100,000-population in 2006, and had decreased to 135.1 cases in 2010 (for trend P < 0.001). In conclusion, the age-standardized incidence rates of both hospitalized AMI and stroke in Korea had decreased continuously during 2006 to 2010. We consider this decreasing trend due to the active use of pharmaceuticals, early vascular intervention, and the national cardio-cerebrovascular disease care project as the primary and secondary prevention efforts.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hospitalization/*trends ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*epidemiology ; Patient Readmission ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sex Factors ; Stroke/*epidemiology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether allergic rhinitis (AR) without asthma is associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and symptoms of asthma in Korean adolescents. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 724 high school students (males 556; females, 168) from Seoul City. We also performed the lung function test, methacholine challenge test, skin prick test, and allergy-related blood biomarkers. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the subjects excluding current asthmatic patients. RESULTS: AR (+), BHR (+) patients tended to show a high prevalence of wheeze ever, a high diagnosis rate of asthma ever, low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), low forced expiratory flow at the 25% and 75% of pulmonary volume (FEF(25-75%)) high total IgE and frequent sensitizaion to house dust mites compared with AR (-), BHR (-) patients. In atopy AR (+) group, wheeze ever and treatment of asthma during the last 12 months were significantly higher than atopy (-), AR (-) patients or atopy (+), AR (-) patients (P<0.05). In atopy (+), AR (+) patients, BHR and peripheral eosinophil percent were significantly higher than in other patients (P<0.05) and PC(20) was also significantly lower than in other patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: BHR in current AR was associated with FEV(1), FEF(25-75%), total IgE, and sensitization to house dust mites. Current AR was associated with symptoms of asthma, peripheral eosinophilia and BHR, regardless of atopy. This study showed a significant association between allergic rhinitis and asthma or BHR among Korean adolescents. This cross-sectional study supports the concept of 'one airway, one disease' between the AR and asthma.
Adolescent ; Asthma ; Biomarkers ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea ; Methacholine Chloride ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Skin Tests

BACKGROUND: The worldwide prevalence of obesity and allergic diseases has increased. We aimed to explore the relation of overweight to asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis in a sample of Korean adolescents. METHODS: We investigated the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and other allergic diseases by using a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. The survey was conducted among 1,499 high school students in 3 regions of Korea. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of wheezing (21.2% vs. 15.7%, P = 0.04), the 12 months-prevalence of wheezing (4.5% vs. 2.0%, P = 0.04), exercise induced wheezing (13.8% vs. 9.3%, P = 0.04), treatment of asthma (3.3% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.01) and the prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (11.0% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.001) were signifi cantly higher in overweight boys than normal weight boys, but not in girls. However, there were no signifi cant differences of the prevalence of symptoms and past history of atopic dermatitis and allergic conjunctivitis between overweight and normal weight groups. In boys, overweight increased the risk of the lifetime prevalence of wheezing (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.05-2.24) and 12 months-prevalence of exercise induced wheezing (OR 1.64, 95% CI: 1.05-2.55) after adjusting for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Overweight could be a risk factor for the development of symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis in adolescent boys, whereas it was not a signifi cant risk factor for allergic diseases in girls.
Adolescent ; Asthma ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Conjunctivitis ; Conjunctivitis, Allergic ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and the urine cotinine concentrations in Korean adolescents. METHODS: The study population was 1st grade high school adolescents (n = 1467, girls 22.2%) recruited from four high schools, two from Seoul, one from Kangleung and one from Woolsan. We obtained information on active smoking and ETS exposure through self-reported questionnaire and urine cotinine concentrations. RESULTS: The prevalence of active smoking was 6.9% in boys and 0.9% in girls. Median urine cotinine concentrations were 19.5 microgram/L (range, 0-2341 microgram/L) among smokers, and 0 microgram/L (range, 0-1359 microgram/L) among nonsmokers. The positive rate of urine cotinine among nonsmokers exposed to ETS was 2.9%. Boys were exposed to ETS in the order of frequency in PC room (79.6%), home (39.4%), school (11.5%), and public places (5.9%); girls were exposed in the order of frequency in home (40.9%), PC room (33.2%), public places (28.0%), and school (15.2%). The frequency and duration of ETS exposure were significantly larger and longer in boys than in girls. Boys contacted friends who smoked more than girls did (32.6% vs. 17.1%). Parents; smoking status was similar both in boys and girls. Any information on ETS exposure did not differ according to the detectable urine cotinine among nonsmoking adolescents. CONCLUSION: Low positive rate of urine cotinine and no association of urine cotinine with various ETS exposure history reflect that urine cotinine may not be a good marker for ETS exposure in Korean adolescents.
Adolescent ; Cotinine ; Friends ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The essential oil of Ocimum basilicum (EOOB) has a pleasant aroma and is known to have antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. In addition, it is used as a pain reliever in folk medicine. However, there are few reports on the antinociceptive activities of EOOB. METHODS: This study examined the antinociceptive effects of EOOB using formalin and a plantar test in mice. In the formalin test, EOOB (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally and the licking time of the mice was measured. In the plantar test, intraperitoneal EOOB (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) was administered and the withdrawal latency was measured using the Hargreaves method. RESULTS: In the formalin test, EOOB (50 mg/kg, IP) showed significant decreases in licking time in the second phase. On the other hand, in the plantar test, there were no significant effects in any of the groups examined. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the traditional use of EOOB for the treatment of painful conditions. However, there is a need for more research to determine the active chemical constituents and the precise mechanism.
Animals ; Formaldehyde ; Hand ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Ocimum ; Ocimum basilicum ; Pain Measurement

Pyogenic liver abscess is a serious clinical disease with severe complication in about 10-20% of cases. Metastatic septic endophthalmitis and CNS infection are rare but their incidence is increasing in liver abscess patients, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae as etiologic bacteria. Despite appropriate treatment, the outcome is devastating. We experienced a case of septic endophthalmitis, CNS infection (meninigitis, ventriculitis) and infective spondylitis associated with K. pneumoniae liver abscess. The patient had no specific risk factor. After intensive treatement such as systemic intravenous antibiotics with percutaneous abscess drainage and intravitreal injection, liver abscess was resolved completely. But, sequelae were severe. Socket reconstruction after evisceration with debridement on both eye and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt due to hydrocephalus were done. Our experience suggests that attention should be paid to the possibility of septic metastatic lesions as soon as the treatment of K. pneumoniae liver abscess is initiated.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Endophthalmitis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Intravitreal Injections ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Liver* ; Meningitis ; Pneumonia ; Risk Factors ; Spondylitis ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Pyogenic liver abscess is a serious clinical disease with severe complication in about 10-20% of cases. Metastatic septic endophthalmitis and CNS infection are rare but their incidence is increasing in liver abscess patients, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae as etiologic bacteria. Despite appropriate treatment, the outcome is devastating. We experienced a case of septic endophthalmitis, CNS infection (meninigitis, ventriculitis) and infective spondylitis associated with K. pneumoniae liver abscess. The patient had no specific risk factor. After intensive treatement such as systemic intravenous antibiotics with percutaneous abscess drainage and intravitreal injection, liver abscess was resolved completely. But, sequelae were severe. Socket reconstruction after evisceration with debridement on both eye and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt due to hydrocephalus were done. Our experience suggests that attention should be paid to the possibility of septic metastatic lesions as soon as the treatment of K. pneumoniae liver abscess is initiated.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Endophthalmitis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Intravitreal Injections ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Liver* ; Meningitis ; Pneumonia ; Risk Factors ; Spondylitis ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

To investigate psychopathology and executive functions of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children according to intelligence level, this study included 197 ADHD children who visited the outpatient department of neuropsychiatry of YeungNam University Medical Center, from July 2000 to June 2002. The children were divided into groups based on their intelligence levels. They were compared by the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC), Conncers' Continuous Performence Test (CPT), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). There were significant differences in PIC, on the subscales of verbal development, socialization and autism. In the CPT, there was no significant difference. In the WCST, there were significant differences in the total number of errors, the number of perseverative errors, the number of completed categories and the number of trials needed to complete the first category. Considering these results, the intelligence level of ADHD children is related to their disabilities and behavioral symptoms. Executive functions such as abstract thinking, categorization, working memory and flexibility had significant relationship to the intelligence levels of ADHD children. Therefore, the intelligence level of children with ADHD influences the higher executive functions of regulating attention and information processing rather than attentional functions and capacity alone.
Academic Medical Centers ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* ; Autistic Disorder ; Automatic Data Processing ; Behavioral Symptoms ; Child* ; Executive Function* ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Memory, Short-Term ; Neuropsychiatry ; Outpatients ; Personality Inventory ; Pliability ; Psychopathology* ; Socialization ; Thinking ; Wisconsin