No abstract available.
Age of Onset ; Psoriasis

Chronic cough is common in the community and causes significant morbidity. Several factors may underlie this problem, but comorbid conditions located at sensory nerve endings that regulate the cough reflex, including rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, are considered important. However, chronic cough is frequently non-specific and accompanied by not easily identifiable causes during the initial evaluation. Therefore, there are unmet needs for developing empirical treatment and practical diagnostic approaches that can be applied in primary clinics. Meanwhile, in referral clinics, a considerable proportion of adult patients with chronic cough are unexplained or refractory to conventional treatment. The present clinical practice guidelines aim to address major clinical questions regarding empirical treatment, practical diagnostic tools for non-specific chronic cough, and available therapeutic options for chronic wet cough in children and unexplained chronic cough in adults in Korea.
Adult* ; Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Cough* ; Eosinophils ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Korea* ; Referral and Consultation ; Reflex ; Rhinitis ; Sensory Receptor Cells

OBJECTIVE: Previous classification systems for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) were based on the number of joints involved and did not categorize homogenous disease entities. Therefore, JIA patients were reclassified retrospectively by applying rheumatoid factor (RF) and antinuclear antibody (ANA), which have been proven to constitute a homogenous disease entity. METHODS: The medical records of JIA patients were investigated retrospectively and reclassified into six categories using the new provisional classification. The nomenclature was based on Dr. Martini's proposal in the 23rd European Paediatric Rheumatology Congress (2016) at Genoa, Italy. New categories included systemic JIA (sJIA), RF-positive JIA (RF-JIA), early-onset ANA-positive JIA (eoANA-JIA), enthesitis/spondylitis-related JIA (ESR-JIA), “other JIA”, and “unclassified JIA”. RESULTS: Of a total of 262 JIA patients, 71 (27.1%) were reclassified as sJIA, 31 (11.8%) as RF-JIA, 22 (8.4%) as eoANA-JIA, 63 (24.0%) as ESR-JIA, 65 (24.8%) as “other JIA”, and 10 (3.8%) as “unclassified JIA”. A comparison of RF-JIA, eoANA-JIA, and ESR-JIA revealed significant differences in the gender ratio, age of disease onset, and the cumulative number and type of joints involved among the three groups. “Other JIA” comprised a significant proportion (24.8%) and warrants the need for further classification. The characteristics of the RF-positive patients were comparable to those of the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody-positive patients. The ANA positivity was lower (28.2%) than that in Western studies but showed similar clinical features. CONCLUSION: This is the first study applying RF and ANA to classify JIA without considering the joint counts. The six new categories include sJIA, RF-JIA, eoANA-JIA, ESR-JIA, “other JIA,” and “unclassified JIA”.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis, Juvenile ; Classification ; Humans ; Italy ; Joints ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Rheumatology

The General Rules for the Study of Primary Liver Cancer was published in June 2001 as the first edition. Since then, the 5th edition of the General Rules for the Study of Primary Liver Cancer was published by the 17th Committee of the Korean Liver Cancer Association based on the most recent data. The 5th edition of the General Rules for the Study of Primary Liver Cancer ranged over numerous topics such as anatomy, medical assessment of the patients, staging of hepatocellular carcinoma, description of the image findings, summary of hepatic resection, description of the surgical specimens, liver transplantation, reporting the pathological findings, pathological examinations of liver specimen, non-surgical treatment, radiotherapy, and assessment of tumor response after non-surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The 5th General Rules for the Study of Primary Liver Cancer will not only become the basis of academic development for liver cancer studies in Korea, but also serve as the primary form of national liver cancer data accumulation based on standardized rules.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Radiotherapy

PURPOSE: Data comparing the clinical benefits of medical treatment with those of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in an elderly population with angina pectoris are limited. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of elective PCI versus optimal medical treatment (OMT) in elderly patients (between 75 and 84 years old) with angina pectoris. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy-seven patients with significant coronary artery stenosis were randomly assigned to either the PCI group (n=90) or the OMT group (n=87). The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse events in the 1-year follow-up period that included cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and stroke. RESULTS: Major adverse events occurred in 5 patients (5.6%) of the PCI group and in 17 patents (19.5%) of the OMT group (p=0.015). There were no significant differences between the PCI group and the OMT group in cardiac death [hazard ratio (HR) for the PCI group 0.454; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.041-5.019, p=0.520], myocardial infarction (HR 0.399; 95% CI 0.039-4.050, p=0.437), or stroke (HR 0.919; 95% CI 0.057-14.709, p=0.952). However, the PCI group showed a significant preventive effect of the composite of major adverse events (HR 0.288; 95% CI 0.106-0.785, p=0.015) and against the need for coronary revascularization (HR 0.157; 95% CI 0.035-0.703, p=0.016). CONCLUSION: Elective PCI reduced major adverse events and was found to be an effective treatment modality in elderly patients with angina pectoris and significant coronary artery stenosis, compared to OMT.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina Pectoris/mortality/*therapy ; Coronary Stenosis/therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction/prevention & control/*therapy ; *Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Stroke/epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: As aging occurs, the skin develops more wrinkles and pigmentation, becomes drier, and loses its elasticity. In previous reports, light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy was proven to stimulate collagen synthesis and accelerate fibroblast-myofibroblast transformation, which has a composite rejuvenation effect. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of LED phototherapy with 592 nm yellow light for photoaged skin. METHODS: Forty patients with photoaged skin (Korean photographic scale; grade 4approximately7) were enrolled and treated with an LED device producing 592+/-10 nm yellow light for 5 minutes twice a week for 4 weeks. The skin changes were assessed at 0, 2, 4, and 8 weeks by clinical photographs and the Cutometer(R) & Mexameter(R) (MPA 580, Courage+Khazaka Electronic GmbH, Koln, Germany). Measurements were made on the cheek, periorbital area, nasolabial fold, and glabella. RESULTS: At the final visit at 8 weeks, the Cutometer(R) parameters R4 and R6 decreased significantly compared to before treatment, from 0.118 to 0.099 for the periorbital (p=0.017) and 0.517 to 0.425 for the nasolabial fold (p=0.003). The average melanin index decreased significantly, from 133.65 to 124.55 (p<0.005). Fine improvement of wrinkles was shown grossly by reviewing follow-up clinical photographs. No adverse reactions occurred. LED phototherapy with 592+/-10 nm wavelength can be effective and safe in the treatment of photoaged skin. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the LED with 592 nm yellow light might be an adjuvant therapeutic tool for photoaged skin.
Aging ; Cheek ; Collagen ; Elasticity ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Melanins ; Nasolabial Fold ; Phototherapy ; Pigmentation ; Rejuvenation ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Hair Removal* ; Pigmentation Disorders*

PURPOSE: Contrast enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has been used as an alternative to coronary angiography for the assessment of coronary artery disease in the patient of the intermediate risk group. However, coronary calcium is a known limiting factor for MDCT evaluation. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of 64-channel MDCT with each coronary artery calcium score (CACS) by compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 54 symptomatic patients with intermediate-risk (10 females, mean age 59.9+/-6.9 years, Framingham point scores 9-20) with 162 sites who had a culprit lesion on 64-channel MDCT before performing coronary angiography with IVUS were enrolled. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups depending on CACS: 0, 1-99, 100-399, and >400. Lesion length, external elastic membrane (EEM) cross sectional area (CSA), minimal luminal area, and plaque area were measured and compared between IVUS and MDCT. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients for the measurements of the EEM CSA, lumen CSA, and plaque area were r=0.514, r=0.837, and r=0.578, respectively. Furthermore, there were close correlation of plaque area between four subgroups of CACS (r=0.671, r=0.623, r=0.562, r=0.571, respectively). CONCLUSION: Despite the increase in CACS, the geometric analysis of coronary arteries using with 64-channel MDCT was comparable with IVUS in symptomatic patient of the intermediate risk group.
Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/*diagnosis/*radiography/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/*methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Ultrasonography, Interventional/*methods

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Combination single-pill therapy can improve cost-effectiveness in a typical medical therapy. However, there is a little evidence about the efficacy and tolerability of combination single-pill antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). METHODS: From June to November 2012, in total, 142 patients who met the following criteria were enrolled: at least 18 years old; successful PCI with DES at least 3 months earlier; and regular medication of aspirin and clopidogrel with no side effects. After VerifyNow P2Y12 and aspirin assays, the combination single pill of aspirin and clopidogrel was given and laboratory tests were repeated 6 weeks later. RESULTS: At baseline, the incidence of aspirin resistance, defined as aspirin reaction unit (ARU) > or = 550, was 9.2%, that of clopidogrel resistance, defined as P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) > or = 230, was 46.5%, and that of percent inhibition of PRU < 20% was 32.4%. At follow-up, the incidence of resistance by ARU value was 7.0%, 50.0% by PRU value, and 35.9% by percentage inhibition of PRU, respectively. The mean values of ARU (431.5 +/- 63.6 vs. 439.8 +/- 55.2; p = 0.216) and PRU (227.5 +/- 71.4 vs. 223.3 +/- 76.0; p = 0.350) were not significantly different before versus after antiplatelet-combination single-pill therapy. Five adverse events (3.5%) were observed during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Combination single-pill antiplatelet therapy, which may reduce daily pill burden for patients after PCI with DES, demonstrated similar efficacy to separate dual-pill antiplatelet therapy.
Aged ; Antiplatyhelmintic Agents/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Aspirin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Resistance ; *Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Intention to Treat Analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia/blood/diagnosis/*therapy ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/adverse effects/*instrumentation ; Platelet Function Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Tablets ; Ticlopidine/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: Lysosome is the cell-organelle which is commonly used as biomonitoring tool in environmental pollution. In this study, the lysosomal proteomic of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was analyzed for utilization in the detection of toxic substances in mine water samples. METHODS: This work informs the expression of lysosomal proteomic in yeast in response with toxic chemicals, such as sodium meta-arsenite and tetracycline, for screening specific biomarkers. After that, a recombinant yeast contained this biomarker were constructed for toxic detection in pure toxic chemicals and mine water samples. RESULTS: Each chemical had an optimal dose at which the fluorescent protein intensity reached the peak. In the case of water samples, the yeast showed the response with sample 1, 3, 4, and 5; whereas there is no response with sample 2, 6, and 7. CONCLUSIONS: The recombinant yeast showed a high ability of toxic detection in response with several chemicals such as heavy metals and pharmaceuticals. In the case of mine water samples, the response varied depending on the sample content.
Environmental Monitoring ; Environmental Pollution ; Lysosomes ; Mass Screening ; Metals, Heavy ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae* ; Sodium ; Tetracycline ; Water* ; Yeasts ; Biomarkers