Background/Aims: The Gout Impact Scale (GIS), a part of the Gout Assessment Questionnaire 2.0, is used to measure gout-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Although several studies have been conducted on the factors affecting the HRQOL of patients with gout, few have focused on lifestyle factors. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between lifestyle habits and HRQOL using the GIS in patients with gout. Methods: We used data from the Urate-Lowering TheRApy in Gout (ULTRA) registry, a prospective cohort of Korean patients with gout treated at multiple centers nationwide. The patients were aged ≥18 years and met the 2015 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism gout classification criteria. They were asked to complete a GIS and questions regarding their lifestyle habits at enrollment. Results: The study included 232 patients. ‘Gout concern overall’ scores in the GIS were significantly lower in patients who exercised more frequently and consumed soft drinks and meat less, and ‘well-being during attack’ scores were significantly lower in patients who consumed vegetables and exercised more frequently. The frequency of vegetable consumption had a negative linear relationship with the ‘well-being during attack’ and ‘gout concern during attack’ scores (p = 0.01, p = 0.001, respectively). The frequency of exercise had a negative linear relationship with the ‘gout concern overall’ and ‘gout concern during attack’ scores (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions Patients with gout who frequently consumed vegetables and exercised regularly experienced less impact of gout, exhibiting a better GIS that represented HRQOL.

BACKGROUND: Increasing the influenza vaccination rate is important because influenza infection can cause serious illness or death. One way to increase vaccination rates is to expand the number of vaccination sites. This study examined the location of influenza vaccination in 2016 according to sex, age, socioeconomic status, and health behavior variables.METHODS: The study included 2,485 subjects from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey aged 19 years or older who had received the vaccine. Variables that could affect health behaviors were examined by the chi-square test or t-test. The odds ratios (ORs) of public health center inoculations between different income and education groups, adjusted for age and sex, were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.RESULTS: People aged 65 years or older, those living in rural areas, those with low incomes, those with up to elementary school education, and those with underlying diseases had the lowest vaccination rates at medical clinics and hospitals (P-value<0.05). The ORs for public health center inoculations were significantly higher in those with lower incomes and those with elementary school education than in those with higher incomes and those with more than university level education (OR 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.67–3.77 and OR 2.60, 95% CI; 1.72–3.95, respectively).CONCLUSION: To improve the influenza vaccination rates at medical clinics and hospitals among groups with low vaccination rates, we need to actively encourage high-risk patients to receive vaccinations.
Adult ; Education ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Public Health ; Social Class ; Vaccination

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study. PURPOSE: To study and compare the surgical outcomes of muscular dystrophy (MD) and spinal muscle atrophy (SMA). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: There are few reports that have evaluated and compared the surgical outcomes of MD and SMA patients. METHODS: The patients (n = 35) were divided into two groups: a MD group with 24 patients and a SMA group with 11 patients. The average follow-up period was 21 months. All patients were operated for scoliosis correction using posterior instrumentation and fusion. In the immediate postoperative period, all efforts were made to reduce the pulmonary complications using non-invasive positive pressure ventilation and a coughing assist devices. The patients were evaluated by radiograph in terms of the Cobb's angle, pelvic obliquity, T1 translation, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. The pulmonary function and self-image satisfaction were also assessed. RESULTS: There was a lower correction rate in the MD group (41.5%) than in the SMA group (48.3%), even though the curves were smaller in the MD group. The correction in the pelvic obliquity was significantly better in the SMA group (p = 0.03). The predicted vital capacity showed a 4% reduction in the MD group 1 year after surgery, while the SMA group showed a 10% reduction. The peak cough flow and end tidal PCO2 did not deteriorate and were well maintained. The average score for the improvement in self-image satisfaction postoperatively was 3.96 and 4.64 for the MD and SMA groups, respectively. The total complication rate was 45.7%; 14.3% of which were respiratory-related. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intervention for MD and SMA may be performed safely in patients with a very low forced vital capacity (< 30%) through aggressive preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation efforts.
Animals ; Cough ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Muscular Atrophy ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Muscular Dystrophies ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; Vital Capacity

PURPOSE : Several lines of evidence have indicated that deregulation of apoptosis is involved in the mechanism of cancer development. Caspase-8 activation plays a central role in the initiation phase of apoptosis, while caspase-7 is one of the main execution phase caspases of apoptosis. The aim of this study was to explore the possibility that genetic alterations of the caspase-8 and caspase-7 genes are involved in the development of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS : We have analyzed the entire coding region of both the caspase-7 and caspase-8 genes to detect the somatic mutations in 100 NSCLCs by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). RESULTS : The PCR-SSCP analysis detected no mutations in the entire coding regions of both the caspase-7 and caspase-8 genes in the NSCLCs. CONCLUSION : The data presented here suggests that both the caspase-7 and caspase-8 genes may not be somatically mutated in human NSCLCs
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Caspase 7* ; Caspase 8 ; Caspases ; Clinical Coding ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND: The isoenzyme of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), islet associated antigen (IA2, IAA) and insulin are known to be the major target antigens of pancreatic islet cell autoantibody as a predictor of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Generally radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods are used for these autoantibodies but inconvenience of dealing with radioisotope have made enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed for clinical utilization. But, lack of evaluation or comparison studies of these two methods for autoantibodies make laboratories hesitate to adopt. METHODS: We measured the glutamate decarboxylase autoantibody (GADA), insulin autoantibody (IAA) and pancreatic islet cell autoantibodies (ICA) by a commercial ELISA method in 34 patients with type 1 DM, and 31 patients with type 2 DM, and 32 healthy control group. Conventional RIA was performed concurrently and compared for GADA and IAA. ICA was measured by conventional indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA). The obtained results were compared and also C-peptide level was measured as a marker for residual function of islet cell of pancreas. RESULTS: Each autoantibody measured by ELISA in type 1 DM showed positive rate of 11.8% and for ICA, 26.5% for GADA, and 35.3% for IAA. The positive rate of the same group of type 1 DM when using RIA were 76.5% for GADA far exceeding that of ELISA method, and 29.4% for IAA. The percentage of positivity in combination of the ELISA methods for ICA and GAD yielded 29.4%, ICA plus IAA showed 38.2%, and GAD plus IAA was 52.9%, respectively. IAA positive rates in two groups divided by the age of 10 showed no significant difference. The presence of the autoantibodies did not influenced the C-peptide level. CONCLUSIONS: Further large scale studies including prediabetic state and autoimmune diabetes are required to establish the accurate diagnostic method of islet cell autoantibodies. But, presently ELISA method was considered that more improvement was needed for reliable and comparable results especially GADA.
Autoantibodies* ; C-Peptide ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Glutamate Decarboxylase ; Humans ; Insulin ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Pancreas ; Prediabetic State ; Radioimmunoassay

PURPOSE: Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy(EVS) has been considered the mainstay therapy for bleeding esophageal varices in adults. However, recent data have shown that endoscopic variceal ligation is just as efficacious and has fewer complications than EVS. Although there are many reports concerning EVL in adults, only a few studies have been done of children. METHODS: We performed EVL in 9 children under 6 years of age(mear age, 2.5 year) with esophageal varices. Outcome was assessed with respect to survival, rebleeding, and complications. RESULTS: The causes of portal hypertension were 3 cases of congenital hepatic fibrosis, 3 cases of biliary atresia, 2 cases of portal vein thrornbosis, and one case of portal vein fibromuscular dysplasia. The age at diagnosis ranged from 10 months to 6 years. The patients underwent a mean of 2.6+/- 0.7 sessions of EVL(ranging from two to four). The numbers of bands per person were 5.6+/-1.8, and the numbers of bands per session were 2.2+/-1.0 Two complications of esophageal rebleeding were noted, and none of the cases experienced symptoms of esophageal stenosis, nor gastroesophageal reflux. CONCLUSION: EVL is safe and effective in controlling variceal hemorrhage in children with portal hypertension, regardless of etiology. The cornplication rate is low and EVL is an acceptable and perhaps preferable altemative to EVS in children with esophageal varices. But regular periodic examination for recurrence of varices after eradication should be required.
Adult ; Biliary Atresia ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia ; Fibrosis ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Ligation* ; Portal Vein ; Recurrence ; Varicose Veins

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are known to be prevalent in tertiary-care hospitals in Korea. Twenty hospitals participated to this surveillance to determine the nationwide prevalence of resistance bacteria in 1997. Seven per cent and 26% of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were resistant to 3rd-generation cephalosporin. Increased resistance rates, 19% of Acinetobacter baumannii to ampicillin/sulbactam, and 17% of Pseudomonas aeruginoa to imipenem, were noted. The resistance rate to fluoroquinolone rose to 24% in E. coli, 56% in A. baumannii and 42% in P. aeruginosa. Mean resistance rates were similar in all hospital groups: about 17% of P. aeruginosa to imipenem, 50% of Haemophilus influenzae to ampicillin, 70% of Staphylococcus aureus to methicillin, and 70% of pneumococci to penicillin. In conclusion, nosocomial pathogens and problem resistant organisms are prevalent in smaller hospitals too, indicating nosocomial spread is a significant cause of the increasing prevalence of resistant bacteria in Korea.
Bacterial Physiology* ; Drug Resistance, Microbial* ; Hospitals ; Human ; Korea ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Prevalence

This study is concerned with human vertical saccadic systam to various visual stimulus. A system is described fer the recording and analysis of corrective movements and the angular velocities asscciated with 10 degrees and 20degrees vertical saccades. Recordings wsre made with photoelectric IR reflection method and the saccades were induced by a target system which operates on non-predictable manner. Statistical results for average peak veIomnes of right eye are given for a group of 4 normal subjects and compared with horizontal saccades. Most of corrective movements were categorized to saccadic and glissadic and magnitude of corrective errors were within 1 degree and 2 degrees and showed 20% production rate. The peak velccity statistics showed as 280 and 440 deg/s associated with 10 degrees and 20 degrees vertical movement and downward values were slightly faster than upward movements. Our results were compared with horizontal saccades and discussed the possibility of research and clinical tool that could be used on a large number and variety of patients.
Eye Movements* ; Humans ; Ocular Motility Disorders* ; Saccades

This study aims to ascertain the human saccadic visual tracking characteristics by measuring the eye movement to the double-step stimuli. Responses to simple step and double-step target motions were measured where the target mode and stimulus durations were randomized. To measure the eye movement the Photo-electric Eye Monitor was constructed based on limbus tracking. The results indicate that observers represented two kind of responses (A-or B-type) depending upon the stimulus duration. The percentage of occurrances increased as the stimulus duration increased from 50 to 200 msec. When the subject responded to both target motions, the reaction time of the second saccade was shorter than that of the first. The successive visual information is to change continuously the reaction time or cancel the initial saccade. Our results revealed that parallel data processing characteristics of the visual tracking systems and the saccadic decision-makings are influenced by the temporal relationships.
Eye Movements ; Humans* ; Reaction Time ; Saccades

The saccadic reaction times to the double-step stimuli were studied in three human subjects to ascertain the saccadic visual tracking characteristics. Responses to simple step and double-step target motions were measured where the target mode and stimulus durations were randomized. To measure the eye movement the Photo-electric Eye Monitor was constructed based on limbus tracking. The results indicate that observers represented two kind of responses (A-or B-type) depending upon the stimulus duration. The percentage of occurrances increased as the stimulus duration increased from 50 to 200 msec. When the subject responded to both target motions, the reaction time of the second saccade was shorter than that of the first. The successive visual information is to change continuously the reaction time or cancel the initial saccade. Our results revealed that parallel data processing characteristics of the visual tracking systems and the saccadic decision-makings are influenced by the temporal relationships.
Adult ; Eye Movements* ; Human ; Male ; Motion Perception* ; Reaction Time* ; Saccades* ; Visual Perception*