Background: and Purpose: The Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) is widely used for estimating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Translation and validation of the MDS-UPDRS is necessary for non-English speaking countries and regions. The aim of this study was to validate the Korean version of the MDS-UPDRS. Methods: Altogether, 362 patients in 19 centers were recruited for this study. We translated the MDS-UPDRS to Korean using the translation-back translation method and cognitive pretesting. We performed both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses to validate the scale.We calculated the comparative fit index (CFI) for confirmatory factor analysis, and used unweighted least squares for exploratory factor analysis. Results: The CFI was higher than 0.90 for all parts of the scale. Exploratory factor analysis also showed that the Korean MDS-UPDRS has the same number of factors in each part as the English version. Conclusions The Korean MDS-UPDRS has the same overall structure as the English MDSUPDRS. Our translated scale can be designated as the official Korean MDS-UPDRS.

PURPOSE: Prenatal maternal stress affects offspring's atopic dermatitis (AD) development, which is thought to be mediated by the oxidative stress. We aimed to evaluate the difference in leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker for exposure to oxidative stress, according to the prenatal stress exposure and the later AD development. METHODS: From a birth cohort (the COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases) that had displayed a good epidemiologic association between the exposure to prenatal stress and AD development in the offspring, we selected 68 pairs of samples from 4 subject groups based on the level of prenatal maternal stress and later AD development. The LTL was measured from both cord blood and 1-year peripheral blood, and their LTLs were compared between subject groups. Finally, the proportion of AD development was examined in the subject groups that are reclassified based on subjects' exposure to prenatal stress and there LTL. RESULTS: Cord-blood LTL was shorter in prenatally stressed infants than in unstressed ones (P = 0.026), which difference was still significant when subjects became 1 year old (P = 0.008). LTL of cord blood, as well as one of the 1-year peripheral blood, was not different according to later AD development at 1 year (P = 0.915 and 0.174, respectively). Shorter LTL made no increase in the proportion of later AD development in either prenatally high-stressed or low-stressed groups (P = 1.000 and 0.473, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cord-blood LTL may reflect subjects' exposure to maternal prenatal stress. However, the LTL shortening is not a risk factor of increasing AD development until the age of 1, and a longer investigation may be necessary for validation. Currently, the results doubt the role of LTL shortening as a marker for risk assessment tool for the prenatal stress associated with AD development in the offspring.
Asthma ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Fetal Blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocytes ; Oxidative Stress ; Parturition ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; Telomere Shortening ; Telomere

PURPOSE: Children with sensitization to aeroallergens have decreased lung function and nasal patency. Our purpose was to determine the association of sensitization to different aeroallergens with airway function and nasal patency. METHODS: Four hundred and eighty-six randomly selected 11 year-old children who lived in Seongnam City were examined. Serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels against 6 common allergens (Dermatophagoidesfarinae, birch, cat, dog, Japanese hop and Alternaria), impulse oscillometry (IOS) results for the evaluation of airway dysfunction, and acoustic rhinometry for the determination of nasal airway patency were obtained. RESULTS: IOS indicated that children sensitized to Alternaria (n = 38, 7.8%) and dog dander (n = 69, 14.2%) had decreased lung function, based on resistance at 10 Hz (Rrs10; aβ = 0.0072; 95% CI, 0.017, 0.127; P = 0.010) and 1 Hz (Rrs1; aβ = 0.038; 95% CI, 0.001, 0.074; P = 0.042). Children sensitized to D. farinae (n = 281, 57.8%) had decreased post-decongestant nasal volume at 0 to 5 cm (aβ = −0.605; 95% CI, −1.005, −0.205; P = 0.003), but normal IOS results at all measured frequencies (P > 0.05). Increased serum eosinophil level was associated with Rrs1 (P = 0.007) and Rrs2 (P = 0.018) and post-decongestant nasal volume at 0 to 5 cm (aβ = −0.885; 95% CI, −1.331, −0.439; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity to specific aeroallergens, serum eosinophil count and total IgE level had different associations with upper and lower airway dysfunction in urban children.
Allergens ; Alternaria ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Cats ; Child ; Dander ; Dogs ; Eosinophils ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Jupiter ; Lung ; Oscillometry ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common chronic allergic respiratory diseases worldwide. Various practical guidelines for AR have been developed and updated to improve the care of AR patients; however, up to 40% patients remain symptomatic. The unmet need for AR care is one of the greatest public health problems in the world. The gaps between guideline and real-world practice, and differences according to the region, culture, and medical environments may be the causes of unmet needs for AR care. Because there is no evidence-based AR practical guideline reflecting the Korean particularity, various needs are increasing. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether existing guidelines are sufficient for AR patient management in real practice and whether development of regional guidelines to reflect regional differences is needed in Korea. A total of 99 primary physicians comprising internists, pediatricians, and otolaryngologists (n=33 for each) were surveyed by a questionnaire relating to unmet needs for AR care between June 2 and June 16 of 2014. Among 39 question items, participants strongly agreed on 15 items that existing guidelines were highly insufficient and needed new guidelines. However, there was some disagreement according to specialties for another 24 items. In conclusion, the survey results demonstrated that many physicians did not agree with the current AR guideline, and a new guideline reflecting Korean particularity was needed.
Humans ; Korea* ; Needs Assessment ; Public Health ; Rhinitis, Allergic*

The posaconazole tablet formulation was developed to have improved bioavailability compared to the oral suspension. Here, we compared posaconazole plasma concentration (PPC) with the posaconazole oral suspension versus the tablet in Korean patients undergoing remission induction chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies. PPC was measured at 3, 8, and 15 days of treatment with the oral suspension (174 patients) or the tablet (40 patients). At all time-points, mean PPC was significantly higher with the tablet compared to the oral suspension. Our findings suggest that posaconazole tablets generate an optimal PPC earlier and in more patients than the oral suspension among Korean patients.
Antifungal Agents ; Biological Availability ; Dosage Forms ; Drug Therapy ; Hematologic Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Remission Induction ; Tablets

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefits of routine squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) monitoring of patients with locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiation or chemoradiation. METHODS: A total of 53 patients with recurrent cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiation were enrolled in this study. A retrospective review of medical records was conducted. The role of routine monitoring of serum SCC-Ag was evaluated in terms of cost effectiveness and effect on survival after diagnosis of recurrence. RESULTS: Serum SCC-Ag abnormality (≥2.5 ng/mL) was observed in 62.3% of patients when recurrent disease was diagnosed. The first indicator of relapse was abnormal serum SCC-Ag level in 21 patients (39.6%), 10 of whom had asymptomatic recurrent disease amenable to salvage therapy. Adding SCC-Ag measurement to the basic follow up protocol improved the sensitivity for detecting recurrence (The sensitivity of the basic protocol vs. addition of SCC-Ag: 49.1% vs. 88.7%, P<0.001). Twenty-three patients who were candidates for salvage therapy with curative intent showed better survival compared with those who were not candidates for therapy (5-year survival: 36.6% vs. 0%, P=0.012). CONCLUSION: Surveillance with routine serum SCC-Ag monitoring can better detect asymptomatic recurrent disease that is potentially amenable to salvage therapy with curative intent. Early diagnosis of recurrent disease that can be treated with salvage therapy may lead to better survival.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Epithelial Cells* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Animal models for gastric ulcers produced by physical, pharmacological and surgical methods have been widely employed to evaluate therapeutic drugs and investigate the mechanism of action of this disease. ICR mice were selected to produce this model, even though several mice and rats have been widely used in studies of gastric ulcers. To compare the responses of ICR mice obtained from three different sources to gastric ulcer inducers, alterations in gastric injury, histopathological structure, and inflammation were measured in Korl:ICR (Korea NIFDS source), A:ICR (USA source) and B:ICR (Japan source) treated with three concentrations of ethanol (EtOH) (50, 70, and 90%) in 150 mM hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Firstly, the stomach lesion index gradually increased as the EtOH concentration increased in three ICR groups. Moreover, a significant increase in the level of mucosal injury, edema and the number of inflammatory cells was similarly detected in the EtOH/HCl treated group compared with the vehicle treated group in three ICR groups. Furthermore, the number of infiltrated mast cells and IL-1β expression were very similar in the ICR group derived from three different sources, although some differences in IL-1β expression were detected. Especially, the level of IL-1β mRNA in 50 and 90EtOH/HCl treated group was higher in Korl:ICR and A:ICR than B:ICR. Overall, the results of this study suggest that Korl:ICR, A:ICR and B:ICR derived from different sources have an overall similar response to gastric ulcer induced by EtOH/HCl administration, although there were some differences in the magnitude of their responses.
Animals ; Edema ; Ethanol ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Inflammation ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR* ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer

Endometrioid stromal sarcoma is a rare malignancy that originates from mesenchymal cells. It is classified into low-grade endometrioid stromal sarcoma (LGESS) and high-grade endometrioid stromal sarcoma. Ultrasonographic findings of LGESS resemble those of submucosal myomas, leading to the possible preoperative misdiagnosis of LGESS as uterine leiomyoma. Electronic morcellation during laparoscopic surgery in women with LGESS can result in iatrogenic intraabdominal dissemination and a poorer prognosis. Here, we report a patient with LGESS who underwent a supracervical hysterectomy and electronic morcellation for a presumed myoma in another hospital. Disseminated metastatic lesions of LGESS in the posterior cul-de-sac and rectal serosal surface were absent on primary surgery, but found during reexploration. In conclusion, when LGESS is found incidentally following previous morcellation during laparoscopic surgery for presumed benign uterine disease, we highly recommend surgical reexploration, even when there is no evidence of a metastatic lesion in imaging studies.
Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Myoma ; Prognosis ; Sarcoma* ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal ; Uterine Diseases ; Uterus