| Hong Gi Min | 9 Articles |
Homelessness is associated with an increased risk of exposure to A cross-sectional analysis of the clinical features in 142 pulmonary tuberculosis-positive homeless patients admitted to the Busan Medical Center from January 2001 to December 2010 was carried out. These results were compared with a successful treatment group and incomplete treatment group. We also evaluated the risk factors of treatment non-completion. Statistical analysis for the comparisons was performed using a χ2 test, independent samples t-test, and multiple logistic regression. Comparison of clinical characteristics showed significant differences between the two groups in the type of residence (P < 0.001), diseases with risk factors (P = 0.003), and history of tuberculosis treatment (P = 0.009). Multiple regression analysis revealed the residence (odds ratio [OR], 4.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05 to 11.10; P < 0.001) and comorbidity with risk factor (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.13 to 6.53; P = 0.025) to be independently associated with treatment success. To improve the success rate of tuberculosis treatment in the homeless person, anti tuberculosis medication should be taken until the end of treatment and a management system for the homeless person is required. Further social and medical concerns for stable housing and management of comorbidity may lead to an improvement in the successful tuberculosis treatment of homeless person. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
Background
The metabolic syndrome has been known as the cluster of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and abdominal obesity. There have been many studies about the infl ammatory role in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, also. We aimed to elucidate the role of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a infl ammation-related factor in metabolic syndrome in Korean adults by correlation and factor analysis. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in 1,512 men and 1,836 women (over 20 years old) who had an examination at a center for health promotion of an university hospital from May 2004 through March 2005. The NCEP-ATP III definition and Asian-Pacific adjusted criteria were used to obtain the metabolic syndrome group. And we evaluated the role and gender difference of hs-CRP in metabolic syndrome by correlation and factor analysis.Results: In women, hs-CRP was statistically correlated with most metabolic variables, especially insulin resistance. In factor analysis, 3 factors (obesity, blood pressure, and insulin resistance) were obtained in men and 4 factors (obesity, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia) in women, respectively. In women, hs-CRP was a part of dyslipidemia factor.Conclusion: In factor anaylsis of metabolic syndrome factors with hs-CRP, hs-CRP was not a signifi cant factor in men, but was included as a part of dyslipidemia factor in women. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
A 59 year old woman visited the hospital complaining of sore throat, chill, myalgia and whole body skin rash. There was abnormal finding of fever, sinus tachycardia, increased lactic dehydrogenase and elongation prothrombin time. We started treatment with acetaminophen and fluid because she had not specific history of visiting to the mountain or field, etc. After treatment increased aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase and thrombocytopenia appeared without symptomatic improvement so that we investigated tsutsugamushi antibodies and diagnosed her condition as Tsutsugamushi disease with polyuria. But the clinical manifestation in our case showed atypical symptom which had polyuria. There is no report on that in Korea and over the world therefore the author et al. report of case of Tsutsugamushi disease with polyuria, atypical symptom.
Background
: Recently, body composition analyzer has been used widely clinically. Various indirectly measured values of body are calculated without direct measuring. The abdominal circumference that is presented by such instrument may be used for diagnosing abdominal obesity, but the reliable evidence of the accuracy and the validity may be not be enough for application to general population. For this reason, the author investigated the usefulness of automatically produced abdominal circumference for diagnosing abdominal obesity. Methods : The medical records of 5,555 outpatients who had undergone body composition analysis in a tertiary hospital was collected. The usefulness of the automatically presented abdominal circumference for diagnosing abdominal obesity among general population was investigated. Results : There was a significant positive correlation between abdominal circumference measured by body composition analyzer and measuring tape in the normal, the overweight, and the obese groups of both gender. But, the results were the same only in females in the underweight group. The most significant difference between the two values were 4.8±5.0 cm in normal male group and -5.7±5.5 cm in female obese group. The difference of the male obese group was lesser than that of the overweight, the normal and the underweight groups. The difference of the male overweight group was lesser than that of the normal group. The difference of the female obese group was lesser than that of the overweight, the normal and the underweight groups. The sensitivity and specificity to detect abdominal obese person among the total subjects was 76.3% and 79.1%, respectively. The specificity was higher in all male and the normal female groups, wheras the sensitivity was higher in the obese and the overweight female groups. Conclusion : Physicians should confirm the accuracy of abdominal circumference, especially in normal males and obese female group, although the automatically presented value is convenient and reflects the manually measured one very well which is useful to diagnose abdominal obesity.
Background
: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in Western civilization and comprises 75% of esophageal diseases. However, there are only few studies of GERD in Korea. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical symptoms of GERD in Koreans and the effect of Rabeprazole on the symptoms. Methods : The study subjects were included 353 patients who were diagnosed endoscopically with reflux esophagitis (316) or non-erosive reflux disease who have complained of intermittent heartburn during the past 3 months or more. All patients received Rabeprazole 20 mg daily for 8 weeks. Symptoms according to 8 symptom categories of GERD were evaluated. Patients recorded the severity of GERD associated symptoms at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment. Presenting symptoms in Korean, frequency and severity of each symptom was evaluated. Efficacy of Rabeprazole treatment was analyzed. Results : The most common symptoms of GERD were regurgitation (60.9%), heartburn (52.7%), epigastric pain/ soreness (49.6%) and other epigastric discomfort (47.0%). Symptom severity was rated in order of epigastric pain/ soreness, epigastric discomfort, and heartburn. The proportion of all symptoms, except for heart burn and cough, increased in relation to the severity of endoscopic grading, but the severity of symptoms was not significantly different between subgroups according to endoscopic findings. Symptoms, except for hoarseness, globus sensation and cough, significantly improved in 4 weeks after treatment. Cough did not improve after 4 weeks irrespective of smoking status, All symptoms significantly improved after 8 weeks. Conclusion : Regurgitation was more common, and epigastric symptoms were more severe than heartburn in Koreans. The 8-week Rabeprazole treatment was effective on all symptoms associated with GERD.
Background
: There are several reports that vitamin C is one of antioxidants and can be used to protect cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation plays a major role in atherosclerosis, and the measurement of inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs- CRP) may provide methods for risk prediction and reveal independent risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of our study was to assess the correlation between vitamin C intake and plasma hs-CRP concentration. Methods : The study subjects consisted of 2,012 individuals who underwent periodic health examination in a university hospital in Busan from June 2002 to January 2003. The subjects were questioned concerning their past medical history, alcohol intake, smoking status, physical activity. Body mass index, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile, general blood test, and hs-CRP were measured. The exclusive responsible dietitian evaluated the average calorie intake and vitamin C intake by food frequency questionnaire. To quantify the correlation between vitamin C intake and plasma hs-CRP concentration, Pearson correlation coefficient and Spearman correlation coefficient were presented. Results : The vitamin C index (r=-0.051, P＜0.05) and the vitamin C intake per calorie intake (r=-0.075, P＜0.01) showed a significant correlation with the plasma hs-CRP level. The vitamin C intake and the vitamin C intake per calorie intake were significantly correlated with the plasma hs-CRP level after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index and smoking status. Conclusion : These findings suggest that there was a significant correlation between the vitamin C intake and the hs-CRP concentration. Therefore, inflammatory status is higher in a person who takes small amount of vitamin C than a person who takes it plentifully. The former is presumed to have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases thereafter.
The gastrointestinal stromal tumor was finded in a female patient complaining continous abdominal obesity without any gastrointestinal symptoms. The tumor was sized 5.5~7~10 cm and expanded from stomach to the space between stomach and pancreas. The surgical resection was carried out for treatment. This case means that careful physical examinations should be done when there are no gastrointestinal complains in a abdominal obesity patient.
Background
: There are very few studies on change in body composition after smoking cessation. The purpose of our study was to assess the change in body composition as well as body weight after smoking cessation in men. Methods : The subjects were 203 men who had received health examination from May in 2000 to April in 2001 on their first visit, and then from May in 2001 to May in 2002 on their second visit, at the department of family medicine of a university hospital. They were divided into groups of non-smokers, current smokers, and former smokers by smoking status. Their past medical history, obesity indexes, smoking status, physical activity, and nutrition intake were reviewed. Body composition of the study subjects was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results : After adjustment for age, nutrition intake, and physical activity as confounding factors, former smokers' body weight was significantly increased by 1.8±0.4 kg on second visit compared to non-smokers and current smokers. There was a significant difference in body muscle change between first and second visit, but not in body fat change among former smokers. Former smokers' body fat and muscle were significantly increased by 0.9±0.3 kg and 0.8±0.4 kg, respectively, compared to non-smokers. Former smokers' waist circumference was significantly increased by 2.5±0.7 cm on second visit compared with non-smokers and current smokers. Conclusion : In former smokers, body weight was increased by 1.8 kg after smoking cessation, which was attributed to increase of body muscle as well as body fat. Compared with non-smokers, former smokers' body muscle and fat were significantly increased on second visit.
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