Physical Activity Level of Korean Adults with Chronic Diseases: The Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, 2010-2012 / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Proper physical activities are known to be helpful in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. However, the physical activity level of patients with chronic diseases is low. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the physical activity compliance of patients with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia in Korea. METHODS: This study analyzed the 2010-2012 Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. We included 13,873 individuals in the analysis. The level of physical activity compliance was measured by performing multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, the subjects with hypertension or diabetes tended to comply with the physical activity guidelines less faithfully than their healthy counterparts. The proportion of subjects with hypertension who were insufficiently physically active was 65.4% among the men and 75.8% among the women. For diabetes, the proportions were 66.7% and 76.8%, respectively. No significant difference was found between the subjects with dyslipidemia and their healthy counterparts. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, no significant difference in physical activity compliance was observed between the subjects with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia and their healthy counterparts for both sexes. CONCLUSION: The patients with hypertension or diabetes tended to have lower physical activity prevlaence than their healthy counterparts. However, for dyslipidemia, no significant difference was found between the two groups. Given the significance of physical activities in the management of chronic diseases, the physical activities of these patients need to be improved.

Associations between Metabolic Syndrome and Inadequate Sleep Duration and Skipping Breakfast / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide, and previous studies have shown that inadequate sleep duration and skipping breakfast may be related to metabolic syndrome. Therefore, we investigated the effects of inadequate sleep and skipping breakfast on metabolic syndrome using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) IV & V reports (2007-2009 and 2010-2012, respectively). METHODS: The sample included 12,999 subjects who participated in the KNHANES IV & V. Sleep duration and breakfast eating were self-reported, and metabolic syndrome was defined according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Subjects were divided into 12 groups according to breakfast eating and sleep duration patterns, and multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, household income, education level, smoking status, alcohol drinking, physical activity, and total daily energy intake were conducted. RESULTS: In subjects under 50 years of age, sleeping less than 6 hours was significantly associated with increased metabolic syndrome except among those who ate breakfast on only 1 of the past 2 days. In subjects over 50 years of age, sleeping less than 6 hours was significantly associated with a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome among those who ate breakfast on both days. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, significant associations between metabolic syndrome and sleep duration were identified, and these associations differed according to age group.

Clinical Study on Malignant Fibrous/Fibrohistiocytic Tumors / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Malignant fibrous/fibrohistiocytic tumors are uncommon soft tissue tumors which gives dermatologists special attention on differential diagnosis. However, there has not yet been a multicenter study on these tumors in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and clinical features of malignant fibrous/ fiborhistiocytic tumors. METHODS: A total of 62 patients from 11 training hospitals who had been confirmed with malignant fibrous/ fibrohistiocytic tumor were studied. A retrospective analysis of hospital records served as the data source for this study. RESULTS: Among patients with malignant fibrous/fibrohistiocytic tumors, the most common tumor type was dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance followed by malignant fibrohistiocytic. The male to female ratio among subjects was 1.38 to 1 and the mean age was 44 years old. Of the common complaints recorded, asymptomatic mass was the most frequent. The mean size of the subjects' tumors was 2.9 cm in the long axis and 2.3 cm in the short axis with a mean tumor thickness of 2.1 mm. The most common site for tumors was the back followed by the thigh. The recurrence rate after primary treatment was 14.5% and metastasis developed in 5 of 62 patients. CONCLUSION: This study is expected to be helpful for understanding the clinical and pathological characteristics of malignant fibrous/fibrohistiocytic tumors.

Five Cases of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis / 대한피부과학회지

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a self-limited infection of the skin caused by Leishmania tropica, a protozoan parasite transmitted by Phlebotomus sandfly. This disease is endemic in tropical and subtropical zone, but recently many cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis were reported in Korean among the peoples who had been worked in the Middle East. We experienced five cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis developed in Korean who had been worked in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Skin lesions of various sized, central ulcerated and marginal elevated, with serosanguinous discharge and some crust were scattered on exposed area, especially both extremities. Histopathologic findings showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, dermal infiltration of histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells and neutrophils, and numerous Leishman-Donovan bodies in and around histiocytes. About 1-4 months treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and metronidazole, two cases were healed with hyperpigmented scar and two cases were improved but one case was not responded.

The Effect of Room Temperature on the VDRL Test Result / 대한피부과학회지

The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory microflocculation (VDRL) test, especially the quantitative test is well standardized, simple, rapid and, at present, the most widely used non-treponernal test in serodiagnosis and follow up sturly of syphilis. However, the UDRL test result could be influenced by room ternperature, especially in summer and winter in Korea in the abscence of proper air-conditioning and heating. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of room temperature on the VDRL test result and to determine the critical temperatures which alter the test result. Eighty six VDRL-reactive serum samples collected at the Soonchunhyang Medical College Hospital and the V.D. Clinic of the Chung-Ku Public Health Center in Seoul during the 7 months periods from September 1982 to March 1983 were used. The results obtained were as follows: The change in the VDRL titer was not obscrved at room temperature of between 18 C and 32 C 2. The VDRL titer became weakly reactive on the same titer or lowered to half titer at room temperature of below 18C. R. The VDRL titer increased two fold at room temperature of above 32C.(countinue..)

A Case of Herpes Gestationis / 대한피부과학회지

Herpes Gestationis is a rare polymorphous, vesiculobullous disease of pregnancy and puerperium. It is characterized by rapidly progressive skin eruption heraled initially by severe generalized pruritus. Erythematous papules and urticaria like plaques rapidly appear followed by grouped, tense, vesiculobullous eruptions. A 23 year-old pregnant woman was admitted to our departrnent of dermatology hecause of erythematous patches with pruritic vesiculobullous and pustular eruption on the whole body since third week of conception, Biopsy specimen of bullous skin lesion showed spongiosis of epidermal cells, mild necrosis of basal cells, subepidermal bulla, edema, of papillary derrnis and perivascular infiltration of inflammatory cells. Ultrastructural findings showed mild necrosis of basal cells, bulla above or below basement membrane zone and partial separation of basal larnina. Direct immunofluorescences of bullous lesion and normal appearing skin demonstrated deposition of IgG in linear pattern along basement rnembra,ne zone. After treatment with systemic corticosteroid and antihistamin, the lesions were cleared, leaving residual hyperpigmentation, and she delivered normal female baby.