ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is considered to be less common in the Orient compared to the West, but epidemiological data on GERD in Korea are rare. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in routine check-up subjects. METHODS: We analyzed 2243 subjects (male 716, female 1527; age range 20-69 yr) visited health promotion center for routine check-up. Subjects were given a validated self-reported questionnaire, which measured the presence, duration and severity of typical symptoms (heartburn, acid regurgitation); and the presence of atypical symptoms. At least weekly symptoms of heartburn and/or acid regurgitation were characterized as the definition of GERD. RESULTS: The prevalence of heartburn for at least monthly, at least weekly and at least daily episodes was 6.2%, 3.4% and 3.1%, respectively. The corresponding figures for acid regurgitation were 6.1%, 2.1% and 0.7%. The prevalence of GERD was 8.5%, and was more common in female (p< 0.01). Sixty eight percent of subjects with GERD reported the symptoms as having been present for less than 5 years. Seventy four percent of subjects with GERD reported these symptoms to be mild to moderate in severity. Heartburn and acid regurgitation were significantly associated with dyspepsia, chest pain, dysphagia and globus sensation (p< 0.01), but not with hoarseness or chronic cough. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of heartburn and/or acid regurgitation experienced at least weekly is 8.5% in routine check-up subjects. Heartburn and acid regurgitation were associated with epigastric pain, chest pain, dysphagia and globus sensation.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Chest Pain , Cough , Deglutition Disorders , Dyspepsia , Epidemiology , Gastroesophageal Reflux , Health Promotion , Heartburn , Hoarseness , Korea , Prevalence , Sensation , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT) has found wide application as a diagnostic test in hepatobiliary disease, and has been used as the best single marker of alcohol intake. In spite of the wide use of GGT in clinical practice, knowledge concerning the distribution and the determinants of this risk factor in the normal population is spared in Korea. We tried to obtain a better evaluation of specificity of serum GGT by analysis of a large population of health examination. METHODS: GGT was measured in 17,140 males aged 17-86 years and 12,125 females aged 18-90 years screened in a health survey program. RESULTS: In multiple regression analyses, serum GGT level showed strong positive association with fatty liver, body mass index, serum levels of AST, ALT triglyceride, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, and weakly positive association with serum levels of creatinine, total cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar. In females, menopause were positively associated with GGT. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated serum GGT levels is a strong indicator of hepatobiliary dysfunction or fatty liver. However, proper interpretation of a serum GGT elevation should be carefully considered in correlation with clinical data and laboratory findings.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Alkaline Phosphatase , Blood Glucose , Blood Pressure , Body Mass Index , Cholesterol , Creatinine , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Fasting , Fatty Liver , Health Surveys , Korea , Menopause , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and Specificity , Transferases , Triglycerides , Uric AcidABSTRACT
The fibromatosis is a broad group of benign fibrous tissue proliferations of similar microscopic appearance that are intermediate in their biological behavior between benign fibrous lesions and fibrosarcoma. Although various series have been reported of abdominal wall and extra-abdominal desmoid tumors, intra-abdominal desoids are extremely rare. We experienced a case with mesenteric fibroma-tosis occuring in a 30 year-old male. He was admitted to the Kangbuk Samsung hospital complaining of right lower quadrant abdominal mass and abdominal bloating sense. Utrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showed a solid mass in the left abdomen surrounded by loops of small bowel. At explorative laparotomy, there was a hard, well circumscribed round mass (25 X 15 X 12 cm) in the mesentery of the terminal ilem. After the tumor was dissected from the retro-peritoneum and surrounding tissues, segmental re- section of ileum with end-to-end anastomosis was performed. On the histopathologic examination, it was confirmed as mesenteric fibromatosis. A brief review of the literature on mesentery fibromatosis was done.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Abdomen , Abdominal Wall , Fibroma , Fibromatosis, Aggressive , Fibrosarcoma , Ileum , Laparotomy , MesenteryABSTRACT
Gastric leiomyomas, which arise from smooth muscle tissue, are the most common non-epi- thelial tumors occurring in the stomach. This tumor is most commonly found incidentally at surgery or autopsy. The incidence of the leiomyoma is about 1-3% of all gastric tumors and sex distribution is equal. We have recently experienced a 59-year-old housewife who had epigastric pain and soreness of one month's duration. Physical examination disclosed tenderness with palpated mass in the left upper quadrant. Gastrofiberscopic finding revealed esophageal diverticulum in the mid-esophagus and 2 x 2 x 1 cm sized submucosal intramural mass with centrally depressed umbilication through ulcerative change on the greater curvature of lower body. Within the umbilication, there were food materials and blood clots. The sleeve segmental resection of stomach was performed. The histopathologic and post operative findings were atypical leiomyoma, perforated with abscess formation to the omentum.
Subject(s)
Humans , Middle Aged , Abscess , Autopsy , Diverticulum, Esophageal , Incidence , Leiomyoma , Muscle, Smooth , Omentum , Physical Examination , Sex Distribution , Stomach , UlcerABSTRACT
Gastric leiomyomas, which arise from smooth muscle tissue, are the most common non-epi- thelial tumors occurring in the stomach. This tumor is most commonly found incidentally at surgery or autopsy. The incidence of the leiomyoma is about 1-3% of all gastric tumors and sex distribution is equal. We have recently experienced a 59-year-old housewife who had epigastric pain and soreness of one month's duration. Physical examination disclosed tenderness with palpated mass in the left upper quadrant. Gastrofiberscopic finding revealed esophageal diverticulum in the mid-esophagus and 2 x 2 x 1 cm sized submucosal intramural mass with centrally depressed umbilication through ulcerative change on the greater curvature of lower body. Within the umbilication, there were food materials and blood clots. The sleeve segmental resection of stomach was performed. The histopathologic and post operative findings were atypical leiomyoma, perforated with abscess formation to the omentum.