Effects of Eating Behaviors on Health-related Parameters in the Elderly Living in Seongnam City(Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging study)

BACKGROUND: With global trends in population aging, healthy aging has become a most important matter. Thus, many researchers are developing and implementing healthy aging methods to promote quality of life in the elderly. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was designed to assess health-related factors associated with nutritio- nal risks in the older population. 880 subjects(411males, 469females) living in Seongnam City, all over 65 yrs, were interviewed about their eating behaviors by well-trained nurses. Tests included anthropometric measurements, biochemistry, and visceral and subcutaneous fat measurements from abdominal CT scans. RESULTS: Mean BMI was 23.7+/-3.2kg/m2 in men and 24.2+/-3.4kg/m2 in women. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension was 36.0% and 67.6%, respectively, for males and 31.3% and 72.7%, respectively, for females. Seen in this study, several aspects of human eating behavior may be relevant in identifying effective measures to prevent or treat metabolic risks. Increased subcutaneous fat was associated with overea- ting and irregular meals. Increased visceral fat was associated with overeating and having hurried meals (less than 20 minutes). BMI was influenced by frequent eating out, rapid food ingestion, and favoring spicy foods. CONCLUSION: Factors such as food choice and eating behavior affect the risk of obesity and cardiovascular accidents. Clinicians should recognize the importance between nutrition and health in the elderly. Our data suggest that good eating behavior reduces metabolic risks in the older population.

Clinical Analysis of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections by Influenza Virus in Children

PURPOSE: Although influenza virus is one of the most important causes of acute respiratory tract infections(ARTIs) in children, virus isolation is not popular and there are only a few clinical studies on influenza in Korea. We evaluated the epidemiologic and clinical features of ARTIs by influenza virus in children. METHODS: From February 1995 to August 2001, nasopharyngeal aspirations were obtained and cultured for the isolation of influenza virus in children admitted with ARTIs. The medical records of patients with influenza virus infection were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Respiratory viruses were isolated in 997(22.0%) out of 4,533 patients examined, and influenza virus was isolated in 164 cases(3.6%). Influenza virus was isolated year after year mainly from December to April of next year. The ratio of male and female was 1.9 : 1 with a median age of 15 months. The most common clinical diagnosis of influenza virus infection was pneumonia, and fever and cough developed in most patients. There was no difference between influenza A and B infection in clinical diagnoses and symptoms. All patients recovered without receiving antiviral treatment except for one patient diagnosed with pneumonia who had underlying disease of Down syndrome with ventricular septal defect. CONCLUSIONS: ARTIs caused by influenza virus developed every winter and spring during the period of study. Because fatal complication can develop in the high risk group, prevention, early diagnosis and proper management of influenza should be emphasized.

A Case of Apert's Syndrome with Encephalocele and Hypogenesis of Corpus Callosum

Apert's syndrome(acrocephalosyndactyly) is a rare congenital anomaly that is characterized by the combination of premature fusion of multiple cranial sutures primarily involving the coronal suture and severe symmetrical syndactyly of fingers and toes. Some patients of this syndrome have various abnormalities of the central nervous system. We experienced a case of Apert's syndrome with craniofacial malformations, symmetric syndactyly, occipital encephalocele and hypogenesis of corpus callosum. She had a oxycephalic head with small sized anterior fontanelle, elongated forehead, hypertelorism, down-slanting palpebral fissures, flattened nose, cleft palate, low set ears and short neck. A 5x3 cm sized scalp-covered soft mass protruded in the occipital area through defect of the occipital bone. MRI showed hypogenesis of corpus callosum, occipital encephalocele, dilatation of the lateral and the third ventricles. She also had hands and feet with symmetric syndactyly involved skin and soft tissue but not bones.