A Correlation between Neurocognitive Impairments and Serum Lipid Levels among the Korean Elderly / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the authors evaluated the correlation between neurocognitive impairments and serum lipids levels among Korean elderly over the age of 65. METHODS: A total of 609 elderly individuals participated in this study. Screening for cognitive impairments were carried out using the Mini-Mental Status Examination-Korean version (MMSE-KC). There were 197 subjects above 1.5SD of MMSEKC and they were evaluated using the Korean versions of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (AD)(CERAD-KC) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-K). RESULTS: There was a correlation between old age/low levels of education and AD (p<0.05, p<0.01). There was an inverse correlation between the serum level of total cholesterol and the word list recognition test scores. The serum levels of LDL cholesterol were inversely correlated with the scores on the constructional praxis test, word list recall test and word list recognition test. Inverse correlations between the serum level of triglyceride and scores on the word list recall test and word list recognition test were also observed. CONCLUSION: There were inverse correlations between the serum levels of lipids and language/memory function in subjects with AD.

Prevalence of Alzheimer's Dementia and Its Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly Koreans

OBJECTIVE: We estimated the prevalence of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their risk factors in an urban community setting, focusing especially on metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A two-phase investigation based on a door-to-door survey was performed. In Phase I, we administered the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC) of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD-K). Assessment Packet and the Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scales (GDS-K) to all 706 participants aged 65 years or older. In Phase II of the study, 175 persons underwent physical and neurological examinations according to the protocol of the CERAD-K clinical assessment battery [CERAD-K (C)] and the neuropsychological assessment battery [CERAD-K (N)]. We also examined the association between cognitive decline and metabolic syndrome. AD and MCI were defined using the DSM-IV-TR criteria and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scales. RESULTS: The mean age (+/-SD) of the subjects was 74.3+/-16.7 years and the ratio of males to females was 53.2 to 46.8. The prevalence of Alzheimer's dementia was 9.0%, while that of MCI was 32.9%. Old age and lower educational level had significant associations with cognitive decline in the elderly, but gender, years of alcohol intake or smoking, and metabolic syndrome were not associated with AD or MCI. CONCLUSION: In this study, metabolic syndrome was not associated with Alzheimer's AD or MCI. Information regarding an association between Alzheimer's dementia and metabolic syndrome in this study will be helpful in formulating future public health policy and prevention strategies in Korea.

A case of midgut volvulus due to mesenteric lymphangioma, not associated with malrotation in a 13-year-old boy / 소아과

A 13-year-old boy, complained of an intermittent suddenly aggravated severe abdominal pain and diarrhea, was diagnosed as a small bowel volvulus without an intestinal malrotation, due to mesenteric lymphangioma. He took abdominal ultrasonography, abdominal CT scanning, upper gastrointestinal study and got an operation. The small bowel volvulus with cystic lymphangioma was confirmed by gross and pathologic findings.