The Study of Risk Factors for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis in Korea / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in Koreans METHODS: A total of 1,194 persons consisting of 588 men and 606 women (mean age+/-SD, 48.9+/-14.0 years) were enrolled in rural and urban areas or in a hospital of Korea between september 2000 and august 2001. All participants were interviewed about symptoms of knee OA and possible risk factors including age, sex, occupation, body mass index (BMI), smoking, age of menarche, menopause and hormone replacement therapy and examined. Knee radiograph was obtained in all participants with knee symptoms. Symptomatic knee OA was defined according to clinical criteria or clinical and radiographic criteria for classification of osteoarthritis of the knee by Altman. RESULTS: Of 1,194 participants, symptomatic knee OA was found in 189 persons (15.8%) and multivariate analysis showed that female (OR=5.66, 95% CI 3.42~9.38), aging (OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.08~1.12), living in rural area (OR=3.83, 95% CI 2.27~6.45) and BMI over 25 kg/m(2) (OR=2.26, 95% CI 1.42~3.59) were risk factors. Age (older than 70 years, OR=1.08, 95% CI 1.04~1.12) and living in rural area (OR=5.39, 05% CI 1.94~14.96) were associated with symptomatic knee OA in men and age (older than 40 years, OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.07~1.16), living in rural area (OR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17~5.17), and BMI over 25 kg/m(2) (OR=3.45, 95% CI 1.63~7.29) in women. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for symptomatic knee OA were aging, female, living in rural area and high BMI in Koreans.

Prevalence of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Two Communities in Korea / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Korean. METHODS: Those who participated arthritis/allergy field study in Icheon, Kyunggi Province and Goesan, Chungbuk Province in 2001 were evaluated for the prevalence of arthritis. Diagnosis of OA and RA were made using American College of Rheumatology criteria. RESULTS: Among the 983 participants (mean age+/-SD, 49.9?14.0 years), 498 participants were male (mean age 49.9+/-13.1 years) and 485 participants were female (mean age 49.9+/-15.0 years), and there was no difference of mean age between male and female. There were 153 cases of OA (15.6%, mean age, 61.6+/-9.5), which consisted of 44 male cases (mean age, 58.9+/-10.7) and 109 female cases (mean age, 62.7+/-9.5). Prevalence of OA was significantly higher in female compared to male (22.5% vs 8.8%, p<0.0001). Prevalence of OA in the 4th to the 8th decade was 1.1, 7.5, 19.4, 34, 37.2%, respectively and showed increasing trend in the ascending order of age in decade (p<0.001). Localization of OA was knees (77.1%), knees and hands (17.6%), and hands (5.2%). RA was detected in 14 cases (1.4%, mean age, 58.8+/-14.6, male to female 1:13). Prevalence of RA was significantly higher in female compared to male (2.7% vs 0.2%, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of knee or hand OA and RA were 15.6% and 1.4% in Korean, respectively. The prevalence of OA was significantly higher in female and aged individuals. The prevalence of RA was also significantly higher in female.

Contact urticaria to bisphenol-A-Diglycidylether dental resin / 천식및알레르기

Epoxy resin based on Diglycidyl-ether-Bisphenol-A has been commonly used in dental fillings and dentures. Epoxy resin is a well known low molecular weight chemical sensitizer, but contact urticaria from epoxy resin has been infrequently reported despite it's wide use in dental practice. We report a case of a 48-year-old housewife who presented a recurrent episode of perioral erythema and angioedema associated with dental work. These symptoms, which occurred within 2 hours of having dental fillings, were aggravated with repeated dental procedures for a period of several days. Her symptoms improved after removal of dental fillings. Her contact urticaria to epoxy resin was reproduced by patch test with AH26 root canal sealer containing Bisphenol-A type epoxy resin. Delayed type reaction to epoxy resin was also noted. Her symptoms did not reoccur after use of another type of root canal sealer.

Clinical characteristics and genetic development of asthma caused by citrus red mite / 대한내과학회지

No abstract available.

Association of HLA-DRB1 genotype with sensitivity to house dust mite / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: It is known that HLA molecule can restrict specific IgE responses, but few studies have documented the association between HLA and sensitization to house dust mite(HDM). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a specific HLA type can be a risk or protective factor for the development of HDM sensitivity. METHOD: Total 146 subjects were genotyped for HLA-DRB1 using PCR-SSP technique and HDM sensitivity, determined by skin prick test using two mite allergens, D. pteronyssinus (Dp) and D. farinae (Df). Subjects were grouped according to Dp or Df sensitivity and linkage analysis between HDM sensitivity and HLA-DRB1 genotype was performed. RESULTS: The data revealed higher allele frequencies of DRB1*07 in Dp or Df sensitive groups compared to insensitive groups (11.6% vs. 2.6% in Dp, 11.5% vs. 3.3% in Df group, p<0.05), but the other allele frequencies showed no difference. CONCLUSION: There was a significant association between HLA-DRB1*07 genotype and HDM sensitization. These results indicate that antigen presentation by HLA class II molecule restricts the development of specific IgE response to HDM.

Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein Level before and after Antiastthmatic Treatment in Patients with Acute Asthmatic Attacks / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: To prevent progression to fatal asthma it is essential to assess the severity of asthma and treat adequetely. But there was no objective index to evaluate the severity of airway inflammation in asthmatic patients, So we evaluated that serum ECP concentration is a objective parameter of airway inflammation in patients with acute severe asthmatic attack. METHODS: We measured the parameters of asthamtic severtity(clinical parameter, FEV1, arterial blood gas, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, and serum ECP levels) before and after antiasthmatic treatment in 9patients with acute severe asthmatic attack, And we compared serum ECP concentrations of severe asthmatic patients with those of control patients with mild to moderate severity. RESULTS: 1) The serum ECP levels in patients with acute asthmatic attacks compared to patients with mild to moderate, asthmatic severity were significantly increased. 2) The serum ECP levels and pheriperal blood eosinophil counts 2hours after antiasthmatic treatment were significantly lower than the value before treatment, but the total scores of clinical parameter, FEV1, and scores of arterial blood gases were not significantly different from the basal values, CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the serum ECP level is a objective parameter as a response to antiasthmatic treatment as well as a severity of airway inflammation in patients with acute asthmatic attack.