Socioeconomic burden of sugar-sweetened beverages consumption in Korea

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive sugar consumption may increase the risk for development of several diseases. Although average dietary sugar intake of Koreans is within the recommended level, an increasing trend has been found in all age groups. This study aimed to evaluate the population attributable fractions (PAF) to dietary sugar for disease and death in Korea, and to estimate the socioeconomic effects of a reduction in dietary sugar. MATERIALS/METHODS: The prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) overconsumption (≥ 20 g of sugar from beverages) was analyzed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015. Disease-specific relative risks of excessive SSB consumption were obtained through reviewing previous studies. Using the prevalence of SSB overconsumption and each relative risk, PAFs for morbidity and mortality were calculated. Socioeconomic costs of diseases and death attributable to SSB overconsumption were estimated by using representative data on national medical expenditures, health insurance statistics, employment information, and previous reports. RESULTS: Disease-specific PAF to SSB consumption ranged from 3.11% for stroke to 9.05% for obesity and dental caries, respectively. Costs from disease caused by SSB overconsumption was estimated at 594 billion won in 2015. About 39 billion won was estimated to be from SSB consumption-related deaths, and a total of 633 billion won was predicted to have been saved through preventing SSB overconsumption. CONCLUSIONS: Sugars overconsumption causes considerable public burdens, although the cost estimates do not include any informal expenditure. Information on these socioeconomic effects helps both health professionals and policy makers to create and to implement programs for reducing sugar consumption.

A Case of Hydrogen Peroxide Induced Proctocolitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used for cleansing superficial wounds because of its antimicrobial action attributed to oxidizing capacity. In the past, hydrogen peroxide was used for the management of meconium ileus and fecal impaction because liberated oxygen tend to break up impaction and initiate peristaltic reflux. During 1980s, hydrogen peroxide was also introduced for disinfection of endoscope but this stronger solution has a caustic action. Several authors reported hydrogen peroxide induced colitis. We report a case of hydrogen peroxide induced chemical colitis in a 28-year-old man who complained bloody stools and lower abdominal pain after introducing hydrogen peroxide solution into the rectum to relieve rectal bleeding. His symptoms were improved with conservative treatment.

The Usefulness of Sympathetic Skin Response in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

OBJECTIVE: The sympathetic skin response (SSR) was measured in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) for diagnosis of uremic polyneuropathy and its correlations with nerve conduction study (NCS) and clinical autonomic symptoms were investigated. METHOD: The SSR was measured in 15 patients with CRF on regular hemodialysis, aged 26 to 67 years. With median nerve stimulation at the wrist using the extremity without arteriovenous fistula, the SSR was recorded from both palm and sole simultaneously. The responses were interpreted as normal (presence) or abnormal (absence). Routine nerve conduction study was also performed in the same extremities and clinical autonomic symptoms were investigated. RESULTS: Nine of fifteen patients (60.0%) had symptoms suggestive of autonomic dysfunction: the most frequent findings were orthostatic dizziness and sweating problem. The SSR was absent in four of fifteen patients (26.7%). There is no significant relationship between SSR and autonomic symptoms (P>0.05). The nerve conduction study was abnormal in eight of fifteen patients (53.3%), and the SSR was absent in two of seven patients with normal NCS. There is no significant relationship between NCS and SSR (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the proportion of abnormal SSR was small, it may be a valuable method in the assessment of uremic polyneuropathy in conjunction with routine nerve conduction study in CRF patients.

The Diagnostic Value of the F-wave in Patients with Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the sensitivity and characteristics of F-wave abnormalities detected by various parameters in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathies and to evaluate the relationship of F-wave with needle EMG. METHOD: The study was performed on 37 patients with lumbosacral disc herniation, which was confirmed by MRI and the patients with clinical lumbosacral radiculopathies (single lesion of L5 in 28 cases, S1 in 1 case, double lesion of L5 and S1 in 8 cases). F-waves were recorded by stimulating peroneal and tibial nerves at the ankle. Minimal latency (F min), maximal latency (F max), latency difference between F min and F max (F dif), mean duration (F dur) and side to side difference between sides in F min and F max were measured. Conventional nerve conduction study and needle EMG were also examined. RESULTS: The abnormal parameters of F-wave were so varied that the results could not lead any apparent conclusions as to which parameters were the most sensitive. However, F min and F dur seemed to be abnormal more frequently than F max and F dif. While the needle EMG showed abnormalities in 28 patients (75.7%), at least one of the different F-wave parameters was found to be abnormal in 18 patients (48.6%). Moreover, no significant relationship was observed between the abnormal findings of EMG and F-wave (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The conventional needle EMG appears to be the more useful electrophysiological technique in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathies. Concerning the additional usefulness of F-wave, further study will be necessary.

Congenital Hemihypertrophy: A case report

Congenital hemihypertrophy is a rare idiopathic condition, first described by Meckel in 1822 and represents enlargement of a part or entire side of the body without associated vascular or neurologic disease. Wagner recorded the first case in the 1839. Hemihypertrophy is to be differentiated from hemiatrophy (which involves unilateral subnormal development, muscle weakness, or neurologic deficit) and the syndromes of hemidystrophy. Approximately 25 - 50% of the reported cases of hemihypertrophy have been associated with hamartomas or congenital defects, especially genitourinary anomalies. The early detection of asymptomatic intraabdominal tumor in patients with congenital hemihypertrophy is important We report 3 cases of congenital hemihypertrophy with discussion of the clinical manifestations and associated anomalies, which were rarely reported in domestic literatures.