Correlations Among Threshold and Assessment for Salty Taste and High-salt Dietary Behavior by Age / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze correlation thresholds and assessment for salty taste and high-salt dietary behaviors by age. METHODS: A total of 524 subjects including 100 each of elementary school students, middle school students, college students, and elderly as well as 124 adults were surveyed for detection and recognition thresholds, salty taste assessments, and high-salt dietary behaviors. RESULTS: Elementary students had a lower detection threshold (p<0.05) and recognition threshold (p<0.01) than did the other groups. Salty taste assessments were lowest among elementary students, followed by middle school students, while college students, adults, and elderly had higher assessment score (p<0.001). Elementary students had significantly lower scores for high-salt dietary behavior than did middle school students, college students, adults and elderly (p<0.001). Middle school students had higher scores for high-salt dietary behavior than did elementary school students and elderly (p<0.001) but no meaningful difference was found in dietary behavior scores between college students, adults, and elderly. There were positive correlations between high-salt dietary behavior and detection thresholds (p<0.001), recognition thresholds (p<0.001), and salty taste assessment (p<0.001). High-salt dietary behavior was more positively correlated with salty taste assessment than detection and recognition thresholds for salty taste. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that salty taste assessments were positively associated with scores for the detection and recognition thresholds and high-salt dietary behavior.

A Case of Pyriform Sinus Fistula Concurrent with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a 72-Year-Old Patient / 대한이비인후과학회지

Since branchial anomalies are developmental disorders, pyriform sinus fistula (PSF) has been considered as a pediatric disease, and most reports of PSF with clinical symptoms have thus been on neonatal and young children. There are only a few case reports worldwide, of PSF found in adult patients. Here, we report a case where the patient's initial symptom of PSF occurred at the age of 72. Interestingly, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was concurrently identified on computed tomography during the evaluation for PSF. Chemical cauterization and total thyroidectomy was performed for the treatment of PSF and PTC, respectively. This case report may contribute to increased awareness of PSF in adult patients and the possible coexistence of thyroid cancer in these patients.

A Comparison of Salty Taste Assessment, Dietary Attitude and Dietary Behavior among Adult and Senior Women by Region and by Age in Korea / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the results of salty taste assessment, dietary attitudes, and dietary behaviors among adult and senior women by region and by age. The results generated from this was expected to provide fundamental data for implementing a nationwide salt reduction education program. METHODS: The salty taste assessment tool was applied to 4,064 subjects from 15 areas in Korea. Also, a survey of dietary attitude and dietary behavior related to salt intake was conducted for all subjects participated in this study. RESULTS: The salty taste assessment scores by region and by age were the lowest in capital (p < 0.01) and was highest among the 70+ year age group (p < 0.01). The dietary attitude scores and dietary behavior scores showed that Gyeongsang was the highest (p < 0.001) and the capital was the lowest. The dietary attitude scores were highest at 20&30's followed by 40's and 70's group (p < 0.001). Dietary behavior scores showed that 20's~30's and 40's groups were higher than the other age groups (p < 0.001). The score of 'I like kimchi' was 3.46 +/- 0.88, which was the highest among 10 dietary behavior questions. The score of 'I eat a lot of kimchi' was 3.30 +/- 0.90, which was the highest among 10 dietary behavior questions related to salt intake. The scores of salty taste assessment had significant positive correlations between the scores of dietary attitude (p < 0.001), dietary behavior (p < 0.001) and self-awareness (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of salty taste assessment, we observed a tendency that older people and regions except the capital had higher preference for salty taste. Our results suggested the necessity for a nationwide salty reduction education program tailored for regions and for different age groups.

Pyriform Sinus Fistula: A Single Center Experience / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pyriform sinus fistula with 3rd and 4th branchial cleft anomaly is an extremely rare congenital condition that is not very well understood owing to its rarity. The aim of the study was to review our experience with pyriform sinus fistulae to better understand them. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Of 163 patients with branchial anomaly treated at our institute between 1999 and 2011, medical records of 15 patients with pyriform sinus fistula were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Overall, 9.2% had pyriform sinus fistulae and this proportion was higher than that of patients with 1st branchial anomaly. The mean age at the time of initial symptom presentation was 11.9 years. However, five patients (33.3%) were not diagnosed at that time because pyriform sinus fistula was not suspected. Computed tomography (CT) was the most sensitive diagnostic tool in patients suspected to have pyriform sinus fistulae; the sensitivity of CT was 86.7%, whereas that for esophagography was only 20%. Conservative surgical treatment involving cauterization of the opening of the fistula tract was performed in nine patients and showed favorable results with 22.2% of recurrence rate during a mean follow-up period of 23.1 months. In 67.7% of the patients, the causative organisms were bacteria inhabiting human mouth, suggesting that infection source for pyriform sinus fistula may be food contents and discharge of upper aerodigestive tract. CONCLUSION: The incidence of pyriform sinus fistula may be higher than expected. Therefore, the possibility of pyriform sinus fistulae coexisting should be considered while treating young patients with perithyroidal infection.

A Comparison of Salty Taste Assessments and Dietary Attitudes and Dietary Behaviors Associated with High-Salt Diets in Four Regions in Korea / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to compare regional differences in salty taste assessments, nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes and dietary behaviors associated with high-salt diets in four national regions in Korea (Region 1: Seoul, Sokcho, Region 2: Buyeo, Jecheon, Gong Ju, Region 3: Daegu, Gyeongsan, Region 4: Jeon Ju). Subjects were 860 persons who participated in sodium reduction campaign. The result of the salty taste assessment by region was not significantly different. The nutrition knowledge score of subjects in Region 1 was the highest. Dietary attitude scores that showed preference for high-salt diets of Region 2 and Region 4 subjects were higher than those of Regions 1 and 3 subjects (p < 0.001). Dietary behavior scores were not significantly different among regions. The correlation between sodium intake and salty taste assessment was significant (p < 0.01). Older subjects who had high blood pressure levels and lower nutrition knowledge were more likely to have high sodium intakes. Even though the salty taste assessment and dietary behavior scores by region were not significantly different, the salty taste assessment scores had a significant negative correlation with nutrition knowledge and had a significant positive correlation with dietary attitude and dietary behavior in terms of preference for high-salt diets. Therefore, nationwide education regarding salt intake reduction and health and a campaign to encourage favorable attitudes and behavioral changes regarding consumption of a no-salt / low-salt diet is needed.

Development and Evaluation of a Nutrition Education Program on Sodium Reduction in Elementary School Students / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was to develop and evaluate a nutrition education program to reduce dietary sodium. The school children (218 boys, 226 girls), from 8 elementary schools in the city of Daegu, Korea, were involved in this study. This research was based on the data from two groups of elementary school children, the "education" group (n = 240), and "no-education" group (n = 204). Educational media and programs were developed to educate the education group for four weeks and were presented on the web (www.saltdown.com). After education, the preference for a non-salty taste in the education group increased 10%, compared with those who preferred a non-salty taste before education. There was a significant change away from a preference for a salty taste and a rise in the mean score for nutrition knowledge and dietary attitude in the education group compared to the no-education group (p < 0.05). This study indicates that school children can reduce their dependency on preference for a salty taste and change their high-salt dietary behavior after the education.

Sigmoid Colon Diverticular Bleeding in a 75-year-old Woman / 대한소화기학회지

Most common cause of brisk hematochezia is diverticular bleeding in Western countries. It occurs in 15% of patients with diverticulosis and one-third of them appear to be massive. Most of diverticulosis in Western countries occur in the left colon but the right colon is more common in Korea. Especially, the reports of diverticular bleeding on left colon are rare in Korea. We report a case presenting with multiple diverticuli complicated by recurrent massive bleeding restricted to the left colon. 75-year-old female was admitted due to hematochezia and dizziness. On past history, two years and two weeks ago respectively, she was treated of diverticular bleeding with and without diverticulitis. Hemoglobin level was 9.8 g/dL. On Colonoscopy, numerous diverticuli were seen at sigmoid colon upto splenic flexure which showed fresh blood clots in the lumen. We diagnosed her as recurrent massive diverticular bleeding on the sigmoid colon. She received elective laparoscopic left hemicolectomy.

Development and Evaluation of Nutrition Education Program for Sodium Reduction in Foodservice Operations / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to develop a nutrition education program for dietary salt reduction using various nutrition education materials. The effect of a 5-week nutrition education program on salty taste assessment, nutrition knowledge, salt attitude for a high-salt diet, salt content in food, and individual satisfaction with the salt concentration of meals during the education period was evaluated. Nutrition education materials included two animations, a pamphlet, panels, and a website, as well as other training resources. Subjects participating in this study were 335 employees (164 male, 171 female) at 15 foodservice operations in Daegu. Preference for higher levels of salty taste and food containing higher amounts of salt were lowered. Knowledge regarding the necessity for dietary salt reduction was higher (p < 0.001) than before nutrition education, and salt content in a meal was reduced. As the program progressed, average salt concentrations of soups were significantly lowered (p < 0.05), and there was greater satisfaction with the lower concentration (p < 0.001). This was a positive indication of the program's success. In addition, it was found that subjects who participated in the program several times have changed their preference to lower levels of salty taste and have increased their nutrition knowledge (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). Thus, the positive effect of this 5-week nutrition education program developed for, and applied to, foodservice employees, concerning dietary salt reduction was confirmed.

F508 amino acid deletion mutation of CFTR gene in Korean lung cancer patients

Mutations of the transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene in cystic fibrosis lead to dysfunction of the lung, pancreas, and sweat glands, etc. To investigate the possibility of the relationship between lung cancer and the mutations of CFTR gene, we determined amino acid sequences using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and DNA sequencing. In this study, the deletion mutation of 508th amino acid in one of nine lung caner patients was found confirming that CFTR gene mutation exists in a Korean lung cancer patient.