Non-Enhancing Intradural Extramedullary Ependymoma: A Case Report

Spinal ependymomas are generally located in the intramedullary compartment in adults. Intradural extramedullary spinal ependymomas are extremely rare. Spinal ependymomas show various contrast enhancements on MRI. In this study, we report a rare case of a 52-year-old female who had a pathologically confirmed intradural extramedullary ependymoma that showed no enhancement on MRI.

Non-Enhancing Intradural Extramedullary Ependymoma: A Case Report

Spinal ependymomas are generally located in the intramedullary compartment in adults. Intradural extramedullary spinal ependymomas are extremely rare. Spinal ependymomas show various contrast enhancements on MRI. In this study, we report a rare case of a 52-year-old female who had a pathologically confirmed intradural extramedullary ependymoma that showed no enhancement on MRI.

Association of Periodontitis with Serum Vitamin D Level among Korean Adults / 치위생과학회지

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects quality of life and nutrition. Several studies have demonstrated a link between periodontal disease and low bone density, and vitamin D is expected to have a beneficial effect on periodontal disease as well as on bone mineral density and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between periodontal disease and vitamin D because the results are different in some studies and there is a lack of research in Korea. In this study, we conducted a multiple linear regression analysis of 8,783 subjects among 23,626 subjects who were older than 20 years of age, who had serum vitamin D levels and periodontal disease, who had three years of the National Health and Nutrition Survey that was conducted in Korea from 2012 to 2014. We examined the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and periodontal disease. Tooth loss and vitamin D levels were negatively correlated (β=−0.028, p=0.008). In addition, the prevalence of periodontal disease was found to be higher in men younger than 50 years of age with lower vitamin D levels (Q1: 1.769 [1.125~2.782], Q2: 1.182 [0.743~1.881], Q3: 0.676 [0.400~1.881]; p=0.001). Low vitamin D levels and periodontal disease are common diseases in primary care. Vitamin D supplementation is expected to have favorable effect on periodontal disease and falls, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and cancer. Therefore, patients with periodontal disease may benefit from periodic vitamin D management to improve quality of life as well as to manage periodontal disease. In addition, as shown in this study, not only elderly individuals, but also men younger than 50 years of age are related to periodontal disease, so there should be interest in controlling the levels of vitamin D in adults.

Analysis of trinucleotide repetitive sequences for Korean patients with spinocerebellar ataxia types 8, 12, and 17

PURPOSE: Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders with diverse modes of inheritance. There are several subtypes of SCAs. SCA 8, SCA 12, and SCA 17 are the less common forms of SCAs with limited information available on their epidemiological profiles in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17 in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six unrelated Korean patients were enrolled and showed normal trinucleotide repeats through polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) for the genes ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, CACNA1A , and ATXN7, which correspond to SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, and SCA7, respectively. PCR products from patients were further analyzed by capillary electrophoresis using fluorescence labeled primers for the genes ATXN8OS, PPP2R2B, and TBP, which correspond to SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17. RESULTS: Three patients had 104, 97, and 75 abnormal expanded repeats in the ATXN8OS gene, the causative gene for SCA8. None of the patients exhibited abnormal repeats in SCA12 and SCA17. Normal trinucleotide repeat ranges of the cohort in this study were estimated to be 17-34 copies (average, 24+/-4 copies) for SCA8, 7-18 copies (average, 13+/-3 copies) for SCA12, and 26-43 copies (average, 35+/-2 copies) for SCA17. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17 are rare in Korean patients with SCA, and further genetic studies are warranted to enhance the mutation detection rate in the Korean SCA population.

Metabolic Syndrome and Suicidal Ideation in Korean Based on the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and suicidal ideation in Korean. This study was based on the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A questionnaire was used to measure suicidal ideation and physical examination was performed to measure waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Complex samples logistic regression was performed to estimate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and suicidal ideation among adults and adolescents. Subjects with metabolic syndrome were more likely to have suicidal ideation in adult. There would be essential needs to evaluate suicidal ideation in adult with metabolic syndrome and to follow up suicidal ideation in adolescents with metabolic syndrome.

Characteristics of major depressive disorder according to family history of depression : A CRESCEND-K (Clinical Research Center for Depression in Korea) study / 한국역학회지

PURPOSE: People with a family history of mood disorder are more likely to have depression. This study compared the characteristics of non-psychotic major depression disorder according to family history of depression. METHOD: Subjects were total of 817 persons recruited for the CRESCEND-K multicenter trial. Characteristics of depression and suicide history of patients with and without a family history of depression were assessed. Family history was determined through self-report. RESULTS: Of 817 participants, 12.4% had a positive family history of depression. Those with family history of depression reported an earlier age at onset of MDD, and more psychiatric comorbidity. Severity of depression and anxiety were not different according to family history of depression. There were no difference in attempted suicide history, number of attempted suicide and age at onset of 1st attempted suicide according to such a family history. CONCLUSION: Patients with family history of depression reported earlier onset of MDD and more history of psychiatric comorbidity.