Association Between Halitosis Diagnosed by a Questionnaire and Halimeter and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between halitosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate an association between subjective and objective halitosis and GERD. METHODS: The subjects were enrolled from participants who visited a health promotion center at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. For diagnosis of halitosis, a questionnaire was requested, and volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) were measured by Halimeter. Self-conscious halitosis was defined as halitosis perceived by himself or herself. Informed halitosis was defined as halitosis perceived by others. Objective halitosis was defined when mean VSCs values were > 100 parts per billion. GERD was defined based on a questionnaire and endoscopy, including erosive esophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). RESULTS: A total of 54 subjects (male:female = 33:21) with mean age of 46.0 +/- 11.4 years were analyzed. The mean VSCs values were not significantly different between presence and absence of self-conscious halitosis (P = 0.322), but significantly different between presence and absence of informed halitosis (P = 0.021). Informed halitosis was associated with objective halitosis (P = 0.039). GERD, erosive esophagitis and NERD did not correlate with objective halitosis (P = 0.556, 0.206 and 0.902, respectively). In multivariable analysis, the relationship between objective halitosis and GERD symptoms including chest pain, heart burn, acid regurgitation, epigastric pain, hoarseness, globus sensation and coughing was not significant. Besides, GERD was not associated with self-conscious halitosis, informed halitosis and objective halitosis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: GERD might not be associated with self-conscious, informed halitosis and objective halitosis indicated by Halimeter results. Informed halitosis could be correlated with objective halitosis determined by the Halimeter.

The Effect of Vitamin C for Mercury Excretion by Hair Mercury Analysis / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Humans are exposed to mercury via many different routes and in different forms. Studies concerned with the exposure in the general population were done many times in the past. But, the treatment of mercury exposure and mercury intoxication is limited. Therefore, chelators such as birth anti lewistite, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL), dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate (DMPS), and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) were given to patients with acute symptoms resulting from the central nervous system due to confirmed mercury poisoning. In this paper, we reported the effects of oral Vitamin C on mercury excretion. METHODS: This study has been reviewed in the clinical findings of 213 patients aged 30-80 who visited Kosin University Gospel Hospital during 3 months from March to September 2007. We measured hair mercury levels at the initial visit and at 3-4 months after the oral vitamin C (4 g/day) treatment. RESULTS: The number of patients who had initial hair mercury level over 1.5 ppm were 57 patients among 213 patients, and 41 patients rechecked the hair mercury level. Twenty patients who had hair mercury level over 1.5 ppm were treated with oral vitamin C for 3 months and rechecked the hair mercury level and 21 patients without vitamin C treatment. The vitamin treatment group had a hair mercury level that was three times lower than the non-treated group. CONCLUSION: The vitamin C oral treatment significantly decreased the level of hair mercury.

Comparisons of Anthropometric Measurements, Body Fat, Blood Parameters, and Nutrients Intakes in Over- and Desirable-Body Weight School Children

This study was carried out to compare the characteristics of the over weight elementary school students with those of desirable-weight children. Anthropometric parameters such as height, weight, BMI, body fat percentile, triceps skin fold thickness were measured. Dietary assessment and blood analysis were performed. The average ages of over weight children and desirable-weight children were 10.9+/-2.5 and 10.2+/-2.8 years, respectively. The means body fat percentile of over weight children and desirable-weight children were 27.5+/-3.7% and 20.2+/-3.8%. respectively. Plasma levels of TG, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol of over weight children and desirable-weight children were 179.3+/-30.0, 104.9+/-26.6, 52.3+/-6.7 and 178.3+/-84.1 mg/dl, and those of desirable-weight children were 86.1+/-43.5, 183.7+/-16.5, 101.0+/-2.1 and 67.7+/-20.0 mg/dl, respectively. Plasma TG levels of over weight children were significantly higher than those of desirable weight children. On the other hand, plasma HDL-cholesterol levels of over weight children were significantly lower than those of desirable-weight children. Plasma levels of GOT and GPT were in normal range in both group however, GPT level of over weight children was higher than that of desirable weight children. Plasma levels of albumin, globulin, and BUN were all in normal range and no differences were found in both groups. Hematologic data did not show any difference between two groups except WBC, RBC and Hgb levels which were significantly higher in over weight group than those of desirable-weight children. Daily nutrients intake of over weight children and desirable-weight children were very similar and they were around the Korean RDA levels for each nutrients. However the intake of calcium of both groups were little over 50% of RDA. The consumption of dietary fiber was very low and the cholesterol intake was very high showing that the habitual meals of Korean school children were not well balanced.

Facial reconstruction with cheek flap

No abstract available.