Relationship between Dry Eye Syndrome and Frequency of Coffee Consumption in Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V, 2010–2012 / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Dry eye syndrome is a common health problem in the adult population. Many risk factors including age, sex, prior eye surgery, various chronic diseases, and lifestyle factors can affect its development. We have evaluated the risk of dry eye syndrome based on the frequency of coffee consumption among Korean adult population. METHODS: A total of 9,752 adults with age 19 years and older were randomly selected between 2010 and 2012. They have all participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V of Korea. Dry eye syndrome was being diagnosed by the physicians at some points in the participant’s lifetime. The average daily coffee intake was divided into the following: less than 1 cup, 1 to 2 cups, and 3 cups or more. Various physio-environmental factors and medical conditions were used as correction variables to assess the risk of dry eye syndrome in relation to the frequency of coffee consumption. RESULTS: The prevalence of dry eye syndrome decreased to 9.2%, 8.8%, and 6.3% as coffee consumption increased from less than 1 cup to 1–2 cups and more than 3 cups, respectively. However, there was no significant relationship between the frequency of coffee consumption and the risk of dry eye syndrome after adjusting various risk factors. CONCLUSION: There is no relationship between the frequency of coffee consumption and risk of dry eye syndrome.

Relationship between Age at Menarche and Metabolic Syndrome in Premenopausal Women: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014 / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Early menarche may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between age at menarche and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean premenopausal women. METHODS: We used nationally representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2014, and 3,023 premenopausal women aged 20–55 years were our subjects. We defined early menarche as age at first menstrual period less than 12 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between age at menarche and MetS after adjusting for current age, and socioeconomic, lifestyle, and reproductive variables. RESULTS: MetS was much more common in women aged 40–55 years than in women aged 20–39 years (4.1% vs. 15.1%). Compared with women who experienced menarche at age 12–15 years, the risk of MetS in the early menarche group was not higher in either age group, after adjusting for current age, and socioeconomic, lifestyle, and reproductive variables (odds ratio [OR], 1.767; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.718–4.351 in those aged 20–39 years; OR, 1.780; 95% CI, 0.775–4.085 in those aged 40–55 years). The risk of MetS in women with menarche at age ≥16 years was not higher than in women with menarche at age 12–15 years. CONCLUSION: Early or late menarche was not associated with an increased risk of MetS in premenopausal Korean women. Even before menopause, current age has a major influence on the development of MetS.

A Case of Chronic Pyothorax-Associated Lymphoma / 대한내과학회지

Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is a distinct type of malignant lymphoma composed of lymphocytes, mostly of a B-cell nature. It occurs in patients with a long history of pyothorax and is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. We experienced a case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma in a 66-year-old male. The patient had chronic pyothorax after tuberculous pleurisy was treated about 37 years earlier and was hospitalized for a recently occurring chest wall mass. A core needle biopsy of the chest wall mass led to a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is rare in Korea, but should be considered in patients with chronic pyothorax and a recently occurring pleural mass.

A Case of Chronic Pyothorax-Associated Lymphoma / 대한내과학회지

Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is a distinct type of malignant lymphoma composed of lymphocytes, mostly of a B-cell nature. It occurs in patients with a long history of pyothorax and is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. We experienced a case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma in a 66-year-old male. The patient had chronic pyothorax after tuberculous pleurisy was treated about 37 years earlier and was hospitalized for a recently occurring chest wall mass. A core needle biopsy of the chest wall mass led to a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is rare in Korea, but should be considered in patients with chronic pyothorax and a recently occurring pleural mass.

Two Cases of ANCA-associated Pauci-immune Glomerulonephritis with Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

Renal involvement is one of the extra-articular manifestations found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Membranous glomerulonephopathy, membranoproliferative glomeruonophritis, secondary amyloidosis, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis are reported as pathologic diagnoses of renal involvement. However, reports of renal involvement in patients with RA and antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis are rare. Recently, we experienced two patients with RA who developed azotemia and were finally diagnosed with ANCA-associated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis. Because of the rarity of these cases, we report two cases in patients with RA with a literature review.