• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the job-related health problems of school teachers in Seoul area and investigate their disease management behavior. Methods: This study used the on-line survey to investigate frequent health problems and management behavior of teachers. And job-related diseases were identified using date from the National Health Insurance Corporation. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. Results: The frequent health problems of teachers were varicose veins, vocal cord disease and thyroid disease. And Job-related health diseases were varicose veins and vocal cord disease. These problems increased with career. 57.4% and 28.4% teachers in varicose veins and vocal cord disease did not do any management behavior to prevent or cure the disease. 56.8% teachers did not know how to prevent the diseases and 16.3% teachers did not practice even though they know the methods of prevention. Conclusion: Teacher's health examination should include varicose veins and vocal cord disease examination. And schools should try to offer various programs for preventing job-related health problems.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: Radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) is an important treatment modality of Graves' disease (GD), but there is still not a consensus on the optimal dosage regimen. We studied the treatment success rate of different RAI doses, and examined which clinical markers were useful for determining the optimal RAI dosage for successful therapy in Korean patients. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 123 patients with GD treated with RAI between 2004 and 2014 at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital. The responder group was defined as patients who developed hypothyroidism requiring levothyroxine replacement following RAI, regardless of the RAI dosage. Results: A total of 54 patients (43.9%) became hypothyroid after the first dose, and 31 needed two to four additional doses to achieve hypothyroidism. In the responder group as a whole (85 patients), the mean total dose of RAI was $15.5{\pm}7.0mCi$ and the mean thyroid volume (TV) was $35.4{\pm}23.4mL$. When divided into low dose (<15 mCi, n=46) and high dose (${\geq}15mCi$, n=39) responder groups, TV was significantly lower in the low-dose responder group ($25.7{\pm}11.4$ vs. $48.4{\pm}31.3$, p<0.001). The optimal cut-off TV for the low-dose responder group was <32.37 mL (sensitivity 80.9%, specificity 76.7%). Conclusion: TV had significant effects on the outcome of RAI in GD patients. The optimal fixed RAI dose for Korean GD patients with a large goiter (${\geq}33mL$) should be at least 15 mCi to achieve the best outcome.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 1981

In an attempt to evaluate the diagnostic significance of the serum thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) in various thyroid disease states, the authors measured serum $T_3$ uptake, $T_3$, total $T_4\;free\;T_4$, TSH and TBG by radioimmunoassay technique, and calculated the free $T_4$ index$(FT_4I)$ and $T_4/TBG$ ratio in 10 cases of normal subjects, 11 cases of hypothyroidism, 62 cases of euthyroidism and 37 cases of hyperthyroidism. The data were analysed in the aspects of diagnostic significance in each thyroid disease state, and the results were as follows; 1. In 10 cases of normal subjects, serum TBG was $17.4\sim26.8{\mu}g/ml$, $FT_4I$ was $5.1\sim9.7$, and $T_4/TBG$ ratio was $21.9\sim49.9(Mean{\pm}S.D.)$. 2. In 62 cases of euthyroidism with diffuse and nodular goiter, $FT_4I$ was $7.26{\pm}1.82,\;T_4/TBG$ ratio was $31.47{\pm}10.42$, and there were no significant difference from those of normal subjects (p>0.5). 3. In 11 cases of hypothyroidism, the $FT_4I$ was $3.13{\pm}2.15,\;T_4/TBG$ ratio was $11.3{\pm}5.31$, significantly lower than normal controls (p<0.01). 4. In 37 cases of hyperthyroidism, the $FT_4I$ was $30.0{\pm}12.0,\;T_4/TBG$ ratio was $121.4{\pm}62.2$, significantly higher than normal controls (p<0.01). 5. There were significant correlations between the $FT_4I$ and $T_4/TBG$ ratio, total $T_4\;and\;T_4/TBG$ ratio, in each thyroid function states. 6. The $FT_4I$ showed 100% of diagnostic value in hyperthyroidism, 89.2% in euthyroidism, and 80% in hypothyroidism group. The $T_4/TBG$ ratio showed 100% of diagnostic value in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, and 80.6% in euthyroidism group. The above results suggest that $T_4/TBG$ ratio and $FT_4I$ showed same diagnostic value in hyperthyroidism group, but $T_4/TBG$ showed higher diagnostic significance than $FT_4I$ in hypothyroidism.

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.459-465
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• 2018

Background: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) shows a very good prognosis, but older patients have a higher recurrence rate and those show poor prognosis than younger patients. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes of thyroid cancer patients who experienced recurrence in old age according to the treatment strategy used. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Among DTC patients with no evidence of disease after initial treatment, we enrolled 86 patients who experienced recurrence at an age >65 years from 1994 to 2012. Sixty-nine patients had local recurrence and 17 patients showed distant metastasis. Results: The mean age of patients at recurrence was 72 years. Patients were followed up for a median of 4.1 years after recurrence. Sixty-three of the 69 patients with local recurrence received additional treatment, while the other six received conservative care. The cancer-specific mortality rate was 15.5% in the local recurrence group. Airway problems were the main cause of death in patients who did not receive further treatment for local recurrence. Among the 17 patients with distant metastasis, 10 underwent specific treatment for metastasis and seven received only supportive management. Seven of those 17 patients died, and the cancer-specific mortality rate was 35% in the distant metastasis group. Conclusion: The overall cancer-specific mortality rate was 20% in DTC patients in whom recurrence was first detected at an age >65 years. Mortality due to uncontrolled local disease occurred frequently in patients who did not receive definitive management for recurrence.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2008

Thyroid nodules are a common disease in clinical practice. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an accurate and safe method for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. One of the limitations of FNA is the variable rate of unsatisfactory specimens, especially in small sized, deep seated or complex cystic nodules. To overcome this problem, ultrasound-guided FNA (US-FNA) has been widely used. In this study, the clinical usefulness of US-FNA cytology in thyroid nodules was investigated. Female to male ratio was 6.58:1. The incidence of nodules were 157 (43.1%) cases on the right, 130 (35.7%) cases on the left and 9 (2.5%) cases in isthmus. Total 139 cases (38.2%) belong to less than 1cm and 225 cases (61.8%) belong to more than 1cm. As for the echo type in the nodules, solid types were 255(70.1%), cystic type 39 (10.7%) cases, and the percentage of mixed type was 19.2%. The results show that US-FNA reduces the possibility of unsatisfactory cytologic specimens and the rate of false-negative diagnosis, and improves the diagnostic accuracy in investigation thyroid nodules.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2001

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonogram as a preoperative diagnostic tool in thyroid nodular diseases, this study was carried out. Materials and Methods: From January 1998 to December 1999, 51 patients who underwent thyroidectomy were analyzed retrospectively. We compared the finally histopathological results to ultrasonographical findings such as internal consistency, multiplicity of nodules, nodular ehogenicity, nodular capsule or margin, calcification of nodules. Results: There were 47 females and 4 males with 25 benign tumor, 23 malignant tumor and 3 occult carcinoma in histopathological diagnosis. The solid tumors in ultrasonography carried a probability of malignancy as 66.7%(16/24 cases) whereas cystic or mixed tumors as 16.7%(1/6cases) or 23.8%(5/21cases) (p=0.006). The single nodular diseases carried a high probability of malignancy as 50%(13/26cases) whereas multiple diseases as 28.6%(6/21cases). The hypoechogenicity of thyroid nodular disease showed a probability of malignancy as 60%(9/15cases) whereas mixed-echogenicity as 36.4%(4/11cases). The nodules with poorly-defined margin in ultrasonographic findings showed higher probability of malignancy as 63.6% (7/11cases) than the nodules with well -defined margin as 26.5%(9/34 cases) (p=0.025). The nodules with calcification in ultrasonographic findings were represented to high probability of malignancy as 70.6%(12/17cases) compared to those without calcification as 29.4%(10/34cases) (p=0.005). The differency between ultrasonic and histopathological diagnosis was high in solid nodules(33%), 3-4cm sized nodules (28.6%) and mixed echogenecity(27.3%) whereas low in complex nodules with cystic and solid nature(4.8%), 2-3 cm sized nodules(8.3%) and pooly defined margin(9.1%). The accuracies of sonography in differentiating malignacy from benign thyroid nodules were 7.1% of false positivity, 39.1% of false negativity, 60.9% of sensitivity, 92.9% of specificity and 78.4% of accuracy. Conclusion: Sonographic examination was relatively excellent test as a preoperative diagnostic tool in thyroid nodular diseases when detailed checklists were applied such as internal consistency, multiplicity of nodules, nodular ehogenicity, nodular capsule or margin and calcification of nodules.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2003

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 2018

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis has been reported in Graves' disease patients treated with antithyroid drugs (ATDs), especially propylthiouracil. ATD-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis usually involved the kidneys followed by the respiratory organs and skin. The treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis induced by ATDs is to stop ATD therapy immediately, which often leads to an overall good prognosis. We report a case of ANCA-associated vasculitis in the peripheral nerves of the lower extremities in a 66-year-old woman who was treated with methimazole (MMI) for Graves' disease. To our knowledge, this is the third case of peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement of ATD-induced vasculitis and the first case of PNS vasculitis associated with MMI.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.46-52
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• 2022

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are very rare and genetically transmitted diseases and have man y different symptoms related with multisystemic involvement. More rarely, endocrinopathies can be an early and first symptom of IEM, but presents with signs of later complications in adolescent or adulthood. The mechanisms of endocrine dysfunction in IEM are poorly understood. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is common in hemochromatosis, adrenoleukodystrophy, galactosemia, and glycogen storage disease. Many girls with classic galactosemia are at high risk for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), despite an early diagnosis and good control. Mitochondrial diseases are multisystem disorders and are characterized by hypo- and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, thyroid dysfunction and insulin dysregulation. Glycogen storage disorders (GSDs), especially type Ia, Ib, III, V are assocciated with frequent hypoglycemic events. IEM is a growing field and is not yet well recognized despite its consequences for growth, bone metabolism and fertility. For this reason, clinicians should be aware of these diagnoses and potential endocrine dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.324-333
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the latent classes and predictors of chronic diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, arthritis, thyroid disease, depression, atopy, allergy, and diabetes. The subjects of this study were Korean citizens who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2014. Stratified cluster sampling method was used with a sample size of 7,550. Latent hierarchy analysis was applied to this data. Four classes were identified. Class 1 consisted of participants with hypertension and diabetes. Class 2 consisted of participants with atopy and allergies. Class 3 consisted of participants with dyslipidemia, arthritis, thyroid disease, and depression. Class 4 consisted of participants without any chronic diseases. In comparing Class 1 to Class 4, age, physical activity, self-management, obesity, and presence of high cholesterol were found to be significant. In comparing Class 2 to Class 4, gender, age, and education level were significant. When Class 3 was compared to Class 4, gender, age, pain and discomfort, as well as high cholesterol were found to be significant. Diabetes and hypertension should be treated as comorbid conditions, applying integrated treatments involving effective drug treatment, diet, and physical activity programs. Atopy was found to be strongly correlated with allergies. Thyroid disease was found to coexist with dyslipidemia and arthritis, along with having a strong correlation to depression. Age-appropriate preventive measures can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases.