• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.2555-2558
• /
• 2016

Background: Gastric cancer is the second most common gastrointestinal cancer and is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to late presentation and diagnosis at advanced stages. Studies have reported that a variable proportion of gastric cancer is positive for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and patients with HER2 positive (HER2 +ve) lesions can benefit from targeted therapy. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of HER2 +ve gastric cancers in Brunei Darussalam, a developing Southeast Asian nation. Materials and Methods: Patients were identified from the Department of Pathology registry and retrospectively reviewed. HER2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and only those staining 3+were considered positive. Results: Our study included 103 cases (66 males and 37 females) with a mean age of $65.1{\pm}14.8$ years old. There were 14 cases positive for HER2 (10 males and 4 females) giving a prevalence of 13.6%. The HER2 +ve cases were significantly older ($70.6{\pm}19.3$ years old) than the negative cases ($64.2{\pm}13.8$, p=0.041) and had significantly more advanced disease (stages 3 and 4, p=0.026). There were no significant differences in gender distribution, presence of intestinal metaplasia, EBV status, Helicobacter pylori status, tumor location (proximal vs. distal) and degree of tumor differentiation (all p values >0.05). Conclusions: Our study showed that 13.6% of our gastric cancers are positive for HER2, the affected patients being older and having more advanced disease at diagnosis.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2005

In order to investigate the differences in nutrient intakes and eating habits between people living alone and people living together with family or others by age group, dietary survey data of the subjects aged 20 years or older from 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed. Living status of the subjects was defined as 'single' when the subjects' household member was one person. Age, gender, income, education were adjusted during the comparative analysis. The subjects living alone had diets with lower score of nutritional adequacy ratio and lower quality, and drank more alcoholic beverages when compared with the subjects living together. Females were more greatly affected in dietary intakes by living alone situation than males. Of the four age groups, a group with ages from 30 to 39 years showed less nutrient intake patterns in persons living alone than in persons living together, but the rest three groups with ages from 20 to 29, from 50 to 64, and 65 or older did not show any significant differences. Eating habits of the subjects living alone, such as skipping meals, kinds of snacks, dining-out, were worse as a whole than the other. In conclusion, single living particularly of females or of 30 to 39 years of age group had negative influences on dietary intakes and behavior. There may be statistical errors if socioeconomic and demographic factors such as age, gender, income, and education are not controlled in the population study investigating the effect of living alone on dietary intakes. Further studies will be needed to know the age-specific reasons for the worse nutrient intakes of single living persons.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2008

The present study was conducted to examine metabolic risk factors and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of Korean females living in Seoul and to investigate the relationship between the metabolic risk factors and serum TAC. A total of 353 females aged between 20 and 64 participated in the study. Obesity indicators, blood pressure, serum lipid profile and fasting blood glucose were measured as metabolic risk factors. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was employed to determine serum TAC of subjects. Obesity indicators such as body mass index, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio were significantly higher in the participants aged $\geq$ 50 y (older group) than in the participants aged 20-49 y (younger group) (p < 0.001). Blood pressure, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and fasting blood glucose were also significantly higher in the older group than in the younger group (p < 0.001), demonstrating significant positive correlations between age and MS risk factors. The association between FRAP and MS risk factors were also investigated. FRAP values showed significant positive correlations with age (p = 0.001), serum TG (p = 0.002) and TC (p = 0.03). A tendency of positive association between FRAP and waist circumference was observed without any significant difference (p = 0.06). Increased serum FRAP with central obesity and serum lipids may be interpreted as results of activation of antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress induced by metabolic syndrome (MS) constituent factors. However, to verify the function of FRAP as a potential biomarker of susceptibility to MS various contributors to the plasma antioxidant capacity and their biological relevance related to MS should be elucidated further.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.66-69
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study reports on limb amputations in diabetic patients according to gender, age, and region based on the data from the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. Materials and Methods: The number of amputations was compared by region, age, gender, and year, as well as by femoral region, lower leg, foot, and toe in diabetic patients who received limb amputation. This analysis was performed based on the data from the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, between January 2009 and December 2014. Results: The total number of amputations between the study period was 9,155. The number of patients who were treated at hospitals for diabetes in 2009 was 1.9 million, among which, 1,214 patients underwent amputation. In 2014, the incidence of diabetes was 1,747 in 2.58 million individuals. With this rising incidence of diabetes, the amputation of limbs due to diabetes is increasing every year. In particular, the following regions were amputated more often: femoral region, 2.3%; lower legs, 19.6%; feet, 18.1%; and toes 60.0%. Regarding gender differences, males showed a higher amputation rate than females for all body parts. With respect to region, Seoul was the highest with 30.2%, followed by Gyeonggi with 19.9%, and Busan with 8.8%. According to age, older age showed greater diabetic amputation rate. Conclusion: In accordance with the rising incidence of diabetes, the diabetic amputation is also increasing. Here, we showed that toes were amputated with the highest percentage and males had greater amputation rate than females for all body parts. Moreover, amputation rate was highest in older diabetic patients, especially for those in their seventies. Additionally, Seoul was the region with highest amputation rate.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.151-155
• /
• 2006

Purpose : Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in Korea. Atherosclerotic disease in the carotid artery bifurcation is the most common cause of stroke. The carotid artery calcification is easily appreciated by CT (Computed tomography). CT is often taken in a dental hospital for the diagnosis of inflammation, injury, cyst or tumor on maxillofacial region. However, there was no report of carotid artery calcification on CT in dental patients. This study was to determine the prevalence of carotid artery calcification on CT in dental patients. Materials and Methods : The presence of carotid artery calcification was evaluated by an experienced radiologist on CT scans of 287 patients (166 males, 121 females, average age 42, range 6 to 86 years) and the medical history of the patient and the interpretation of CT were reviewed. Results : Carotid artery calcification was detected on CT scans of 57 patients (19.8%; 35 males, 22 females). All the male patients with carotid artery calcification were older than 50, and all the female patients with carotid artery calcification were older than 60. Among the 57 patients, 10 had Diabetes mellitus, 20 had cardiovascular disease, 3 had history of stroke and 3 underwent radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Carotid artery calcification was not included in the interpretation of CT of dental patients except one patient. Conclusion : The prevalence of carotid artery calcification on CT of dental patients was about 20% in this study. Carotid artery calcification should be included in the interpretation of CT of dental patients.

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.1 s.61
• /
• pp.98-103
• /
• 2006

This paper analyzed deaths caused by fires using the Annual Report on the Cause of Death Statistics (based on vital registration) published by the Korea National Statistical Office. The number of fire deaths and the fire death rates of all deaths have started to decrease since the height in 1993. The younger groups have increasingly more fire deaths than the older groups. While children groups(age 10 and under) have decreased in their deaths caused by fires, the older groups (65 and over) tend to increase. Males are more likely to have a risk than females in all age groups. Fire death rates per 100,000 populations by age group suggest very high rates in the older groups. Although there are few changes in death rates caused by fires of all deaths, young children (age 4 and under) and older adults (age 75 and over) have a higher risk than any other age groups.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.1213-1225
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine psychosocial variables of exercise behaviors for old adults. A major research problem identified through theory of planned behavior and it's empirical data: Do cognitive-social variables(health risk perception, self-efficacy, group conformity, exercise attitude) significantly mediate exercise behaviors(intention, action, maintenance)? A total of 453 older adults above 65 years(171 males and 282 females) who were enrolled in various classes were randomly selected at adults centers in Seoul. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires including the psycho-social variables(health risk perception, self-efficacy, group conformity, exercise attitude) and exercise behaviors(intention, action, maintenance). The results of statistical procedures(e.g., hierarchical multiple regression) indicated self-efficacy and exercise attitude significantly predicted exercise intentions of older adults. Exercise intention was a significant predictor of action, and action was a significant predictor of exercise maintenance. In discussion, various psycho-social mechanisms were provided to interpret the results of this study, and future directions were suggested.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.145-153
• /
• 2011

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common diseases of young people that requires emergency operation. This is especially true for those age 10 years old and older. However, the numbers of cases of appendicitis are increasing in both the young and the elderly. The main purpose of this study is to understand the clinical features of acute appendicitis in children and elderly patients. We retrospectively compared clinical characteristics in 4 groups of patients who underwent appendectomy in our hospital. There were 16 patients in the pre-school age group, 9 were males and 7 females. The total number of patients in the juvenile group were 287, 156 were males and 131 females. The total numbers of patients in the adult group were 794, 436 were males and 358 females. The numbers of elderly patients were 189, 91 were males and 98 females. Complicated appendicitis was found in 15 patients (93.7 %) in the pre-school age group, 79 patients (27.5 %) in the juvenile group, 332 patients (41.8 %) in the adult group, and 96 patients (50.7 %) in the elderly group. Four patients (40 %) had generalized panperitonitis in the pre-school group. The occurrence of perforated appendicitis was the highest in the pre-school age group and the lowest in the juvenile group. Since generalized panperitonitis has a higher incidence in the pre-school age group, prudent and careful diagnosis and treatment are required for the pre-school age group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.55-69
• /
• 2004

Purpose ： To describe epidemiological characteristics and related factors in school personnel with hypertension. Method ： 5,384 school personnel (2,638 males and 2,746 females) received physical examination at the Seoul School Health Center in 2002. blood pressure(BP) was classified by JNC 7th report. Normal BP is systolic BP <120 and diastolic BP<80, prehypertension BP is 120-139 or 80-89mmHg, stage 1 hypertension BP is 140-159 or 90-99, and stage 2 hypertension >=160 or >=100 mmHg. each group was evaluated by gender. We used multiple regression and logistic regression. Results ： Normotension was 20.13% in males and 48.65% in female, prehypertension 43.4% in males and 38.06% in females, stage 1 hypertension 26.38% in males and 10.99% in females, stage2 hypertension 9.59% in males and 3.2% in females. the older age group had higher distribution of stage 1 hypertension and stage 2 hypertension. The means and abnormal rates of BMI, blood sugar, total cholesterol, GOT, GPT, and GTP was higher when their blood pressure was higher. However, an alcohol habit among lifestyle factors had an inverse effect. Higher Bp was correlated to a higher BMI, FBS, and cholesterol-like dose response. In stage 1 hypertension, the related factors of hypertension for males were BMI, amount of cigarettes smoked, exercise, blood sugar, total cholesterol, and GTP. In stage 1 hypertension, age, BMI, exercise, blood sugar, total cholesterol were related factors in female. In stage 2 hypertension, age and smoking were related factors in male, and age, BMI, and cholesterol in female. Conclusions ： It is possible to intervene in all related factors of hypertension except age through life-style modification and appropriate medical management. Active health promotion is needed in School personnel.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.530-538
• /
• 2007

Magnetocardiography (MCG) is a device to measure the magnetic field from the heart. It is a noninvasive device and takes only few minutes to record magnetocardiogram from a subject. In this study, we compared the difference of MCG data recorded from 56 normal subjects in early twenties (28 males and 28 females, mean $age=21.0{\pm}1.6$ years) and 36 elderly subjects (20 males and 16 females, mean $age=61.9{\pm}6.9$ years) for the analysis of the age and gender difference. A total of 24 parameters used in the analysis were derived from QRS complex, R-wave, T-wave, and ST-T period. As a result, seven parameters including maximum current angle and map angle showed the significant difference (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) between young males and young females. Significant difference (p<0.05) between elderly males and elderly females was found from a parameter, pole distance at T-wave peak. In the comparison of age difference, seven parameters regarding current moment, pole distance, and dynamics showed the significant difference between young and elderly males. Eight parameters also showed significant difference (p<0.05) between two younger and elderly female groups. Results showed that parameters regarding current moment, pole distance, and dynamics might be changed when people get older. In conclusion, gender and age difference should be considered when MCG data are analyzed for certain parameters.