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Korean Women (korean + woman)
Selected AbstractsSelf-Efficacy and Planning Predict Dietary Behaviors in Costa Rican and South Korean Women: Two Moderated Mediation AnalysesAPPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, Issue 1 2009Benicio Gutiérrez-Doña Dietary planning is supposed to mediate between intentions and dietary behaviors. However, if a person lacks self-efficacy, this mediation might fail. A cross-sectional study in Costa Rica and a longitudinal study in South Korea were designed to examine the moderating role of self-efficacy in the intention,planning,behavior relationship. Intentions, planning, self-efficacy, dietary behaviors, and baseline diet were assessed. Study 1 included 245 women; Study 2 included 358 women. Moderated mediation models were specified in which planning served as a mediator between intentions and behavior. Self-efficacy was specified as a moderator of the intention,planning,behavior relationship. Intentions were translated into dietary behavior by planning. However, levels of self-efficacy moderated this mediation process: The strength of the mediated effect increased along with levels of self-efficacy, even when accounting for baseline dietary behaviors. For planning to mediate the intention,behavior relation, people must harbor sufficient levels of self-efficacy. If they lack self-efficacy, either intentions are not well translated into planning, or planning is not well translated into behavior. Further research needs to clarify under which circumstances the moderator effect of self-efficacy operates in the first phase or the second phase of the mediation process. [source] Treatment of acquired syndactyly by gauze-fixed epidermal graft after radiosurgeryINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2003Seong Eon Kim MD Background, Acquired syndactyly is a rare disease that occurs mostly after disease, trauma, or other inflammatory conditions. It is usually treated by surgical incision with a flap or full-thickness skin graft, which is very invasive and requires hospitalization. Objective, The objective was to treat acquired syndactyly with an epidermal graft by suction blister after radiosurgery, because this procedure is much less invasive and can be performed in an outpatient base. Methods, A 65-year-old Korean woman had acquired syndactyly after various traditional treatments for tinea pedis. Five days after separation of syndactyly with radiosurgery, we prepared an epidermal sheet by suction blister, placed it on sterile meshed gauze, and applied it to the separated lesion. Results, The patient's lesion was completely healed after 7 days. Conclusion, Gauze-fixed epidermal graft after radiosurgery is a very effective and simple treatment for shallow acquired syndactyly. [source] A case of necrobiotic xanthogranuloma without paraproteinemia presenting as a solitary tumor on the thighINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Sung Eun Chang MD A 82-year-old Korean woman had had a 6-month history of an asymptomatic, flat, hard, red to brown tumor on her right thigh. This lesion had been slowly enlarging with an advancing margin. She had noted gradually developing pain associated with necrosis and ulceration on the lesion. Examination revealed a solitary, 8 × 7.5 cm, yellow to dark red, telangiectatic tumor with multiple areas of punched out ulceration and a peripheral elevated yellowish margin on the right inner upper thigh (Fig. 1). No clinically similar lesions on the periorbital area or other sites were seen. Histologic examination revealed a massive palisading granulomatous infiltration with several layers of extensive bands of necrobiotic zone in the entire dermis and deep subcutaneous tissue (Fig. 2a). In the granulomatous infiltrate in the dermis and subcutis, many various-shaped, some bizarre, angulated, foreign-body type multinucleated giant cells, many Touton giant cells, and a few Langhans giant cells were found to be scattered (Fig. 2b). There were numerous xanthomatized histiocytes. Dense infiltration of lymphoplasma cells was seen in the periphery of the granuloma and perivascularly. Conspicuous granulomatous panniculitis composed of lymphoplasma cells, polymorphonuclear cells, foam cells, and Touton and foreign-body giant cells was also seen. However, cholesterol clefts and lymphoid follicles were not seen. Subcutaneous septae were widened by necrobiotic change and fibrosis with thrombosed large vessels. Gram, Gomeri-methenamine silver and acid-fast stains were negative. The necrobiotic areas were positive to alcian blue. Laboratory investigation revealed elevated white blood cell counts, anemia and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The following parameters were within the normal range: lipids, glucose, renal and liver function tests, serum complements, serum immunoglobulins, cryoglobulins and antinuclear antibodies. The findings of chest X-ray, skull X-ray and ectorcardiography were normal. Serum electrophoresis and serum immunoelectrophoresis revealed no abnormality. The patient was diagnosed as having necrobiotic xanthogranuloma without paraproteinemia. She was treated with oral steroid (0.5,0.6 mg/kg) and NSAIDS for 1 month with partial improvement of pain and the lesion ceased to enlarge. In the following 1 year of follow-up, with only intermittent NSAIDS, her lesion did not progress and there were no signs of systemic involvement or new skin lesions. Figure Figure 1 . (a) A solitary, red to brown plaque with multiple ulcerations and a peripheral elevated yellowish margin on the inner upper thigh Figure 2. (a) A dermal and subcutaneous massive xanthogranulomatous infiltrate with zonal necrobiosis of collagen (× 20). (b) Prominent infiltrate of xanthomatized histiocytes and giant cells with perivascular lymphoplasma cells (H&E, × 100) [source] Metastatic cutaneous leiomyosarcoma from primary neoplasm of the mesenteryINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2001Kyoung Jin Kim MD A 31-year-old South Korean woman was referred to the dermatology department from the oncology department for the evaluation of a subcutaneous nodular lesion on the back. Three years before, she noted a palpable, fingertip-sized, nontender mass on her right lower abdomen. The mass had increased in size slowly. One year ago, she visited a local clinic and physical examination revealed a 7 × 8 × 7 cm, slightly tender, deep-seated mass on the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. The mass on the ilial mesentery was resected by surgical exploration and tissue examination revealed leiomyosarcoma. She refused adjuvant chemotherapy. Approximately 3 months later, she re-visited the clinic with a tender, subcutaneous nodule on the back. Cutaneous examination revealed a solitary, 2 × 2 cm, well-defined, hard, movable, subcutaneous nodule on the upper back without skin color change (Fig. 1). She complained of tenderness on touching the lesion. Histologic examination of a biopsy specimen showed irregularly arranged spindle cells scattered throughout the dermis. They were arranged in haphazardly oriented or interweaving fascicles. Most of the spindle cells possessed elongated nuclei with blunt ends and some cells had a polygonal outline with irregularly shaped nuclei (Fig. 2). There were many mitoses: 3,4 per high-power (× 400) field. Immunohistochemically, smooth muscle actin and desmin were positive in most of the tumor cells (Fig. 3). S-100 reactivity was not observed. A diagnosis of metastatic leiomyosarcoma was made. About 1 month later, computed tomography showed two, ill-defined, heterogeneous, low attenuation masses in the right lobe of the liver, suggesting liver metastasis. The patient was treated with chemotherapy for 2 months and remains in good condition. Figure 1. 2 × 2 cm, solitary, well-defined, hard, movable, subcutaneous nodule without any overlying skin change Figure 2. (a) Characteristic findings of cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with markedly high cellularity and densely packed transverse and longitudinal fascicles of cells (hematoxylin and eosin, × 40). (b) High magnification of the neoplasm revealing spindle cells with blunt-ended nuclei, pleomorphism, and mitotic figures (hematoxylin and eosin, × 200) Figure 3. Dense cytoplasmic reactivity for smooth muscle actin is apparent (smooth muscle actin, × 200) [source] Two cases of reactive perforating collagenosis arising at the site of healed herpes zosterINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Hye Nam Lee MD Case 1 A 67-year-old South Korean woman presented with a painful eruption on the left trunk. Several groups of vesicles with an erythematous and edematous base were situated unilaterally within the distribution of the left T9 dermatome; they had been present for 7 days. A diagnosis of herpes zoster was made, and treatment with acyclovir, analgesics, tranquilizers, and wet dressings produced a moderate response. Two weeks after onset, the lesions appeared to have healed with a scar. Four months later, however, the patient noticed another eruption of papules in the postherpetic area (Fig. 1A,B). Figure 1. Case 1. (A) Multiple erythematous papules on the left trunk along the T9 dermatome. (B) Multiple erythematous papules with a keratotic central plug The biopsy specimen showed a cup-shaped epidermal invagination filled with a keratotic plug containing basophilic debris and collagen, with perforation of the epidermis. Masson's trichrome stain identified refractile fibers within the epidermis as hyalinized and degenerating collagen. Van Gieson staining for elastic fibers was negative in the epidermis and in the crater. These findings are consistent with reactive perforating collagenosis (RPC). Case 2 A 66-year-old South Korean woman developed herpes zoster of the left neck and shoulder, which resolved after an uncomplicated course. Two months later, a zosteriform, pink, papular eruption developed at the site of the resolved herpes zoster. Examination revealed multiple, erythematous papules with a central umbilication containing a firmly adherent keratotic plug on the left shoulder and neck (Fig. 2A). Figure 2. Case 2. (A) Multiple erythematous papules on the left neck and shoulder along the C4 dermatome. (B) Cup-shaped epidermal invagination filled with keratotic plug containing basophilic debris and degenerated collagen, with perforation of the epidermis (hematoxylin and eosin stain, ×,100) The biopsy specimen showed a dome-shaped lesion with a central crater that extended from the epidermis to the papillary dermis and contained degenerated collagen in vertical strands (Fig. 2B). [source] Erythema induratum with pulmonary tuberculosis: histopathologic features resembling true vasculitisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Yong Suk Lee MD A 22-year-old South Korean woman presented with a 4-month history of several nodules on both legs. She looked healthy, but suffered from tenderness and swelling of the legs. Physical examination showed multiple, nonulcerating, erythematous nodules occurring on the calves, knee joints, and thighs (Fig. 1). A biopsy specimen of the skin revealed necrotizing vasculitis of medium-sized arteries with fibrinoid necrosis at the border between the dermis and the subcutis. Dense cellular infiltrates, including numerous neutrophils and lymphocytes, presented within and around the vessel walls as in polyarteritis nodosa, with some eosinophils (Fig. 2A,B). There were no other generalized symptoms. She was diagnosed with cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa and was initially treated with systemic steroids. She was given an intravenous injection of Solu-Cortef, 60 mg/6 h for 7 days. This was replaced with oral prednisolone for 2 weeks. The skin lesions and symptoms improved. Figure 1. Small, nut-sized, erythematous, brown-colored nodules and patches on the lower extremities, even above the knee joints Figure 2. (A) Dense infiltration within and around artery (× 40). (B) Slightly expanded lobular panniculitis with vasculitis (× 100) Six months later, she complained of general weakness and recurrent skin lesions. Purified protein derivative (PPD) test gave a moderate positive reaction and chest X-ray examination showed the features of pulmonary tuberculosis: radio-opaque infiltrations in the right lower lung field. A repeated biopsy revealed mild vasculitis with more diffuse lobular infiltrations of the subcutaneous tissue compared with the former specimen. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and tissue culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were performed from a biopsy specimen. DNA was extracted from skin tissue with an AplisystemTM DNA/RNA detection kit using the resin-mediated boiling method (Stargene, Seoul, South Korea). The primers were designed on the basis of the M. tuberculosis gene IS6110 target (sense primer, 5,-CCA GAT GCA CCG TCG AAC GGC TGA T-3, antisense primer, 5,-CGC TCG CTG AAC CGG ATC GAT GTG T-3,). The amplification was performed with uracil- N -glycosylase (UNG), to prevent carry-over contamination, and internal control primers, to correct for false-negative reaction (Kox LF, Rhienthong D, Miranda AM et al. A more reliable PCR for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples. J Clin Microbiol 1994; 32: 672,678; Longo MC, Berninger MS, Hartley JL. Use of uracil DNA glycosylase to control carry-over contamination in polymerase chain reactions. Gene 1990; 93: 125,128). According to the manufacturer's instructions, amplification was carried out for 40 cycles with denaturation at 94 °C for 40 s, annealing at 70 °C for 1 min, and extension at 72 °C for 1 min in a thermal cycler (Perkin,Elmer Cetus, Norwalk, CT, USA). The results of PCR and tissue culture for M. tuberculosis using the biopsy specimen were all negative (Fig. 3). Figure 3. Negative result in PCR for M. tuberculosis (negative control is not shown; M, marker; P, positive control; I, internal control; S, specimen) The patient was finally diagnosed with erythema induratum with pulmonary tuberculosis and was started on antituberculosis medication (isoniazid 400 mg, rifampicin 600 mg, ethambutol 800 mg, and pyrazinamide 1500 mg daily). She showed prompt improvement after 2 weeks of medication. After 9 months of antituberculosis therapy, her skin lesions and chest X-ray had cleared. She was followed up for 4 months with no recurrence of skin and pulmonary lesions. [source] Basal cell carcinoma of the nail bed in a Korean womanINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2000Hyoung-Joo Kim MD [source] Paraquat-induced Fanconi syndromeNEPHROLOGY, Issue 5 2005HYO W GIL SUMMARY: The ingestion of paraquat, a non-selective herbicide, can be fatal in humans. Paraquat is toxic to multiple organs, including the kidney, heart, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. Although paraquat has been established as one cause of acute tubular necrosis, Fanconi syndrome presenting as severe hypophosphataemia after paraquat intoxication has not been reported. Here, we report the case of a 44-year-old Korean woman who presented with generalized proximal tubular dysfunction including aminoaciduria, phosphaturia and glycosuria after paraquat intoxication. We found that severe hypophosphataemia induces deep drowsiness. Renal biopsy findings indicated the presence of acute tubular necrosis that may be reversible. [source] Ciliated foregut cyst of the gallbladder: A case report and review of the literaturePATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2000Eun Sook Nam A case is presented of a ciliated cyst of the gallbladder in a 36-year-old Korean woman which was incidentally found on ultrasonographic study. A cystic mass measuring 1.5 × 1 × 1 cm was found in the fundus of the gallbladder. The cyst was unilocular and intramural without communication to the lumen. Microscopically, the cyst wall was lined by a single layer of pseudostratified, ciliated, columnar epithelium and goblet cells with underlying smooth muscle layers. This was considered to be the cyst arising from the embryonic foregut and showing differentiation toward respiratory structures. The term ,ciliated foregut cyst of the gallbladder' is suggested here. [source] A case of porphyria cutanea tarda in association with idiopathic myelofibrosis and CREST syndromeBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2001S.C. Lee We report a 56-year-old Korean woman with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), showing multiple scarring bullae and hypertrichosis on sun-exposed areas of skin with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Sclerodermoid changes were also found on both hands, the face and neck. The patient had suffered from CREST syndrome, manifesting with Raynaud's phenomenon and sclerodactyly, for more than 15 years. Anticentromere antibody was positive. She had presented with splenomegaly 3 years before the development of PCT, and was diagnosed as having idiopathic myelofibrosis, based on bone marrow biopsy. In summary, she had had CREST syndrome for 15 years and later developed idiopathic myelofibrosis and PCT. This is the first reported case of PCT in association with idiopathic myelofibrosis and CREST syndrome. [source] Cutaneous abscess by Trichosporon asahii developing on a steroid injection site in a healthy adultCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2006S. J. Yun Summary We report a rare case of cutaneous abscess by Trichosporon asahii in an immunocompetent adult. A 31-year-old Korean woman presented to our hospital with a cutaneous abscess. She had received an intralesional steroid injection 4 months earlier on the site of a hypertrophic scar. Direct sequencing of the intergenic spacer regions of the rRNA genes identified T. asahii. The decreased local immunity after the steroid injection might have triggered the infection by T. asahii. A cutaneous abscess formation by T. asahii in an immunocompetent patient is an unusual cutaneous finding that to our knowledge has not been reported previously. The local immune reaction of the skin is important for the prevention of Trichosporon infection. [source] Photoepilation Results of Axillary Hair in Dark-Skinned Patients by IPL: A Comparison Between Different Wavelength and Pulse WidthDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2006JONG HEE LEE MD BACKGROUND Recently, intense pulsed light (IPL) sources have been shown to provide long-term hair removal. OBJECTIVE This study examined the photoepilatory effects of different wavelengths and pulse width application in the same device and compared their efficiencies in Asian skin. METHODS Twenty-eight Korean women were treated using HR (600,950 nm filter) and 27 using HR-D (645,950 nm filter) in the axillar area. Four treatments were carried out at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks; follow-ups were conducted 8 months after the last treatment. Mean energy settings were 14.9±2.0 J/cm2 for HR and 17.1±0.6 J/cm2 for HR-D. Longer pulse widths were applied in case of HR-D treatment. Hair counts and photographic evaluation of skin sites were made at baseline and at the last follow-up. Final overall evaluations were performed by patients and clinicians. RESULTS Average clearances of 52.8% and 83.4% were achieved by HR and HR-D, respectively. No significant adverse effects were reported after HR-D treatment. One case each of hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation was reported for HR. CONCLUSION An IPL source by removing 45 nm of the emitted spectra and applying longer pulse width was found to provide a safer and more effective means of photoepilation in Asian patients. [source] Areolar Cosmetic Tattoo Ink Darkening: A Complication of Q-Switched Alexandrite Laser TreatmentDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 1 2002Sung-Eun Chang MD background and objective. Medical tattooing of the areola is widely performed in Korea. However, cosmetic tattoos containing flesh-tone, purple-red, and yellow dyes are sometimes resistant to Q-switched laser and may even become darker. method. Two Korean women in their 30s who had a mastectomy got light brown to red areolar medical tattoos but they were not satisfied with the shape and size of the tattoos. They underwent Q-switched alexandrite laser treatment with a 3 mm collimated beam at fluences of 7.5,8 J/cm2 in order to trim the irregular contour and reduce the diameter of the tattoos. results. Within 5 minutes a dark gray to black discoloration of the treated area was evident and remained dark for 6 weeks. Improvement was not noted after two further Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatments. conclusion. Medical areolar tattoos should be approached with extra caution when attempting their removal with high-energy pulsed lasers such as Q-switched alexandrite laser and a small test site should be performed prior to treatment. [source] A case,control study on the dietary intake of mushrooms and breast cancer risk among Korean womenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2008Seo Ah Hong Abstract To evaluate the association between dietary mushroom intake and breast cancer risk, a total of 362 women between the ages of 30 and 65 years who were histologically confirmed to have breast cancer were matched to controls by age (±2 years) and menopausal status. Mushroom intake was measured via a food frequency questionnaire that was administered by well-trained interviewers. The associations between the daily intake and the average consumption frequency of mushrooms with breast cancer risk were evaluated using matched data analysis. Both the daily intake (5th vs. 1st quintile, OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.30,0.78, p for trend 0.030) and the average consumption frequency of mushrooms (4th vs. 1st quartile, OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.35,0.82, p for trend 0.008) were inversely associated with breast cancer risk after adjustment for education, family history of breast cancer, regular exercise [,22.5 MET (metabolic equivalent)-hr/week], BMI (body mass index, Kg/m2), number of children and whether they are currently smoking, drinking or using multivitamin supplements. Further adjustments were made for energy-adjusted carbohydrate, soy protein, folate and vitamin E levels, which tended to attenuate these results. After a stratification was performed according to menopausal status, a strong inverse association was found in postmenopausal women (OR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.04,0.54, p for trend = 0.0058 for daily intake; OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05,0.54, p for trend = 0.0037 for average frequency), but not in premenopausal women. In conclusion, the consumption of dietary mushrooms may decrease breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Characteristics of skin aging in Korean men and womenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005J. H. Chung Introduction Korea is located between Japan and Mainland China. The people of these three countries have similar appearances and it is difficult to differentiate between them. Although the population of Asia is more than half of the total population of the Earth, the inherent characteristics of Asian skin have not been well investigated. Commercial markets for cosmetics and drugs for photoaged skin are rapidly expanding in many Asian countries. Therefore, many investigators in the field of dermatology and cosmetology have become interested in brown Asian skin. Clinical characteristics of skin aging and photoaging in Asians Skin aging can be divided into two basic processes: intrinsic aging and photoaging [1]. Intrinsic aging is characterized by smooth, dry, pale, and finely wrinkled skin, whereas photoaging, which indicates premature skin aging in chronically photodamaged skin, is characterized by severe wrinkling and irregular pigmentation. The pattern of wrinkling in Asians seems to differ from that in Caucasians. Asians have coarser, thicker and deep wrinkles, particularly in the forehead, perioral and Crow's foot areas. In contrast, Caucasians usually have relatively fine cheek and Crow's foot wrinkles. The reasons for these differences are not known and need further investigation. There are racial, ethnic and genetic differences, and differences of skin structure and function, between the brown skin of Asians and the white skin of Caucasians. As Asian skin is more pigmented, acute and chronic cutaneous responses to UV irradiation differ from those in white skin. Many people believe, based on clinical impressions, that the main process of photoaging in Asians involves pigmentary changes, rather than wrinkling. However, no study has been performed to confirm this belief. Risk factors for skin wrinkles and their relative risks in Korean skin [2] Various factors such as age, sun-exposure, and smoking are known to be important risk factors for wrinkles. However, the relative risks of each factor on wrinkles in the brown skin of Asians have not been investigated, and they could differ from those in Caucasians. An evaluation system for skin wrinkling is necessary for Asian skin [3]. Thus, we developed an eight-point photographic scale for assessing wrinkles in both Korean genders [2]. This scale can probably be applied to the populations of other Asian countries, at least to the Japanese and Chinese. The pattern of wrinkles in both genders appears to be similar. Age Age is an important risk factor for wrinkling in Asians, as in Caucasians. Korean subjects in their 60s showed a 12-fold increased risk of wrinkling, while subjects in their 70s have a 56-fold increased risk compared with young age group. UV light It is well known that the UV component in sunlight can cause and accelerate photoaging. The pigmented skin of Asian may better protect skin from acute and chronic UV damage. However, we found a strong association between sun-exposure and the development of wrinkling in Koreans. It was found that sun exposure of more than 5 h per day was associated with a 4.8-fold increased risk in wrinkling versus less than 2 h of sun-exposure in Koreans. Estrogen deficiency Korean females have more wrinkles than men, after controlling for age, sun exposure, and smoking, it was found that they have a 3.6-fold increased risk of developing wrinkles than their male counterparts [2]. It has also been reported, that the relative risk for wrinkling in women is higher than in men as for in white Caucasians [4]. The reason why women show more wrinkles remains to be determined. It is possible that a reduction in skin collagen because of estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal woman may aggravate wrinkling severity. Korean women with more than 10 years since menopause showed a 3.9-fold higher risk of wrinkling than the women 5 years of beyond menopause [5]. We demonstrated that women with a history of HRT have a significantly lower risk, more specifically, one fifth of the risk of facial wrinkling relative to those who had no history of HRT. Interestingly, we found that wrinkle severity significantly increased with an increasing number of full term pregnancies. The relative risk for severe wrinkling is increased by approximately 1.8-fold per full term pregnancy. Smoking It is known that smoking causes skin wrinkling in Caucasians, and that it plays no role in Blacks [6, 7]. Koreans with have a smoking history of more than 30 pack years showed a more than 2.8-fold increased risk of wrinkles [2]. The relative risks of wrinkles associated with a 30,50 pack-years history of smoking were 2.8- and 5.5-fold, respectively. Dyspigmentation in Asian skin To follow pigmentary changes, six photographic standards for both genders were developed for Korean skin, to produce a 6-point scale [2, 8]. Hyperpigmented spots, mostly lentigines, were prominent among women, while seborrheic keratosis tended to be more prominent in men. Seborrheic keratosis in Korean men Seborrheic keratoses (SKs) are benign cutaneous tumors. They have diverse clinical and histopathological appearances and are very common in the elderly (over 50 years old). The etiology of SKs is not well understood, although patients with a great number of lesionsshow a familial trait with an autosomal dominant pattern, and human papilloma virus has been suggested as possible cause because of verrucous appearance of the lesions. Exposure to sunlight has been suggested to be a risk factor for SKs. However, there is still some debate in terms of the role of sunlight. Recently, we have investigated the clinical characteristics of SKs and relationship between SKs and sunlight exposure in Korean males [9]. The prevalence of SKs in Koreans increases with age; it rose from 78.9% at 40 years, to 93.9% at 50 years and 98.7% in those over 60 years. Exposed areas, i.e. the face, neck and dorsum of the hands, demonstrate a significant increase in the prevalence of SKs by decade, whereas partly exposed areas, although SKs tended to increase in prevalence with age, this trend was not significant. When the estimated body surface area (BSA) is taken into account, the number of SKs on both the face and dorsum of the hands (0.51 ± 0.08 per 1% BSA) was over-represented compared with the trunk. SKs were also concentrated on the neck (0.38 ± 0.07 per 1% BSA) and in the V-area (0.47 ± 0.09 per 1% BSA). Outer forearms also showed 3-fold more SKs per unit area than neighboring arms and inner forearms, which are classified as partly exposed area (0.09 ± 0.02, 0.03 ± 0.01, respectively). The total area covered by SKs on exposed area also became significantly larger with aging than on intermittently exposed areas. These results indicate that exposure to sunlight might be related to SK growth. Our results indicated that excessive sun exposure is an independent risk factor of SKs. After controlling for age, smoking, and skin type, subjects with a sun exposure history of more than 6 hours per day showed a 2.28-fold increased risk of having severe SKs (n , 6) compared with those exposed for less that 3 h per day. These findings indicated that sun-exposure may play an important role in SK development. In summary, SKs are very common in Korean males and represent one of the major pigmentary problems. SKs concentrate on exposed skin, especially on the face and dorsum of the hands. Both age and lifetime cumulative sunlight exposure are important contributing factors and may work in a synergistic manner. Conclusion Many people tend to believe that wrinkles are not a prominent feature of Asian photoaged skin, and that dyspigmentation is a major manifestation in Asian skin. Contrary to this impression, wrinkling is also a major problem in the photoaged skin of Asians, and Korean people showing severe pigmentary changes usually tend to have severe wrinkles. In conclusion, the wrinkling patterns and pigmentary changes of photoaged skin in East Asians differ from those of Caucasians, and the relative risks of aggravating factors may be different from those of Caucasian skin. References 1.,Gilchrest, B.A. Skin aging and photoaging: an overview. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 21, 610,613 (1989). 2.,Chung, J.H. et al. Cutaneous photodamage in Koreans: influence of sex, sun exposure, smoking, and skin color. Arch. Dermatol. 137, 1043,1051 (2001). 3.,Griffiths, C.E. et al. A photonumeric scale for the assessment of cutaneous photodamage. Arch. Dermatol. 128, 347,351 (1992). 4.,Ernster, V.L. et al. Facial wrinkling in men and women, by smoking status. Am. J. Public Health. 85, 78,82 (1995). 5.,Youn, C.S. et al. Effect of pregnancy and menopause on facial wrinkling in women. Acta Derm. Venereol. 83, 419,424 (2003). 6.,Kadunce, D.P. et al. Cigarette smoking: risk factor for premature facial wrinkling. Ann. Intern. Med. 114, 840,844 (1991). 7.,Allen, H.B., Johnson, B.L. and Diamond, S.M. Smoker's wrinkles? JAMA. 225, 1067,1069 (1973). 8.,Chung, J.H. Photoaging in Asians. Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 19, 109,121 (2003). 9.,Kwon, O.S. et al. Seborrheic keratosis in the Korean males: causative role of sunlight. Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 19, 73,80 (2003). [source] Help-seeking among Korean American women with urinary incontinenceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2009Youngmi Kang ABSTRACT Background: Despite the availability of effective treatments, many women manage their urinary incontinence (UI) silently rather than seeking professional help. Delays in seeking help in effectively managing UI can lead to a worsening of the incontinence and in overall quality of life. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the help-seeking behaviour (HSB) among Korean American women with UI. The following research question guied this study: is there any difference in HSB for UI according to severity of UI among Korean American woment with UI?. Methods: 149 community-dwelling Korean American women who are age 30 years and older and self-identified as being incontinent were invited to particpate in the study. Data collection was conducted in 12 Korean religious organizations. This study uses a correlation descriptive design by means of interviews. The HSB scale was used to measure the propensity ot help-seeking. Results: This study showed that the propensity of seeking help among Korean American women was lower than that of general population. It indicated that Korean women cope urinary symptoms nonmedical measures rather seeking professional help. The severity of UI is associated with help-seeking among Korean American women with UI. Conclusions: Health care providers need to be aware of low rates of seeking care among Korean women for this problem, and the need for further education in this area. [source] Health-related quality of life and sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladderINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 1 2008Seung-June Oh Background: We evaluated the impact of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and overactive bladder (OAB) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and sexual function. Methods: A total of 245 women (SUI; n = 123 and OAB; n = 122) from 21 to 79 years old (mean 50.4) were included in the primary analyses. To obtain HRQOL and sexual function assessments, patients were asked to fill in the ,Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS)' and the ,Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36)' questionnaires. Results: Of the eight domains in the SF-36 questionnaire, only ,general health' was significantly different between the groups. Patients with SUI had a better general health than those with OAB (P = 0.016). When comparing the BFLUTS scores in the two groups, the score for ,BFLUTS-filling symptoms' was higher in the OAB group (P = 0.002) but that for ,BFLUTS-incontinence symptoms' was higher in the SUI group (P < 0.001). The score for ,BFLUTS-sex' was higher in the SUI group than in the OAB group but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.096). Of the 169 patients who had a sex life, the SUI group had experienced pain (P = 0.033) and leakage (P = 0.056) more frequently during intercourse than the OAB group. Conclusion: Both SUI and OAB have a detrimental impact on patient HRQOL in Korean women. In addition, our findings suggest that women with SUI had more frequently experienced pain during intercourse and coital incontinence than those with OAB. [source] Breast cancer risk factors in Korean women: a literature reviewINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 3 2008S.-M. Lee rn Aim:, To compile a complete list of risk factors from the Korean breast cancer studies to obtain relevant predictor information essential in developing a predictive model for breast cancer. Background:, Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed female cancer in Korea. However, the breast cancer-screening rate in Korea is relatively low compared with that in other countries. In order to promote early health screening, there is a need to identify those individuals who are most likely to develop breast cancer by using an accurate predictive model. Methods:, Thirty-four breast cancer studies were selected from MEDLINE and two Korean literature databases. Two researchers summarized the risk factors and their effects in each article using a checklist. Findings:, Most of the studies were case,control studies conducted after 2000. In 34 articles, a total of 84 risk factors for breast cancer in Korean women were identified; of these, 58 factors were determined as statistically significant factors. The factors identified most often were body mass index, menarche, menopause, family history, pregnancy and delivery, breastfeeding, alcohol use, smoking habits, diet, education and use of oral contraceptives. None of 34 studies looked at stress as a risk factor of which influence on cancer has been reported in other populations. Conclusion:, The next steps will be to construct a questionnaire consisting of relevant variables based on these study results and to develop a predictive model. This would be used to encourage those Koreans who are more likely to develop breast cancer to have early check-ups. [source] Predictors of mammography uptake in Korean women aged 40 years and overJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2008Eunjung Ryu Abstract Title.,Predictors of mammography uptake in Korean women aged 40 years and over Aim., This paper is a report of a study performed to identify the predictors of mammography uptake for Korean women according to the stage of change, as determined by the transtheoretical model. Background., Although breast cancer is the most common female cancer in South Korea, its early detection rate here is low when compared with other developed countries. The transtheoretical model can be used to facilitate health promotion based on individual health behaviour and to devise stage-tailored interventions. Method., The participants were a convenience sample of 920 women aged ,40 years between December 2005 and February 2006. A cross-sectional design was used in which participants completed a questionnaire that consisted of measures of the transtheoretical model. To provide a standard of measure, the variables were converted from raw scores to standard scores and then to T scores (mean = 50, sd = 10). Logistic regression analysis was then used to estimate predictors of the stage of maintenance of mammography uptake. Findings., The most frequent stage of mammography uptake was ,contemplation'. Predictors of mammography uptake included decisional balance, commitment to regular screening and avoiding contact with the healthcare system. Commitment to regular screening and breast self-examination were strongly related to mammography maintenance. Conclusion., The results of this study can be used for the development of theory-based and empirically supported mammography uptake intervention strategies and programmes directed towards women aged ,40 years. [source] Vascular endothelial growth factor, fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) and soluble Flt-1 gene expressions in Korean pre-eclamptic placentasJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2010Jong-Sik Park Abstract Aim:, To assess the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1), and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) genes in healthy normotensive and pre-eclamptic placentas of Korean women. Methods:, We investigated 12 healthy normotensive pregnant women and 10 pre-eclamptic pregnant women at Eulji University Hospital. The obtained placental tissues were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results:, The sFlt-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level was elevated 2.6 times more in pre-eclamptic placentas than in normal control placentas. However, the VEGF mRNA level of pre-eclamptic placentas was decreased. There was no difference in the Flt-1 mRNA level between control and pre-eclamptic placentas. Conclusions:, Our study showed that expressions of genes relating to angiogenesis were altered in Korean pre-eclamptic placentas. These results suggest that the alteration in expressions of sFlt-1 and VEGF genes might be associated with the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. [source] Matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter polymorphism and epithelial ovarian cancer: Does ethnicity matter?JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2007Woong Ju Abstract Aim:, To estimate the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 promoter -1607 bp polymorphism and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in Korean women and to clarify the ethnic difference in genotype distribution of this polymorphism. Methods:, Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of MMP-1 promoter -1607 region in 133 EOC patients and 332 cancer-free patients were investigated. Then the associations of this polymorphism with EOC or its clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. In addition, genotype distributions of this polymorphism in Korean women were compared with those of other races by extracting data from the previously published literature. Results:, We found no relationship between MMP-1 promoter -1607 bp polymorphism and epithelial ovarian cancer in a Korean population. Furthermore, we found ethnicity-dependent differences in genotype distributions and allele frequencies by comparison with previous articles on this topic. We report significant ethnic differences in the genotype distributions and allele frequencies of the MMP-1 promoter -1607 bp polymorphism. Conclusion:, Our results indicate that MMP-1-1607 bp polymorphism shows ethnic diversity, and that the hypothesis that this polymorphism is associated with epithelial ovarian cancer is not supported by this study in a Korean population. Moreover, this finding concurs with results obtained in white Americans and Europeans. [source] Her2V655 genotype and breast cancer progression in Korean womenPATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2005Hee Jung An The amplification and overexpression of Her2 proto-oncogene have been found to be associated with the development and progression of human breast cancer. A polymorphic valine allele at codon 655 of the Her2 gene (Her2V655) was suggested by some authors to be a susceptible genetic factor for the development of breast cancer. The Her2 polymorphism at codon 655 was investigated in 304 Korean women including 177 patients with breast cancer. The association between Her2 genotype and Her2 protein overexpression was also examined in breast cancers by immunohistochemistry. Her2V655 was not associated with a significant breast cancer risk (odds ratio (OR), 1.792; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.459,6.991). The frequency of homozygous or heterozygous valine allele increased in stage 2 patients (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 0.67,4.19), and patients in stages 3 and 4 (OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 0.85,13.42) compared to patients in stage 0. However, an association between the presence of the valine allele and the overexpression of Her2 protein could not be demonstrated. These results suggest that Her2 polymorphism at codon 655 is not associated with the development of breast cancer in Korean women. However, there is a possibility that the valine allele at codon 655 might be related to increased risk of breast cancer progression. [source] Distress about mating rivalsPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, Issue 3 2000DAVID M. BUSS This research tested the evolutionary psychological hypothesis that men and women would be most distressed about threats from rivals who surpass them on sex-linked components of mate value. Six predictions were tested in samples from three cultures, the United States (N= 208), the Netherlands (N= 349), and Korea (N= 174). Five predictions were supported in all three cultures. Korean, Dutch, and American men, more than corresponding women, report greater distress when a rival surpasses them on financial prospects, job prospects, and physical strength. Korean, Dutch, and American women, in contrast, report greater distress when a rival surpasses them on facial and bodily attractiveness. The cultures differed on some variables. Korean women and men, for example, differed from Americans and Dutch in reporting more distress over rivals who had better financial prospects, better job prospects, and higher status and prestige. Americans exceeded Koreans in reporting distress when rivals had more attractive faces and bodies, whereas the Dutch exceeded the other cultures in reporting more distress when rivals had a better sense of humor. Discussion focuses on possible proximate psychological mechanisms underlying distress over rivals and the theoretical importance of intrasexual competition. [source] Korean women's attitudes toward physical activityRESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 1 2004Eun-Ok Im Abstract In this study attitudes toward physical activity of three groups of Korean women were explored using a feminist qualitative research design. Seventeen healthy Korean women, 11 Korean women at risk of muscular atrophy, and 16 Korean immigrant women were recruited using a purposive sampling method. In-depth interviews using an interview guide were audiotaped and transcribed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the women viewed physical activity holistically, that death was viewed as the opposite of physical activity, that exercise was differentiated from physical activity, that exercise was connected to health, and that the women rarely participated in exercise because of their busy lives. The findings confirm the importance of considering the psychosocial contexts of attitudes toward health behavior. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 27:4,18, 2004 [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Transforming Growth Factor-Beta1 Gene Polymorphisms in Korean Patients with Pre-eclampsiaAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Shin Young Kim Citation Kim SY, Lim JH, Park SY, Yang JH, Kim MY, Kim MH, Ryu HM. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-,1) gene polymorphisms in Korean patients with pre-eclampsia. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 291,298 Problem, The aim of this study was to investigate whether c.869T>C (Leu10Pro) and c.915G>C (Arg25Pro) polymorphisms in exon1 of the transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-,1) gene are associated with development of pre-eclampsia (PE) in Korean women. Method of study, We analyzed blood samples from 164 patients with PE and 182 healthy pregnant women using the polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Results, The frequencies of the 869CC and combined TC/CC genotypes were higher in patients with PE than in healthy controls. In the PE with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), the frequencies of these genotypes were also higher than that in controls. Furthermore, the 869C allele frequency was significantly higher in both PE and IUGR-complicated PE than in controls. Multivariate analysis showed that the 869TC, CC, and combined TC/CC genotypes were associated with an increased risk of PE compared with the 869TT genotype. In addition, the 869TC, CC, and combined TC/CC genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of IUGR-complicated PE compared with the 869TT genotype. The TGF-,1 c.915G>C polymorphism was not detected in our population. Conclusion, Our findings indicate that the TGF-,1 c.869T>C polymorphism may be a genetic risk factor for PE and IUGR-complicated PE. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: No Association Between the GSTP1 Exon 5 Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Advanced Stage Endometriosis in the Korean PopulationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Myung Jae Jeon CitationJeon MJ, Choi YM, Hong MA, Lee GH, Ku SY, Kim SH, Kim JG, Moon SY. No Association between the GSTP1 exon 5 polymorphism and susceptibility to advanced stage endometriosis in the Korean population. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 222,226 Problem, To investigate whether the glutathione- S -transferase P1 (GSTP1) exon 5 polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to advanced stage endometriosis in Korean women. Method of study, Case,control study in a collective of 260 patients and 164 controls. Genotyping of the GSTP1 exon 5 polymorphism was performed by using real-time TaqMan PCR assay. Results, The genotype distribution of the GSTP1 exon 5 polymorphism in the endometriosis group was not significantly different from that of the control group (AA/AG/GG rates were 64.2%/32.7%/3.1% and 65.2%/31.7%/3.0% for the endometriosis and control groups, respectively, P = 0.977). Further subgroup analysis according to either stage or bilaterality of ovarian endometrioma also found no significant difference in the genotype distribution between any of the endometriosis subgroups and the control group. Conclusion, These findings suggest that the GSTP1 exon 5 polymorphism is not a major determinant of the development of advanced stage endometriosis in the Korean population. [source] The effects of obesity and HER-2 polymorphisms as risk factors for endometrial cancer in Korean womenBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 8 2009S-Y Tong Objective, To evaluate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HER-2 gene, body mass index (BMI) and the risk of endometrial cancer. Design, Case,control study. Setting, Medical centres in Korea. Sample, DNA samples and medical histories were obtained from 125 endometrial cancer cases and 302 controls. Methods, The genotypes evaluated in HER-2 at positions ,423, ,655, ,776, ,857, ,1170, ,1177, ,1253 of the coding region and two SNPs located in an intron by SNP-IT assay using SNPstream Ultra,high throughput system. Main outcome measures, Odd ratio for endometrial cancer associated with HER-2 polymorphisms and BMI. Results, Cases had a significantly higher BMI than controls and the obese subjects had a 2.65-fold increased risk for endometrial cancer. However, HER-2 polymorphism was not associated significantly with the risk of endometrial cancer. Subjects with BMI , 25 kg/m2 who carried rs1801200 AA, rs1801200 GA/GG, rs1810132 CT/CC, rs2517951 CT/TT and rs1058808 CG/GG genotype had significantly increased risk of endometrial cancer than subjects with a normal BMI (P for linear trend <0.05). However, the risk in the subjects with the variant allele for HER-2 genotypes did not differ significantly compared to those with homozygous wild-type allele within specific BMI subgroups. Conclusions, Endometrial cancer risk increased significantly in proportion to BMI. However, HER-2 polymorphism did not affect significantly on the risk of endometrial cancer. [source] Cost-effective mammography screening in Korea: High incidence of breast cancer in young womenCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009Soon Young Lee The epidemiological characteristics of breast cancer in Korean women are different from the characteristics reported in Western women. The highest incidence rate occurs in Korean women in their 40s. The purpose of this study was to determine the most cost-effective screening interval and target age range for Korean women from the perspective of the national healthcare system. A stochastic model was used to simulate breast cancer screenings by varying both the screening intervals and the age ranges. The effectiveness of mammography screening was defined as the probability of detecting breast cancer in the preclinical state and the cost was based on the direct cost of mammography screening and the confirmative tests. The age-specific mean sojourn times and the sensitivity of the mammography were applied in the stochastic model. An optimal cost-effectiveness was determined by the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and lifetime schedule sensitivity. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to assess parameter uncertainty. The selected cost-effective strategies were: (1) the current biennial mammography screenings for women who are at least 40 years old; (2) biennial screening for women between the ages of 35 and 75 years; and (3) a combination strategy consisting of biennial screening for women aged between 45 and 54 years, and 3-year interval screening for women aged between 40 and 44 years and 55 and 65 years. Further studies should follow to investigate the effectiveness of mammography screening in women younger than 40 years in Asia as well as in Korea. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 1105,1111) [source] Identification of adiponectin and its receptors in human osteoblast-like cells and association of T45G polymorphism in exon 2 of adiponectin gene with lumbar spine bone mineral density in Korean womenCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Won Young Lee Summary Objective, The role of adiponectin in bone metabolism has been recently reported in in vitro and in vivo studies. There has been no report on the association of adiponectin gene polymorphism and bone mineral density (BMD). Therefore, we investigated whether two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), T45G and G276T, in the adiponectin gene were related to BMD in Koreans. We also report on the identification of adiponectin and its receptors 1 and 2 in human osteoblast-like cell lines. Patients and measurements, MG-63 cells were cultured and osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were performed. RNA was then extracted from the cultured cells and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using primers for adiponectin and for the adiponectin receptor genes. In 249 female and 80 male subjects, measurements were made of their lumbar spine and femoral neck BMDs, and biochemical markers of bone turnover. The genotyping of the T45G polymorphism in exon 2 and the G276T polymorphisms in intron 2 in the adiponectin gene was performed using an allelic discrimination assay with a TaqMan probe. Analyses were performed separately in each cohort. Results, We found that the mRNAs for adiponectin and for adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and 2 (AdipoR2) were expressed in the MG-63 cells. Sequencing of the PCR products revealed that they were identical to human adiponectin, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, respectively. mRNAs for adiponectin, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 were also expressed in the osteoblastic and adipogenic cell lines differentiated from hMSCs. For the polymorphism study, the frequencies of T45G and G276T in the adiponectin gene were in compliance with Hardy,Weinberg equilibrium and the two polymorphisms were in complete linkage disequilibrium (D, = ,1·0, P < 0·001). In the female cohort, subjects with G alleles at the T45G locus had significantly lower lumbar spine BMD than those subjects with the TT genotype. Although BMD levels showed no association with the G276T locus, the GT genotype group showed significantly higher urine deoxypyridinoline levels than other genotype groups. In the male cohort, no association was observed between adiponectin genotypes and BMD levels. Conclusions, We observed the expression of adiponectin, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in the MG-63 cell line and the osteoblastic cell line differentiated from hMSCs. T45G polymorphism in exon 2 of the adiponectin gene is associated with lumbar spine BMD and G276T polymorphism in intron 2 of the adiponectin gene is associated with the urine deoxypyridinoline level in Korean women. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the precise contribution of adiponectin to bone mineral metabolism. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||