Young Su Ju

Association Between Parental Smoking Behavior and Children's Respiratory Morbidity: 5-Year Study in an Urban City of South Korea

After intensive tobacco control efforts in recent decades, the prevalence of active smoking has decreased. However, the hazardous effect of indirect exposure to cigarette smoke is often underestimated, especially in children. We aimed to investigate the effect of parental smoking on the respiratory morbidity of the children of parents who smoke by evaluating the relationship between parental smoking behavior and childrens respiratory symptoms.

Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II Association with Spontaneous Recovery from Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Koreans: Analysis at the Haplotype Level

It has been speculated that human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are associated with the outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection although the data obtained from various populations have shown some inconsistencies. A total of 464 HBV-infected Korean individuals (80 spontaneously recovered [SR] and 384 chronically infected [CI]) were selected to investigate the association of HLA class II alleles with the viral clearance and persistence. Our results showed that: 1) multiple HLA class II alleles and haplotypes were associated with viral clearance (DRB1*1302, DRB1*1502, DQB1*0302, DQB1*0609, and related-haplotypes) and persistence (DRB1*0701, DQB1*0301, and related-haplotypes); 2) DRB1*1302 and DQB1* 0609 were more strongly associated with viral clearance. And the association of DQB1*0609 (pc=0.0084; OR, 7.24) with vial clearance was much stronger than previously recognized, DRB1*1302 (pc=0.0038; OR, 4.34); and 3) linkage to a specific DPB1 allele in a haplotype strengthened the association with viral clearance, although DPB1 itself was not associated with the outcome. These results indicate the existence of multiple factors controlling viral clearance in the HLA class II gene region. Further extended investigation on the genetic factors related to the outcome of HBV infection will provide valuable insights into the understanding of the mechanisms involved.

Reoperation Rates After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy and Myelopathy: A National Population-based Study.

Study Design. National population-based cohort study. Objective. To compare the reoperation rates between cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and myelopathy in a national population of patients. Summary of Background Data. There is an inherently low incidence of reoperation after surgery for cervical degenerative disease. Therefore, it is difficult to sufficiently power studies to detect differences between reoperation rates of different cervical diagnoses. National population-based databases provide large, longitudinally followed cohorts that may help overcome this challenge. Methods. We used the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service national database to select our study population. We included patients with the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy or myelopathy who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion from January 2009 to June 2014. We separated patients into two groups based on diagnosis codes: cervical spondylotic radiculopathy or cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Age, sex, presence of diabetes, osteoporosis, associated comorbidities, number of operated cervical disc levels, and hospital types were considered potential confounding factors. Results. The overall reoperation rate was 2.45%. The reoperation rate was significantly higher in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy than in patients with cervical radiculopathy (myelopathy: Pu200a=u200a0.0293, hazard ratiou200a=u200a1.433, 95% confidence interval 1.037–1.981). Male sex, presence of diabetes or associated comorbidities, and hospital type were noted to be risk factors for reoperation. Conclusion. The reoperation rate after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was higher for cervical spondylotic myelopathy than for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy in a national population of patients. Level of Evidence: 3

Prognostic effect of body mass index to mortality in Korean older persons: BMI and mortality in older persons

Body mass index (BMI) is regarded as a predictor of life expectancy and a determinant of mortality. However, the effect of age on BMI‐related mortality remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the prognostic effect of BMI to mortality risk among Korean older persons.

Abnormalities in Chromosomes 1q and 13 Independently Correlate With Factors of Poor Prognosis in Multiple Myeloma

Background We comprehensively profiled cytogenetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM) and analyzed the relationship between cytogenetic abnormalities of undetermined prognostic significance and established prognostic factors. Methods The karyotype of 333 newly diagnosed MM cases was analyzed in association with established prognostic factors. Survival analysis was also performed. Results MM with abnormal karyotypes (41.1%) exhibited high international scoring system (ISS) stage, frequent IgA type, elevated IgG or IgA levels, elevated calcium levels, elevated creatine (Cr) levels, elevated β2-microglobulin levels, and decreased Hb levels. Structural abnormalities in chromosomes 1q, 4, and 13 were independently associated with elevated levels of IgG or IgA, calcium, and Cr, respectively. Chromosome 13 abnormalities were associated with poor prognosis and decreased overall survival. Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate that abnormalities in chromosomes 1q, 4, and 13 are associated with established factors for poor prognosis, irrespective of the presence of other concurrent chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosome 13 abnormalities have a prognostic impact on overall survival in association with elevated Cr levels. Frequent centromeric breakpoints appear to be related to MM pathogenesis.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate measured using microhemagglutination is not elevated in monoclonal gammopathy compared with other diseases

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as measured using the Westergren method is extremely elevated in patients with monoclonal gammopathy (MG) owing to the abundance of positively charged paraproteins. However, it has not been determined if the ESR is likewise high in patients with MG when measured using alternate ESR methods.

Reoperation rates after surgery for degenerative cervical spine disease according to different surgical procedures: National population-based cohort study

Study Design. National population-based cohort study. Objective. To evaluate reoperation rates of cervical spine surgery for cervical degenerative conditions utilizing a national population database. Summary of Background Data. There is an inherently low incidence of reoperation after surgery for cervical degenerative disease. Therefore, it is difficult to sufficiently power studies to detect differences between reoperation rates of different cervical surgical procedures. National population-based databases provide large, longitudinally followed cohorts that may help overcome this challenge. Methods. We used the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service national database to select our study population. We included patients with diagnosis of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy or myelopathy who underwent cervical surgeries from January 2009 to June 2014. We separated patients into three groups based on surgical procedures: discectomy or corpectomy with anterior fusion, laminoplasty, or laminectomy with posterior fusion. Age, sex, presence of diabetes, osteoporosis, associated comorbidities, number of operated cervical disc levels, and hospital types were considered potential confounding factors. Reoperation rates were analyzed over early and late periods. Results. The reoperation rate over the entire follow-up period was 3.31%. Overall, the reoperation rate was significantly higher after laminectomy with posterior fusion or laminoplasty than after discectomy or corpectomy with anterior fusion. A similar pattern was seen during the late period. In the early period, rates were higher only after laminectomy with posterior fusion than after discectomy or corpectomy with anterior fusion. Sex, presence of diabetes, associated comorbidities, and hospital types were noted to be risk factors for reoperation. Conclusion. The reoperation rate was higher after laminectomy with posterior fusion or laminoplasty. Given clinical scenarios in which either anterior or posterior approaches can be utilized, risk of reoperation can be another variable to consider in surgical planning and patient education. Level of Evidence: 3