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Epidemiologic data regarding pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have relied on registries from Western countries. We assessed the current status of PAH in the Korean population. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) claim database, which comprises nationwide medical insurance data of Koreans from 2008–2016, was assessed to determine the current status of PAH. Overall, 1,307 patients were newly diagnosed with PAH from 2008–2016 (0.0005%, annual incidence: 4.84 patients/1 million people/year). The mean age at diagnosis was 44±13 years (range 18–65) and patients were mostly women (n = 906, 69.3%). Cases of idiopathic PAH (51.6%) accounted for the largest proportion, followed by acquired PAH (APAH) associated with congenital heart disease (25.8%) and APAH with connective tissue disease (17.2%). Overall, 807 (61.7%) patients received a single PAH-specific treatment based on their last prescription, of which bosentan (50.6%) was the most frequently used. Only 240 (18.4%) patients received combination therapy, with the bosentan-beraprost combination (32.9%) being the most common. During the mean follow-up of 1.9 years, the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year estimated survival rates were 85%, 62%, 54%, and 46%, respectively. The prevalence and incidence of PAH in the Korean population is currently comparable with that in previous registries. The 5-year survival rate was slightly higher in the Korean population than previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The size of the baseplate used in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) tends to be larger than the average size of the glenoid in the Korean population. The mismatch between the sizes of the baseplate and the patient's glenoid may result in improper fixation of the glenoid baseplate. This in turn may lead to the premature loosening of the glenoid component. Thus, we evaluated the short-term results of using a 25-mm baseplate in RTSA. Methods: Seventeen patients with cuff tear arthropathy underwent RTSA with a 25-mm baseplate. The mean age of the patients was 70.1 years, and the mean follow-up period was 14.0 months. We evaluated clinical outcomes preoperatively and postoperatively: the range of shoulder motion, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and the Korean Shoulder Society (KSS) score. Results: We found that the mean ASES score and KSS improved from 35.0 to 74.4 (p<0.001) and from 46.9 to 71.8 p<0.001) with RTSA. The mean forward elevation and abduction, external rotation also improved from 78.6° to 134.3° (p<0.05) and from 66.6° to 125.0° p<0.05), from 20.2° to 28.4° p=0.43). Postoperative complications were seen in 12% of patients, but neither the loosening of the glenoid baseplate nor inferior scapular notching were observed. Conclusions: In sum, the results of using a 25-mm baseplate in RTSA were similar to those of previous reports. Even though the outcomes are those of a short-term follow-up, neither the loosening of the glenoid baseplate nor the scapular notching were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence health-related quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: The subjects were 150 outpatients with atrial fibrillation who visited the cardiology clinic of a university hospital in U city. The instruments used for this study were Mhel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) Korean version II. The date were analyzed by ANOVA, Pearson-correlation coefficient, and hierachial multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 18.0. Results: The mean score of physical health-related quality of life (PCS) was 38.92 ± 6.22 and mental health-related quality of life (MCS) was 41.49 ± 5.71. Physical and Mental health-related quality of life had the significant correlations with uncertainty, anxiety and depression. In multiple regression analysis, physical health-related quality of life was significantly influenced by duration of disease, NYHA class, uncertainty. Mental health-related quality of life was significantly influenced by family income, NYHA class, anxiety and depression. Conclusion: These results suggest that these influencing factors should be consider in developing the nursing interventions to improve the health-related quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in cell survival, differentiation, and cell death as well as in neural plasticity. Recent studies have suggested that BDNF is involved in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the genetic variations of the BDNF gene with bipolar disorder in Korea. We also studied the possible association of these genetic variants with clinical features. Methods: The allelic and genotypic distributions of Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene were analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction-based method in 184 bipolar patients and 214 controls. Analysis was performed to investigate an association of the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene and the clinical features in bipolar patients. Results: No significant difference was found between bipolar patients and controls in the genotype and allele frequencies for the investigated BDNF polymorphism. However, the age of onset of bipolar disorder among the Val/Val (25.57), Val/Met (30.42) and Met/Met (32.45) genotype groups were significantly different (p=0.037). Conclusion: This study suggests that Val66Met polymorphisms are unlikely to contribution to the genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder as a whole. But Val66Met polymorphism may be associated with age of onset of the disorder, further studies designed to investigate the relationship in a larger population may be warranted [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a coping scale for families of patients with schizophrenia (CSFPS). Methods: Item construction was derived from literature reviews and interviews with family members and psychiatric nurses. Content validity was tested by experts. Each item was scored on a four-point Likert scale. The preliminary questionnaire was administered to 188 family members of patients with schizophrenia. The data were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Cronbach's alpha. Results: From the factor analysis, 32 items in five factors were derived. The factors were named active coping strategies, avoidance coping strategies, hospital treatment-oriented coping strategies, emotional coping strategies, and suppressive coping strategies for problematic behaviors. The five factors explained 49.7% of the total variance, Cronbach's alpha of the total items was .83 and the factors ranged from .66 to .86. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that CSFPS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure coping in families of patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma ( ATC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies. Nevertheless, there have been reports that some patients experience long-term survival and those in whom ATCs of small size are often detected. We evaluated the time trend of characteristics of ATC such as size and association with coexistent differentiated thyroid carcinoma ( DTC). We also found the characteristics of patients showing long-term survival. Design and Patients This is a retrospective observational cohort study from the two major tertiary referral hospitals in Seoul, Korea. Ninety-five patients who had been diagnosed with ATC from 1995 to 2010 were included. We classified them into three groups according to the time of initial diagnosis: group 1 (1995-1999), group 2 (2000-2004) and group 3 (2005-2010). Results The mean tumour size decreased significantly according to groups; 6·2, 5·5 and 4·0 cm in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively ( P = 0·02). The frequency of cases with coexistent DTC increased; 10·3%, 35·1% and 48·3% in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively ( P = 0·02). Fifteen of 95 patients survived more than 24 months, and among them, 13 are still alive who underwent curative surgery. Among 15 long-term survivors, nine patients with ATC arising from DTC had ATC tumour portion less than 1 cm. Another five patients with ATC without coexistent DTC had relatively small-sized tumours (1·0-4·0 cm). Conclusion The tumour size of ATC decreased, and cases with coexistent DTC increased over the last two decades. We found that patients with ATC showing long-term survival are those who had atypical presentations such as anaplastic transformation in early stage of DTC or small size of tumours without coexistent DTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to evaluate the frequency of cervical spine (C-spine) involvement, and associated risk factors for this disorder and its progression in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). From 1995 to 2008, we recruited patients with RA attending the rheumatology clinic of a single tertiary care hospital, and evaluated 1,120 of the patients who had neck pain for C-spine involvement. A diagnosis of C-spine involvement was made in 28.6% of patients evaluated, and within this group, anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) and subaxial subluxation were found in 89.7 and 15%, respectively. Of the 1,120 patients, 570 patients were followed for more than 3 years. Comparing the clinical characteristics of 193 patients with C-spine involvement and 377 patients without C-spine involvement, we found the associations with female gender, RA diagnosis at or before age 45, erosive changes in hand or foot radiographs, C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates at the time of first visit, and combination disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. We found using logistic regression analysis that significant predictors of C-spine involvement included erosion in hand or foot radiographs (OR = 2.22, p = 0.001) and RA diagnosis at or before age 45 (OR = 2.26, p < 0.001). Among 137 patients followed for more than 3 years, for whom at least two consecutive X-rays were available, we observed radiographic progression in 60.4%. Patients with and without radiologic evidence for cervical progression did not differ significantly in clinical characteristics. In conclusion, Korean patients with RA frequently show radiographic evidence for progressive involvement of the cervical spine. Significant risk factors for C-spine involvement may be associated with erosive peripheral joint disease and RA diagnosis at an early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether lavender oil aromatherapy can reduce the bispectral index (BIS) values and stress and decrease the pain of needle insertion in 30 volunteers. Subjects and methods: Thirty (30) healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to 2 groups: the experimental group received oxygen with a face mask coated with lavender oil for 5 minutes, and the control group received oxygen through a face mask with no lavender oil for 5 minutes. The stress level (0=no stress, 10=maximum stress), BIS value, and pain intensity of needle insertion (0=no pain, 10=worst pain imaginable) were measured. Results: There were no significant differences in age, sex, height, and weight between the two groups. Stress level, BIS value, and pain intensity of needle insertion before aromatherapy were similar between the two groups. However, the stress values ( p<0.001) and BIS value ( p<0.001) after aromatherapy were significantly reduced compared with the control. In addition, the pain intensity of needle insertion was significantly decreased after aromatherapy compared with the control ( p<0.001). Conclusions: Lavender aromatherapy in volunteers provided a significant decrease in the stress levels and in the BIS values. In addition, it significantly reduced the pain intensity of needle insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

a measure of healthcare cost containment, the total number of vials of entanercept (25 mg) that can be prescribed for patients with inflammatory arthritis is restricted in Korea. Consequently, attempts to extend the dosing interval while maintaining the efficacy have not been an uncommon clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine if extended doing interval of etanercept can be effective in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We performed a retrospective analysis using medical records at a single tertiary hospital. One hundred and nine patients with AS and 79 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) started on etanercept between November 2004 and November 2009 were indentified. Etanercept (25 mg) was started with twice-weekly dosing schedule. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and etanercept dosing interval for AS patients at 0, 3, 9, 15, 21 months were reviewed. Dosing interval for RA patients was analyzed for comparison. In AS, mean dosing interval was 4.7 ± 2.1 days at 3 months and was increased to 12.1 ± 7.0 days at 21 months. Despite the progressive increase in the dosing interval, the mean BASDAI declined rapidly at 3 months, and continued to decrease over 21 months. Mean CRP declined after 3 months of therapy and remained low thereafter. In RA, mean dosing interval was 4.0 ± 1.2 days at 3 months and 5.1 ± 1.8 days at 21 months. In conclusion, in AS, extended dosing of etanercept can be effective without compromising clinical and laboratory markers of disease activity as measured by BASDAI and CRP, respectively. Tapering of etanercept was less accommodating in RA when compared to AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the health-related quality of life and emotional status of anophthalmic patients. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study. Methods: The study included 134 monocular anophthalmic patients and 48 healthy volunteers who visited the department of Ophthalmology at the Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, between July and December 2008. Surveys were administered to participants to evaluate their sociodemographic characteristics and disease-related factors. Data collected from the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale survey instruments were analyzed to identify significant differences and correlations between categories. Results: Anophthalmic patients scored lower in all categories of SF-36 compared with controls. Married females and participants with children generally had lower scores on the SF-36, and some of the differences were statistically significant. There were significant negative correlations between all SF-36 scores and participant self-evaluations on whether they had negative feelings regarding their social interpersonal relationships as a result of wearing prostheses. Those who scored higher on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety and depression scales tended to evade social interrelations significantly. Conclusions: Anophthalmic patients had lower health-related quality-of-life scores than healthy individuals. This finding was particularly evident in terms of the patients'' own perceptions of their social relationships, which were negatively affected by their use of prosthetic eyes. Such perceptions reduced their quality of life and heightened their anxiety and depression. Therefore, it is important to evaluate both the physical and emotional well-being of anophthalmic patients to identify those patients who will need additional physical and mental support. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated SSK1-4(T), was isolated from the junction between the ocean and a freshwater spring at Jeju island, South Korea. Strain SSK1-4(T) was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. In the neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain SSK1-4(T) was found to form an evolutionary lineage independent of those of other genera within the family Rhodobacteraceae. Strain SSK1-4(T) exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values to the type strains of Ruegeria lacuscaerulensis (94.99 %), Ruegeria atlantica (94.98 %) and Rhodovulum marinum (94.97 %). Sequence similarities to the type strains of other recognized species were less than 94.87 %. Strain SSK1-4(T) was found to contain Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18:1 ω7c and cyclo-C19:0 ω8c as the major fatty acids. The polar profile of strain SSK1-4(T) was found to contain phosphatidylglycerol, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, an unidentified lipid and an unidentified aminolipid as major components, which distinguish it from those of the phylogenetically related taxa. The DNA G+C content of strain SSK1-4(T) was determined to be 58.4 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic data and the chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic properties, strain SSK1-4(T) is considered to represent a new genus and species within the class Alphaproteobacteria, for which the name Confluentimicrobium lipolyticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of C. lipolyticum is SSK1-4(T) (=KCTC 42136(T) = CECT 8621(T)). In addition, an emended description of Actibacterium mucosum Lucena et al. 2012 is also proposed.

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, motile and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, designated GJSW-6(T), was isolated from a seawater collected at Geoje island on the South Sea, South Korea, and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain GJSW-6(T) was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the presence of approximately 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain GJSW-6(T) clustered with the type strains of two Agarivorans species, Agarivorans albus and Agarivorans gilvus, with which it exhibited sequence similarity values of 99.17 and 95.88 %, respectively. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other recognized species were less than 93.04 %. Strain GJSW-6(T) was found to contain Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and C16:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c) and C18:1 ω7c as the major fatty acids. The polar lipid profile of strain GJSW-6(T) containing phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol as major components was similar to those of the type strains of A. albus and A. gilvus. The DNA G+C content of strain GJSW-6(T) was determined to be 45.3 mol% and its mean DNA-DNA relatedness value with A. albus JCM 21469(T) was 19 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain GJSW-6(T) is separated from two Agarivorans species. On the basis of the data presented, strain GJSW-6(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Agarivorans, for which the name Agarivorans litoreus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GJSW-6(T) (= KCTC 42116(T) = NBRC 110444(T)). An emended description of the genus Agarivorans is also proposed.

A Gram-stain negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterium, strain JHH-2(T), was isolated from seawater collected in Jeju Island, Korea. The novel isolate was found to grow at 25-30 °C, at pH 6.5-7.0 and in the presence of 1-2% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain JHH-2(T) is closely related to Siansivirga zeaxanthinifaciens JCM 17682(T), with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.6%. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone-6 and the major cellular fatty acids were detected as iso-C(15:0), C(16:0) and iso-C(17:0) 3-OH. Polar lipid profiling revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycolipid, four unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of the chromosomal DNA of the type strain is 35.6 mol%. On the basis of several distinct phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, a new species of the genus Siansivirga, Siansivirga jejuensis [corrected] JHH-2(T) sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JHH-2(T) (= KCCM 90230(T) = JCM 19228(T)). [corrected].

Gymnophalloides seoi is a trematode species discovered as recently as 1993. Interestingly, ancient G. seoi eggs were identified in our earlier study on a 17th Century female mummy unearthed in a Korean county (HD-1) where G. seoi infection, according to a nationwide survey of 2001, was considered not to have been endemic. Although we suspected that the geographical distribution of G. seoi might have contracted over the past several hundred years from wider coastal areas on the Korean peninsula to the much more restricted region delineated by the survey, there has been only the single, above-noted report of an ancient G. seoi infection in a currently non-endemic area. As such, more evidence is needed before our contraction theory of G. seoi infection prevalence can be confirmed as fact. Our current report in this regard will perhaps help to end the controversy. In a newly discovered 17th Century male mummy found in another Korean county considered non-endemic by the 2001 survey, we identified a large number of ancient G. seoi eggs. We believe that this additional evidence for a wider distribution of G. seoi infection prior to the 20th Century is invaluable support for our earlier hypothesis.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke are the major health problems in many countries because of their increasing prevalence and high mortality. It is well known that CAD and stroke are based on atherosclerosis and shared environmental and genetic risk factors. Recently, an association of a functional sequence variation -154G>A in the angiotensin receptor-like 1 (AGTRL1) with a susceptibility to stroke was reported. In this study, we investigated a total of 1479 CAD cases and 2062 controls from the Japanese and Korean populations to validate the association of AGTRL1 with CAD. However, we obtained no evidence of the association in both the Japanese (odds ratio (OR)=0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI); 0.82-1.10, P=0.47, allele count model) and Korean (OR=0.90, 95% CI; 0.77-1.05, P=0.18, allele count model) populations. In addition, there was no trend of association between the risk allele and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. These data suggested that AGTRL1 did not contribute much to the atherosclerosis of the coronary artery.

Objective: Recent genome-wide association studies have identified 4 SNPs on chromosome 9p21 associated with CAD (rs10757274 and rs2383206) and myocardial infarction (MI: rs2383207 and rs10757278) in White populations in Northern Europe and North America. We aimed to determine whether this locus confers significant susceptibility to CAD in a South Korean population, and thus cross-race susceptibility to CAD., Methods and Results: We performed a case-control association study with 611 unrelated CAD patients and 294 normal controls from South Korea. Allelic associations of SNPs and SNP haplotypes with CAD were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust effects of clinical covariates. We found that 4 SNPs on chromosome 9p21 were associated with susceptibility to CAD in a South Korean population. The association remained significant after adjusting for significant clinical covariates (P=0.001 to 0.024). We identified one risk haplotype (GGGG; P=0.017) and one protective haplotype (AAAA; P=0.007) for development of CAD. Further analysis suggested that the SNPs probably confer susceptibility to CAD in a dominance model (covariates-adjusted P=0.001 to 0.024; OR=2.37 to 1.54). This represents the first study that expands association of these 9p21 SNPs with CAD beyond White populations., Conclusions: Chromosome 9p21 is an important susceptibility locus that confers high cross-race risk for development of CAD.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has become a major health problem in many countries. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified the association between rs1333049 on chromosome 9p21 and susceptibility to CAD in Caucasoid populations. In this study, we evaluated the associations of rs1333049 with CAD in Japanese (604 patients and 1,151 controls) and Koreans (679 patients and 706 controls). We found a significant association in both Japanese [odds ratio (OR)=1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.13-1.49, p=0.00027, allele count model] and Koreans (OR=1.19, 95% CI; 1.02-1.38, p=0.025, allele count model). These observations demonstrated that chromosome 9p21 was the susceptibility locus for CAD also in East Asians.

The effects of social skills training on the social skills and self-esteem of 66 patients with chronic schizophrenia were evaluated using the basic training and problem-solving training models. The experimental group received 16 group training sessions, and the control group received routine nursing care. The training program consisted of two parts: conversational skills and assertiveness skills. Data were collected at pretreatment and posttreatment. The conversational, interpersonal relationship, and assertiveness skills, and self-esteem of the experimental group showed significant improvement, whereas problem-solving skills did not improve. The results indicate that training in social skills is effective for improving the social skills and self-esteem of inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.

In this study involving self-report questionnaire data from 955 tenth-grade students in three locations within Korea, we address the meanings of alcohol use and delinquency for Korean youth. Findings (a) supported a facilitative role for alcohol, but not delinquency, with respect to perceived peer social competence; (b) indicated negative associations of both alcohol use and delinquency with parental relations, valuing academic achievement, and collectivistic values, and positive associations with friends' risk behaviours; (c) showed no relationship of these behaviours with self-esteem, coping, parental permissiveness or individualistic values; and (d) revealed that perceived benefits of alcohol use and delinquency include not only social facilitation but also exploration and assertion of independence, suggesting a potential connection, as in Western societies, between risk taking, and identity exploration.

A new freshwater tardigrade species, Pseudobiotus spinifer sp. nov., is described from the sand bottom of Nakdong River, South Korea. The new species is most similar to Pseudobiotus vladimiri from Biwa Lake, Japan, but differs from it by having small accessory points ending in the center of the primary branches of all claws, relatively longer claws and macroplacoids, and well developed cuticular spines/spicules over most of the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the body. Pseudobiotus vladimiri is redescribed on the basis of the holotype. A revised key to the species of the genus Pseudobiotus is also given.

Context: Diabetes is a serious and costly disease that is becoming increasingly common in many countries. The role of diabetes as a cancer risk factor remains unclear., Objective: To examine the relationship between fasting serum glucose and diabetes and risk of all cancers and specific cancers in men and women in Korea., Design, Setting, and Participants: Ten-year prospective cohort study of 1,298,385 Koreans (829,770 men and 468,615 women) aged 30 to 95 years who received health insurance from the National Health Insurance Corp and had a biennial medical evaluation in 1992-1995 (with follow-up for up to 10 years)., Main Outcome Measures: Death from cancer and registry-documented incident cancer or hospital admission for cancer., Results: During the 10 years of follow-up, there were 20,566 cancer deaths in men and 5907 cancer deaths in women. Using Cox proportional hazards models and controlling for smoking and alcohol use, the stratum with the highest fasting serum glucose (> or =140 mg/dL [> or =7.8 mmol/L]) had higher death rates from all cancers combined (hazard ratio [HR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-1.37 in men and HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.09-1.39 in women) compared with the stratum with the lowest level (<90 mg/dL [<5.0 mmol/L]). By cancer site, the association was strongest for pancreatic cancer, comparing the highest and lowest strata in men (HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.52-2.41) and in women (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.43-2.93). Significant associations were also found for cancers of the esophagus, liver, and colon/rectum in men and of the liver and cervix in women, and there were significant trends with glucose level for cancers of the esophagus, colon/rectum, liver, pancreas, and bile duct in men and of the liver and pancreas in women. Of the 26,473 total cancer deaths in men and women, 848 were estimated as attributable to having a fasting serum glucose level of less than 90 mg/dL. For cancer incidence, the general patterns reflected those found for mortality. For persons with a diagnosis of diabetes or a fasting serum glucose level greater than 125 mg/dL (6.9 mmol/L), risks for cancer incidence and mortality were generally elevated compared with those without diabetes., Conclusion: In Korea, elevated fasting serum glucose levels and a diagnosis of diabetes are independent risk factors for several major cancers, and the risk tends to increase with an increased level of fasting serum glucose.

Two new thaumastodermatid gastrotrichs belonging to the genus Ptychostomella are described from the shallow sublittoral sand bottom in the eastern coast of South Korea. In having the embossed cuticular armature, Ptychostomella orientalis n. sp. is most allied to P. lepidota Clausen, 2000, the only congeneric species so far known as possessing such a cuticular armature. Ptychostomella papillata n. sp. is characterized by the terrace-shaped cuticular protrusion on head region, and the numerous papillae with sensory hair(s). Description of the two new species is prepared with a character comparison table and a key to the species of Ptychostomella. This is the first record of genus Ptychostomella from the North Pacific.