Clinical relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: The relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with regard to their co-occurrence and the effect of concurrent HT on the prognosis of PTC has been debated. The aim of the present study is to determine a clinical relationship between these two disease entities and to evaluate the correlation between concurrent HT and various clinicopathological parameters.

Material And Methods: Demographic and histopathological data were collected from 675 patients undergoing thyroid surgery from 2000 to 2005, and 303 patients who received initial treatment for thyroid disease at our institution and whose medical records were accessible for review were enrolled in this study.

BRAFV600E mutation does not serve as a prognostic factor in Korean patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objectives: In recent years, BRAF(V600E) mutation has emerged as a promising prognostic marker for risk stratification of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, routine use of this marker has been questioned. In some parts of the world, particularly in Korea, the incidence of BRAF(V600E) mutation is too high to have true prognostic value.

Relationship between serum concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and metabolic syndrome among non-diabetic adults.

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate if organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance among non-diabetes.

Methods: Among subjects who participated in a community-based health survey, 50 non-diabetic subjects with metabolic syndrome and 50 normal controls were selected. Insulin resistance was measured by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR).

[The factors associated with changes in the stage of breast cancer screening behavior among the women who are eligible for the Korean National Cancer Screening Program].

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the relationships between psychosocial characteristics and changes in the stage of breast cancer screening behavior.

Methods: The 474 study subjects were randomly sampled from 21,459 women (age range, 40-70 years) who were eligible for the Korean National Cancer Screening Program in 2006 in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do. The information, including behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes, subjective norms and self-efficacy, was collected by trained interviewers via home visits.

[The factors implicated when an individual starts to smoke again after a 6 month cessation].

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the factors implicated when people start smoking again after a 6 month cessation, and was carried out at the smoking cessation clinic of a public health center.

Methods: The study subjects were 191 males who had attended the smoking cessation clinic of a public health center for 6 months in an attempt to quit smoking. Data was collected, by phone interview, regarding individual smoking habits, if any, over the 6 month study period.

[Associations of non alcoholic fatty liver with the metabolic syndrome and serum carotenoids].

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the associations of non alcoholic fatty liver with metabolic syndrome and the serum carotenoids.

Methods: This study was conducted in a general hospital in South Korea from November, 2004 to August, 2005. The study subjects were 350 sampled persons who were aged from 40 years and older (males: 180, females: 170).