Background
The objective of the current study was to evaluate the association between fatty liver and osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women. Methods: We examined postmenopausal women who participated in a health screening test from April 2004 to November 2007. Data about lifestyle and current medical diseases and medications were collected from medical records and medical interviews. Body weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual- energy X-ray absorptiometry and body composition analyzer and abdominal ultrasonography were conducted for each participant. Results: One thousand two hundred forty-five postmenopausal women were selected for this study. In postmenopausal women, the spine BMD levels (g/cm²) were significantly different in each subjects with normal (0.819± 0.004), mild (0.846±0.007), moderate (0.844±0.009) and severe (0.779±0.031) fatty liver adjusted for age (P＜0.01). The proportion of osteoporosis were significantly different in each subjects with normal (39.1%), mild (30.3%), moderate (31.6%) and severe (56.3%) fatty liver. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between fatty liver and osteoporosis after age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol drinking and regular exercise. In severe fatty liver compared to the normal subjects of fatty liver, adjusted odds ratio was 3.6 (95% CI 1.2∼10.9). Conclusion: In severe fatty liver disease, the proportion of osteoporosis was increased and the bone mineral density was lower than the normal subjects of fatty liver. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2008;29:114-120)

Background
We analyzed the data obtained from regular health checkups performed in a university hospital and investigated the effect of serum Ճ-GT on hypertension for both Korean males and females. Methods: A total of 3,288 adult males and females over 20 years of age were selected for this study who visited a health promotion center from April, 2004 to April, 2005. Patients with HBs Ag (+) or anti-HCV Ab (+) and those currently on medication that could affect hepatic function were excluded. The subjects' history of illness and their present health and medication status were examined through questionnaires and history taking. Also, basic physical examinations and laboratory tests were performed on these subjects. Results: Classifying the serum Ճ-GT into quartiles, as the Ճ-GT classification stage increased, there was an increase in the amount of smoking, alcohol, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein for males or female (respectively, P for trend ＜0.01). When odd ratio (95% CI) for hypertension in the highest quartile of Ճ-GT was compared to that of the lowest quartile, there was an increased risk of hypertension with an odd ratio of 1.6 (95% CI, 1.0∼2.3) and 1.6 (95% CI, 1.0∼2.4) for males and females, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that the risk of hypertension was increased according to serum Ճ-GT, even though the variable index affecting cardiovascular diseases was adjusted. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2007; 28:916-922)

Background
: The management of problem drinking is very important in family practice and primary care. This research was designed to evaluate the effect of brief intervention on heavy drinking patients in family practice.

Methods : The subjects were composed of 34 Korean males who had findings of alcoholic liver disease in the general health examination. About 5 to 10 minute outpatient interventions consisting of brief advice on drinking problems were delivered in the mean (±SD) frequency of 3.5 (±1.4) times during the 12 weeks. The effect of brief intervention was evaluated by the number of drinking days per week and drinks per drinking day during the 4 weeks before brief intervention and 12 weeks later. The result was compared with the control group (24 males) who had the same condition but did not receive the brief intervention.

Results : The mean (±SD) drinking days per week were significantly (P＜0.001) decreased from 3.5 (±1.7) to 2.0 (±2.1) days and the mean (±SD) drinks per drinking day were significantly (P＜0.001) decreased from 9.5 (±3.5) to 5.1 (±4.3) drinks. The degree of decrease in the subjects was significantly higher than the control group in both drinking days per week (P=0.001) and drinks per drinking day (P＜0.005).

Conclusion : The brief intervention by family physicians is an effective clinical method in the management of heavy drinking patients.