OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to obtain basal information to establish a proper birth-encouraging policy in the future through the survey of the attitude towards childbirth and its related factors among female students in junior, senior high school, and university. METHODS: A survey was performed for 2 weeks in June, 2006, for a total of 688 female students which included 185 ones in a girls' junior high school and 242 ones in a girls' senior high school in Sacheon, and 261 ones in two universities in Jinju. The selfadministered questionnaires developed by the authors included the socio-demographic characteristics, the attitude towards childbirth, the preference of a son for their future child, the belief on relative importance of family or work after marriage, the seriousness perception of low birth rate in Korea, frequencies of education in school about low birth rate. The attitude was measured by an answer to the question of 'To what degree do you think you are going to have a child(or children)?' RESULTS: The proportion of positive attitude towards their future childbirth was 76.2% in junior high school, 63.9% in high school, and 82.8% in university students (p<0.01). In the logistic regression analysis, the significant factors related with positive attitude towards future childbirth were school grade, preference of a son for their future children, and belief on relative importance of family or work after marriage. CONCLUSIONS: It suggests that the related factors with positive attitude towards future childbirth need to be considered to make a proper birth policy.
Birth Rate ; Child ; Education ; Female* ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Marriage ; Parturition* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to investigate predictors of smoking cessation in outpatients. METHOD: Subjects were 401 adult smoking patients who saw their doctors in the outpatient setting at a university hospital, regardless of their willingness of otherwise in smoking cessation. Physicians delivered a brief, stop smoking prompt to all patients who smoked one or more cigarettes a day. Then they referred to on-site counselors who provided a brief, nurse assisted intervention with a survey to a randomly assigned intervention group (200 smoking patients), whom the counselors telephoned later to prevent relapse or promote the motivation to quit, or gave only a survey to a control group (201 smoking patients). After at least 5 months, self-reported current smoking cessation was confirmed later using cut-off values of 7 ppm or less in expired alveolar air after breath holding portable CO analyzer. RESULTS: After 5 months, subjects in the intervention group were 1.56 times (95% C.I. 0.89-2.73) more likely to quit smoking than those in the non-intervention group (14.0% vs. 9.0%). Willingness to quit smoking in a month, scheduled admission in a month, self efficacy score and FTND (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence) score were all significantly related with smoking cessation. In stepwise multiple logistic regression, previous attempts to quit smoking were significant instead of self efficacy score. In the intervention group who had willingness to quit smoking in a month (132 smoking patients), FTND score, whether quit date was today, and whether quit promise paper was submitting were all significantly related with smoking cessation. In stepwise multiple logistic regression, scheduled admission in a month and whether quit date was today were significant predictor variables. Smoking cessation treatment should be tailored to individual smoking patients considering these predictors.
Adult ; Breath Holding ; Counseling ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Motivation ; Nicotine ; Outpatients* ; Recurrence ; Self Efficacy ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products

The purpose of this experiment was to examine the histological changes and the pattern of expression of type I, II collagen in the elongated area by distraction osteogenesis in the rabbit mandible. Sixteen rabbits weighing 2.5kg-3kg were used for this experiment. Experimental group was distracted at the rate of 0.7mm, twice/day for 7days, and control group was only osteotomized. After 5 days latency, osteotomic site is distracted for 7days. Consolidation period is 28days. The animal was sacrificed at the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 28th day after the operation. The distracted bone was examined by histological analysis and RT-PCR analysis. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Experimental group was observed that the gaps between the distracted bone edges were occupied by new bone. 2. Expression of Type I collagen were detected throughout the experiment in both groups and Expression of Type I collagen were markedly increased during distraction and consolidation period in experimental group than control group. 3. Expression of Type II collagen were detected throughout the experiment in both groups and expression of Type II collagen were maintained at high level during distraction and consolidation period in experimental group than control group. From these results, in contrast to type II collagen, type I collagen seemed to be more expressed by mechanical stimuli during distraction and consolidation period. The predominent mechanism of new bone formation in the distraction gap was intramembranous bone formation, but some of the regenerated bone was formed by endochondral ossification.
Animals ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type II* ; Mandible* ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Rabbits

An intrathyroid thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) presented as an anterior neck mass in a 62-year-old male without history of prior thyroid disease or infection. This cyst was clinically indistinguishable from a thyroid nodule. In addition to that, fine needle aspiration cytology revealed normal–looking squamous cells. Diagnosis, work-up, management approach, and treatment of intrathyroid TGDC are discussed as well as distinguishing features between intrathyrod TGDC with tract and without tract. This is the very rare case of intrathyroid TGDC in Korean population and the possibility of intrathyroid TGDC should remain in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodule.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Thyroglossal Cyst ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule

Acute sensorineural hearing loss is unusual as initial manifestations in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), even though facial or oculomotor nerve palsy as early finding of leukemia was reported. The pathology of sensorineural hearing loss in leukemia showed as leukemic cell infiltration, hemorrhage, infection, and local ischemia due to hyperviscosity. A 12-year-old boy with ALL was admitted due to multiple cervical lymphadenopathy with left sided sensorineural deafness. He complained gross hematuria and purpura on whole body. His initial complete blood cell counts were hemoglobin 11.9 g/dL, hematocrit 34.3%, white blood cells 164,000/muL (segmented neutrophils 3%, lymphocytes 11%, monocytes 2%, immature blast 84%), and platelet 28,000/muL. Pure tone audiogram revealed profound sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear at all frequencies. His brain MRI showed no definite abnormal findings without hemorrhage or infarction in inner ear or temporal lobe. He received induction chemotherapy and total 4 times of transtympanic steroid injection with 1 week interval. His hearing power at complete remission was more improved than admission, but not completely recovered until 5 months. We proposed that hearing impairment might be an initial manifestation in acute leukemia with hyperleukocytosis.
Blood Cell Count ; Blood Platelets ; Brain ; Child* ; Deafness ; Ear ; Ear, Inner ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Hematocrit ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Leukemia ; Leukocytes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases ; Pathology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Purpura ; Temporal Lobe

One of the most fearful rare complication of ureteroscopic lithotripsy is sepsis. Since sepsis after endourological maneuvers usually occur immediately after procedure, it is important to pay attention to symptoms representing sepsis such as pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and oliguria. In addition to clinical symptoms, laboratory tests including white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and urine and blood cultivating can help to diagnosis of sepsis. We present a case of shock after ureteroscopic lithotripsy, which was suspected with septic shock strongly.
Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Leukocytes ; Lithotripsy* ; Oliguria ; Sepsis ; Shock* ; Shock, Septic ; Tachycardia ; Tachypnea

Carcinosarcoma of the esophagus is a rare malignant neoplasm that consists of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components, accounting for approximately 1~2% of all esophageal neoplasms. The terms previously used to describe this tumor include pseudosarcoma, pseudosarcomatous carcinoma, polypoid carcinoma, so-called carcinosarcoma, true carcinosarcoma, and spindle cell carcinoma. Although about 11 cases of esophageal carcinosarcoma have been reported in Korea, none have included findings from positron emission tomography. Here, we report a case of esophageal carcinosarcoma in a 63-year-old man who presented with a 3 month history of progressive dysphagia and weight loss. Positron emission tomography shows expanding hot uptake (mSUV, 9.94) in the distal esophagus.
Accounting ; Carcinosarcoma ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Lung protective strategies, using low tidal volume in ARDS, improve survival rate in ARDS. However, low tidal volume ventilation may promote alveolar de-recruitment. Therefore, alveolar recruitment is necessary to maintain arterial oxygenation and to prevent repetitive opening and closure of collapsed alveoli in lung protective strategies. There has been a recent report describing improvement in arterial oxygenation with use of recruitment maneuver. However, impact of recruitment on outcome of ARDS is unknown. We evaluated whether short-term survival difference existed in patients with ARDS, who were performed alveolar recruitment maneuver(ARM) and prone position, according to response of alveolar recruitment or not. METHODS: All patients who were diagnosed with ADRS and received mechanical ventilation were included. ARM were sustained inflation(35-45 cmH2O CPAP for 30-40 sec.) or increasing level of PEEP. If these methods were ineffective, alveolar recruitment with prone position was done for at least 10 hours. PaO2/FiO2(P/F) ratio was determined before and at 0.5 and 2 hours after ARM. We defined a responder if the P/F ratio was increased over 50% of baseline value. We compared 10-days and 30-days survival rate between responders and non-responders. RESULTS: 20 patients(M:F=12:8, 63 +/- 14 age) were included. Among them, 12 patients were responders and 8 patients were non-responders. In responders, P/F ratio was increased from 92 +/- 25 mmHg to 244 +/- 85 mmHg. In non-responders, P/F ratio increased from 138 +/- 37 mmHg to 163 +/- 60 mmHg. Among non-responders, P/F ratio was improved over 50% in 2 patients after prone position. Overall, 14 patients were responders after ARM and prone position. The 10-days and 30-days survival rate in responders was significantly higher than in non-responders(86%, 57% in responders and 33%, 0% in non-responders)(p<0.05). There was no significant difference between responders and non-responders in age(71 +/- 11, 60 +/- 14), lung injury score(2.8 +/- 0.2, 2.9 +/- 0.45), simplified acute physiology score(SAPS) II (35 +/- 4.6, 34 +/- 5.7), positive end-positive pressure level(15.6 +/- 1.9 cmH2O, 14.5 +/- 2.1 cmH2O). CONCLUSION: ARM may improve arterial oxygenation in some patients with ARDS. These responders in patients with ARDS showed significant higher 10-days and 30-days survival rate than non-responders patients with alveolar recruitment.
Arm ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Oxygen ; Physiology ; Prone Position ; Respiration, Artificial ; Survival Rate ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation

Smilax china L., a native plant found in Asian countries, has several medicinal properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. Although the root of the plant is commonly used as traditional herbal medicine in Korea and China, the medicinal properties of the leaves have not gained the same attention. In this study, we analyzed the antioxidant activity, alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effect and lipid accumulation inhibition effect of Smilax china L. leaf water extract (SCLE) and its solvent fractions. SCLE was fractionated by using a series of organic solvents, including ethylacetate (EA) and n-butanol (BuOH). The EA fraction had the highest total polyphenol content (440.20 +/- 12.67 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content (215.14 +/- 24.83 mg QE/g). The radical scavenging activity IC50 values of the EA fraction for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) were 0.022 mg/mL and 0.13 mg/mL, respectively. Further, SOD-like activity and reducing power values of the EA fraction were higher than those of the other fractions. However, both the alpha-glucosidase and lipid accumulation inhibition assays showed that the BuOH fraction (83.35 +/- 4.18% at 1 mg/mL) and water extract (11.27 +/- 2.67%) were more effective than the EA fraction (64.13 +/- 6.35%, and 45.66 +/- 7.20%). These results provide new insights into the potential anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of Smilax china L. leaf.
1-Butanol ; alpha-Glucosidases ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biphenyl Compounds ; China* ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Korea ; Picrates ; Plants ; Smilax* ; Solvents ; Water

BACKGROUND: Continuous metabolic syndrome (MS) severity scores that can track metabolic risk in individuals over time have been developed for Western populations. The present study aimed to develop gender- and age-specific equations for MS severity scores in Korean adults. METHODS: Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) IV (2010–2012) and VI (2013–2015), we performed a confirmatory factor analysis of single MS factor that allowed for differential loadings across groups to generate gender- and age-specific, continuous MS severity scores. Then, we validated this equation in a different dataset of Korean adults. RESULTS: In confirmatory analysis, waist circumference had the highest factor loading, indicating that waist circumference had the strongest correlation with MS among Korean adults. Lower factor loadings (< 0.4) among Korean adults aged 40–59 years were noted for systolic blood pressure and fasting glucose. MS severity score values were significantly correlated with metabolic parameters, including high-sensitivity C-reactive-protein, glycated hemoglobin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Furthermore, MS severity scores well predicted traditional MS according to receiver operating characteristic analysis in a validation dataset (KNHANES VII). In a longitudinal cohort dataset, participants diagnosed with Adult Treatment Program III (ATP-III) MS after an initial assessment had progressively higher baseline MS severity scores in relationship to their time until ATP-III MS diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The new MS severity score equations for Korean adults proposed in this study provide a clinically-accessible continuous measure of MS for potential use in identifying adults at higher risk for MS-related diseases and following changes within individuals over time.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cohort Studies ; Dataset ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; ROC Curve ; Waist Circumference