OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare cognitive flexibility abilities, stress, and anxiety between starters and non-starter athletes. METHODS: A total of 30 male professional-soccer and 40 professional-baseball athletes were recruited. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Trail Making Test A & B (TMT A & B) were administered to assess cognitive flexibility during competition. The Korean version of the STAI form Y (STAI-KY) and Visual analogue scale for anxiety and stress were used to assess the anxiety and stress. RESULTS: The starter group had better cognitive function (fewer perseverative errors and rapid TMTB times) (Z=3.32, p<0.01; Z=2.20, p=0.03, respectively) and lower stress and anxiety (F=4.34, p=0.01; F=6.61, p<0.01, respectively) during competition than the non-starter group. CONCLUSION: The better cognitive performances were negatively correlated with stress and anxiety. Current results suggested that cognitive flexibility would enhance human performance by modulation of the anxiety and stress during competition.
Anxiety ; Athletes ; Humans ; Male ; Pliability ; Trail Making Test ; Wisconsin

Leigh syndrome is a rare progressive neurodegenerative mitochondrial disorder. Over 75 pathogenic mutations have been identified in both the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Leigh syndrome can be diagnosed based on clinical manifestations, physical and biochemical examinations, and brain magnetic resonance imaging results. Patients with Leigh syndrome classically present in early childhood with developmental regression, ataxia, and hypotonia with subsequent respiratory and brainstem dysfunction. However, the clinical course of Leigh syndrome is heterogeneous with significant differences in age of onset, symptom severity and prognosis. Here, we report a case of Leigh syndrome with cardiac arrest as initial presentation, and identified the novel mutation of NDUFS1 gene.

Background: Dispensing of prescription drugs is the most important task for community pharmacists. However, the public’s satisfaction with pharmacist services is not high, and distrust due to dispensing by unqualified person and/or under unsanitary conditions led to demands for transparent dispensing room (TDR) in pharmacies. Objective: This study was conducted to investigate how pharmacy students perceive pharmacists’ credibility and professional ethics in conjunction with the TDR issue. Methods: A survey using 20-items questionnaire was conducted from July 12 to 20, 2019 in pharmacy students nationwide. Results: Among 218 respondents, 84.1% attended pharmacy school located in the metropolitan area, 61.1% were the 3rd or 4th graders, and 81.2% had no practical training in community pharmacy. 56.2% were unaware of the TDR issue, and 66.8% agreed on the public’s demand for TDR. 68.8% disagreed that TDR was the best way to solve the problem of unqualified dispensing, while 51.9% agreed that TDR was the best way in solving unsanitary dispensing problem. Publics’ confidence level of community pharmacists was mean 5.84 (range 1-10). In a question asking how expertise and professional ethics affect pharmacist confidence, 50% said expertise was more important, 31.7% the same, and 18.3% said professional ethics was more important. Conclusions To overcome the demand for TDR which began with public distrust in pharmacists, it is necessary to seek measures to increase the credibility of pharmacists, and as part of this, pharmacist ethics should be systematically educated at pharmacy school.

Background: The anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of erythropoietin may provide neuroprotective effects. Erythropoietin also modulates autophagy signaling that may play a role in anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity (AIN). Herein, we investigated whether AIN can be attenuated by the neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin in the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Methods: Synchronized worms were divided into the control, Iso, EPO, and EPO-Iso groups. The chemotaxis index (CI) was evaluated when they reached the young adult stage. The lgg-1::GFP-positive puncta per seam cell were used to determine the autophagic events. The erythropoietin-mediated pathway of autophagy was determined by measuring the genetic expression level of let-363, bec-1, atg-7, atg-5, and lgg-3. Results: Increased lgg-1::GFP puncta were observed in the Iso, EPO, and EPO-Iso groups. In the Iso group, only the let-363 level decreased significantly as compared to that in the control group (P = 0.009). bec-1 (P < 0.001), atg-5 (P = 0.012), and lgg-3 (P < 0.001) were expressed significantly more in the EPO-Iso group than in the Iso groups. Repeated isoflurane exposure during development decreased the CI. Erythropoietin could restore the decreased CI by isoflurane significantly in the EPO-Iso group. Conclusions Erythropoietin showed neuroprotective effects against AIN and modulated the autophagic pathway in C. elegans. This experimental evidence of erythropoietin-related neuroprotection against AIN may be correlated with the induced autophagic degradation process that was sufficient for handling enhanced autophagy induction in erythropoietin-treated worms.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of salad dressings on the flowable composite resin surface and the erosion-inhibitory effect of calcium. Methods: The experiment included six groups: oriental dressing, balsamic dressing, lemon-garlic dressing, lemon-garlic dressing supplemented with 3% calcium, mineral water as a negative control group, and orange juice as a positive control group. pH and titratable acidity were measured. The prepared specimens were immersed in the experimental solutions for 1, 3, 5, 15, and 30 minutes. The surface microhardness was measured using the Vickers hardness number before and after the treatment, and the surface of the specimens was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: The pH values of the experimental groups in increasing order were as follows: lemon-garlic dressing (2.49±0.03), balsamic dressing (3.12±0.06), lemon-garlic dressing ＋3% calcium (3.27±0.09), oriental dressing (3.75±0.03), orange juice (3.82±0.02), and mineral water (7.32±0.16). The largest surface hardness reduction value was shown in lemon-garlic dressing (−9.61±1.16), followed by balsamic dressing (−9.17±1.63), oriental dressing (−8.62±1.09), orange juice (−8.19±1.36), lemon-garlic dressing +3% calcium (−6.76±1.23), and mineral water (−1.63±2.47). According to the SEM findings, the experimental and positive control groups showed rough surfaces and micropores, whereas the negative control group showed a smooth surface. Moreover, the lemon-garlic dressing with +3% calcium showed fewer micropores and a smoother surface than the lemon-garlic dressing. Conclusion The intake of salad dressings at a low pH could weaken the surface microhardness of the flowable composite resin. However, adding calcium to these salad dressings can reduce the risk of microhardness reduction on the flowable composite resin surface.

Urethral Hemangioma are rare benign lesion that may cause hematuria or bloody urethral discharge. These lesions tend to recur if the surgical excision is inadequate. A urethral hemangioma was found in a 42-year-old female complaining of hematuria at first voiding after sexual intercourse. Transurethral resection of the tumor was performed. She remains asymptomatic for 3 months after surgery.
Adult ; Coitus ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Urethra

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the frequency of rheumatic diseases within uveitis patients visiting the department of Ophthalmology and evaluated the clinical value of serological testing and ophthalmologic findings in patients with uveitis in a community-based practice in Korean population. METHODS: On a retrospective basis, we reviewed the medical records of patients with uveitis, who had been treated at the Department of Ophthalmology of Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital between January 2005 and March 2010. All patients with uveitis were reviewed regarding their ocular histories and findings, rheumatologic medical histories and manifestations, and pelvis anteroposterial view of plain radiographies to identify the sacroilitis. In addition, we tested for rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody, and HLA-B27. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients with uveitis were included in the study. HLA-B27 associated uveitis was present in 64 patients (59.8%) the number of patients with sacroilitis on plain pelvis radiography was 38 patients (37.8%). Fifty-one patients (47.7%) were diagnosed as having systemic rheumatic diseases. The majority of these patients had anklylosing spondylitis (AS) (70.3%) and Bechet's disease (18.9%). The most common type of uveitis was anterior uveitis (90.7%), followed by panuveitis (3.7%) and posterior uveitis (3.7%). The recurrence rate and number of floating cells were greater in patients with rheumatic diseases than patients without rheumatic diseases. CONCLUSION: The majority of rheumatic disease related with uveitis were AS and Bechet's disease. HLA-B27 and pelvis plain radiography can be useful tools for screening the spondyloarthropathies with uveitis. Recurrent and severe uveitis might represent an accompanying rheumatic disease.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Ophthalmology ; Panuveitis ; Pelvis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Sacroiliitis ; Serologic Tests ; Spondylarthropathies ; Spondylitis ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Uveitis, Posterior

Anaphylaxis is an acute and fatal systemic allergic reaction to an allergen, and it can be an unpredictable and life-threatening cause during anesthesia. Latex is the second most common cause of anaphylaxis following the use of neuromuscular blocking agents during general anesthesia or surgery. We report on a 67-year-old male who had undergone surgery under general anesthesia without any problem but who presented with severe intraoperative anaphylaxis to latex surgical gloves. This case emphasizes the need for anesthesiologists to quickly diagnose and properly manage an allergic reaction in patients under general anesthesia.
Aged ; Anaphylaxis ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Latex ; Male ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

BACKGROUND: Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is the first-line therapy for managing preeclampsia in obstetrics. Its perioperative administration has been proved to be an effective analgesic adjuvant, which we investigated in parturients undergoing Cesarean section (C-sec). METHODS: A retrospective chart review examined 504 parturients who underwent C-secs between June 2006 and August 2010, including normal parturients (group N, n = 401) and those diagnosed with preeclampsia (group P, n = 103). A postoperative numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to assess pain, and the number of rescue analgesic administrations and frequency of transfusions were investigated. Perioperative magnesium concentrations were recorded for patients in group P. RESULTS: Patients in group P had longer operation and anesthesia times, and more postoperative admission days than those in group N. The NRS of pain was significantly lower in group P at postoperative day (POD) 1 (4 vs. 5, P < 0.001), and the frequency of rescue drug administration was lower in group P at POD 1 (36.0% vs. 80.3%, P < 0.001) and POD 2 (9.7% vs. 21.1%, P = 0.005) than in group N. Red blood cell transfusions were given more frequently in group P (21.4% vs. 2%, P < 0.001). Pre- and postoperative serum magnesium concentrations in group P were 2.2 (0.5) and 2.1 (0.6) mmol/L, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative pain after C-sec was less severe and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia was more efficacious in the preeclampsia group than in the non-preeclampsia group. These findings likely resulted from peripartum intravenous MgSO4 administration in the preeclampsia group.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Anesthesia ; Cesarean Section ; Erythrocyte Transfusion ; Female ; Humans ; Magnesium ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Obstetrics ; Pain, Postoperative ; Peripartum Period ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To compare the incidence of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) based on low and high fluid-dynamic parameters during cataract surgery and evaluate the importance of these findings. METHODS: This retrospective study included 125 eyes in 73 patients with senile cataract who received a cataract surgery between September 2013 and March 2014. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with low (vacuum: 180 mm Hg, aspiration flow: 18 mL/min, bottle height: 55 cm) and high (vacuum: 400 mm Hg, aspiration flow: 22 mL/min, bottle height: 90 cm) fluidic parameters during the nucleus was removal. We measured the total surgery time, ultrasound time, and balanced salt solution consumption during phacoemulsification. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), PCO score, PCO percentage and severity were measured at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Endothelial cell density (ECD) was measured preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The study included 20 eyes of 13 patients with low parameters and 20 eyes of 15 patients with high parameters. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean total surgery time, ultrasound time or fluid consumption between the two groups. BCVA and ECD were not significantly different between the two groups during the postoperative follow-up. PCO score, percentage and severity were higher in the low parameter group at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery with low fluid-dynamic parameters is equally effective as with high parameters in terms of surgical time and postoperative BCVA. However, the incidence of PCO was higher in the low fluid-dynamic parameter group up to 12 months. Surgical efforts to reduce remnant lens epithelial cells are needed during low fluidic-dynamic parameter surgery.
Cataract ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Operative Time ; Phacoemulsification ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Visual Acuity