PURPOSE: The study was a non-equivalent control group, quasi-experimental study to find out the effect of the laughter therapy on anxiety and depression of burn patients. METHODS: Study subjects were 60 hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of 2nd degree burn (30 experimental group; 30 control group). Experimental group received laughter therapy by the certificated therapist. STAI questionnaire, blood pressure and pulse were checked before and after the laughter therapy. RESULTS: Before and after the laughter implementation, the experimental group's anxiety decreased, however, the comparison group's anxiety did not show significant difference. Moreover, experimental group's anxiety decreased after the implementation. Experimental group's systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure did not decrease pre/post laughter therapy mediator. The comparison group showed that systolic blood pressure increased, and diastolic blood pressure did not show significant difference. Also, experimental group's systolic blood pressure and diastolic pressure did not show significant difference after the treatment. Pre/post laughter therapy mediation did not decrease the experimental group's pulse and comparison group's pulse. Furthermore, the experimental group's pulse did not show the significant difference after the treatment. In pre/post laughter therapy mediation, the experimental group's depression was decreased, however, the comparison did not how significance difference in pre/post depression score after the treatment. Moreover, the experimental group's depression was decreased after the treatment. CONCLUSION: According the results above, the laughter therapy had effect on decreasing anxiety and depression of the burn patients and it is efficient mediator for the burn patient. Repetitive research was needed to investigate the effect of laughter on cardiovascular system since it did not have decreasing effect on the blood pressure and pulse.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Burns* ; Cardiovascular System ; Depression* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Laughter ; Laughter Therapy* ; Negotiating ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In Table 6, the unit concentration of phthalates was not correctly indicated.

The enzyme, 17 -hydroxylase, is necessary for both cortisol and estrogen synthesis. Deficiency of the hormone results in increased adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Synthesis of progesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC), corticosterone and aldosterone don't require the enzyme. The lack of estrogen results in primary amenorrhea and absent sexual maturation. The replacement of dexamethasone and estrogens has lowered the blood pressure and produced feminization. A 19-year-old female had 46,XX genotype and presented amonorrhea, absence of sexual characteristics, hypertension and hypokalemia. Endocrinologic studies demonstrated increased plasma progesterone, ACTH levels and low production of 17 -hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone. We report a rare case of 17 -hydroxylase deficency with a brief history and review of the literature.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Aldosterone ; Amenorrhea* ; Blood Pressure ; Corticosterone ; Dexamethasone ; Estrogens ; Female ; Feminization ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Plasma ; Progesterone ; Sexual Maturation ; Testosterone ; Young Adult

A 40-year-old woman just had started to take propylthiouracil for Graves disease, However, the treatment had to be interrupted because she developed skin rash, arthritis, chest pain, fever and proteinuria after 2 months. The serologic study revealed antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA) positivity, especially showing perinuclear pattern. The anti-myeloperoxidase titer was high. The hematoxylin & eosin stain of the specimen obtained from kidney was compatible with pauci-immune glomerulonephritis with crescent formation. There were no immune complex deposits under electron microscope. Such findings suggested propylthiouracil-induced vasculitis. Vasculitis is a rare side effect of propylthiouracil. Recently more cases of vasculitis associated with anti-thyroid drug with ANCA positivity are being reported up to about 36 cases worldwide. There are possibilities of underdiagnosis of this side effect, meaning more cautions on the patients under anti-thyroid drug treatment. We present a case with review of related literature.
Adult ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Arthritis ; Chest Pain ; Cytoplasm* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Glomerulonephritis ; Graves Disease ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Kidney ; Neutrophils* ; Propylthiouracil* ; Proteinuria ; Vasculitis*

BACKGROUND: Cytokeratins are epithelial markers whose expressions are not lost during malignant transformation. The utility of cytokeratin fragment (Cyfra) 21-1, a new tumor marker, was investigated in 110 patients with lung cancer. The aims of this study were to confirm sensitivity of Cyfra 21-1 in detecting non-small cell cancer, to assess the potential relationship between Cyfra 21-1 and disease stage of the lung cancer. METHODS: We measured serum levels of four tumor marker (NSE, CEA, SCC Ag, Cyfra 21-1) in 110 patients with lung cancer. The measurement of serum level of Cyfra 21-1 was performed with a cut off value of 3.3 ng/mL. An immunoradiometric assay was used to detect a fragment of the cytokeratin 19. The patients were grouped according to the stage of the disease and tumor type. RESULTS: Overall sensitivity of Cyfra 21-1 was relatively high (51.8%) than others tumor markers. Sensitivity of this marker was especially high for adenocarcinoma (63.2%) and squamous cell carcinoma (54.1%). In contrast, sensitiviy of Cyfra 21-1 was relatively low for small cell lung carcinoma (40.0%). Serum levels of Cyfra 21-1 were higher in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer than early stage disease. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Cyfra 21-1 is a sensitive tumor marker of nonsmall cell lung cancer, especially adenocarcinoma and also may be a useful adjunctive marker for disease monitoring.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Keratin-19 ; Keratins ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Biomarkers, Tumor

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the health risks for children exposed to phthalate through several pathways including house dust, surface wipes and hand wipes in child facilities and indoor playgrounds. METHODS: The indoor samples were collected from various children's facilities (40 playrooms, 42 daycare centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor-playgrounds) in both summer (Jul-Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2008). Hazard index (HI) was estimated for the non-carcinogens and the examined phthalates were diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP). The present study examined these four kinds of samples, i.e., indoor dust, surface wipes of product and hand wipes. RESULTS: Among the phthalates, the detection rates of DEHP were 98% in dust samples, 100% in surface wipe samples, and 95% in hand wipe samples. In this study, phthalate levels obtained from floor dust, product surface and children's hand wipe samples were similar to or slightly less compared to previous studies. The 50th and 95th percentile value of child-sensitive materials did not exceed 1 (HI) for all subjects in all facilities. CONCLUSIONS: For DEHP, DnBP and BBzP their detection rates through multi-routes were high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable. This study suggested that ingestion and dermal exposure could be the most important pathway of phthalates besides digestion through food.
2,4-Dinitrophenol ; Child ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; Digestion ; Dust ; Eating ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Hand ; Humans ; Phthalic Acids ; Risk Assessment

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the difference in acute stroke management between urban and rural areas, to investigate the factors affecting these differences, and to acquire basic information for establishing an efficient regional hub and spoke system for stroke patients. METHODS: This retrospective study was based on adult patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke from January 2012 to December 2012 at a regional cerebrovascular center. The term "acute" was defined as 24 hours from symptom recognized. The term "urban" was defined as the region within the boundary of a metropolitan area. The distance from the symptom onset location to the stroke center was calculated using a global positioning system. RESULTS: The rate of arriving at a stroke center within 3 hours after stroke recognition for acute ischemic stroke patients was much higher in urban areas compared to rural areas (27.5 vs. 19.2%, respectively; p-value=0.011). In stroke cases in rural areas, the distance from symptom onset location to a stroke center was determined as statistically significant through multivariate logistic regression analysis (Odds ratio (OR), 0.982; 95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.969-0.995). In contrast, the use of a public ambulance (OR, 4.258; 95% CI 2.233-8.118) and inter-hospital transfer (OR, 0.416; 95% CI 0.216-0.800) were the main prehospital delay factors in urban areas. CONCLUSION: For stroke cases in urban areas, it was important to directly visit a stroke center without transfer using a public ambulance. For rural areas, a new hub hospital and policies are necessary for reducing prehospital delay.
Adult ; Ambulances ; Emergency Medical Services ; Geographic Information Systems ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND: Vascular access failure, a major cause of morbidity in hemodialysis (HD) patients, occurs mainly at stenotic endothelium following an acute thrombotic event. Microparticles (MPs) are fragments derived from injured cell membrane and are closely associated with coagulation and vascular inflammatory responses. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between levels of circulating MPs and vascular access patency in HD patients. A total of 82 HD patients and 28 healthy patients were enrolled. We used flow cytometry to measure endothelial MPs (EMPs) identified by CD31+CD42- or CD51+ and platelet-derived MPs (PMPs) identified by CD31+CD42+ in plasma samples of participants. Vascular access patency was defined as an interval from the time of access formation to the time of first access stenosis in each patient. MP counts were compared according to access patent duration. RESULTS: The levels of EMP (both CD31+CD42- and CD51+) and CD31+CD42+PMP were significantly higher in patients than in healthy participants. Levels of CD31+CD42-EMP and CD31+CD42+PMP showed a positive correlation. In nondiabetic HD patients, CD31+CD42-EMPs and CD31+CD42+PMPs were more elevated in the shorter access survival group (access survival <1 year) than in the longer survival group (access survival > or = 4 years). CONCLUSION: Elevated circulating EMP or PMP counts are influenced by end-stage renal disease and increased levels of EMP and PMP may be associated with vascular access failure in HD patients.
Blood Platelets ; Cell Membrane ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Plasma ; Renal Dialysis

BACKGROUNDS: Pituitary hyperplasia can mimic pituitary adenoma. In MRI, enlarged pituitary gland is enhanced homogenously with upward convexity of the superior margin of the gland .The best definition of hyperplasia in the pituitary hyperplasia seems to be a multiplication of one or more cell types. But definition, etiology and clinical courses of this disease are not clear, METHOD: We reviewed clinical symptoms, MRI, and pathologic findindings in 6 patients with pituitary hyperplasia. RESULT: 1. Major clinical symptoms were headache (100%), visual field defect (84%), polyuria/polydipsia (64%), and irregular mensturation (32%). Other symptoms were amenorrhea (16%) and galactorrhea (16%). 2. Three of five cases showed abnormal responses to combined pituitary function test, 3. MRI findings were pituitary hyperplasia (4), macroadenoma (l), and microadenoma (1). 4. In two operated cases, there was no adenoma. One case showed hyperplasia of lactotroph cells, the other was hyperplasia of gonadotroph cells confirmed by the examination of immunocytochemistry. CONCLUSION: Pituitary hyperplasia should be considered in patients with enlarged pituitary gland without focal mass lesion.
Adenoma ; Amenorrhea ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Gonadotrophs ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lactotrophs ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pituitary Function Tests ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Pregnancy ; Visual Fields

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate pregnancy outcomes after placental needle penetration during midtrimester diagnostic amniocentesis. METHODS: We collected 726 singleton pregnancy cases from 1054 pregnancies of midtrime-ster diagnostic amniocentesis, and analysed pregnancy outcomes after the procedure based on medical records. To compare the outcomes, we divided 726 cases into two groups; placental penetration group by aspiration needle(170 cases) and non-penetration group(556 cases). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between two groups about maternal age and gestational age at the time of procedure, and the distribution of amniocentesis indication. In comparison of complications between two groups after procedure, a. There was no statistically significant difference in amniotic fluid leakage: in penetration group, 1 case (0.58%) and in non-penetration group, 5 cases(0.89%) were observed. b. There was no statistically significant difference in vaginal bleeding: in penetration group, 2 cases (1.18%) and in non-penetration group, 3 cases(0.54%) were observed. c. There was no statistically significant difference in developing abruptio placentae: in penetration group, no case developed and in non-penetration group, one case(0.18%) was observed. d. As for fetal loss, there was no statistically significant difference : in penetration group, 4 cases (2.35%) and in non-penetration group, 10 cases(1.80%) were occurred. e. As for birth weight, there was no statistically significant difference : in penetration group, 3.26+/-0.8 kg and in non-penetration group, 3.21+/-0.9 kg were measured. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that placental penetration by aspiration needle during diagnostic mid-trimester amniocentesis does not increase the risk of post-procedure complication.
Abruptio Placentae ; Amniocentesis* ; Amniotic Fluid ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Maternal Age ; Medical Records ; Needles* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Uterine Hemorrhage