PURPOSE: Sexual activity is a highly personal matter and uneasy to measure their problems objectively in view of clinical field. Many investigators have been continued to rely on self-report measures of sexual function. However, there have been few report measuring female sexual function in general population in Korea. This study was aimed to investigate function by self-report measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 347 married women was randomly selected and asked to fill the Brief Index of Sexual Function for Women (BISF-W) which was translated into Korean and modified by authors. Three factors-interest/desire, sexual activity, and satisfaction were analyzed. RESULTS: Women were grouped by age at 10-year intervals. 21.5% of women reported to be sexually active during the past moth, and 78.5% was inactive. Most common coital frequency in all age groups pas one-two times per month. 76.1% of women showed passive response in their initiation of sexual activities. Mostly they reach orgasm only by the vaginal intercourse, and overall satisfaction rate was 55.2% including only 25% of fifties groups followed by pain. CONCLUSIONS: In general, Korean women showed less active in their sexual lives, however, they were relatively satisfied to their sexual lives. A larger study and more sophisticated, modified questionnaire, which is more considering specific social, psychological interpersonal factors would be required.
Coitus ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Moths ; Orgasm ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Research Personnel ; Sexual Behavior*

PURPOSE: Despite the advent of new and more potent antibiotics, mortality and morbidity rates due to bacterial meningitis remain stagnant. Rapid detection of microorganism and early antibiotics treatment are the most important prognostic factors of bacterial meningitis. For early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis biochemical markers such as lactic dehydrogenase, lactic acid, C-reactive proteia have been measured in cerebrospinal fluid. Ferritin is a large, spherical molecule with propensity for oligomer formation, which causes low concentration in cerebrospinal fluid. METHODS: From May 1996 to July 1999, cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) ferritin was serially measured in 84 children who were admitted to Chonnam Natuional University Hospital Pediatric Department for evaluation of the diagnostic value of CSF ferritin in bacterial meningitis. They were divided into three groups-control(20), aseptic(40), bacterial(24)-according to inclusion criteria for each group. RESULTS: CSF ferritin level in bacterial meningitis(52.94+/-3.19ng/mL) was much higher than those of aseptic(5.26+/-2.07ng/mL), and control(3.01+/-2.52ng/mL) groups(P<0.05). CSF ferritin level of 9.20ng/mL was suggested as a cut-off value for bacterial meningitis on ROC curve(sensitivity: 92 %, specificity:81%). CSF ferritin levels were positively correlated with CSF WBC(r=0.699) and protein(r=0.734) and negatively correlated with CSF glucose(r=-0.609) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: CSF ferritin could be a good indicator for bacterial meningitis in children.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biomarkers ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Child* ; Early Diagnosis ; Ferritins* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Lactic Acid ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Mortality ; Oxidoreductases

OBJECTIVE: GnRH-agonist (GnRH-Ag) used in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for IVF-ET has been known to affect directly on apoptosis of human ovarian cells, but its mechanism is not clearly understood. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate whether caspase-3 and -9 activation and poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) cleavage are involved in the mechanism(s) by which GnRH-Ag induces apoptosis in human granulosa-luteal cells. METHODS: Human granulosa-luteal cells collected from IVF-ET patients were cultured and treated with 10(-6) M GnRH-Ag or saline as a control. To access apoptosis in the cells, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay and DNA fragmentation analysis were preformed 24 h after the treatment. Activity of caspase-3 and -9 in the cells was examined by using a fluorogenic substrate. Caspase-3 and -9 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: DNA fragmentation in the cells increased in the higher concentration over 10(-6) M GnRH-Ag. In the result of TUNEL assay, the rate of apoptotic cells in GnRH-Ag treatment increased significantly compared with that of saline treatment (p<0.05). The activity of caspase-3 and -9 investigated by using a fluorogenic substrate increased only in the apoptotic cells. In Western blot analysis, the cells treated with GnRH-Ag revealed an increase in active forms of caspase-3 and -9 compared with those of the saline treatment. In addition, cleavage of PARP also increased in the cells treated with GnRH-Ag. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that activation of caspase-3 and -9 and cleavage of PARP might be involved in apoptosis of human granulosa-luteal cells induced by GnRH-Ag.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3* ; DNA Fragmentation ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Female ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Humans* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Luteal Cells*

OBJECTIVES: Stress is a psychological reaction to stimuli such as anxiety or threat felt by a person either physically or mentally when placed in a difficult situation. Although a relationship between stress and dry mouth has been reported, it remains understudied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between stress and subjective dry mouth among the elderly living in a rural region. METHODS: A total of 214 people aged ≥60 years living in a rural area were recruited with an informed consent for a cross-sectional analysis. Information about stress and subjective dry mouth was obtained by an interview survey with a constructed questionnaire. Data on other potential confounding factors (including oral factors) such as socio-demographic data, health-related behaviors, the number of remaining teeth, and subjective chewing ability were also gathered at the same time. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship of stress and dry mouth using SPSS. RESULTS: The Crude odds ratio (OR) of stress awareness affecting subjective dry mouth was 2.59 (95% confidence interval: 1.43–4.68). After adjusting for sex, education, income, smoking, and alcohol intake, the adjusted OR was 2.52 (95% confidence interval: 1.30–4.87) which was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly people who were stressed had an approximately 2-fold increase in experiencing subjective dry mouth when compared to their stress-free counterparts.
Aged* ; Anxiety ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Logistic Models ; Mastication ; Mouth ; Odds Ratio ; Pilot Projects* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tooth

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is a rare benign neoplasm of ovarian stromal origin and predominantly affects young women in the second and third decades. This tumor characteristically differentiates itself histologically and clinically from both thecomas and fibromas. We present a case of huge SST of the ovary weighing 10 kg in a 71-year-old postmenopausal woman with a brief review of the literature.
Aged ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Ovary ; Thecoma

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is a rare benign neoplasm of ovarian stromal origin and predominantly affects young women in the second and third decades. This tumor characteristically differentiates itself histologically and clinically from both thecomas and fibromas. We present a case of huge SST of the ovary weighing 10 kg in a 71-year-old postmenopausal woman with a brief review of the literature.
Aged ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Ovary ; Thecoma

PURPOSE: Although small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has high response rate to chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT), the prognosis is dismal. The authors evaluated survival and failure patterns according to the prognostic factors in SCLC patients who had thoracic radiation therapy with chemotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty nine patients with SCLC had received thoracic radiation therapy from August 1985 to December 1996. Seventy-seven accessible patients were evaluated retrospectively among 87 patients who completed RT. Median follow-up period was 14 months (2- 87months). RESULTS: The two years survival rate was 13% with a median survival time of 14 months. The two year survival rates of limited disease and extensive disease were 20% and 8%, respectively, with median survival time of 14 months and 9 months, respectively. Twenty two patients (88%) of limited disease showed complete response (CR) and 3 patients (12%) did partial response (PR). The two year survival rates on CR and PR groups were 24% and 0%, with median survival times of 14 months and 5 months, respectively (p= 0.005). No patients with serum sodium were lower than 135 mmol/L survived 2 years and their median survival time was 7 months (p=0.002). Patients whose alkaline phophatase lower than 130 IU/L showed 26% of 2 year survival rate and showed median survival time of 14 months and those with alkaline phosphatase higher than 130 IU/L showed no 2 year survival and median survival time of 5 the months, respectively (p=0.019). No statistical differences were found according to the age, sex, and performance status. Among the patients with extensive disease, two year survivals according to the metastatic sites were 14%, 0%, and 7% in brain, liver, and other metastatic sites, respectively, with median survival time of 9 months, 9 months, and 8 months, respectively (p>0.05). Two year survivals on CR group and PR group were 15 % and 4%, respectively, with a median survival time of 11 months and 7 months, respectively (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: For SCLC, complete response after chemoradiotherapy was the most significant prognostic factor. To achieve this goal, there should be further investigation about hyperfractionation, dose escalation, and compatible chemo- radiation schedule such as concurrent chemo-radiation and early radiation therapy with chemotherapy.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Appointments and Schedules ; Brain ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Sodium ; Survival Rate

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is characterized by varying degrees of interstitial fibrosis. IL-13 and IL-4 are strong inducers of tissue fibrosis, whereas IFN-gamma has antifibrotic potential. However, the roles of these substances in IIP remain unknown. IL-13, IL-4, and IFN-gamma were measured in the BAL fluid of 16 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, 10 nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) patients, and 8 normal controls. The expression of IL-13 and IL-13Ralpha1/alpha2 in lung tissues was analyzed using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. IL-13 levels were significantly higher in IPF patients than the others (P<0.05). IL-4 levels were higher in both IPF and NSIP patients than in normal controls (P<0.05), and IFN-gamma levels were lower in NSIP patients than in normal controls (P=0.047). IL-13 levels correlated inversely with FVC% (r=-0.47, P=0.043) and DLCO% (r=-0.58, P=0.014) in IPF and NSIP patients. IL-13 was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle, bronchial epithelium, alveolar macrophages and endothelium of IPF patients. IL-13Ralpha1, rather than IL-13Ralpha2, was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle, bronchial epithelium, and endothelium of IPF patients. IL-13 and its receptors may contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrosis in IIP and appear to be related to the severity of the disease.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias/diagnosis/*metabolism ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/diagnosis/*metabolism ; Interferon-gamma/analysis ; Interleukin-13/*analysis ; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit/*metabolism ; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit/*metabolism ; Interleukin-4/analysis ; Lung/physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Background: Anterior choroidal artery (AchA) aneurysms are usually small in diameter because of the size of the involved artery and are often wide-necked. Coil embolization of AchA aneurysm is thus challenging because of serious risks, such as thromboembolic occlusion of artery and perforation of aneurysm dome. Therefore, aneurysmal neck clipping remains widely performed despite a recent increase in the use of coil embolization for aneurysm treatment. We report the treatment results of AchA aneurysms mostly (92.3%) treated with coil embolization at our institute. Methods: The database and medical records of patients who underwent coil embolization for AchA aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical and imaging results and procedure-related complications were investigated after coil embolization performed between January 2006 and March 2022 at our institute. Results: In total, 96 AchA aneurysms comprising 65 unruptured and 31 ruptured aneurysms, including only 1 ruptured aneurysm (1.0%) re-embolized at postoperative day 192 because of coil compaction, were evaluated. After the initial coil embolization, complete occlusion was attained in 41, residual neck in 45, and residual aneurysm in 10 patients. Follow-up radiological studies after 6–174 months were performed for 80 aneurysms. Complete occlusion was noted in 57 patients, residual neck in 22, and residual aneurysm in 1. The dysarthria experienced by one (1.0%) patient was the only symptomatic procedure-related complication. After coil embolization, neither delayed new rupture nor re-rupture was observed. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that coil embolization is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with AchA aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is necessary to establish the most efficient diagnostic and therapeutic method for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which is appropriate for Korean healthcare system. We aimed to evaluate current state of Korean clinician's diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for BPPV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 16-item survey was emailed to the members of dizziness department of Otology Research Interest Group in the Korean Otologic Society (n=68). 43 were returned and analyzed. RESULTS: All respondents (100%) used Dix-Hallpike test as a diagnostic tool for vertical canal-BPPV. Supine roll test was used for diagnosing lateral canal BPPV in nearly all the respondents (97.7%). Epley maneuver was chosen as otolith repositioning maneuver (ORM) for posterior canal BPPV in all respondents and barbecue rotation (BBQ) was used for treating lateral canal BPPV with geotropic nystagmus in 95.3% of respondents. Extreme variation was noted for therapeutic approach of lateral canal BPPV with ageotropic nystagmus BBQ, with 4 kinds of ORM and adjunctive measures to liberate otolith from cupula, while BBQ was again the most commonly used ORM (76.7%). CONCLUSION: The development of practical and efficient ORM for lateral canal BPPV with ageotropic nystagmus is necessary.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dizziness ; Electronic Mail ; Korea ; Otolaryngology ; Otolithic Membrane ; Public Opinion ; Vertigo