Male genital tract inflammatory conditions may be associated with unexplained infertility. The presence of cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was reported in the semen of infertile men. However, the effect of these cytokines on human sperm function is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in-vitro effects of TNF-alpha on human sperm motility with computer assisted sperm analysis. Washed sperm from 16 normal men were incubated without and with TNF-alpha(0.1, 10, 1000 ng/ml). The changes of parameters of sperm motility were recorded at different time intervals (0, 5, 24 hour). There was no significant change of parameters of sperm motility in the incubation with TNF-alpha. It is suggested that TNF-alpha alone does not interfere with the sperm motility and more studies are needed.
Cytokines ; Humans ; Infertility ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

PURPOSE: This study performed to identify the association between various nutritional indices including biochemical, anthropometric variables and mortality in Korean elderly. METHODS: Among a total of 151,000 subjects over 40 years of living in Jung-up district, 1051 was selected using a random cluster sample method. Between Dec 1996 and Feb 1997, they underwent the blood tests and anthropometric measurements. Three years later, on Dec 2000, we investigated the mortality of the 340 subjects that had been over 65 years at the enroll time. RESULTS: Of the 1051 subjects(M:F=410:641), 340 were over 65 years at the enroll time, 34(10%) had died by 3 years follow up. After adjustment of age and sex, decreased Hb, Hct, serum protein, albumin, increased serum creatinine were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality(p<0.05) among the variables. Especially serum albumin remained strong predictors of mortality after cont rolling for other significant variables(RR=0.15, 95% CI=0.03-0.63, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: We confirmed the strong independent association with serum albumin and mortality in the rural community dwelling ambulatory elderly Koreans.
Aged* ; Creatinine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Mortality ; Nutrition Assessment ; Rural Population ; Serum Albumin

Livedo reticularis is a mottled bluish discoloration of the skin which occurs in a netlike pattern and is not a diagnosis in itself, but is a nonspecific reaction pattern. It may be classified as idiopathic and secondary livedo reticularis. Decompression sickness can occur during decompression after diving into deep sea water or during a rapiid ascent from sea level, and is one of the many causes of the secondary livedo reticularis. We report a case of livedo reticulris which developed in a patient with decompression sickness. A biopsy from the purpuric patch revealed an unusual histopathologic finding that resembles those of bullae and sweat gland necrosis in drug induced coma.
Biopsy ; Coma ; Decompression Sickness* ; Decompression* ; Diagnosis ; Diving ; Humans ; Livedo Reticularis* ; Necrosis ; Seawater ; Skin ; Sweat Glands

Promoting women's health lifestyles are important due to their connection to family health. The purpose of this study was to analyse women's health lifestyles(HLP) and their effects on women's life-cycle, so in order to develop a program in a women's health care center. The subjects included were 1080 women over 18 years old living in Wonju city, and were selected by stratified and purposive sampling. The data were collected through a questionnaire and interview. The Cronbach alpha, %, mean, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and regression in SPSS PC Win. package was used to analyze the data. The sample was sepernted into three groups premarital group 20.2%(premarital women between 18 and 40 years old), delivery and children rearing group 49.9%(marital women between 18 and 40 years old), over middle agedelderly group 29.9%(women over 41 years old). Significant difference were found in the HPL according to group. Also, relating variables, such as self-efficacy, family functions, health locus of control and gender role perception that were considered relating variables to HPL significantly differed among the tree groups. HLP significantly correlated with self-efficacy, family functions, HLOC and gender role perception in all participants and at all groups. The regression analysis of HPL was interpreted 40.6% with relating variables, self-efficacy, health attention, family functions, and internal locus of control, health perception, power other locus of control and chance locus of control in all participant. Self-efficacy, family functions, health attention were considered important variables in premarital group, self-efficacy, family functions, internal locus of control, health attention, health perception and power of control were important in delivery-rearing group. Self-efficacy, health attention, internal locus of control, family functions and health perception were important in middle aged-elderly group. As a result, we found the differences HPL scores and relating variables according to life-cycle groups. Therefore, we should prepare health promoting education programs for women according to women's life cycles. Also we suggest that women's health care centers based on communities was needed for proper management of women's health.
Adolescent ; Child ; Education ; Family Health ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Internal-External Control ; Life Cycle Stages ; Life Style* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Women's Health

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study was to analyze the effects of a health education program using problem-based learning on health related knowledge, behavior, and quality of life in elderly people. METHODS: The participants included 44 elders, of whom 23 took the health education program and 21 did not. All participants were over 60 yr of age and were selected from residents of nursing homes or participants in activities of social welfare facilities in Jeju Province. Elders in both groups completed pre- and post-tests. Elders in the education group participated in 5 weekly sessions, 100-120 min/session of problem-based learning on health education. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 12.0. RESULTS: Scores for health knowledge, health behavior, and quality of life for the education group were significantly higher than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: A problem-based learning health education program can be recommended as a method to promote the health of the elders. Indirectly, the results seem to indicate that proper assessment and support should be provided simultaneously in the management of elders' health. Finally, future study is needed to examine whether problem-based learning is more helpful compared to traditional education.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Demography ; Female ; *Health Education ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Nursing Homes ; Program Evaluation ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: It is important to identify problems in elders' health through health examination as a part of health service for elders and to execute health education so that elders have appropriate abilities to manage and protect themselves. This study was attempted to assess the need of health education in the elderly and to analyze factors affecting the need of health education. METHOD: The participants in this study were 354 elderly people living independently in the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province of Korea, and a questionnaire survey was conducted through personal interviews from June 25 to July 26, 2007. The methodology was a descriptive study. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS Win 12.0. RESULTS: As for the contents of education, elders preferred most the area of 'prevention and management of elderly diseases.' Detailed education contents preferred by elders were the prevention of accidents, diet habits, exercise and weight management, mental health and stress management, complementary and alternative therapies, management of drinking and smoking, etc. CONCLUSION: According to elders' concerns and needs, systemic health education for the elderly should provide right health knowledge, health maintenance, health promotion and setting of appropriate health education.
Aged* ; Complementary Therapies ; Drinking ; Education ; Food Habits ; Health Education* ; Health Promotion ; Health Services ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A 35 year old woman, gravid 5, multiparous, was admitted to our department at 6 weeks and 5 days of gestation after being diagnosed with cervical pregnancy. Before the evacuation, the uterine arteries were embolized using angiographic techniques. As a result, dilatation and curettage were performed with minimal hemorrhage. We report one case of cervical pregnancy managed, successfully with preoperative uterine artery embolization and evacuation.
Adult ; Dilatation and Curettage ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pregnancy* ; Uterine Artery Embolization* ; Uterine Artery*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare nursing students before using problem-based learning and after the experience in: class satisfaction, tendency to critical thinking, learning attitude and motivation. METHOD: The data were collected on March 20 and June 5, 2008. The PBL study was given for 15 weeks from March through June involving 216 junior nursing students. To test effects of PBL, a one group pretest-posttest design was used. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0. Paired t-test, chi-square-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient were performed. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows: Following PBL, the students scored significantly higher on the class satisfaction (t=-3.321, p= .001), tendency to critical thinking (t=-2.218, p= .034), learning attitude (t=-2.910, p= .004) and motivation (t=-4.407, p<.001). The Pearson correlation coefficients among the three variables were significantly positive. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to our understanding of outcomes from the PBL approach. The students undertaking PBL showed that they developed a more positive attitude with their educational experience. Also, students' tendency to think critically improved through the use of the PBL approach.
Humans ; Learning ; Mortuary Practice ; Motivation ; Problem-Based Learning ; Students, Nursing ; Thinking

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia(NAIT) is a rare disease caused by maternal alloimmunization against fetal platelet surface antigen, which is mainly platelet specific alloantigen or human leukocyte antigen(HLA). During routine hemotology, we accidentally discovered thrombocytopenia in a female fullterm newborn admitted due to jaundice. We excluded NAIT due to human platelet alloantigen(HPA), because the HPA of the mother and baby were the same on PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism). Mother's serum was tested for lyrnphocytotoxity against 36 donor lymphocytes, and anti-HLA A2, A24 and B58 were found. HLA typing of the father and baby revealed A2 antigen which was not present on the mothers lymphocytes. The patient received concentrated platelet and intravenous globulin. Her platelet count increased to 222,000/mm from 3,000/mm on the 11th day of life. We described a case of NAIT due to anti-HLA A2 antibody with a detailed clinical feature. (J Korean Pediatr Soc 1999;43:861-865)
Antigens, Surface ; Blood Platelets ; Fathers ; Female ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Isoantigens ; Jaundice ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mothers ; Platelet Count ; Rare Diseases ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune* ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged* ; Myofibroblasts