BACKGROUND: Non ulcer dyspepsia(NUD) is a commonly encountered disease at the primary practice. The relations of functional gastrointestinal disorder and Irritable bowel syndrome with depression or stress were suggested by previous studies. But the contributions of the anxiety, depression and stress as a whole to the NUD were not assessed. In this study, we wanted to show the associations of the anxiety, depression and stress levels with NUD. METHODS: This study was performed by case and control method from Aug. 1 to Sep. 7 at the outpatient department of Family Medicine and at the Health Management and Service department in Pusan Paik Hospital. The both groups were matched by sex and age. The case was defined who has three or more symptoms among nine upper gastrointestinal symtoms like dyspepsia, epigastric pain and anorexia etc. frequently or alwalys and who has no ulcer at the gastrofibroscope. The anxiety, depression, stress levels were measured by questionnaire which was validated by previous studies. The questionnaire was composed of Trait-STAI, Jung's Self Depression Scale(SDS), Modified BEPSI, and Grobal Assessment of Recent Stress(GARS) Scale. RESULTS: The total subjects were 136 persons(NUD group : 86 persons/control group : 86 persons). There were. significant differances in regularity of diet(P<0.001), levels of education(P=0.009), and history of medications(P<0.001) between two groups. The two group had higher scores than the control group in the depression score, anxiety score and modified BEPSI score(P<0.001). All items in GARS showed higher scores in NUD group than in control group(P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: NUD group had higher degree of anxiety and depression than the control group. It seems that the NUD may have streeful status. When we encounter the NUD in outpatiet department, we had better consider the underlying psychogenic or stressful conditions.
Anorexia ; Anxiety* ; Busan ; Depression* ; Dyspepsia* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Outpatients ; Ulcer* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Background: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors influencing nurses' perception of just culture, and to provide basic data for the establishment of just culture. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted from April 8, 2020 to April 23, 2020 for 168 nurses at hospital in Seoul. The research tools were Petschonek’s JCAT, modified by the researchers and Korean version of practice environment scale of nursing work index (K-PES-NWI). Results: The average age of the participants was 30.5 years, and total clinical career was 7.10 years. The perception of nursing work environment and just culture perception were 2.91±0.50 out of 5 and 4.91±0.72 out of 7, respectively. Through regression analysis with 33.0% of accountability, it was found that the perception of just culture was associated with nursing work environment (β=0.726, P<0.001). Conclusions Study findings suggest that intervention for the improvement of nursing work environment can be effective to increase the perception of just culture, additionally, the program to improve just culture perception should be developed and applied, and verify its effectiveness.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cigarette smoking has been reported to be associated with arterial stiffness. However, the clinical relevance of smoking cessation on arterial stiffness is debatable. Thus, we evaluated whether smoking cessation is associated with arterial stiffness.METHODS: A total of 1,169 male participants aged 30–64 years with absence of cardiovascular diseases in 2013–2017 were selected from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center cohort study. The subjects were classified into the following 5 groups based on self-reporting: non-smokers, former smokers (<1, 1 to <10, and ≥10, years after cessation), and current smokers. Arterial stiffness was assessed using the augmentation index (AIx). The radial artery AIx was obtained from the peripheral artery waveform. The association was explored cross-sectionally.RESULTS: The AIx of former smokers did not differ from that of non-smokers (p=0.089). However, after former smokers were stratified by duration of smoking cessation, we noted a linear trend according to the smoking status (p<0.001). Men who quit smoking <1 year ago showed an elevated AIx (β=3.94, standard error=1.54, p=0.011) as much as ones of current smokers (β=4.39, standard error=0.74, p<0.001), while those who quit more than a decade ago showed an AIx similar to that of non-smokers (β=0.35, standard error=0.82, p=0.670) after controlling covariates.CONCLUSIONS: A dose-response association between smoking cessation and AIx was revealed, which implies the possibility of a reversible effect of smoking cessation on arterial stiffness. Therefore, our findings may motivate current smokers to modify their smoking habits to delay or reverse disease progression.
Arteries ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Disease Progression ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases ; Radial Artery ; Smoke ; Smoking Cessation ; Smoking ; Vascular Stiffness

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cigarette smoking has been reported to be associated with arterial stiffness. However, the clinical relevance of smoking cessation on arterial stiffness is debatable. Thus, we evaluated whether smoking cessation is associated with arterial stiffness. METHODS: A total of 1,169 male participants aged 30–64 years with absence of cardiovascular diseases in 2013–2017 were selected from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center cohort study. The subjects were classified into the following 5 groups based on self-reporting: non-smokers, former smokers (<1, 1 to <10, and ≥10, years after cessation), and current smokers. Arterial stiffness was assessed using the augmentation index (AIx). The radial artery AIx was obtained from the peripheral artery waveform. The association was explored cross-sectionally. RESULTS: The AIx of former smokers did not differ from that of non-smokers (p=0.089). However, after former smokers were stratified by duration of smoking cessation, we noted a linear trend according to the smoking status (p<0.001). Men who quit smoking <1 year ago showed an elevated AIx (β=3.94, standard error=1.54, p=0.011) as much as ones of current smokers (β=4.39, standard error=0.74, p<0.001), while those who quit more than a decade ago showed an AIx similar to that of non-smokers (β=0.35, standard error=0.82, p=0.670) after controlling covariates. CONCLUSIONS A dose-response association between smoking cessation and AIx was revealed, which implies the possibility of a reversible effect of smoking cessation on arterial stiffness. Therefore, our findings may motivate current smokers to modify their smoking habits to delay or reverse disease progression.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a high risk factor for various chronic diseases. Therefore, physicians are expected to play a critical role in patients smoking cessation. There have been a number of studies which show that cessation recommendation by physicians is effective for patients to stop smoking. The purpose of this study is to assess physicians smoking status and its effect on physicians attitude for their advice to patients to quit smoking. METHODS: During August and September in 1995, self-report questionnaire was distributed to doctors in Jin-Gu, Pusan. It consisted of inquiries on their demographic features, their smoking status, whether physicians ask patients their smoking status or not, whether physicians advise patients to quit smoking or not, and whether physicians confirm patients smoking cessation. Among 203 responses returned, 193 cases was analyzed. RESULTS: Among the total 193 persons, 60 persons are smoking now(31.4%, Men 34.5%, women 0%), and 88 persons(67.2%) are ex-smoker. 84.1% of smokers have tried to quit smoking, and stress was the most common reason for failure. Smoking rate and experience rate were higher in men than in women(P<0.001), but there were no significant differences in smoking rate and experience rate according to ages, religions, specialties, hospital types, and positions. Among responders 144 cases(75.0%) asked smoking status of patients. 21.4% of them asked smoking status of all patients who may smoke, and 25.0% of them hardly ask smoking status of patients. For question about patients' smoking status, the younger physicians were more active in asking smoking status of patients(p=0.038), and the physicians in hospital did much more than physicians in university hospital and private clinics(p=0.015). Among responders, 161 persons(84.7%) advised patients to quit smoking, and 19.5% of them advised to quit smoking for all patients who smoked. However, 15.3% of them hardly gave patients such suggestion. It was found that there was no significant relationship between physicians smoking status and attitudes toward giving patients suggestion to quit smoking. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that there was no significant relationship between physicians smoking status and their attitudes toward giving patients suggestion to quit smoking, and physicians smoking status did not have any effect on smoking cessation advice. However, this study does not exclude the possibility that the results might be reversed, if the census would be extended to broader area. Physicians should take an active role against smoking.
Busan ; Censuses ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: Elevated serum triglyceride levels are a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. A number of studies have demonstrated a positive association between psychological stress and serum triglyceride levels. However, there is limited evidence regarding the impact of stressful life events (SLEs) on serum triglyceride levels in the healthy population. Therefore, we evaluated the independent association between SLEs and serum triglyceride levels in a middle-aged Korean population. METHODS: We analyzed a sample of 2,963 people (aged 30-64 years; 36% men) using baseline data from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) cohort study. The Korean version of the Life Experience Survey questionnaire was used to measure the presence and positiveegative impact of SLEs. Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as a fasting serum triglyceride level of ≥ 150 mg/dL. RESULTS: Of the 2,963 participants, 33.1% reported at least 1 SLE over the past 6 months and 24.8% had hypertriglyceridemia. Even after adjusting for potential confounders, the serum triglyceride level was significantly associated with the total number of SLEs in men (3.333 mg/dL per event; p= 0.001), but not in women (0.451 mg/dL per event, p= 0.338). Hypertriglyceridemia was also associated with having 4 or more SLEs with positive effects (odds ratio [OR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.02 to 6.46) and 4 or more SLEs with negative effects (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.16 to 3.41) in men. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that SLEs may increase the risk of hypertriglyceridemia in middle-aged men.

OBJECTIVES: Elevated serum triglyceride levels are a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. A number of studies have demonstrated a positive association between psychological stress and serum triglyceride levels. However, there is limited evidence regarding the impact of stressful life events (SLEs) on serum triglyceride levels in the healthy population. Therefore, we evaluated the independent association between SLEs and serum triglyceride levels in a middle-aged Korean population. METHODS: We analyzed a sample of 2,963 people (aged 30-64 years; 36% men) using baseline data from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) cohort study. The Korean version of the Life Experience Survey questionnaire was used to measure the presence and positiveegative impact of SLEs. Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as a fasting serum triglyceride level of ≥ 150 mg/dL. RESULTS: Of the 2,963 participants, 33.1% reported at least 1 SLE over the past 6 months and 24.8% had hypertriglyceridemia. Even after adjusting for potential confounders, the serum triglyceride level was significantly associated with the total number of SLEs in men (3.333 mg/dL per event; p= 0.001), but not in women (0.451 mg/dL per event, p= 0.338). Hypertriglyceridemia was also associated with having 4 or more SLEs with positive effects (odds ratio [OR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.02 to 6.46) and 4 or more SLEs with negative effects (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.16 to 3.41) in men. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that SLEs may increase the risk of hypertriglyceridemia in middle-aged men.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endomyocardial biopsy is obligatory during the first year after heart transplant (HTx) for the surveillance of acute rejection. Previous attempts using cardiac biomarkers for the detection of rejection failed to show enough evidence to substitute endomyocardial biopsy. Therefore, this study sought the possibility of using soluble ST2 (sST2), a novel cardiovascular marker, as a surrogate marker for acute allograft rejection after HTx. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 494 blood samples acquired at the time of endomyocardial biopsy were analyzed in 67 HTx cases from September 2006 to August 2014. Significant rejection was defined as International Society of Heart and Lung Transplant (ISHLT) score ≥2R and humoral rejection accompanied by hemodynamic instability. RESULTS: Twenty cases of HTx with 22 blood samples showed significant rejection in endomyocardial biopsy at 4.0 (2.0-9.0) months after HTx. The level of sST2 showed positive correlation with cardiac troponin I, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (all p<0.001), and negative correlation with post-HTx months (p<0.001). The levels of sST2 according to the ISHLT scores were 36 (19-98), 28 (18-62), 15 (16-37), and 191 (85-343) ng/mL, consecutively 0R, 1R, 2R, and 3R+ (3R plus hemodynamically-unstable humoral rejection) (p=0.003). However, when we studied within-subject effects of sST2 using a mixed model, the sST2 level according to the predefined time point was not different according to the presence of significant rejection (p for interaction=0.94). CONCLUSION: Although sST2 is known as a promising predictor for cardiovascular events, its role in HTx patients to predict acute allograft rejection seems to be limited.
Allografts ; Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Graft Rejection ; Heart Transplantation ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Lung ; Troponin I

Adrenal hemorrhages caused by blunt abdominal trauma have been frequently reported, and most of the lesions are unilateral. In contrast, bilateral hemorrhage of the adrenal glands after trauma rarely occurs in subjects with predisposing conditions such as coagulopathy, thromboembolism, and sepsis. Furthermore, bilateral hemorrhage of the adrenal glands is potentially fatal by inducing acute adrenal insufficiency. Here,a case of a 40-year-old man who developed traumatic bilateral adrenal hemorrhage after a car accident, without any predisposing condition, is reported. The spontaneous shrinkage of the bilateral lesions revealed in the follow-up abdominal computed tomography (CT) scansupported the aforementioned diagnosis. Fortunately, the patient had no clinical or biochemical evidence suggesting acute adrenal insufficiency. To these authors' knowledge, this is the first South Korean report of traumatic bilateral adrenal hemorrhage in a subject with no predisposing factors.
Adenoma ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Sepsis ; Thromboembolism

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is often difficult in cases showing diverse histological differentiation or in undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma (UES). Recently, JAZF1/JJAZ1 gene fusion has been described as a defining feature of low-grade ESS (LGESS). However, its prevalence is variably reported, and the diagnostic utility has rarely been examined for cases showing various histological differentiation. METHODS: To test the diagnostic utility of JAZF1/JJAZ1 gene fusion in difficult cases, we compared the prevalence of the JAZF1/JJAZ1 fusion gene in LGESS with and without histological differentiation. RESULTS: The JAZF1/JJAZ1 fusion transcript was detected in 18 of 21 LGESS (85.7%), including 14 classical LGESS (93%), four LGESS with diverse histological differentiation (67%), and two with UES (28.6%). Positive cases included two LGESS with sex cord-like differentiation, one with osseous differentiation, and two UES. LGESS showing smooth muscle differentiation revealed the fusion transcript only in the classic area. Direct sequencing analysis of two LGESS revealed a previously reported breakpoint at t(7;17)(p15;q21). CONCLUSIONS: The JAZF1/JJAZ1 fusion gene was identified in a significant proportion of LGESS showing secondary histological differentiation except in cases with smooth muscle differentiation. Thus, this fusion gene may be useful to confirm the diagnosis in difficult cases of LGESS.
Gene Fusion ; Muscle, Smooth ; Prevalence ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal