The human semen ejaculated in a form of liquid state, coagulates immediately after ejaculation, and then liquefies again. However, the mechanisms of neither coagulation and liquefaction of semen have not been explained clearly so far, and very limited numbers of report are available, although the spermatology and andrology made rapid progress. This clinical study has been undertaken to investigate the liquefaction phenomena and practicability of the results might be applied to fertility and infertility problems. As a preliminary study, in this report the liquefaction time of various semen groups is measured and analyzed. The following results are obtained: 1. An average liquefaction time of semen of a total of 60 subjects:25 minutes. 2. An average liquefaction time of semen according to sperm count: I) Normospermia group(20 cases) :34 minutes. 2) Oligospermia group(20 cases) :21 minutes. 3) Azoospermia group(20 cases) :20 minutes. An average liquefaction time of semen according to abstinence period: I) Less than 3 days group(20 cases) :22 minutes. 2) More then 5 days group(30 cases) :28 minutes. In conclusion: I. The liquefaction time of semen of the normospermia group is longer than oligospermia group or azoosermia group. 2. The liquefaction time of semen may not be greatly influenced by the various factors such as abstinence period. semen volume, semen pH. age of the subjects and so on. In routine semen analyses, it is recommended to begin the analysis at least 25 minutes after the ejaculation. 4. Further studies are required in conjunction with practical application of liquefaction mechanism in infertility and fertility control.
Andrology ; Azoospermia ; Contraception ; Ejaculation ; Fertility ; Humans* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infertility ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Semen Analysis ; Semen* ; Sperm Count

No abstract available.
H-Reflex*

PURPOSE:Several drugs such as insulin, propranolol, levodopa, glucagon and clonidine have been used for pharmacological growth hormone(GH) provocative test, and each medical center chooses different combinations of drugs during GH provocative tests. In this study, authors compared three drugs insulin(RI), clonidine(C), and propranolol-levodopa(P-L) in terms of GH secretory ability to select the most effective drug. METHODS:Study patients consisted of 63 children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency, who were diagnosed 'H deficiency'in the department of pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital between January, 1995 and December, 1995. Peak values of GH by each drug were analyzed and following results were obtained. RESULTS:Numbers of patients who showed peak GH values of < or = 5ng/mL, 6-9ng/ mL or > or = 10ng/mL were 23, 22 and 18 respectively in GH provocative test using RI, 48, 12 and 3, respectively in GH provocative test using P-L, 55, 8 and 0, respectively in GH provocative test using C. The numbers of patients showing peak growth hormone values over 6ng/mL were more significantly in GH provocative test using RI than those using P-L or C(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among drugs authors have been using in GH provocative tests, RI was more effective in stimulating growth hormone secretion than P-L or C. Authors feel that RI should be included in GH provocative tests for the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.
Child ; Clonidine* ; Diagnosis ; Glucagon ; Growth Hormone* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Levodopa ; Pediatrics ; Propranolol

Burns is children result in the loss of precious life, or if the child survives, in much suffering from physical, emotional, social, and economic problems. These burn accidents to children happen in the bustle of family life and frequently without any warning. With this background information, this study was designed to identity types of burns in children and mother's attitudes towards, and knowledge of burn prevention, in order, to not only, in still a safety consciousness regarding the seriousness of burn accidents and the strengthening prevention, but also as basic data towards the development of an educational program aimed at prevention. From May 1 to May 25 in 1997, data were collected from the mothers of children attending five day care centers and kindergartens located in Seoul, which had been selected for the study. The tools used for the study, which were developed by the researchers, surveyed the type of burns suffered by children, mother's knowledge of burns and attitudes toward burn accidents. The data were analyzed through real numbers percentages and analysis was done using SPSS computer programs. The results of the study show that the most frequent type of burn accidents were those caused by hot water(55.4%) and these were frequently related to everyday habits that easily lead to danger. Further, the first aid treatment following a burn was weak. The majority of the mothers had not instructed their children on who to contact in the cape of a fire, first aid for burns, or how to take escape in the case of a fire. This left the children in a defenseless position in case of a fire. The mothers showed a lack knowledge, on what to do when a blaze is discovered, how to put out a fire, first aid for burns, escaping from a fire and appropriate water temperature, in that 50% of the time they answered incorrectly. From this study a prevention program, HIPP(Home Injury Prevention Program) could be developed that includes fire prevention habits and first aid for burns. This program can be used with kindergarten and elementary school children for group education fire prevention and can be used as a foundation for construction of a system of facilities and equipment to prevent fires and also prevent injury from fires.
Burns* ; Child* ; Consciousness ; Day Care, Medical ; Education ; Fires ; First Aid ; Humans ; Mothers ; Seoul ; United Nations ; Water ; Child Health

This study was done to compare the nutritional status of antioxidant vitamins between college women smokers and nonsmokers. Dietary intakes and serum levels of antioxidant vitamins were determined in 33 smokers and 42 nonsmokers residing in the Seoul area. Dietary intakes of vitamin A and C were determined by a quick and convenient dietary intake method. Serum vitamin C level was measured by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method and serum levels of vitamin A and E were measured by HPLC. The mean A intake of nonsmokers and smokers was 504.3 microgram R.E./day and 450. 4 microgram R.E./day and the mean vitamic C intake of nonsmokers and smokers was 51.6mg/day and 50.2mg/day, reapectively. There was no difference in the dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins between smokers and nonsmokers. The serum vitamin A level, 0.71mg/1 in nonsmokers was not significantly different from that of 0.74mg/1 in smokers. However, the serum vitamin C level, 7.94mg/1 in smokers was 15% lower(p<0.05) than that of 9.30mg/1 in nonsmokers. The serum vitamin E level, 18.15mg/1 in smoders was also 34% lower(p<0.05) than that of 27.58mg/1 in nonsmokers. There was no significant correlation between dietary intakes and serum levels of vitamin A and C for both smokers and nonsmokers. These results suggest that cigarette smokers need more dietary intakes of vitamin C and E than do nonsmokers to reach the same serum level.
Ascorbic Acid ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Humans ; Nutritional Status* ; Seoul ; Tobacco Products ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: We investigated the relationship between patient safety culture and safety care activity, and identified factors for safety care activity of entry-level nurses. METHODS: The subjects of the study were 204 entry-level nurses working at five general and advanced hospitals with over 500 beds located in C and D City. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: Perception of patient safety culture had significant correlations with safety care activity. Multiple regression analysis showed that demographic variables of quality of nursing on patient safety and health state of entry-level nurses affected safety care activity. In addition, patient safety culture in ward and communication affected safety care activity. These factors explained 38% of variance. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the study, patient safety culture promotion strategies to facilitate supportive work environment and effective communication are needed.
Humans ; Patient Safety

It is generally believed that the defense against mycobacterium leprae is largely mediated through cell-mediated immunity(CMI) and several investigators have reported a defective CMI in patients with leprosy. especially the lepromatous from. This study was undertaken to ennumerate the peripheral T-cell population in leprosy patients for evaluation of one aspect of its immune status. Fiftu-two patients with leprosy(26 tuberculoid, 17 active lepromatous, 9 inactive lepromatous) entered in this study. All the patients are under regular antileprosy chemotherapy for varing periods(10 months to 14 years). Peripheral blood T0lymphocytes were enumerated by the E-rosette technique and compared with normal healthy control. The results were as follows: The mean T-cell percentage in peripheral blood was 50.6% in 17 active lepromatous leprosy patients, 62.2% in 9 inactive lepromatous leprosy patients, 67.7% in 26 tuberculoid patients and 69.5% in 17 normal healthy controls, There was marked decrease in the peripheral T-cell ratio in active lepromatous group (p<0,005) and less marked decrease in inactive lepromatous group (0.01.
Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Research Personnel ; T-Lymphocytes

Nickel sensitivity is the most common cause of allergic metal dermatitides,, particularly in women. Women are uaually sensitized. by the objects wom close to the skin ('e.g. earring, necklace fasther, watch, suspenders, brassiere clips, etc.), and men are by occupational exposures (e.g. plating or printing industries, tools, etc.). Nickel dermatitis is frequently developed on the sites where seems to have been directly contact witb nickel substance, but secondary eruptions may develop on the areas where seems to have not been directly exposed to nickel, so that nickel dermatitie is sometimea misdiagnosed as atopic dermatitis, nummular eczema, stasis dermatitis, or other dermatitides. The authora prcsent two cases of nickel dermatitis confirmed by patch test with 2. 5% nickel sulfafte; first case-a 22 years old female who has erythemat,ous maculopapular patches on her ears, around neck, left wriat, elbows, and abdomen; second case tkat was previously misdiagnosed as mummular eczema-a 18 years old female who has large oozing and crusted patches on both lateral aspects of her right thigh and back, The authors reviewed the incidence of nickel sensitivity during past years in korea and the clinical aspect of distribution of nickel dermatitis.
Abdomen ; Adolescent ; Dermatitis* ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Ear ; Eczema ; Elbow ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Neck ; Nickel* ; Occupational Exposure ; Patch Tests ; Skin ; Thigh ; Young Adult

Mass screening of cardiomegaly by chest X-ray in 144,021 (male 55,491, female 88,530) students of primary, middle and high school (6~17 years of age) in Seoul was performed and electrocardiograms of 217 cases of cardiomegaly were studied. The results were as follows; 1) Cardiomegaly (cardiothoracic ratio over 0.5) was seen in 0.19% of each sex and it was higher in middle and high school ages (12~17 years) than primary school ages (6~11 years). 2) Incidences of abnormal electrocardiogram in cardiomegaly were 59.5% in male and 54.7% of female students. Major abnormal electrocardiograms in cardiomegaly were right ventricular hypertrophy (24.8%), left ventricular hypertrophy (11.6%), biventricular hypertrophy(4.8%), complete right bundle branch block (7.7%), incomplete right bundle branch block (8.7%), first degree A-V block (5.8%) and premature beat (4.3%). 3) Left ventficular hypertrophy was seen most frequently in high school ages (15~17 years) and decreased with decreasing age. Right ventricular hypertropy was seen most frequently in primary school ages (9~11 years) and decreased with increasing age. Biventricular hypertrophy was seen most frequently in primary school ages (6~8 years) and decreased with increasing age. 4) Complete and incomplete right vundle branch block were seen commonly in 12~17 years of age and first degree A-V block in 9~11 years of age.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Incidence

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the relation of uncertainty, uncertainty appraisal, and self-management in patients undergoing hemodialysis, and to identify factors influencing self-management. METHODS: A convenience sample of 92 patients receiving hemodialysis was selected. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and medical records. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlations and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The participants showed a moderate level of uncertainty with the highest score being for ambiguity among the four uncertainty subdomains. Scores for uncertainty danger or opportunity appraisals were under the mid points. The participants were found to perform a high level of self-management such as diet control, management of arteriovenous fistula, exercise, medication, physical management, measurements of body weight and blood pressure, and social activity. The self-management of participants undergoing hemodialysis showed a significant relationship with uncertainty and uncertainty appraisal. The significant factors influencing self-management were uncertainty, uncertainty opportunity appraisal, hemodialysis duration, and having a spouse. These variables explained 32.8% of the variance in self-management. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that intervention programs to reduce the level of uncertainty and to increase the level of uncertainty opportunity appraisal among patients would improve the self-management of hemodialysis patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Regression Analysis ; Renal Dialysis ; *Self Care ; Spouses ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; *Uncertainty