PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing file-up family stress in the family with a family member having a chronic mental illness. METHOD: Data was collected by questionnaires from 365 families with a member having a chronic mental illness, in an outpatient clinic of a General Hospital and Government Psychiatric Hospital in Seoul. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULT: The score of file-up stress showed a significantly negative correlation with the score of level of hardiness (r=-.31, p=.00), family support (r=-.13, p=.00), family cohesion (r=-.25, p=.00), and sense of coherence (r=-.26, p=.00). The most powerful predictor of file-up stress was family hardiness and the variance was 11.1%. A combination of hardiness, family support, and sense of coherence account for 14.8 % of the variance in file-up stress of the family with a member having a chronic mental illness. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that family support, hardiness, cohesion, and sense of coherence are significant influencing factors on file-up stress inthe family with a member having a chronic mental illness.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Caregivers/*psychology ; Chronic Disease ; *Family ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Mental Disorders ; Middle Aged ; Stress, Psychological/*etiology

Because the penetrating cervical tracheoesophageal injury may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, it is important to choose the optimal method of diagnosis and management in patient with tracheoesophageal injury. We obtained a satisfactory result from repair of tracheoesophageal injuries using cardiopulmonary bypass. If the bleeding from the unidentified deep injury and the spread of infection could be controlled, the repair using CPB might increase the margin of safety during operation in the similar cases.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Wounds, Stab*

During recent years, cases of toxic shock syndrome have been reported with increasing frequency in plastic surgery patients. The majority of reports relate to aesthetic plastic surgical procedures such as rhinoplasty, augmentation mammoplasty, liposuction, and chemical peeling. We report a case of toxic shock syndrome with necrotizing fascitis after liposuction in a 23-year-old woman who had erythema and edema, blister formation and gangrene in the skin. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit, and treatment was initiated with vigorous fluid resuscitation and intravenous antibiotic therapy. During the next days, the condition of the patient worsened, and pulmonary insufficiency required intubation and mechanical ventilation. Surgical treatment with multiple incision and irrigation was performed on the first, third and eighteenth day. The patient was discharged in good health on the 30th day after admission. Toxic shock syndrome with necrotizing fascitis is a rare disease; therefore, it is important to review its diagnostic and clinical features as only early diagnosis and prompt, radical surgery improves the survival rate.
Blister ; Early Diagnosis ; Edema ; Erythema ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Female ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Lipectomy ; Mammaplasty ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; Respiration, Artificial ; Resuscitation ; Rhinoplasty ; Shock, Septic ; Skin ; Surgery, Plastic ; Young Adult

Many researches are being done to study the effect of toothpaste containing natural extracts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plaque control effect and therapeutic effect of toothpaste products containing chitosan extract. 120 healthy subjects with gingivitis or early periodontitis were divided into two groups. Subjects in the experimental group only used toothpaste containing chitosan and subjects in the control group used toothpaste without chitosan. At first, subjects received scaling and tooth brushing instruction. Gingival index, bleeding index, probing pocket depth, probing attachment level were scored at baseline, 2 months, and 3 months, and plaque index were scored at baseline, 1month, 2months, 3months. Gingival index of experimental group and control group at baseline, 2 months, and 3 months use were 0.71+/-0.66, 0.49+/-0.55, 0.36+/-0.49 and 0.62+/-0.58, 0.51+/-0.52, 0.48+/-0.50 (mean+/-SD), respectively (statistically significant different at p<0.05 ). Plaque index of experimental group and control group at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months were 0.52+/-0.50, 0.43+/-0.50, 0.39+/-0.49, 0.29+/-0.46 and 0.49+/-0.50, 0.50+/-0.50, 0.51+/-0.50, 0.45+/-0.50, respectively (statistically significant different at p<0.05 ). Bleeding index of experimental group and control group were 0.40+/-0.49, 0.33+/-0.47, 0.24+/-0.43 and 0.40+/-0.49, 0.38+/-0.49, 0.30+/-0.46, respectively (statistically significant different at p<0.05 ). Probing depth of experimental group and control group were 2.41+/-0.64, 2.31+/-0.60, 2.28+/-0.55 and 2.51+/-0.67, 2.47+/-0.63, 2.42+/-0.62, respectively (statistically significant different at p<0.05 ). Attachment level of experimental group and control group were, 2.46+/-0.70, 2.36+/-0.66, 2.32+/-0.62 and 2.54+/-0.70, 2.51+/-0.69, 2.46+/-0.66, respectively (statistically significant different at p<0.05 ). From these finding, it can be concluded that toothpaste containing chitosan have better plaque control effect and therapeutic effect on gingivitis and early periodontitis compared to conventional toothpastes.
Chitosan* ; Gingivitis ; Hemorrhage ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis ; Tooth ; Toothpastes*

Chitosan has been widely researched as bone substitution materials and membranes in orthopedic/periodontal applications. Chitosan nanofiber membrane was fabricated by chitosan nanofiber using electrospinning technique. The structure of the membrane is nonwoven, three-dimensional, porous, and nanoscale fiber-based matrix. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of chitosan nanofiber membrane and to evaluate its capacity of bone regeneration in rabbit calvarial defect. Ten mm diameter round cranial defects were made and covered by 2 kinds of membranes (Gore-Tex membrane, chitosan nanofiber membrane) in rabbits. Animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks after surgery. Decalcified specimens were prepared and observed by microscope. Chitosan nanofiber membrane maintained its shape and space at 4 weeks. No inflammatory cells were seen on the surface of the membrane. In calvarial defects, new bone bridges were formed at all defect areas and fused to original old bone. No distortion and resorption was observed in the grafted chitosan nanofiber membrane. However bone bridge formation and new bone formation at the center of the defect could not be seen in Gore-Tex membranes. It is concluded that the novel membrane made of chitosan nanofiber by electrospinning technique may be used as a possible tool for guided bone regeneration.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration* ; Chitosan* ; Membranes* ; Nanofibers* ; Osteogenesis ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Rabbits ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the gustatory function between age-matched men and women in Korean subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Healthy non-smoking volunteers without smell and taste disorders were investigated. Thirty-nine men and women of the same age group were evaluated for gustatory function. Whole mouth taste test was performed with successive solutions of sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, and quinine hydrochloride. The electrical taste thresholds were measured using an electrogustometer for four different sites in the oral cavity, i.e., both sides of anterior and posterior tongue. RESULTS: Female subjects had lower mean values of detection and recognition thresholds for all of the four tastes than male subjects, although these results did not reach statistical significance except for the detection threshold for salt and the recognition threshold for quinine. In electrogustometry, thresholds in the posterior tongue of glossopharyngeal nerve area were significantly higher for men than women. CONCLUSION: Men had higher taste threshold than women of the same age category. For additional information on the effects of gender and aging on taste thresholds, further studies including a large number of well-controlled subjects are essential.
Aging ; Citric Acid ; Female ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Quinine ; Smell ; Sodium Chloride ; Sucrose ; Taste Disorders ; Taste Threshold* ; Tongue ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Salt-taste threshold can influence salt appetite, and is thought to be another marker of sodium intake. Many studies have found an association between sodium intake and blood pressure. The aim of this study was to compare the salt-taste threshold and salt intake between hypertensive and normotensive groups. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred twenty volunteers (51 men and 69 women) who did not take antihypertensive medications were evaluated. First, a questionnaire, which included questions regarding demographic information and preference of salty taste, was conducted, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was checked. Then salt taste threshold was measured by assessing the ability of the subjects to discern the taste of salt in graded solutions of saline. Lastly, 24-hour urinary sodium was measured in a 24-hour urine collection. RESULTS: The salt taste threshold and taste preference for salt were slightly higher in hypertensive group. There was slightly higher salt intake measured as 24-hour urinary sodium in the hypertensive group, compared with the normotensive group. However, there were no significant differences in salt taste threshold, preference of salty taste, and salt intake between the normotensive and the hypertensive groups. CONCLUSION: The threshold of salt taste was not related to sodium intake and hypertension status. These results suggest that the development of hypertension depends on the complex interaction of factors such as genes and environmental factors rather than sensory factors like taste threshold and taste preference.
Appetite ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Sodium ; Sodium Chloride ; Taste Threshold* ; Urine Specimen Collection ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: Direct application of atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJs) has been established as an effective method of microbial decontamination. This study aimed to investigate the bactericidal effect of direct application of an APPJ using helium gas (He-APPJ) on Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilms on sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium discs. METHODS: On the SLA discs covered by P. gingivalis biofilms, an APPJ with helium (He) as a discharge gas was applied at 3 different time intervals (0, 3, and 5 minutes). To evaluate the effect of the plasma itself, the He gas–only group was used as the control group. The bactericidal effect of the He-APPJ was determined by the number of colony-forming units. Bacterial viability was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and bacterial morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: As the plasma treatment time increased, the amount of P. gingivalis decreased, and the difference was statistically significant. In the SEM images, compared to the control group, the bacterial biofilm structure on SLA discs treated by the He-APPJ for more than 3 minutes was destroyed. In addition, the CLSM images showed consistent results. Even in sites distant from the area of direct He-APPJ exposure, decontamination effects were observed in both SEM and CLSM images. CONCLUSIONS: He-APPJ application was effective in removing P. gingivalis biofilm on SLA titanium discs in an in vitro experiment.
Bacterial Load ; Biofilms ; Decontamination ; Helium ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methods ; Microbial Viability ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Plasma Gases ; Plasma ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Porphyromonas ; Stem Cells ; Titanium