PURPOSE: To obtain basic information for studies of female sexual dysfunction, we investigated the sexual activities and attitudes of young Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey via the Internet. From July 2004 to August 2004, we sent e-mail to 43,000 women who registered with an internet research company. The recipients of the e-mail were asked to join our study if they had stable sexual activities more than once a month for the most recent 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 508 subjects completed the questionnaire, a response rate of 24.7%. Among 423 questionnaires analyzed, 176 women were single and 247 were married. The mean frequency of coitus per month was 5.5 3.9. About 40% of the women had experienced masturbation, and 112 women (26.5%) had masturbated regularly, even though they had stable sexual activities with their partner(s). Among the 423 subjects, 349 had no plan to have a baby; however, only 287 subjects (67.8%) had used a contraceptive method(s). Among those who used contraceptive methods, 183 subjects (63.8%) used methods with low success rates, such as menstrual timing or extra-vaginal ejaculation. Most of the women answered that they have a positive attitude toward sex (3.4 0.8 point on a 5 point scale) and their sex life has great importance in their life. CONCLUSIONS: Via an Internet survey, we investigated the sexual life and attitudes of young Korean women. An Internet survey requires less manpower, a shorter study period, and less research funds than classical survey methods such as mail or interview surveys. The study results obtained will be useful as basic data for studies of female sexual function in Korean women.
Coitus ; Contraception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ejaculation ; Electronic Mail ; Female ; Financial Management ; Humans ; Internet* ; Male ; Masturbation ; Postal Service ; Sexual Behavior

In allogeneic transplantation, including the B6 anti-BALB.B settings, H60 and H4 are two representative dominant minor histocompatibility antigens that induce strong CD8 T-cell responses. With different distribution patterns, H60 expression is restricted to hematopoietic cells, whereas H4 is ubiquitously expressed. H60-specific CD8 T-cell response has been known to be dominant in most cases of B6 anti-BALB.B allo-responses, except in the case of skin transplantation. To understand the mechanism underlying the subdominance of H60 during allogeneic skin transplantation, we investigated the dynamics of the H60-specific CD8 T cells in B6 mice transplanted with allogeneic BALB.B tail skin. Unexpectedly, longitudinal bioluminescence imaging and flow cytometric analyses revealed that H60-specific CD8 T cells were not always subdominant to H4-specific cells but instead showed a brief dominance before the H4 response became predominant. H60-specific CD8 T cells could expand in the draining lymph node and migrate to the BALB.B allografts, indicating their active participation in the anti-BALB.B allo-response. Enhancing the frequencies of H60-reactive CD8 T cells prior to skin transplantation reversed the immune hierarchy between H60 and H4. Additionally, H60 became predominant when antigen presentation was limited to the direct pathway. However, when antigen presentation was restricted to the indirect pathway, the expansion of H60-specific CD8 T cells was limited, whereas H4-specific CD8 T cells expanded significantly, suggesting that the temporary immunodominance and eventual subdominance of H60 could be due to their reliance on the direct antigen presentation pathway. These results enhance our understanding of the immunodominance phenomenon following allogeneic tissue transplantation.
Animals ; Antigen Presentation ; Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology/metabolism ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/*immunology ; Female ; Graft Rejection/*immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; Lymphocyte Activation/immunology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mice ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens/*immunology/metabolism ; *Skin Transplantation ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the neurocognitive functions of patients with late-life depression compared to healthy controls and their association with improvement of depressive symptoms. METHODS: We compared the results of neurocognitive tests between 41 patients with late-life depression and 20 healthy controls at baseline and 3 months later prospectively. And then we investigated the association of change of cognitive function and improvement of depressive symptoms in patients with late-life depression. RESULTS: Patients with late-life depression showed significantly impaired results in neurocognitive tests especially in domains of language, memory and frontal executive function compared to healthy control. However, after 3 months of treatment of depression, there was no association between the change of results of neurocognitive tests and the changes of scores of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). CONCLUSION: Impairment of cognitive functions in late-life depression includes the domains of language, memory and executive function and after 3 months of treatment of depression, there was no association of improvement of depressive symptom and cognitive change in patients with late-life depression.
Aged* ; Cognition ; Depression* ; Executive Function ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Memory ; Prospective Studies

Objectives: The association between statin use and depression is well studied, but the studies on the association of statin use and bipolar disorders are limited. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of taking statin on risk of bipolar disorder using national claims data of South Korea. Methods: A total of 5713871 subjects who did not take statin and were not diagnosed with bipolar disorder before the health examination were included. Among eligible subjects, 315537 subjects started taking statin within 1 year after taking the health examination and 5398334 subjects did not. After 9 years of follow-up, the incidence of bipolar disorder was determined for each group. Results: Compared to subjects who were not exposed to statin, subjects who were exposed to statin showed a greater incidence of bipolar disorder and an increased risk of bipolar disorder (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58 to 1.75), and after adjusting for age, sex, low income, regular exercise, smoking, drinking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, body mass index, cholesterol and depression (adjusted HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.40). Conclusions This result showed an increased risk of bipolar disorder after taking statin, but the underlying biological mechanism needs further investigations. This study has clinical implications for patients taking statins, which require early assessment and response in addition to drug treatment and lifestyle modification, considering the possibility that unhealthy lifestyle habits may appear as part of the mood symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Objectives: The association between statin use and depression is well studied, but the studies on the association of statin use and bipolar disorders are limited. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of taking statin on risk of bipolar disorder using national claims data of South Korea. Methods: A total of 5713871 subjects who did not take statin and were not diagnosed with bipolar disorder before the health examination were included. Among eligible subjects, 315537 subjects started taking statin within 1 year after taking the health examination and 5398334 subjects did not. After 9 years of follow-up, the incidence of bipolar disorder was determined for each group. Results: Compared to subjects who were not exposed to statin, subjects who were exposed to statin showed a greater incidence of bipolar disorder and an increased risk of bipolar disorder (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58 to 1.75), and after adjusting for age, sex, low income, regular exercise, smoking, drinking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, body mass index, cholesterol and depression (adjusted HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.40). Conclusions This result showed an increased risk of bipolar disorder after taking statin, but the underlying biological mechanism needs further investigations. This study has clinical implications for patients taking statins, which require early assessment and response in addition to drug treatment and lifestyle modification, considering the possibility that unhealthy lifestyle habits may appear as part of the mood symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Objectives: The association between statin use and depression is well studied, but the studies on the association of statin use and bipolar disorders are limited. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of taking statin on risk of bipolar disorder using national claims data of South Korea. Methods: A total of 5713871 subjects who did not take statin and were not diagnosed with bipolar disorder before the health examination were included. Among eligible subjects, 315537 subjects started taking statin within 1 year after taking the health examination and 5398334 subjects did not. After 9 years of follow-up, the incidence of bipolar disorder was determined for each group. Results: Compared to subjects who were not exposed to statin, subjects who were exposed to statin showed a greater incidence of bipolar disorder and an increased risk of bipolar disorder (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58 to 1.75), and after adjusting for age, sex, low income, regular exercise, smoking, drinking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, body mass index, cholesterol and depression (adjusted HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.40). Conclusions This result showed an increased risk of bipolar disorder after taking statin, but the underlying biological mechanism needs further investigations. This study has clinical implications for patients taking statins, which require early assessment and response in addition to drug treatment and lifestyle modification, considering the possibility that unhealthy lifestyle habits may appear as part of the mood symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Objectives: The association between statin use and depression is well studied, but the studies on the association of statin use and bipolar disorders are limited. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of taking statin on risk of bipolar disorder using national claims data of South Korea. Methods: A total of 5713871 subjects who did not take statin and were not diagnosed with bipolar disorder before the health examination were included. Among eligible subjects, 315537 subjects started taking statin within 1 year after taking the health examination and 5398334 subjects did not. After 9 years of follow-up, the incidence of bipolar disorder was determined for each group. Results: Compared to subjects who were not exposed to statin, subjects who were exposed to statin showed a greater incidence of bipolar disorder and an increased risk of bipolar disorder (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58 to 1.75), and after adjusting for age, sex, low income, regular exercise, smoking, drinking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, body mass index, cholesterol and depression (adjusted HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.40). Conclusions This result showed an increased risk of bipolar disorder after taking statin, but the underlying biological mechanism needs further investigations. This study has clinical implications for patients taking statins, which require early assessment and response in addition to drug treatment and lifestyle modification, considering the possibility that unhealthy lifestyle habits may appear as part of the mood symptoms of bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), life satisfaction, and their present awareness of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in people with cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was completed by 53 patients (mean age, 65.7±11.6 years; 33 men and 20 women) with unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or heart failure. The questionnaire included the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36), life domain satisfaction measure (LDSM), and the awareness and degree of using CR program. RESULTS: The average scores of physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) were 47.7±18.5 and 56.5±19.5, respectively. There were significant differences in physical role (F=4.2, p=0.02), vitality (F=10.7, p<0.001), mental health (F=15.9, p<0.001), PCS (F=3.6, p=0.034), and MCS (F=11.9, p<0.001) between disease types. The average LDSM score was 4.7±1.5. Age and disease duration were negatively correlated with multiple HRQoL areas (p<0.05). Monthly income, ejection fraction, and LDSM were positively correlated with several MOS SF-36 factors (p<0.05). However, the number of modifiable risk factors had no significant correlation with medication. Thirty-seven subjects (69.8%) answered that they had not previously heard about CR program. Seventeen patients (32.1%) reported that they were actively participating in CR program. Most people said that a reasonable cost of CR was less than 100,000 Korean won per month. CONCLUSION: CR should focus on improving the physical components of quality of life. In addition, physicians should actively promote CR to cardiovascular disease patients to expand the reach of CR program.
Angina, Unstable ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Coronary Disease ; Health Surveys ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Myocardial Infarction ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Quality of Life* ; Rehabilitation* ; Risk Factors

Portal vein thrombus has been detected in patients with liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, ulcerative colitis, septicemia, myeloproliferative disorder, and neoplasm. The formation of portal tumor thrombus by hepatocellular carcinoma is well recognized, because of its high incidence, and subsequent development of portal hypertension such as rupture of varices, ascites and liver failure indicates the poor prognosis. In gastric cancer, portal hypertension as an initial presentation is extremely rare. Herein we report a case presenting as portal hypertension caused by tumor thrombus without invasion of liver parenchyma. It is presumed to be intraluminal tumor thrombus originating from primary foci of gastric adenocarcinoma. Tumor thrombus in the portal vein is demonstrated on the PET-CT.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology/radionuclide imaging ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/diagnostic use ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/*diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radionuclide imaging

Objective: To investigate the association between thyroidectomy and suicide attempt. Methods: A nationwide population-based electronic medical records database of South Korea between January 1, 2009 and June 30, 2016 was used to investigate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of suicide attempts and probable suicide attempts before and after thyroidectomy using a self-controlled case series design. Results: In 2,986 patients who attempted suicide or probable suicide, the IRRs of suicidal behaviors during risk periods one year before and after thyroidectomy were investigated. Generally, after thyroidectomy, there was no increase in IRR compared to the non-risk period. When data were analyzed according to thyroidectomy type, after partial thyroidectomy, IRR increased up to 1.43 (95% CI: 1.03–1.98, p=0.032) in the days 91–181 period. In the subgroup with major depressive disorder (MDD), the IRR increased up to 1.74 (95% CI: 1.21–2.51, p=0.003) before thyroidectomy, and increased up to 1.67 (95% CI: 1.16–2.41, p=0.006) after thyroidectomy. Conclusion Although the general risk of suicide attempt was not increased after thyroidectomy, patients with MDD showed increased risk of suicide attempt before and after thyroidectomy. These results suggest that suicidality should be evaluated when depressive symptoms are present in patients who have undergone thyroidectomy.