OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of aircraft noise exposure on children's mental health problems such as depression and personality. METHODS: We obtained data from the health examinations of school children in the vicinity of Gunsan airport. This survey was conducted in the rural area, Gunsan during 2009. The study population included 195 children attending 4th to 6th grade from 6 elementary schools near the airport. Based on 60 Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level (WECPNL) measures of aircraft noise, participants were divided into 2 groups; the exposure group consisted of 106 children from 4 schools, and the reference group included 89 children from the 2 schools in Gunsan. All children completed questions on general characteristics, the Korean Children's Depression Inventory (KCDI) for depression, and the Korea Human Nature Inspection (KHNI) for personality. RESULTS: Children in the exposure group were at higher risk of depression (5.62, 95% CI 1.12~28.25), and personality changes (2.08, 95% CI 1.07~4.05) than those of the reference group. In particular, children's diligence, cooperation, and concentration, subgroups of personality measure, were affected significantly and negatively, by aircraft noise level. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exposure to aircraft noise at school is associated with mental health problems in children. Requirements should be implemented to manage aircraft noise of its affect on children's health.
Aircraft ; Airports ; Child ; Depression ; Health Surveys ; Human Characteristics ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Noise

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of aircraft noise exposure and how it relates to hearing loss, and to investigate the association between noise exposure and anxiety and depression in subjects residing adjacent to a military airbase. METHODS: The study was conducted upon 898 inhabitants between the ages of 30-79, living near the military airbase in Jeonra-do. The subjects were divided into three noise-exposure groups: high-exposure, low-exposure, and a control group. The cut-values were 80 and 60 on the Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level scale. A self-administered questionnaire including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were completed. Pure tone audiometry tests were performed. RESULTS: Hearing loss prevalence was defined by a >40 dB loss in bilateral ears or in one ear; the difference of <15 dB compared to the better side was 30.8%. The mean BAI/BDI score was 18.9+/-14.3/18.7+/-11.6, the number of abnormal subjects with BAIs > or =22 was 317 (35.3%), with BDIs > or =21 was 347 (38.6%). The pure tone average, BAI, and BDI scores were higher in the noise-exposure groups compared to the control. The BAI/BDI abnormal subjects showed a higher hearing threshold shift level compared to the normal scored subjects. The odd ratios for anxiety was significantly high in both noise exposure groups and the hearing loss, for depression was significantly high in high-exposure group and hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depression were higher when exposure to high-level noise and further complicated by hearing loss. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause-effect relationship.
Aircraft ; Anxiety ; Audiometry ; Depression ; Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Noise ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the subjective quality of life in the four groups of antipsychotics according to the risk of weight gain in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-two patients with schizophrenia that had taken the same antipsychotics for more than 1 year were enrolled in the analyses. Anti-psychotic agents were classified by the risk of weight gain into four groups : serious, common, not unusual, and unusual. The quality of life was measured with the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Korean version, 4th Revision (SQLS-R4K). We analyzed the correlation between the total score of SQLS-R4K and clinical variables. RESULTS: The SQLS-R4K score was significantly different in the four anti-psychotic groups (F=5.200, p=0.002). Gender, type of anti-psychotics (typical, atypical), duration of treatment with current antipsychotics, duration of illness, and Body Mass Index were not significantly correlated with the SQLS-R4K score. CONCLUSION: The subjective quality of life was different according to the risk of weight gain groups of anti-psychotic agents.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Schizophrenia ; Weight Gain

OBJECTIVES: Many antipsychotics are associated with hyperprolactinemia and sexual dysfunction. This study investigated the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia and amenorrhea and explored the association between hyperprolactinemia and sexual dysfunction. METHODS: We analyzed 285 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who had been taking antipsychotics more than one year, examining their serum prolactin levels and administering the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) to evaluate for sexual dysfunction. We conducted an ANCOVA to evaluate the effect of hyperprolactinemia on ASEX score and amenorrhea. RESULTS: We found hyperprolactinemia in 52.3% of the patients, finding it to be more common in females (60.8%) than in males (49%). Patients taking risperidone had the highest prevalence of hyperprolactinemia (86.5%), and patients taking aripiprazole showed no hyperprolactinemia. Amenorrhea prevalence was 21.5%. Hyperprolactinemia did not significantly affect ASEX scores, but it significantly affected amenorrhea. CONCLUSION: Many patients taking antipsychotics still experience hyperprolactinemia in a real clinical setting. The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia varies among antipsychotics. Clinicians should consider the possibility of antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia, with its potential adverse effects, when treating such patients.
Amenorrhea ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Arizona ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Male ; Piperazines ; Prevalence ; Prolactin ; Psychotic Disorders ; Quinolones ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone(DM) and polyurethane(PU)-coated nitinol stent on neointimal formation in the canine great vessels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six nitinol wire stents were implanted in the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava(IVC) of six dogs. In each animal, six different types of stent (NC, non-coated; PU, polyurethane coated; DM, DM and polyurethane coated) were serially positioned in permutationally possible order in the aorta below the renal arteries and in the IVC below the renal veins. For DM stent an in-vitro drug release test was performed to determine the stability of DM release. The thickness of the intima and media of the aorta and of the intima of the IVC were measured three (n=3) or six months (n=3) after stent placement at and between the wires. RESULTS: In the in-vitro study, 25% of DM was released during the first week, and the subsequent release rate was 3 microgram/day for 6 months. The intima-to-media ratio of DM-stented aorta was less than in aortas where PU or NC stents were used (p<0.05). The neointima thickness of DM stent in the IVC was less than that of PU stent (p<0.05). These differences were less prominent between the wires than at them, and there was no significant difference between the three-and six-month groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In this canine great vessel model, newly designed DM-coated nitinol stent decreased neointimal formation.
Animals ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Dexamethasone* ; Dogs ; Neointima ; Polyurethanes ; Renal Artery ; Renal Veins ; Stents*