The survey was undertaken among the 105 ostomates who attended the 2nd Workshop for Stoma Rehabilitation on Aug. 30th, 1997 by the Department of Surgery, Kyung-Hee University Hospital to assess the physical, psychosocial and sexual problems with a stoma. The 97% of ostomates had permanent colostomies following abdominoperineal resection. The 67% of ostomates had one or more physical problems caused by stoma. Frequent bowel movement (94.3%), impairment of irrigation (64.6%), unpleasant odor (27.3%), and urinary frequency (21.3%) were common problems encountered by ostomates. Concerning the psychosocial problems, 3.8% of them suffered from profound restriction of social activities and 1.9% of them had psychologic problems such as depression. 42 of 58 ostomates (72.4%) who were employed before operation returned to their work. Among 71 men, 44 (62%) were impaired by sexual function. Most ostomates suffered physical, social, psychologic and sexual problems in their daily life and needed helps of experts such colorectal surgeons, enterostomal therapists, and ostomy association. Attention is needed more to improve the quality of life for the ostomates.
Colostomy ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Male ; Odors ; Ostomy ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVES: Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) has devastating effects on multiple aspects of the quality of life(QoL). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the QoL between PTSD group and non-PTSD group, and identify the variables affecting the QoL of the Vietnam War veterans. METHODS: We recruited 39 veterans with PTSD and 43 veterans without PTSD, all of whom had deployed to the Vietnam War. We used the Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus, the Korean version of Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Combat Exposure Scale and the Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument abbreviated version. We used independent samples t-test to identify the differences between PTSD and non-PTSD group in each domains of the quality of life. We also used stepwise multiple linear regression analysis to figure out the variables affecting the QoL of the Vietnam War veterans. RESULTS: In the PTSD group, all domains of the QoL and the QoL total score(p<0.01) were significantly lower than those in the non-PTSD group. In the Vietnam War veterans, PTSD, major depressive disorder and education levels were the variables affecting the QoL. Among these, PTSD uniquely explained the QoL of the overall and general health(beta=-1.411, R2=0.180), the physical health domain(beta=-2.806, R2=0.089) and the total score (beta=-11.479, R2=0.104). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that among the Vietnam War veterans, the QoL of the PTSD group is significantly lower than that of the non-PTSD group. Among the combat exposed veterans, PTSD may be one of the main reasons that affect the multiple domains of the QoL.
Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Quality of Life ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Veterans ; Vietnam ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: Glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm derived from the normal glomus body. This tumor includes the following types; solitary, multiple, proliferating, and acral arteriovenous. Histologically, it was subdivided into solid type, glomangioma, and glomangiomyoma. Its malignant counterpart - glomangiosarcoma - was reported. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were aimed to evaluate the clinical and pathologic presentations of glomus tumor. METHODS: A total of 17 patients who have been diagnosed with glomus tumor by histopathologic examination were reviewed. RESULTS: Male patients were ten and female patients were seven. The age of the onset of glomus tumor varied from birth to 61 years. The location of tumors were as follows: arm (7 cases), finger (6 cases), back (2 cases), leg (1 case), foot (1 case). The digit was the most common site for female patients. Clinical manifestations showed solitary bluish papule (6 cases), subcutaneous nodule (5 cases), nail discoloration (3 cases), nail dystrophy (1 case), bluish plaque (1 case). One patient had no specific lesion but tenderness. The most characteristic symptom was pain in 15 (88.2%) of the 17 patients, and the other two patients had no symptom. Two asymptomatic lesions were located on the forearm and histopathologically showed glomangioma. Histopathologically, 13 (76.5%) of the 17 patients classified as solid type, and 4 (23.5%) the glomangioma variety. CONCLUSION: Glomus tumors were most commonly seen as a painful nodule on the upper extremity and especially female patients showed predilection for subungual location. We speculate that multiple, mild symptomatic lesions might be a tendency to be glomangioma.
Arm ; Female ; Fingers ; Foot ; Forearm ; Glomus Tumor ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Parturition ; Upper Extremity

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is recognized as one of the most valuable medicinal herbs in Asia and it contains diverse phytochemicals that contribute to its pharmacological effects. Although lipids represent a major component of ginseng, ginseng lipids are still far from being fully explored. This review is focused on ginseng lipid components and methodologies of their analysis. The ginseng lipid compounds were categorized according to the structural features of each lipid class. This basic information on ginseng lipid components and the analysis methods will be applicable to authentification or quality control of ginseng products, and development of lipid-based pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals from ginseng.
Asia ; Dietary Supplements ; Panax ; Phytochemicals ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quality Control

Clinical types of glomus tumors can be divided into the more common solitary type and the rare multiple types. The latters are subdivided into disseminated, regional, and congenital plaquelike type. We report a 25 year old man with a red to blue colored soft nodular plaques on the back. The lesions were soft reddish patches since birth and gradually enlarged. These were gradually changed to blue colored soft nodular plaques with mild tenderness. The histologic findings were compatible with the glomus tumor.
Adult ; Glomus Tumor* ; Humans ; Parturition

PURPOSE: Tinnitus is a very common symptom of vestibular schwannoma, present in 45 to 80% of patients. We evaluated changes in tinnitus after translabyrinthine microsurgery (TLM) or gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 78 patients with vestibular schwannoma who underwent TLM or GKS at Severance Hospital from 2009-2012, 46 patients with pre- or postoperative tinnitus who agreed to participate were enrolled. Pure tone audiometry, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for loudness, awareness, and annoyance were measured before and after treatment. Changes of THI and VAS were analysed and compared according to treatment modality, tumour volume, and preoperative residual hearing. RESULTS: In the TLM group (n=27), vestibulocochlear nerves were definitely cut. There was a higher rate of tinnitus improvement in TLM group (52%) than GKS group (16%, p=0.016). The GKS group had a significantly higher rate of tinnitus worsening (74%) than TLM group (11%, p<0.001). Mean scores of THI and VAS scores significantly decreased in the TLM group in contrast to significant increases in the GKS group. Tumor volume and preoperative hearing did not affect the changes in THI or VAS. CONCLUSION: GKS can save vestibulocochlear nerve continuity but may damage the cochlea, cochlear nerve and can cause worsening tinnitus. In cases where hearing preservation is not intended, microsurgery with vestibulocochlear neurectomy during tumor removal can sometimes relieve or prevent tinnitus.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic/*surgery ; Radiosurgery/*methods ; Tinnitus/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome

The name of author should be corrected as the following: from "Min Hwang" to "So Min Hwang".

OBJECTIVE: Decreased bone mineral density has been found in the chronic schizophrenic patients who have been given a long-term administration of antipsychotics. Hyperprolactinemia from the antipsychotics and the negative symptom of schizophrenia were considered as the causes for this finding. In this study, the effect of hyperprolactinemia and the negative symptom of schizophrenia on bone mineral density was investigated on male schizophrenic patients. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was carried out with the subjects of 45 male schizophrenic patients who have undertaken the monotherapy with risperidone, olanzapine and clozapine for at least one year. The demographic factors, clinical symtoms, bone mineral density and hematological test were examined for all the subjects. RESULTS: No significant relationship was found between hyperprolactinemia and the decreased bone mineral density in the subjects. The negative schizophrenia symptom of the subjects showed a significant effect on the decreased bone mineral density. CONCLUSION: The decreased bone mineral density finding in the male schizophrenic patients may be caused by the negative schizophrenia symptom rather than the hyperprolactinemia due to the antipsychotics. Additional studies are further required regarding other factors that may affect the decreased bone mineral density such as activity, calcium intake and exposure to sunlight.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Benzodiazepines ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Clozapine ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Male ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia ; Sunlight

PURPOSE: Extrapleural fat hypertrophy is thought to be associated with findings of chronic pleural or pulmonary parenchymal diseases, and more favours clinical course of benign disease rather than malignant disease which is rapidly progressive. Recently, however, we observed frequent extrapleural fat hypertrophy in CT scens of lung cencer patients, especially those with complicated ones. We studied the frequency of extrapleural fat hypertrophy and the relationship between the extrapleural fat hypertrophy and the complications of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analized the CT findings in 95 patients with primary lung cancer. 85 patients were confirmed pathologically and 10 patients were confirmed by clinical and radiological follow-up studies. RESULTS: Among the 95 patients, 79 patients were associated with more than one complications(Lung collapse, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis., pleural reaction, pleural metastasis, empyema, chest wall invasion). Extrapleural fat hypertrophy was observed in 43(54%) patients with complication, and 2(13% ) patients without complication. The frequency of the extrapleural fat hypertrophy was 40%(14/35) in patients with only parenchymal complicated patients, 33%(2/6) in patients with only pleural complication, and 71%(27/38) in patients with both parenchymal and pleural complications. CONCLUSION: Extrapleural fat hypertrophy was more frequently observed in complicated lung cancer patients rather than non-complicated, and higher frequency of the extrapleural fat hypertrophy was noted in those with more than two complications. It was concluded that extrapleural fat hypertrophy in lung cancer patients was non-specific finding caused by associated complication. Its mechanism is thought to be chronic pleural irritation and negative thoracic pressure.
Empyema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertrophy* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Wall ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: A post-thyroidectomy hematoma is a rare complication, affecting 0.1~2.5% of patients undergoing a thyroidectomy, but this complication deserves special attention because it is potentially life threatening and unpredictable. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical features of post-thyroidectomy hematomas as well as their implications on the early discharge after a thyroidectomy. METHODS: In a retrospective review of 5, 465 patients that underwent a thyroidectomy between Jan 1994 and Dec 2003, 21 (0.38%) with post-thyroidectomy hematomas were identified. The clinical features and outcomes of these 21 patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The 21 patients were composed of 3 men and 18 women, with a mean age of 47.9+/-19.4 years, ranging from 23~80. The mean time to recognition of the hematoma was 7.0+/-15.3 hours, ranging from 0~72. Sixteen hematomas (76.2%) presented within 6 hours postoperatively, 4 (19.0%) between 6 and 24 hours, and 1 (4.8%) after more than 24 hours. Except for two patients with minimal hematomas, the other 19 underwent re-exploration under general anesthesia after evacuation of the hematoma at bedside. The bleeding source was the lacerated strap muscles in 16 patients (76.2%), venous in 3, arterial in 1 and thyroid lobe stump in 1. Mean hospital stay was 5.2+/-2.0 days, ranging from 2~9. There were no mortality or complications after reoperation, and patients required a blood transfusion or tracheostomy. There were no significant differences in the clinical features between Graves' disease and non-Graves' disease, as well as between benign and malignant groups. CONCLUSION: Early detection and prompt surgical intervention are critical to a successful outcome in patients with post- thyroidectomy hematomas. Because most of the patients in our series with post-thyroidectomy hematomas presented within 24 hours postoperatively, early discharge, with careful monitoring for the first 24 hours after a thyroidectomy, can be recommended. However the relatively long interval between the initial operation and the development of the hematoma should be considered when recommending early discharge after a thyroidectomy.
Anesthesia, General ; Blood Transfusion ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mortality ; Muscles ; Prevalence ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy ; Tracheostomy