Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD risk), social stigma, and social support on the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Data were collected from 180 survivors who were discharged from hospital for COVID-19 from September 1 to December 31, 2021. Structured questionnaires were used to assess variables. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 27.0, with independent t-test, one way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchial multiple regression. Results: Subjects' quality of life was correlated with PTSD risk (r=-.52, p<.001), social stigma (r=-.16, p=.029), and social support (r=.26, p=.001). The Factors influencing the quality of life were gender (β=.26, p=.001), occupation (β=-.24, p=.001), PTSD risk (β=-.48, p<.001), social support (β=.19, p=.004), and explanatory power were approximately 37% (F=14.03, p<.001). Conclusion This study found that PTSD risk in COVID-19 survivors lowered their quality of life, and social support increased their quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to develop various intervention programs to improve the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors by reducing PTSD risk and provide a social support system.

BACKGROUND: Demand for emergency medical information is high according to the health information use, utilization and demand survey for on the Internet. In spite of high demand for emergency information service, emergency information service on-line and off-line are very limited. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a website providing emergency medical information and emergency medical resources information by linking emergency medicine where timely information is required with the Internet technology for health promotion of the public. OBJECTIVE: This study is conducted to develop and evaluate a Web site to provide information on emergency medicine and resources for health promotion. METHODS: To identify and specify users' requirements for the emergency medicine related information, online survey was performed for 209 Internet users who visited the Healthguide. Based on this survey results, we developed content for emergency medical information service: cause, risk factors, prevention, treatment, facilities, laws and rules, policy and statistics of emergency medicine. To evaluate the web site developed in this study, twenty health and nursing informatics experts were recruited and asked to rate using an evaluation tool. RESULTS: This content was integrated into the healthy life (http://healthguide.kihasa.re.kr/health_life/emergency/pages/index.html), which is a service component of the Healthguide. This approach was expected to increase accessibility and usability of implemented services. The rating score of the website was fairly high with mean 3.9(SD 0.6) out of 5.0. According to each evaluation criteria, purpose of the site, easiness of use, relevancy, and reliability were scored 4.1-4.2 and authority and accuracy 3.8-3.9 and currency 3.5-3.7. This evaluation results will be fed back to the Healthguide for operation, maintenance, and upgrade in the future.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine ; Health Promotion* ; Information Services* ; Internet ; Jurisprudence ; Nursing Informatics ; Risk Factors

An open clinical trial was performed to test the efficacy and side effects of Pravastatin(Mevlotin(R)), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, administering 5mg twice daily for 12weeks in 30 patients of hypercholesterolemia in out patient clinics, Pusan National University Hospital. The total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were measured with enzyme methods and LDL-cholesterol was calculated indirectly by Friedewald formula. The result obtained were as follows: 1) The degree of change at the end points compared with baseline pretreatment levels were 26.1% fall in serum total cholesterol.36.6% fall in LDL-cholesterol, 20.8% fall in triglyceride and 14, 6% rise in HDL-cholesterol. And the rate of improvement more than moderate degree were 90.0% in total cholesterol(the fall of 10% or more), 53.3% in triglyceride (the fall 20% or more) and 33.3% in HDL-cholesterol(the rise of 7mg% or more). 2) The total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratios were decreased significantly from 6, 4+/-0.7 to 4.2+/-0.5(34.4%) and from 4.5+/-0.7 to 2.5 +/-0.4(44.4%) respectively. 3) The greatest fall in serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were observed in 2 weeks after administrating drug and thereafter fell gradually and maintained until 12 weeks of endpoint, but HDL-cholesterol showed significant rise from the 4 weeks of administration. On the other hand triglyceride showed remarkable fall in the measured values from the 4 weeks but statistical significance was observed only in 10 and 12 weeks after administration owing to wide individual variation of values. 4) There observed the tendency that the higher the initial pretreatment levels the greater the degree of fall in total cholesterol and triglyceride. 5) Neither side effects nor abnormal laboratory findings were shown during the period of observation. The results suggest that Pravastatin will be a useful and safe drug in the treatment of hyperlipidemia.
Busan ; Cholesterol ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Hyperlipidemias ; Oxidoreductases ; Pravastatin ; Triglycerides

A 13-month-old boy had irregularly shaped, erythematous to dusky red, slightly raised patches and plaques on the left antecubital fossa and arm for 7 months. The lesions were firm and tender. Histopathologically the lesion consisted of small, circumscribed, angiomatous tufts and lobules with a cannonball appearance scattered throughout dermis, a characteristic feature of tufted angioma. For 15 weeks, interferon-a intralesional injections have been performed and the lesions showed an improvement.
Arm ; Dermis ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections, Intralesional ; Interferon-alpha* ; Male

An open clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of isradipine in 30 cases (male 16, female 14 cases, average age 52.6+/-7.94) of mild to moderate essential hypertension using 1.25-2.5mg twice a day for 8 weeks of active treatment. Blood pressure was significantly reduced from 168.5+/-14.33/108.3+/-6.37mmHg, 163.7+/-9.74/105.5+/-7.1mmHg to 141.0+/-13.69/92.0+/-9.27mmHg, 138.8+/-13.46/92.3+/-11.16mmHg in sitting and standing position respectively. The extent of reduction was 27.5/16.3mmHg in sitting position and 29.9/13.2mmHg in standing position. This comprised the mean response rate in terms of reduction of DBP of 10mmHg or more being 90% and the normalization rate, deficed as DBP lowering to 90mmHg or below, being 70%. Heart rate, hematology and blood chemistry including blood sugar and lipids were not changed significantly after treatment with isradipine. No significantl side effect was observed except 2 cases of mild transient facial flushing and nausea during the treatment, so could proceed the trial without drug discontinuation in all 30 cases. The results suggest that isradipine is one of the useful and safe drugs in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Female ; Flushing ; Heart Rate ; Hematology ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Isradipine* ; Nausea

The levels of expressions and catalytic activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1) and glutathione-S-transferase class mu (GSTM1) enzymes in lungs and their metabolic balance may be an important determinant host factor underlying lung cancer. Genetic differences in metabolism, MspI restriction sites, Ile-Val polymorphism of CYP1A1 gene, and the null genotype of GSTM1 have been reported to be associated with susceptibility to lung cancer. The present studies were undertaken to establish frequencies of the polymorphic genotypes of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 in Koreans, and to evaluate linkage disequilibrium of the genotypes associated with higher lung cancer risks among Koreans. GSTM1(-) genotype was found in 52% of control subjects, whereas it was found in 55% of lung cancer patients. The allelic variants in CYP1A1 were distributed differently in lung cancer patients and controls. The heterozygous genotype frequency of the MspI site in lung cancer patients (53%) was higher than in controls (49%). The frequency of Ile/Val genotype of CYP1A1 was low in lung cancer patients, which are mostly squamous cell carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma/genetics ; Carcinoma, Small Cell/genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase/genetics* ; Human ; Korea ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Mutation ; Polymorphism (Genetics)*

Allyl sulfur compounds play a major role in the chemoprevention against carcinogenesis. The present study compared the antiproliferative effects of diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS) and garlic extract on p53-wild type H460 and p53-null type H1299 non small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC). The DAS and DADS treatment of both H460 and H1299 cells resulted in the highest numbers of cells in apoptotic state as measured by acridine orange staining, however, garlic extract treatment did not induce any significant apoptotic cells by MTT assay. DADS was found to be more effective in inducing apoptosis on NSCLC. The level of p53 protein in H460 cell was increased following DADS treatment. DAS and garlic extract treatment of H460 cells induced a rise in the level of Bax and a fall of Bcl-2 level. These results demonstrate that DAS, DADS and garlic extract are effective in reduction of anti-proliferative gene in NSCLC and suggest that modulation of apoptosis-associated cellular proteins by DAS, DADS and garlic extract may be the mechanism for apoptosis which merit further investigation as potential chemoprevention agents.
Allyl Compounds/pharmacology* ; Anticarcinogenic Agents/pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy* ; Disulfides/pharmacology* ; Garlic* ; Human ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; Protein p53/biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/biosynthesis ; Sulfides/pharmacology* ; Toxicity Tests ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to document our single-center experience with pediatric acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) and to investigate its clinical features and short-term outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all children <18 years old who were diagnosed with AFM between October 2008 and February 2013. Data about patient demographics, initial symptoms, investigation results, management, and outcomes between survivors and nonsurvivors were collected. RESULTS: Seventeen of 21 patients (80.9%) with myocarditis were diagnosed with AFM. Eleven patients (64.7%) survived to discharge, and 6 (35.3%) died. Electrocardiography on admission revealed dysrhythmia in 10 patients (58.8%); of these, all 7 patients with a complete atrioventricular block survived. Fractional shortening upon admission was significantly different between the survivors (16%) and nonsurvivors (8.5%) (P=0.01). Of the serial biochemical markers, only the initial brain natriuretic peptide (P=0.03) and peak blood urea nitrogen levels (P=0.02) were significantly different. Of 17 patients, 4 (23.5%) required medical treatment only. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was performed in 13 patients (76.5%); the survival rate in these patients was 53.8%. ECMO support was initiated >24 hours after admission in 4 of the 13 patients (30.7%), and 3 of those 4 patients (75%) died. CONCLUSION: AFM outcomes may be associated with complete atrioventricular block upon hospital admission, left ventricular fractional shortening at admission, time from admission to the initiation of ECMO support, initial brain natriuretic peptide level, and peak blood urea nitrogen level.
Atrioventricular Block ; Biomarkers ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Child ; Demography ; Electrocardiography ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Myocarditis* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

Purpose: Gait evaluation in patients with dizziness is essential during both initial evaluation and vestibular rehabilitation. Inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based gait analysis systems are clinically applicable in patients with dizziness. Since dizzy patients can utilize visual inputs to compensate for vestibular deficits, it is more difficult for them to walk with their eyes closed (EC). In this study, we compared gait characteristics during forward walking with both eyes open (EO) and EC between healthy subjects and dizzy patients. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine healthy controls (mean age 37.18±10.71 years) and 23 patients with dizziness (mean age 49.25± 15.16 years) were subjected to vestibular and gait analyses. Medical histories, physical examinations, and vestibular function tests ruled out possible vestibular deficits in the controls. Subjects were instructed to walk at a comfortable pace for 10 m under two conditions (EO or EC). Spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and simulated kinetics of each gait recording were recorded using a shoe-type IMU system and analyzed. Results: Although gait speeds were slower, stride lengths were smaller, and double support times were increased under the EC, compared to the EO condition, in both healthy subjects and dizzy patients, the difference was more prominent in dizzy patients.Phase coordination index values did not differ significantly in either group. Gait asymmetry (GA) increased significantly under the EC condition, compared to the EO condition, in dizzy patients. Conclusion GA during forward walking was greater in dizzy patients under an EC condition than under an EO condition.

A 29-year-old man presented with involuntary head turning to the right. His family history showed that his mother and two maternal uncles had dysarthria and gait disturbance. Other than mild swaying on tandem gait, his neurologic examination was normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated cerebellar atrophy. Molecular analysis revealed an expanded SCA6 (spinocerebellar ataxia 6) allele of 23 CAG repeats. We therefore report a case of SCA6 presenting with disabling cervical dystonia.
Adult ; Alleles ; Ataxia ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Dysarthria ; Gait ; Head ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mothers ; Neurologic Examination ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; Torticollis