No abstract available.
Abruptio Placentae* ; Female ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of various factors on preterm labor symptoms (PLS) and preterm birth (PB). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 193 women in the second stage of pregnancy. Multiple characteristics including body mass index (BMI), smoking, and pregnancy complications were collected through a self-report questionnaire. Pregnancy stress and PLS were each measured with a related scale. Cervical length and birth outcome were evaluated from medical charts. Multiple regression was used to predict PLS and logistic regression was used to predict PB. RESULTS: Multiple regression showed smoking experience, pregnancy complications and pregnancy specific stress were predictors of PLS and accounted for 19.2% of the total variation. Logistic regression showed predictors of PB to be twins (OR=13.68, CI=3.72~50.33, p<.001), shorter cervix (<25mm) (OR=5.63, CI=1.29~24.54, p<.05), BMI >25 (kg/m²) (OR=3.50, CI=1.35~9.04, p<.01) and a previous PB (OR=4.15, CI=1.07~16.03, p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the multiple factors affect stage II pregnant women can result in PLS or PB. And preterm labor may predict PB. These findings highlight differences in predicting variables for pretrm labor and for PB. Future research is needed to develop a screening tool to predict the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women.
Body Mass Index ; Cervical Length Measurement ; Cervix Uteri ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth* ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Twins

No abstract available.
Neurofibroma, Plexiform* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome*

Objective: Patients who have suffered a stroke may experience dysphagia, which could raise the risk of aspiration pneumonia and death. This is also a complication prevalent in older adults with various comorbidities. This study aimed at investigating the association between head lifting strength and dysphagia, particularly in each of the two phases of dysphagia, namely the oral and the pharyngeal phase, in stroke patients. Methods: We prospectively recruited 64 patients within six months of their first-ever stroke. Head lifting strength, handgrip strength, and calf circumference were measured. The severity of dysphagia was evaluated using the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS). Partial correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were applied to examine the association between head lifting strength and dysphagia. Results: The subjects were comprised of 31 men and 33 women with a mean age of 63 years. The median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 5.5 (interquartile range 4.0-8.0). Based on the penetration-aspiration scale, 46 participants had dysphagia without aspiration and 18 had dysphagia with aspiration. The head lifting strength in the non-aspiration group was higher compared with the aspiration group. The head lifting strength was significantly correlated with the VDS-pharyngeal phase (r=−0.715) and the penetration-aspiration scale (r=−0.662). In the multiple linear regression analysis, head lifting strength was independently associated with pharyngeal-phase dysphagia (P＜0.001). Conclusion Head lifting strength is significantly associated with the severity of dysphagia in the pharyngeal phase.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated how the alcohol drinking motives and alcohol drinking expectancies, as the internal factors, would relate to university students' alcohol drinking problems. METHODS: The general characteristics, the alcohol drinking problems, the motives to drink, and drinking expectancy were surveyed with 197 university students (106 males, 91 females) who visited the Health Center of Chungnam National University. RESULTS: The alcohol drinking amount per drink (P < 0.001), weekly alcohol drinking frequency (P < 0.001), alcohol drinking problem score (P < 0.001), the score of drinking expectancy (P < 0.001) and motives to drink for each domain (P < 0.05) for male students were significantly higher or larger than those of the female students. The distribution of the number of binge, heavy and at risk drinkers didn't show significant difference between sexes. The drinking problem score, the score of drinking expectancy and motives to drink for each domain showed significant (P < 0.001) positive correlation and male students displayed a higher positive correlation than that of female. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence on drinking problem score. The male students' drinking problem score was associated with the score of coping motive, lower grade, the score of enhancement motive and drinking expectancy (R2, 0.325; P < 0.05) whereas those of female students were related to the score of social and coping motive (R2, 0.477; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The common factor that related to drinking problem for both male and female students was the coping motive to resolve negative feeling. In addition, the enhancement motive and drinking expectancy in male students and the social motive in female students were the associated factors.
Alcohol Drinking ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polymethacrylic Acids

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated how the alcohol drinking motives and alcohol drinking expectancies, as the internal factors, would relate to university students' alcohol drinking problems. METHODS: The general characteristics, the alcohol drinking problems, the motives to drink, and drinking expectancy were surveyed with 197 university students (106 males, 91 females) who visited the Health Center of Chungnam National University. RESULTS: The alcohol drinking amount per drink (P < 0.001), weekly alcohol drinking frequency (P < 0.001), alcohol drinking problem score (P < 0.001), the score of drinking expectancy (P < 0.001) and motives to drink for each domain (P < 0.05) for male students were significantly higher or larger than those of the female students. The distribution of the number of binge, heavy and at risk drinkers didn't show significant difference between sexes. The drinking problem score, the score of drinking expectancy and motives to drink for each domain showed significant (P < 0.001) positive correlation and male students displayed a higher positive correlation than that of female. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence on drinking problem score. The male students' drinking problem score was associated with the score of coping motive, lower grade, the score of enhancement motive and drinking expectancy (R2, 0.325; P < 0.05) whereas those of female students were related to the score of social and coping motive (R2, 0.477; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The common factor that related to drinking problem for both male and female students was the coping motive to resolve negative feeling. In addition, the enhancement motive and drinking expectancy in male students and the social motive in female students were the associated factors.
Alcohol Drinking ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polymethacrylic Acids

BACKGOUND: The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of remifentanil on the bispectral index (BIS) during intubation under TIVA (total intravenous anesthesia) using propofol. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 80 healthy patients aged 18~60 years undergoing elective surgery were investigated. Anesthesia was induced using propofol (target effect-site concentration 4microgram/ml). After the loss of consciousness, rocuronium (0.9 mg/kg) and remifentanil was infused. The patients in the R group were infused with remifentanil using a target effect-site concentration of 4 ng/ml, and patients in the P group were infused with saline. The BIS value, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before induction, before remifentanil infusion and before and after tracheal intubation. RESULTS: The BIS value remained constant after intubation in the two groups. The MAP and HR increased significantly after intubation in the two groups, but the degree of increase of MAP and HR was less in group R than in group P significantly. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the BIS value is not affected by the administration of remifentanil during intubation under TIVA using propofol.
Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Double-Blind Method ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Propofol* ; Prospective Studies ; Unconsciousness

PURPOSE: To compare the changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness between intravitreal aflibercept and ranibizumab injection in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Fifty patients with wet AMD patients who were treated with aflibercpet or ranibizumab were evaluated retrospectively. All patients were treated with pro re nata after 3 consecutive monthly injections and were followed up for at least 6 months. We measured subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography before the first injection and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after initial injection. RESULTS: The SFCT measures before initial injection and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after initial injection were 244.94 ± 103.77 µm, 219.04 ± 95.89 µm, 208.74 ± 91.03 µm, 203.64 ± 91.35 µm, and 226.98 ± 96.79 µm in the aflibercept group (25 eyes) and 222.68 ± 102.04 µm, 210.23 ± 95.91 µm, 203.66 ± 99.39 µm, 197.27 ± 100.25 µm, and 210.32 ± 111.86 µm in the ranibizumab group (28 eyes). Mean change in SFCT was greater in the aflibercept group at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after initial injection (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the mean change in SFCT between the two groups at 6 months after initial injection (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in SFCT was greater after aflibercept injection than ranibizumab injection in 3 consecutive months. However, at 6 months after initial injection, the difference in the change in SFCT was not significant.
Choroid* ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration* ; Ranibizumab* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: To report a case of central serous chorioretinopathy with peripapillary retinoschisis. CASE SUMMARY: A 64-year-old male presented with abnormal color vision of the left eye, which occurred 6 months prior to his visit. At the initial visit, a funduscopic examination revealed retinal elevation with suspected serous retinal detachment around the optic disc in the left eye. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed subretinal fluid on the nasal side of the optic disc and retinoschisis on the temporal side of the optic disc in the left eye. Fluorescein angiography revealed multiple leakages in the left eye. Indocyanine green angiography revealed choroidal vascular hyperpermeability in both eyes. Based on these results, the patient was diagnosed with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and was treated with argon laser photocoagulation at the leakage points. After 8 weeks of laser therapy, optical coherence tomography indicated that there was no retinoschisis or subretinal fluid in the macula, nasal, or temporal sides of the optic disc. CONCLUSIONS: Peripapillary retinoschisis due to central serous chorioretinopathy improves with argon laser photocoagulation at leakage sites.
Angiography ; Argon ; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ; Choroid ; Color Vision ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Laser Therapy ; Light Coagulation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinaldehyde ; Retinoschisis ; Subretinal Fluid ; Tomography, Optical Coherence