OBJECTIVES: Homocysteine has been associated with cognitive impairment and various psychiatric symptoms. This study was designed to examine the relationship exists between plasma homocysteine concentration and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia(BPSD). METHODS: 41 subjects with dementia of Alzheimer's type were included in this study. We carried out history taking, physical examination, and cognitive assessment for the diagnosis of dementia of Alzheimer's type based on DSM-IV. We scored the Mini Mental State Examination(MMSE), Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR), and the Korean Neuropsychiatric Inventory(K-NPI). We also measured levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in the plasma. RESULTS: We found statistically significant positive correlations between homocysteine concentration with NPI total score, and with scores of several sub-domains such as delusion, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, and elation/euphoria. No significant correlation existed between homocysteine levels and scores of MMSE, GDS, and CDR. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that plasma homocysteine levels are associated with BPSD. Further research is necessary to identify pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying these relationships.
Delusions ; Dementia* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Folic Acid ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Plasma ; Vitamin B 12

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between self-esteem and sexual attitude in healthcare college students, and also to provide a basis for sexual health education programs to help establish healthy sexual attitudes. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 218 unmarried students attending the healthcare colleges in B and U cities. Data were collected from October 15 to November 10, 2015 and analyzed using Stepwise multiple regression with SPSS PASW 18.0. RESULTS: Mean score for self-esteem was 3.23±0.46 out of 5 and sexual attitude 2.64±0.54 out of 5. Self-esteem and sexual attitude had a negative correlation (r=-.169, p=.012). Among sub-variables of sexual attitude, negative correlations were found between self-esteem and premarital chastity (r=-.207, p=.002), and between self-esteem and homosexual attitudes (r=-.167, p=.013). There were statistically significant differences in sexual attitude according to perceived intimacy with mother (β=-.228, p<.001), year in college (β=.135, p=.047), major (β=.148, p=.023), religion (β=-2.429, p=.016), and homosexual tendencies (β=.139, p=.037). These factors explained 14.6% of the variance in sexual attitude. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate the importance of self-esteem for sexual attitudes. This finding should be used in the development of healthcare college students, promotion programs to enhance healthy sexual attitudes.
Delivery of Health Care* ; Education ; Homosexuality ; Humans ; Mothers ; Reproductive Health ; Sexual Behavior ; Single Person

No abstract available.
Erythrocyte Membrane* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hydroxyl Radical* ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Macrophages, Alveolar* ; Mineral Fibers*

No abstract available.
Electrodiagnosis ; Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis ; Neural Conduction* ; Paralysis* ; Thyrotoxicosis

We report a case of a healthy 38-year-old man presenting with insufficiency fracture of proximal tibia associated with unrecognized osteoporosis. Radiologic bone DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) assessment revealed osteoporosis, but the patient displayed no apparent risk factors for insufficiency fractures and osteoporosis except for a history of smoking. Following right proximal tibial open reduction and internal fixation, the patient commenced smoking cessation and began taking alendronate.The patient was treated for gait rehabilitation, which included quadriceps strengthening exercises and his condition improved with independent walking. This report highlights an unusual site of proximal tibial insufficiency fractures and the potential effect of smoking on low bone mineral density in a young male patient.

We report a case of a healthy 38-year-old man presenting with insufficiency fracture of proximal tibia associated with unrecognized osteoporosis. Radiologic bone DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) assessment revealed osteoporosis, but the patient displayed no apparent risk factors for insufficiency fractures and osteoporosis except for a history of smoking. Following right proximal tibial open reduction and internal fixation, the patient commenced smoking cessation and began taking alendronate.The patient was treated for gait rehabilitation, which included quadriceps strengthening exercises and his condition improved with independent walking. This report highlights an unusual site of proximal tibial insufficiency fractures and the potential effect of smoking on low bone mineral density in a young male patient.

Background: Digital panoramic dental X-ray equipment (PDX) is frequently used by patients and dental workers for diagnosis andexamination in dental institutions; however, infection control has not been properly implemented. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to systematically review the potential risk of cross-infection in the dental environment by investigating the contamination level of general aerobic bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus, which are important in hospital infections, in PDX areas that people mainly contact. Methods: This survey was conducted from March to May 2023 and covered one general hospital, three dental hospitals, and ninedental clinics equipped with PDX. Bacteria samples were collected from the left-handle, right-handle, forehead support, and head side support as the patient’s contact areas, as well as the X-ray exposure switch and left-click mouse button as the dental hygienist’s contact areas of the PDX. The collected bacteria were spread on Petrifilm, and colonies formed after 48 hours of culture were counted. Results: General aerobic bacteria and S. aureus were detected in all areas investigated. Significant differences in bacterial counts between different regions of the PDX were observed in both groups (p＜0.001). The detection rates of general aerobic bacteria (p＜0.001) and S. aureus (p＜0.001) were significantly higher in the contact areas of patients than those of dental hygienists. A positive correlation was observed between the forehead and the temple region in terms of general aerobic bacteria and S. aureus detection (r=1) (p＜0.01). Conclusion Taken together, the presence of many bacteria, including S. aureus, detected in PDX indicates that PDX has a potential cross-infection risk. Our results therefore highlight the need for the development of appropriate disinfection protocols for reusable medical devices such as PDX and periodic infection prevention training for hospital-related workers, including dental hygienists.

PURPOSE: To compare the corneal measurements of Sirius and Pentacam in normal cornea and post-corneal refractive surgery patients. METHODS: Subjects were tested by Pentacam (OCULUS, Wetzlar, Germany), and Sirius (CSO, Firenze, Italy). Measurements included central corneal thickness, thinnest corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume, iridocorneal angle, corneal volume, pupil size, and curvature of cornea. RESULTS: A total of 88 eyes from 44 patients were included in the present study. When comparing Sirius and Pentacam in the normal cornea, corneal thickness (p = 0.693), thinnest corneal thickness (p = 0.386), anterior chamber depth (p = 0.155), anterior chamber volume (p = 0.650), and pupil diameter (p = 0.124) did not differ significantly. Corneal curvature (p < 0.001), corneal volume (p = 0.023), and iridocorneal angle (p < 0.001) were statistically different. When comparing Sirius and Pentacam in post-corneal refractive surgery patients, corneal thickness (p = 0.056) did not differ significantly. There was a statistical difference in corneal curvature (p < 0.001), thinnest corneal thickness (p = 0.019), anterior chamber depth (p < 0.001), anterior chamber volume (p < 0.001), iridocorneal angle (p < 0.001), corneal volume (p < 0.001), and pupil diameter (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anterior segment measurements with Pentacam and Sirius showed differences in post-corneal refractive surgery patients.
Anterior Chamber ; Cornea ; Eye ; Humans ; Pupil ; Refractive Surgical Procedures

A 29-year-old man with schizophrenia was admitted to the emergency department in a stupor following the first generalized tonicclonic seizure. He had drunk about 1.5 L of Coke and 2 L of water each day for 1 week without eating any other food. A laboratory evaluation revealed severe hyponatremia (110 mEq/L), and we diagnosed a hyponatremia-induced seizure. As polydipsia and hyponatremia are not uncommon in schizophrenics, hyponatremia-induced seizure should be included in the causes of seizure in schizophrenics.
Adult ; Coke ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Polydipsia* ; Schizophrenia ; Seizures* ; Stupor ; Water

OBJECTIVES: The deficit of recognition memory has been found as one of the common neurocognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia. In addition, they were reported to fail to enhance the memory about emotional stimuli. Previous studies have shown that bilateral eye movements enhance the memory retrieval. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to investigate the memory enhancement of bilaterally alternating eye movements in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Twenty one patients with schizophrenia participated in this study. The participants learned faces (angry or neutral faces), and then performed a recognition memory task in relation to the faces after bilateral eye movements and central fixation. Recognition accuracy, response bias, and mean response time to hits were compared and analysed. Two-way repeated measure analysis of variance was performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of bilateral eye movements condition in mean response time(F=5.812, p<0.05) and response bias(F=10.366, p<0.01). Statistically significant interaction effects were not observed between eye movement condition and face emotion type. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of the emotional difference of facial stimuli, recognition memory processing was more enhanced after bilateral eye movements in patients with schizophrenia. Further study will be needed to investigate the underlying neural mechanism of bilateral eye movements-induced memory enhancement in patients with schizophrenia.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Eye Movements* ; Humans ; Memory ; Reaction Time ; Schizophrenia*