No abstract available.
Epidermal Cyst* ; Melanins*

Objectives: Previous studies have evaluated the association between mercury exposure and obesity but have yielded mixed conclusions. The aim of this study was to systematically review and summarize scientific evidence regarding the association between mercury exposure and obesity in the human population. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct for articles related to mercury exposure and obesity. Meta-analyses of the highest and lowest categories of mercury levels were evaluated using a random effects model. Begg’s test was used to detect publication bias. Results: A total of 9 articles were included. The pooled random effects odds ratio (OR) for mercury exposure and obesity of all 9 studies was 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-2.38). This positive association was evident in adults (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.02-2.54) and among studies with Asian populations (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.53-2.59), but not among those with North America/African populations (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.50-1.65). Conclusions The present meta-analysis identified a positive association between mercury exposure and obesity. These findings suggest that toxic environmental metals such as mercury may be an important risk factor for obesity along with dietary habits and lifestyles.

PURPOSE: This study compared climacteric symptoms, knowledge of menopause and menopausal management of middle aged women living in urban and rural areas. METHOD: The study subjects included 287 women aged 40-64 years in P city and G town. The instruments used in this study were a climacteric symptoms scale and knowledge of menopause and a menopausal management scale. Data was analyzed with SPSS Win 10.0. RESULT: The mean age of middle-aged women living in urban areas was 47.9 years and that of women in rural areas was 48.0 years. The mean score of the climacteric symptoms of middle-aged women living in urban and rural areas was 48.8 and 50.4 respectively, and was not significantly different. The mean score of the knowledge of menopause of middle-aged women living in urban areas was higher than that of women in rural areas (p=.017). In addition, the mean score of the menopausal management of middle-aged women living in rural areas was higher than that of women in urban areas. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that not only general characteristics but also living areas should be considered in developing nursing interventions to manage the climacteric symptoms of middle aged women.
Climacteric* ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Middle Aged* ; Nursing

PURPOSE: This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telemonitoring (TM) in the management of children and adolescents with asthma. METHODS: We searched Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-EMBASE, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and 5 domestic databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published through December 2017. Two reviewers independently selected relevant studies, assessed methodological quality and extracted data. We performed a meta-analysis of TM versus usual care and summarized the intervention characteristics of included studies. RESULTS: Of the 3,095 articles identified, 8 RCTs (9 articles) were included in this review. The type of TM intervention of included studies was varying across studies (transmitted data, transmission frequency, data review, etc.). The pooled asthma control score was not significantly different between TM and usual care (standardized mean difference 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.20~0.28). Another pooled analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference in asthma exacerbation between TM and usual care (odds ratio 0.95, 95% CI 0.43~2.09). Overall, the pooled results from these studies revealed that TM did not lead to clinically significant improvements in health outcomes, but some studies in our analysis suggested that TM increased patient medication adherence and intervention adherence. CONCLUSION: The current evidence base does not demonstrate any differences between TM intervention and usual care, but TM intervention might be considered a promising strategy for the delivery of self-management support for children and adolescents with asthma. Further well-designed studies are needed to assess the effects on clinical outcomes.
Adolescent* ; Asthma* ; Child* ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; Nursing ; Self Care ; Telemedicine

Objectives: ：Depression is known to be very common for coexistence with physical diseases, but reports of this are not well known in Korea. The purpose of this study is to investigate demographic factors related to adult depression in Korea and the association between physical diseases and depression. Methods: ：This study used raw data from the 7th National Health and Nutrition Survey of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016 and 2018, and analyzed by integrating data from adults over the age of 19. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was applied to the diagnosis of depression. Cross-analysis and logistic regression analysis were used for the association with depression according to socio-demographic characteristics and health-related characteristics. Results: ：The point-prevalence of depression in Korea using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 is 5.4%. Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, risks of depression were increased among the elderly, women, people with low household income, and people with low education levels. It was analyzed that the risk of coexistence of depression with physical diseases such as diabetes, stroke, myocardial infarction, arthritis, asthma, thyroid disease, renal failure, and cirrhosis was significantly high. Conclusions ：In this study, the presence of chronic diseases greatly increased the risk of depression, and it was confirmed that certain groups were at high risk for depression.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of faculty-student interaction, psychological well-being, and the image of nurses with nursing professionalism in the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Methods: The participants of the study were 243 nursing college students located in Daegu, Kyungpook. Data collection was performed between August 11 and 20, 2021. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression using the IBM SPSS 21.0 program. Results: The multiple regression showed that nursing professionalism was associated with a positive image of nurses (β=.71, p<.001) and higher faculty-student interaction (β=.11, p=.023). Additionally, a negative impression about nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic was negatively associated with nursing professionalism (β=-.12, p=.003). The explanatory power of the factors was 67 percent of the total variances on nursing professionalism; however, psychological well-being was not an associated factor. Conclusion This study suggested that, to improve nursing student’s nursing professionalism in the COVID-19 pandemic situation, nursing colleges should systemize curricular and non-curricular programs to improve awareness of nurses’ efforts and faculty-student interaction.

Background: Surgical scars subjected to excessive tension tend to widen and become hypertrophic due to strong mechanical stretching forces. In this study, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of combined intraoperative and postoperative long-term tension reduction techniques for the revision of scars subjected to excessive tension. Methods: In total, 64 cases (62 patients) underwent scar revision and were followed for 6 months or more. The long-term tension reduction technique included intraoperative subcutaneous fascial and deep dermal closure using nonabsorbable nylon sutures and postoperative long-term skin taping for 3 to 8 months. The final scars were objectively evaluated using our Linear Scar Evaluation Scale (LiSES, 0-10 scale), which consisted of five categories: width, height, color, texture, and overall appearance. Results: All 64 cases healed successfully, without early postoperative complications such as infection or dehiscence. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 6 years. The LiSES scores ranged from 5 to 10 (mean: 8.2). Fifty-one cases (79.6%) received a score of 8 to 10, which was assessed as “very good” by the evaluator. Two cases with a score of 5 (3%) showed partial hypertrophic scars at the last follow-up visit. All patients were highly satisfied with their final outcomes, including the two patients who experienced partial hypertrophic scars. Conclusions A combination of intraoperative and postoperative long-term tension reduction techniques can achieve the goal of long-term dermal support and satisfactory aesthetic outcomes for scar revision in areas subjected to excessive tension.

Skin cancers usually occur on the face and so successive cutaneous reconstruction after surgery is very important for the patients' quality of life. Cutaneous reconstruction is especially difficult when the defects after surgery involve the nasolabial fold. The nasolabial folds run from each side of the nose to the corners of the mouth, separating the cheeks from the upper lip. This area has complex contours, unique skin color and texture and the limited availability of mobile adjacent skin. We reconstructed such a defect after Mohs micrographic surgery for basal cell carcinoma of the nasolabial fold area, and we used a subcutaneous island pedicle flap and periosteal suspension suture. Herein we report on the details with the pictures, and we discuss the cosmetic effect and limitations of this method.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Cheek ; Cosmetics ; Lip ; Mohs Surgery ; Mouth ; Nasolabial Fold ; Nose ; Quality of Life ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Sutures

Trichorrhexis nodosa is the most common hair shaft anomaly in which there is a chemical or physical traumatic injury, characterized by the development of node-like swelling, fragility of the shaft and paint brush effect on the side of the fracture. We report two cases of trichorrhexis nodosa in 15-year-old girl and 16-year-old-boy, occurring as results of repetitive hot-comb straightener and excessive scratching. Scanning electroscopic findings are typical to trichorrhexis nodosa.
Adolescent ; Hair ; Humans ; Paint

Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare, slow-growing malignancy that consists of basaloid cells. It characteristically follows an indolent course but has a high tendency to recur locally after excision. We experienced a recurrent primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the abdomen in a 69-year-old female. It had recurred locally three times over 13 years despite repeated excisions. Wide spreading and perineural invasion of tumor cells were identified during Mohs micrographic surgery, and it seemed to be related to the repeated recurrences. Herein, we report this rare case with clinical and histological features of a recurrent nature.
Abdomen ; Adenoids ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Humans ; Mohs Surgery ; Recurrence