It has been well known that infertile women experience not only emotional disturbance but also stress. But there is no concern about male infertility patients. So phychiat.ic symptoms were studied with SCL-90 (Symptom Check List-90) in 30 infertile men who was operated testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in Samsung Cheil Hospital and in age matched 31 fertile men from Jan. 1998 to Aug. 1998. In 5 symptom dimensions (Obcessive-Compulsive, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, Phobic anxiety, Psychoticisim) scores. The Infertile group scored significantly higher than the control group. The result revealed that infertile men also experienced substantially more psychiatric symptoms than fertile men. Considering this results, psychiatric evaluation and tender care by infertility specialist are necessary for infertile men during and after evaluation and treatment.
Affective Symptoms ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male* ; Male ; Male* ; Specialization ; Spermatozoa

PURPOSE: For the early diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) presenting with acute abdominal pain preceding skin rash. METHODS: The clinical, endoscopic and radiological records of 23 cases of HSP, presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms preceding skin rash were reviewed. RESULTS: The intervals from the onset of abdominal pain to the development of the skin rash were one day to 30 days(median five days), most of them were within two weeks. The presenting abdominal symptoms were abdominal pain(23 cases), vomiting(16 cases), hematochezia or melena(eight cases) and hematemesis(three cases). The abnormal endoscopic findings include coalescing erythematous lesions, areas of submucosal hemorrhage and superficial erosions and ulcers. The upper gastro intestinal endoscopy showed the abnormalities in 21 of 23 cases, which were observed in the duodenum(21 cases), the stomach(12 cases) and the esophagus(one case). Duodenitis with hemorrhage and/or erosions in the descending duodenum was the sole endoscopic abnormality in two cases and was the most marked finding in three cases. Sigmoidoscopy showed the abnormalities in six of eight cases. The abdominal ultrasonogram showed abnormalities in 12 of 17 cases, which included small bowel wall thickening(eight cases) and intramural hemorrhage(three cases). Recurrences after three months of symptom free intervals developed in four cases; three of them had persistent nephritis beyond one year. CONCLUSION: The erosive hemorrhagic duodenitis in the descending duodenum in the upper endoscopy and the small bowel wall thickening in the abdominal ultrasonogram can be useful findings in the diagnosis of HSP presenting with acute abdomen.
Abdomen, Acute ; Abdominal Pain* ; Diagnosis ; Duodenitis ; Duodenum ; Early Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Exanthema* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Nephritis ; Purpura* ; Recurrence ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Skin* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Refractory Mycoplasma pneumonia (RMP) has been increasing not only in Korea but worldwide. We investigated the incidence of M. pneumonia resistant to macrolides and risk factors for RMP. METHODS: From October 2015 to May 2016, 62 pediatric patients who were admitted due to pneumonia diagnosed on the basis of chest x-ray with respiratory symptoms and positive for M. pneumoniae in polymerase chain reaction with no evidence of other bacterial or viral infections were included. Sequence analysis of the 23S rRNA gene in M. pneumoniae was performed to identify macrolide resistance. Patients with congenital anomalies, history of pulmonary disease, and unclear information on antibiotic use were excluded. RESULTS: Mutations in the 23S rRNA gene were detected in 50 of 62 patients (80.6%). Risk factors were analyzed in only 45 patients. The RMP group consisted of 26 patients (57.8%) who had fever lasting more than 5 days and deteriorating chest x-ray findings. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in the RMP group than in the non-RMP group (LDH: 300±79 U/L vs. 469±206 U/L, CRP: 4.9±4.3 mg/dL vs. 2.5±1.7 mg/dL; P = 0.04 vs. P = 0.026). In univariate analysis, the RMP group was significantly associated with 23S rRNA gene mutation, lobar pneumonia, and pleural effusion (odds ration [OR]: 10.8, 4.1, 5.3; P = 0.004, P = 0.036, P = 0.046). The presence of macrolide resistance was found to be only a significant risk factor in logistic regression (OR; 8.827; 95% confidence interval, 1.376–56.622; P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Macrolide resistance was a significant risk factor in patients with RMP and identification of macrolide resistance might be helpful in predicting RMP and establishing target therapy for RMP.
C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Fever ; Genes, rRNA ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Logistic Models ; Lung Diseases ; Macrolides ; Mycoplasma ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors ; Sequence Analysis ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Rheumatic Fever*

No abstract available.
Penicillamine*

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relationship among self-management, economic stability, self-esteem, self-achievement and predictor of the self-achievements in elders. METHODS: A total of 294 subjects aged between 60 and 92 were selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire from May to June, 2008. Collected data were analysed by the SPSS/WIN 15.0 program. RESULTS: Self-management, economic stability, self-esteem, self-achievement were positively correlated. The most significant predictor of self-achievement in elders were self-management and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that self-achievement is influenced by self-management and self-esteem and needed for aged well.
Self Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe motivational factors and barriers which nurses experience while preparing for the NCLEX-RN Exam. METHOD: Data was collected from July 5 to August 28, 2002 using self-administered open questionnaires. A total 144 nurses preparing for the NCLEX-RN Exam participated in this study. Descriptive statistics were used and respondents' statements were analyzed using content analysis. RESULT: The motivation for taking the NCLEX-RN Exam was for a new adventure (23.7%), better working conditions and benefits (20.4%), children's education (14.5%), to study aboard (13.8%), economic issues (11.8%), and career issues (11.2%). The barriers while preparing for the NCLEX-RN Exam were studying in English (35.3%), fatigue (21.8%), limited time (16.0%), lack of information (8.3%), complicated documentation (5.1%), and cultural differences (4.5%). CONCLUSION: The result suggests that it is imperative to improve working conditions and benefits for nurses in Korea to prevent the brain drain of highly experienced nurses to other countries. It is also essential to develop strategies to minimize the barriers to support nurses preparing for the NCLEX-RN Exam and promote jobs overseas.
Brain ; Education ; Fatigue ; Korea ; Licensure ; Motivation* ; Questionnaires

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older adults with unmet healthcare needs. Methods: Data from the 2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. From a pool of 7992 participants, a final sample of 153 participants was analyzed using complex descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and multiple regression analysis. Results: In general, young age, being married, employment, higher income, no hypertension, health insurance coverage as an employee, and living with someone were associated with higher the HRQoL. The following factors were significantly associated with lower HRQoL scores: activity restriction (B=-0.15, p<.001), poor perceived health status (B=-0.14, p<.001), and higher depressive symptom score (B=-0.01, p=.002). The explanatory power was approximately 58%, and the model was deemed suitable (Wald F=16.86, p<.001). Conclusion This study provides insights into the influence of various characteristics of older adults with unmet healthcare needs on their HRQoL. Healthcare providers should develop strategies to reduce these unmet healthcare needs.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the nutritional status and to compare nutritional indicators by caloric intake for intensive care unit patients. METHODS: The participants for this descriptive investigation were 62 patients who were admitted to medical and surgical ICUs and started on enteral feeding. Data were collected in a tertiary hospital and the patients were followed for 7 days after enteral feeding was initiated. For analysis, patients who received 80% less calories than their required level were categorized as the underfed group and patients who received more than 80% to their required level, as the adequately fed group. RESULTS: Compared to daily requirements, the prescribed calories and protein for patients overall were 77.39% and 64.75% respectively. The level of calories and protein given was less than their prescription. However, a comparison of the underfed group and the adequately fed group, showed that there was no significantly difference in albumin, prealbumin and transferrin. Only body weight was significantly different between the groups. C-reactive protein had a significant correlation with prealbumin and transferrin. CONCLUSION: Underfeeding is a common phenomenon among ICU patients. Nutritional indicators such as prealbumin, albumin and transferrin may not sensitive indicators to assess nutritional status of ICU patients.
Body Weight ; C-Reactive Protein ; Energy Intake ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Prealbumin ; Prescriptions ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Transferrin

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder in which narrowing and obstruction of the upper airway lead to frequent arousal and decreased arterial oxygenation during sleep. OSA is more common in children with genetic disorders like achondroplasia compared to children without genetic disorders. Achondroplasia is genetic disorder characterized by hypoplasia of the facial bone and skull base with foramen magnum stenosis, resulting in exceedingly high frequency of OSA. The authors present a case of a patient with achondroplasia diagnosed with severe OSA through polysomnography after adenectomy showed little therapeutic effect and who was treated with continuous positive airway pressure.