BACKGROUND: This study aimed to empirically investigate the determinants on oxygen free radical degree which causes biological damage focusing on smoking habit and health behaviors in daily life. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the subjects were adult males who submitted free radical tests among the examinees of the comprehensive medical testings at an university hospital in Suwon from 2008 to 2010. Total 497 samples were used in analyses for clarifying the relations of free radical degree to age, smoking, obesity, and other health behaviors. RESULTS: First, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.164 as the age group increases (P<0.05). Second, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.547 as the smoking habit increases (P<0.001). Third, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.087 as the exposure to hazardous factors in workplace increases (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study imply that the smoking habit has more great influence on the increase of oxygen free radical in body than any other health behaviors. The causality of free radical to smoking and health behavior was not identified due to the limit of the cross-sectional study so it needs to be studied prospectively in the future.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Free Radicals ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Oxygen ; Smoke ; Smoking

Background: Ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment is popular for improving atrophic acne scars; however, complications after laser treatment are unavoidable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of a moisturizer containing Centella asiatica extract when applied after ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. Methods: A split-face study was conducted between September 2020 and December 2020 on 34 patients (16 females and 18 males) who were treated with ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. After laser treatment, C. asiatica extract was applied to the right side of the face and purified water was applied to the left side. We compared the right and left sides of the face at various time points after laser treatment using an automatic skin analysis device to investigate the degree of moisture and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Results: No significant difference in the degree of moisture was found between the two sides of the face immediately after laser treatment (P=0.059), but there was a significant difference at 1 and 4 hours after post-laser treatment care (P<0.001). Regarding post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, there was no significant difference between the two sides of the face before laser treatment (P=0.184), but a significant difference was found at 6 weeks after laser treatment (P<0.001). Conclusions Our results show that applying C. asiatica extract is a novel post-laser treatment modality that can provide satisfactory results without complications after ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing.

Background: Ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment is popular for improving atrophic acne scars; however, complications after laser treatment are unavoidable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of a moisturizer containing Centella asiatica extract when applied after ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. Methods: A split-face study was conducted between September 2020 and December 2020 on 34 patients (16 females and 18 males) who were treated with ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. After laser treatment, C. asiatica extract was applied to the right side of the face and purified water was applied to the left side. We compared the right and left sides of the face at various time points after laser treatment using an automatic skin analysis device to investigate the degree of moisture and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Results: No significant difference in the degree of moisture was found between the two sides of the face immediately after laser treatment (P=0.059), but there was a significant difference at 1 and 4 hours after post-laser treatment care (P<0.001). Regarding post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, there was no significant difference between the two sides of the face before laser treatment (P=0.184), but a significant difference was found at 6 weeks after laser treatment (P<0.001). Conclusions Our results show that applying C. asiatica extract is a novel post-laser treatment modality that can provide satisfactory results without complications after ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing.

No abstract available.
Humans

The time course of recovery in vestibular neuritis varies between individuals. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors for the early or late recovery of vestibular neuritis. The inclusion criteria were patients 1) who had an acute onset of vertigo lasting at least 24 hours, 2) with a horizontal-torsional unidirectional spontaneous nystagmus, and 3) with a canal paresis of 20% or more on the bithermal caloric tests. The primary endpoint for this study was an early or late recovery of vestibular neuritis as a dependent variable. A functional level scale was used to define the late recovery (5 or more points) at seven days after the symptom onset. The secondary endpoint was the duration of hospitalization. One hundred twenty eight patients met the inclusion criteria for this study, and among them, 71 patients had an early recovery. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus was the only independent significant variable for the prediction of a late recovery of vestibular neuritis. In addition, the diabetes mellitus was a predicting variable for long duration of hospitalization. Diabetes mellitus was a predictor for a late recovery of vestibular neuritis.

PURPOSE: To establish the incidence of deep vein thrombosis among Koreans after primary total hip arthroplasty and the usefulness of color doppler ultrasonography for routine noninvasive screening for deep vein thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed prospective, randomized routine venography and color doppler ultrasonography before and after operation in a consecutive series of 89 primary total hip arthroplasty in which no form of prophylaxis was used. RESULTS: Of the 89 cases, eleven (12.4%) were found to have deep vein thrombosis (three proximal veins and eight distal veins) by bilateral venography. Most of the thromboses except two were asymptomatic. No patient had a symptomatic pulmonary embolism. Statistical analysis of risk factors, age, gender, weight, height, fixation method, and duration of operation time, were performed and there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). The reliability of color doppler ultrasonography for detection of deep vein thrombosis was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: We found insufficient evidence to recommend routine thromboprophylaxis in primary total hip arthroplasty among Koreans. The authors recommend that routine bilateral color doppler ultrasonography screening be considered after primary total hip arthroplasty for detection of deep vein thrombosis
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; Phlebography ; Prevalence* ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Blastoma*

PURPOSE: The study purposes were to describe the process of developing the Korean versions of the Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (Six-D) and Student Nurse Stress Index (SNSI) and psychometric evaluation of the two measurements. METHODS: This was a methodology study using a descriptive cross-sectional design with 51 nursing students in 4th year of university. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach alphas. Construct validity was determined by exploring correlations among Six-D, SNSI, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), self-efficacy and grade point average (GPA). RESULTS: Internal consistency reliability of Six-D and SNSI was acceptable with Cronbach's alpha of .95 and .82. Correlation analysis to determine construct validity revealed that Six-D presented positive correlations with OSCE (r=.109~.272) and self-efficacy (r=.005~.161) and negative correlation with GPA (r=-.246~-.394), although all were not statistically significant. SNSI presented all negative correlations with OSCE (r= -.007~-.238), self-efficacy (r=-.246~-.394), and GPA (r=-.092~-.426) and were mostly statistically significant except OSCE. CONCLUSION: Six-D needs more evidence to confirm validity to predict observed clinical competency and theoretical relationships with self-efficacy and GPA. However, SNSI presented trends of expected relationships with relevant variables. Therefore, further research is recommended in testing validity of Six-D with other student populations.
Asthma ; Humans ; Psychometrics ; Students, Nursing

BACKGROUND: Although malaria-specific antibody or antigen test is useful for the diagnosis of malaria infection, its cost-effectiveness has to be concerned in the area where malaria prevalence is very low. We created a panel test composed of malaria non-specific parameters, namely hematology autoanalyzer-derived results with or without addition of HDL-cholesterol data, and evaluated its usefulness in comparison with malaria-specific antibody test. METHODS: For 395 patients tested for malaria smear, the hematology parameters such as platelet count, NRBC (%) and VCS (volume, conductivity, scattering) parameters of WBC, and HDL-cholesterol data were analyzed. Statistical significance of each parameter and that of panel test with or without addition of HDL-cholesterol were evaluated. RESULTS: Malaria antibody test showed sensitivity of 97.1% and specificity of 99.1%. Each parameter of platelet count, NRBC (%), D parameter and HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 86.8%, 41.2%, 81.8%, and 70.6%, and specificity of 85.9%, 96.3%, 72.3%, and 81.7%, respectively. Panel test without including HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 81.6%, and that including HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 86.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The malaria non-specific panel test composed of hematology autoanalyzer-derived parameters showed relatively good, but slightly lower sensitivity than that of malaria-specific antibody test. It might be used as a screening test for the diagnosis of malaria infection, and addition of HDL cholesterol improved little the usefulness of the panel test.
Animals ; Autoanalysis ; Biological Markers ; Cholesterol, HDL/*blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematologic Tests/economics/utilization ; Humans ; Malaria, Falciparum/blood/*diagnosis ; Plasmodium falciparum/isolation & purification ; ROC Curve ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics and surgical results in cervical myelopathy patients caused by soft disc herniation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1997 to August 1998. The authors treated cervical myelopathy patients who had a soft disc herniation. We evaluated the symptoms and signs, simple X-rays, the MRI, the JOA score and Hirabayashi's recovery rate. RESULTS: On simple X-ray, the narrowest A-P diameter was 13 mm, as the average was 14.9 mm, and no bony structural stenosis was found. On MRI, the average of the cord compression was 2.92 mm, and the average A-P compression ratio was 40.2%. An intermediate to high signal change in the cord was found in 8 cases. All patients improved after surgery and the average Hirabayashi's recovery rate was 61.1%. CONCLUSION: If, cord compression due to posterior soft disc herniation is severe, patients can have cervical myelopathy. Lateral disc herniation can also be a cause of cervical myelopathy. Cervical myelopathy due to soft disc herniation can be treated with a good results by using an anterior discectomy and interbody fusion method.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Diskectomy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Cord Diseases*