No abstract available.
Humans ; Mothers*

Human seminal plasrna (HSP) is mixture of secretion derived from various glands associated with male reproductive tract which comprises approximately 80-90% of the volume of normal ejaculate. The present study was undertaken in an effort to explore the effect of HSP pretreatment on the production of IL-1B, TNF-a and IL-12, in mice, and to investigate if HSP may cause to induce active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) in mice. In addition, effects of HSP pretreatment on contact hypersensitivity to trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB), antibody response to polyvinylpyrroridone (PVP), a thymus-independent antigen and on ASA induced by egg albumin (OVA) were also studied in this study. For the experiments of contact hypersensitivity, antibody response and cytokine production, mice were pretreated i.p. daily with 0.3ml of HSP or sterile saline alone (control) for 3 consecutive days before antigen sensitization or lipopolysaccharide injection for the cytokine induction. For the experiments of OVA- induced anaphylaxis, mice were pretreated by a single s.c. injection of HSP 0.3ml per mouse before sensitization. For induction of ASA in mice by HSP, a group of mice were sensitized i.p. 2 consecutive days with 0.3ml of HSP and one day with 0.3 ml of HSP plus 2x10(9) B. pertussis and 1.0 mg of alum (schedule A) or another group of mice were sensitized i.p. with a single i.p. injection of 0.3 ml of HSP with 2x10' B. pertussis and 1.0 mg of alum (schedule B). All sensitized and unsensitized control mice were challenged i.v. with 0.2ml of HSP 14 days after HSP sensitization, and mortality were observed. It was found that HSP pretreatment inhibited the production of IL-lB, TNF-a and IL-12, and also inhibited OVA-induced ASA, contact hypersensitivity to TNCB and anti-PVP antibody production. Interestingly, ASA was induced by HSP irrespective of the applied sensitization schedule. Taken together, this study may provide the direct evidences that HSP may inhibit the production of IL-1B, TNF-a and IL-12 and this may be the first to show the induction of ASA by HSP in mice.
Anaphylaxis* ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Appointments and Schedules ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Humans* ; Interleukin-12 ; Male ; Mice* ; Mortality ; Ovum ; Picryl Chloride ; Semen* ; Whooping Cough

Behçet syndrome (BS) is a chronic inflammatory disease with multiorgan manifestations. However, muscular involvement in BS has rarely been reported. Herein, we report the case of a 30-year-old male with BS who had recurring pain and swelling of the lower legs. The patient was administered antibiotics on several occasions as the condition was misinterpreted to be infectious myositis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed myofascial involvement with focal necrotic lesions, and muscle biopsy revealed acute suppurative myositis with perivascular infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. His symptoms improved after treatment with corticosteroids. Azathioprine and colchicine therapy was beneficial for preventing further relapse after short-term corticosteroid treatment. Therefore, BS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal suppurative myofasciitis.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction might influence a bone health. We evaluated whether subclinical hypothyroidism adversely affects bone health including bone mineral density (BMD), level of vitamin D, and bone turnover status in patients with hip fracture. METHODS: We evaluated 471 patients aged 50 years or older, who underwent hip fracture surgeries. BMD, level of vitamin D, bone turnover status, and one-year mortality were compared between subclinical hypothyroidism group and control group. RESULTS: BMD of femur and the level of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-[OH]D) were similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences in bone turnover markers according to thyroid function. No significant differences were observed between the groups in utilization of intensive care unit (ICU), length of hospital stay, mobility, and one-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical hypothyroidism was not associated with reduced bone health, including BMD, the level of 25-(OH)D, and bone turnover marker.
Bone Density ; Femur ; Hip Fractures ; Hip* ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Thyroid Gland ; Vitamin D

The purpose of this study was to evaluate pancreatic beta-cell function of Korean adult and to examine the associations between beta-cell function and nutrient intakes. Data were analyzed for 1,917 male and 2,885 female subjects older than 30 years using 'The Forth Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2009'. We calculated HOMA beta-cell (The homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function) using fasting glucose and fasting insulin for assessing beta-cell function. Subjects were divided into HHG (High HOMA beta-cell Group) or LHG (Low HOMA beta-cell Group) according to median of HOMA beta-cell, and then nutrient intakes were compared between two groups. In the entire study population, HHG showed lower percent of carbohydrate intakes (p < 0.05), and higher fat (p < 0.01), percent of fat (p < 0.05), vitamin A (p < 0.05), carotene (p < 0.05) and riboflavin (p < 0.05) intakes than LHG. In addition, levels of HOMA beta-cell were negatively correlated with percent of carbohydrate (beta = -0.040, p < 0.05), and positively correlated with percent of fat (beta = 0.046, p < 0.01). The subjects were then divided into two subgroups according to body mass index values, either < 23 kg/m2 (under- and normal-weight) or > or = 23 kg/m2 (over-weight and obese). Significant differences of some nutrients intakes and correlations with HOMA beta-cell were observed only in under- and normal weight subjects, but not in over-weight and obese subjects. In conclusion, high carbohydrate, lower fat and lower vitamin intakes may be related with pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction in under- and normal-weight Korean.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Carotenoids ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins

No abstract available.
Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Rupture*

No abstract available.
Anaphylaxis* ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Interferons* ; Mice*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore the influence of academic institutional interest, open parent-adolescent communication, social (friend) support, and existential spiritual well-being on suicidal ideation of college students. METHODS: The research design was descriptive survey research involving 285 college students in city G. Data was collected from May 18, 2011 to November 2, 2011 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: The findings reveal that suicidal ideation of college students was low, i.e., average score was 9.2+/-3.65 (possible range 5~25). This study determined that suicidal ideation is negatively correlated with interest on the part of the academic institution, open parent-adolescent communication, social support from friends, and existential spiritual well-being. The extent of existential spiritual well-being was a significant predictor of suicidal ideation, controlling for general characteristics variables (gender, number of close friends, first supporter) and institutional interest, open parent-adolescent communication, and social support. Existential spiritual well-being accounted for 50% of the explanation of suicidal ideation of college students. CONCLUSION: Based on the outcomes of this study, designing an intervention program that emphasizes existential spiritual well-being in order to decrease suicidal ideation of tertiary education students is strongly recommended.
Education ; Friends ; Humans ; Research Design ; Suicidal Ideation*

Paradoxical undressing is a well-known but uncommon phenomenon in hypothermic deaths. If an individual is found unusually undressed in cold weather and its autopsy finding is not related to any homicidal circumstance, the undressing is considered the victim s perimortem act accompanied in the hypothermic death. But unexperienced police staffs and scene investigators who are unaware of this perimortem phenomenon could take especially female death cases with paradoxical undressing for rape related homicides. The presenting case was initially considered a rape homicide but ruled a hypothermic death with the manner an accident through complete postmortem examinations including meticulous autopsy. We think this case is a good example for understanding the hypothermic death with pardoxical undressing and how to come to rule out homicide from it.
Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The best options of several bisphosphonates for prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women remain controversial. We determined which bisphosphonate provides better efficacy in prevention of osteoporotic fractures using a decision analysis tool, in terms of quality of life. METHODS: A decision analysis model was constructed containing final outcome score and the probability of vertebral and hip fracture within 1 year. Final outcome was defined as health-related quality of life, and was used as an utility in the decision tree. Probabilities were obtained by literature review, and health-related quality of life was evaluated by consensus committee. A roll back tool was used to determine the best bisphosphonate, and sensitivity analysis was performed to compensate for decision model uncertainty. RESULTS: The decision model favored bisphosphonate with higher compliance in terms of quality of life. In one-way sensitivity analysis, ibandronate was more beneficial than the others, when probability of compliance on ibandronate was above 0.589. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of quality of life, the decision analysis model showed that compliance was most important for patients in real world, regardless of type of bisphosphonate.
Compliance* ; Consensus ; Decision Support Techniques* ; Decision Trees ; Diphosphonates ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Patient Compliance ; Quality of Life ; Uncertainty