BACKGROUND: We compared health behaviors, including current smoking, alcohol drinking, regular exercise, obesity, and abdominal obesity, among Korean cancer survivors with and without family history of cancer. METHODS: This study included 5,247 cancer survivors with family history of cancer (1,894 with and 3,353 without), who were recruited from the Health Examinee cohort. Health behaviors were identified using questionnaire. Adjusted ORs (aORs) between health behaviors and family history of cancer were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for sociodemographic factors. All analyses were conducted separately according to sex. RESULTS: Prevalence of current smoking, alcohol drinking, no regular exercise, obesity, and abdominal obesity was 16.3%, 48.3%, 36.0%, 31.3%, and 42.3% in male cancer survivors and 1.7%, 20.6%, 43.8%, 28.5%, and 72.5% in female, respectively. Health behaviors in male cancer survivors with and without family history of cancer were not significantly different after being adjusted for other covariates (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.75–1.44 for current smoking; aOR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.76–1.22 for current drinking; aOR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.66–1.10 for regular exercise; aOR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.73–1.25 for obesity; aOR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.75–1.25 for abdominal obesity). In female cancer survivors, there were no significant differences in health behaviors according to family history of cancer (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.44–1.32; aOR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.94–1.31; aOR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.87–1.14; aOR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.85–1.16; aOR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.80–1.10, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We identified no significant differences in health behaviors according to family history of cancer in cancer survivors. More studies should be conducted to identify correlations between family history of cancer and prognosis in cancer survivors.
Alcohol Drinking ; Cohort Studies ; Drinking ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Genome* ; Health Behavior* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Survivors*

Purpose: We investigated the the effect of wearing a loose mask on tear-film break-up time using cross-sectional and experimental methods. Methods: This was a comparative analysis of non-invasive tear-film break-up time (NIBUT) after wearing no mask, loose mask, and tight mask for 10 minutes each in 60 eyes with or without dry eye syndrome. NIBUT measurements were performed using a keratograph. Results: The NIBUT values were 7.53 ± 0.83 seconds, 6.19 ± 0.78 seconds, and 7.36 ± 0.68 seconds for the no mask, loose mask, and tight mask groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the no mask and tight mask groups (ρ-value = 0.517), but the loose mask group had a significantly reduced NIBUT compared with the other groups (ρ-value = 0.013 and 0.022, respectively). Conclusions Wearing a loose mask reduced the tear-film break-up time regardless of the presence or absence of dry eyes and may cause or worsen dry eye symptoms.

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of subconjunctival bevacizumab injection after primary pterygium surgery. Methods: We performed a conjunctivo-limbal autograft after pterygium resection in 136 eyes of 128 patients with primary pterygium between December 2019 and July 2021. A subconjunctival bevacizumab injection of 2.5 mg (0.1 mL) was administered in the bevacizumab group but not in the control group (54 eyes of 48 patients). We compared pterygium recurrence rates between the two groups at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Pterygium recurrence occurred in one eye (1.21%) in the bevacizumab group and five eyes (9.25%) in the control group. Additionally, fibrovascular tissue proliferation was suppressed in the bevacizumab group and no postoperative complications were observed. Conclusions Pterygium recurrence occurred in one eye (1.21%) in the bevacizumab group and five eyes (9.25%) in the control group. Additionally, fibrovascular tissue proliferation was suppressed in the bevacizumab group and no postoperative complications were observed.

Purpose: To report two cases of cataract that progressed after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.Case summary: Two patients visited our clinic with decreased visual acuity in the left eye that began after mRNA vaccine. A 40-year-old man visited our hospital with decreased visual acuity in the left eye that developed 1 week after injection of the second dose of mRNA-1273 (Moderna ® ,Cambridge, UK). A 40-year-old woman visited our clinic with decreased visual acuity in the left eye that occurred on day 46 after the injection of the third dose of BNT162b2 (Pfizer ® , New York, NY, USA). Neither case had any relevant ophthalmic history, and there was no clear optic neuropathy or retinopathy on fundus examination. After phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation, the best-corrected visual acuity improved, and intraocular pressure has remained stable. Conclusions The possibility of cataract development or progression after COVID-19 mRNA vaccine injection should be considered.

We present a case of complete vaginal stenosis in a woman diagnosed with Sheehan’s syndrome. The patient delivered at full-term 5 months prior, and experienced massive postpartum bleeding at that time. During evaluation of persistent amenorrhea, we found that her vaginal orifice was completely adhesive and obstructed. Prior to corrective surgery, we managed the patient with an oral contraceptive to induce uterine bleeding into the vaginal outflow tract. After three cycles of an oral contraceptive, we could confirm that there was no stenotic lesion in the vaginal cavity as a hematocolpos was created. Adhesiolysis with scar revision for the vaginal stenosis was successfully performed; it was found that the lesion was limited to only the distal part of the vaginal outlet. Complete vaginal stenosis in reproductive age women with hypopituitarism has not been reported. The artificial induction of hematometrocolpos before surgery was useful in determining the extent of the stenotic lesion, and assured safety.
Adhesives ; Amenorrhea ; Cicatrix ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Female ; Hematocolpos ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Postpartum Period ; Uterine Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop an experience-based sex education program to improve adjustment to puberty in elementary school students in the upper grades and to verify its effectiveness. METHODS: This study had a pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design. The subjects of this study were a total of 95 sixth-graders in Y city (experimental group: 48, control group: 47). The measurement variables were sexual knowledge, body image, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life. Four sessions of the experience-based sex education program to improve adjustment to puberty, consisting of 40 minutes per session, were provided to the experimental group. RESULTS: Children's sexual knowledge, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life in the experimental group, which participated in the experience-based sexual education program to improve adjustment to puberty, showed a significant increase compared to the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in body image. CONCLUSION: This study presents the development of an experience-based sex education program for adjustment to puberty to overcome the shortcomings of existing sex education programs that are limited to sexual knowledge and attitudes, and also verified that the sexual knowledge, self-esteem, and life satisfaction of the elementary school students who were provided with the program improved meaningfully.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent ; Body Image ; Child ; Education ; Humans ; Puberty* ; Self Concept ; Sex Education*

Pathogenic microbes secrete various enzymes with lipolytic activities to facilitate their survival within the host. Lipolytic enzymes include extracellular lipases and phospholipases, and several lines of evidence have suggested that these enzymes contribute to the virulence of pathogenic fungi. Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans are the most commonly isolated human fungal pathogens, and several biochemical and molecular approaches have identified their extracellular lipolytic enzymes. The role of lipases and phospholipases in the virulence of C. albicans has been extensively studied, and these enzymes have been shown to contribute to C. albicans morphological transition, colonization, cytotoxicity, and penetration to the host. While not much is known about the lipases in C. neoformans, the roles of phospholipases in the dissemination of fungal cells in the host and in signaling pathways have been described. Lipolytic enzymes may also influence the survival of the lipophilic cutaneous pathogenic yeast Malassezia species within the host, and an unusually high number of lipase-coding genes may complement the lipid dependency of this fungus. This review briefly describes the current understanding of the lipolytic enzymes in major human fungal pathogens, namely C. albicans, C. neoformans, and Malassezia spp.
Candida albicans ; Colon ; Complement System Proteins ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Fungi ; Humans ; Lipase ; Malassezia ; Phospholipases ; Yeasts

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates lay beliefs about the etiology and treatments of tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome, as well as identifying sociodemographic and personality variables affecting these beliefs among South Koreans. METHODS: In total, 673 participants (mean age 41.77±12.03 years) completed an online survey regarding their beliefs about tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome. The factors related to their lay beliefs about the disorders were analyzed, and the correlates were investigated. RESULTS: Results indicated that lay people in South Korea held strong beliefs that the causes of tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome lie within the parenting/psychological and neurological/biological categories, compared to the dietary/environmental one. Among the sociodemographic variables, sex, age, and levels of subjective mental health knowledge were primarily associated with the aforementioned beliefs. Familiarity with tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome was also associated with these beliefs. Among the personality traits investigated, extraversion and conscientiousness had significant influences on the beliefs people had about tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that both policy makers and mental health service providers should adopt a strategic approach for developing and implementing health education interventions about tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome because individual sociodemographic variables, familiarity with the disorders, and personality traits are all associated with the beliefs about these disorders.
Administrative Personnel ; Extraversion (Psychology) ; Health Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Mental Health Services ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Tic Disorders ; Tics ; Tourette Syndrome

PURPOSE: To analyze the causes, success rate, and the changes of Jones tube length in endoscopic conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) reoperation cases. METHODS: The medical records of 40 patients (41 eyes, a total of 52 cases) who underwent reoperation of CDCR with Jones tube reinsertion using an endoscope from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed the success rate, causes of reoperation, changes in lengths of used tubes, and the average interval times between operations. RESULTS: The most common cause of reoperation was medial tube migration (53.8%). As in other causes, tube loss (17.3%), obstructions related with conjunctival overgrowth or granulation (13.46%), lateral tube migration (11.53%), iatrogenic removal (1.92%), and acute dacryocystitis (1.92%) followed. In patients with medial tube migration, the average tube length used in reoperations decreased by approximately 1.11 mm compared to prior operations. In cases of lateral tube migration, the average tube length increased approximately 1.00 mm after the reoperation. The success rate of reoperations was 78.04%. The average interval time between the initial operation and the first reoperation was 52 months. In cases with several reoperations, the interval time decreased as the number of reoperations increased. CONCLUSIONS Because medial tube migration was found to be the most common cause of reoperations, it should be considered as a potential problem when performing surgery. The changes in the lengths of inserted Jones tubes were related to certain types of complication, which affected the prognoses. In endoscopic CDCR reoperations, the success rate was favorable. In recurrent cases, the average interval time between reoperations decreased as the number of operations increased.

Background: The lipophilic yeasts Malassezia spp. are normally resident on the surface of the human body, and often associated with various skin diseases. Of the 18 known Malassezia spp., Malassezia restricta is the most predominantly identified Malassezia sp. found on the human skin. Malassezia possesses a large number of genes encoding lipases to degrade human sebum triglycerides into fatty acids, which are required not only for their growth, but also trigger skin diseases. Previously, we have shown that MrLIP5 (MRET_0930), one of the 12 lipase genes in the genome of M. restricta, and is the most frequently expressed lipase gene in the scalp of patients with dandruff. Objective: In this study, we aimed to analyze the activity, stability, and expression of MrLip5, with particular focus on pH. Methods: We heterologously expressed MrLip5 in Escherichia coli, and purified and analyzed its activity and expression under different pH conditions. Results: We found that MrLip5 was most active and stable and highly expressed under alkaline conditions, which is similar to that of the diseased skin surface. Conclusion Our results suggest that the activity and expression of MrLip5 are pH-dependent, and that this lipase may play an essential role at the M. restricta-host interface during disease progression.