OBJECTIVES: Risperidone, an atypical antipsychitics which blocks both dopaminergic and serotonergic receptors, have a good response to the negative symptoms as well as positive symptoms, and improve cognitive dysfunction of schizophrenic patients. Furthermore, it has few extrapyramidal side effects and tardive dyskinesia. Although it had been reported that the atypical antipsychotics have less effect on prolactin(PRL) than the classical antipsychotics, we could experience PRL-associated symptoms such as amenorrhea, galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia in practice. Therefore we tried to identify the sex differences of risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia, to evaluate factors affecting PRL levels, and to know the association between cognitive disorders and PRL. METHODS: The baseline levels of PRL and TSH prior th risperidone administration were measured by enzyme immunoassay method for 50 patients (25 males and 25 females) admitted with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or schizophreniform disorder according to the DSM-IV classification, and the measurements of PRL were repeated on the 2nd and the 4th wks of risperidone administration. Concomitantly, the severity of psychotic symptoms using CGI, BPRS and PANSS, and the cognitive dysfunction using PANSS-CF were assessed prior to, on the 2nd and the 4th wks of risperidone administration. The PRL and TSH levels of 54 healthy controls(29 males and 25 females) who had no medical, neurological and psychiatric illnesses were also evaluated. Furthermore, the correlation with the psychiatric diagnosis, education, age, sex, duration of illnesses, risperidone dosage, duration of risperdone administration, TSH concentration, cognitive function, severity of psychotic symptoms were also identified. RESULTS: 1) The baseline PRL levels of female schizophrenics(74.3+/-49.6ng/ml) were significantly(p<0.005) higher than those of males(36.3+/-24.6ng/ml), which wee significantly(p<0.0001 respectively) higher than those of controls(females 16.9+/-6.1ng/ml, males 13.3+/-4.9ng/ml). The PRL levels measured on the 2nd wks(females 133.7+/-47.8ng/ml, males 56.9+/-23.6ng/ml) and on the 4th wks(females 146.1+/-45.9ng/ml, males 70.0+/-31.5ng/ml) after risperidone administration were significantly(p<0.0001 respectively) higher in females. The mean dosages of risperidone on the 2nd wks were 3.8+/-1.7mg(2-6mg) for the females and 4.0+/-1.6mg(2-6mg) fore the males, and on the 4th wks were 4.5+/-2.1mg(2-8mg) fore the females and 5.4+/-2.2mg(2-8mg) for the males. 2) The rise of PRL levels were positively correlated with increased risperidone dosage in males(y=0.307 on the 2nd wks and y=0.280 on the 4th wks), while they were not correlated with dosages in females. For the females, the PRL levels were negatively correlated(y=-0.320) with decrease of TSH concentration. The baseline PRL levels were not correlated with age, education, duration of illnesses, psychopathology, cognitive disorders in both males and females, while it was negatively correlated with TSH levels only in females(y=-0.320). 3) The cognitive dysfunction was correlated with PRL levels in males, while PANSS-CF scores were negatively correlated with PRL levels(y=-0.220 on the 2nd wks and y=-0.366 on the 4th wks) in females. The psychopathology was positively correlated with cognitive dysfunction in both males and females. Therefore, the risperdone-induced cognitive improvement seemed to be correlated with improvement of psychopathology in both males and females, and with increase in PRL levels only in females. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that the serum PRL levels of schizophrenics were higher than those of controls, especially in females suggested that it could be related with risperidone dosage in males and with primary pathological process in females. The risperidone-associated cognitive improvement seemed to be related with general improvement of psychopathology as well as the rise of PRL levels especially in females. The facts that the effect of risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia and the cognitive function were more in females suggested that somewhat different mechanisms could be exerted on them.
Amenorrhea ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Classification ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Education ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; Movement Disorders ; Pregnancy ; Prolactin* ; Psychopathology ; Psychotic Disorders ; Risperidone* ; Schizophrenia ; Sex Characteristics

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The outcome of asthma treatment has traditionally been assessed by measuring the conventional clinical parameters such as symptoms, expiratory flow rates and needs for medications. But none of them tells us whether the patients are actually able to function properly in their lives. Only assessment of the quality of life (QOL) can reflect the parts of patients lives affected by the disease. However, there is no measure to assess the quality of life of patients with any chronic diseases in Korea yet. We developed the QOL Questionnaire for Korean Asthmatics and evaluated its measurement properties. METHOD: The questionnaire was composed of 18 items in four domains : i.e. activity limitation (6 items), symptoms (5 items), emotional function (3 items) and environmental stimuli (4 items). At our out-patient clinic, 32 adults with moderate to severe persistent bronchial asthma were enrolled. The study design consisted of 4 week unblinded single cohort with visits at 0 and 4 weeks, and the patients were asked to answer the questionnaire by self administration method at the two separate visits. Forced expiratory volume for 1 second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were recorded at each visit. According to the patients and physicians global assessment, the patients were divided into two groups, i.e. stable and changed (improved). The responsiveness, reproducibility and validity of the questionnaire were evaluated. RESULTS: The total QOL scores at the second visit in the changed group were significantly higher than those at the first visit. The score differences between the two visits in the changed group were higher than in the stable group. In the stable group, the responses to the questionnaire were reproducible. The QOL scores showed good longitudinal correlation with the expiratory flow rates, whereas FEV1 did not correlate with the QOL in cross-sectional analysis. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire proved to be reproducible, responsive and valid in the subjects. It could be recommended for the outcome evaluation of Korean asthmatics.
Adult ; Asthma ; Chronic Disease ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Quality of Life* ; Self Administration ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Blood Donors* ; Chemistry* ; Chlamydia* ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae* ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Prevalence*

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify and explain the essences and structures of maternal conflicts in Vietnamese married immigrant women in Korea. METHODS: A phenomenological methodology was used for the study. Eleven Vietnamese married immigrant women participated in the study. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. RESULTS: Four categories, 10 clusters and 26 themes emerged from the data for the experience in maternal conflicts of Vietnamese married immigrant women. The four categories were 'An unprepared young motherhood in another culture', 'Feeling left out of the mother's place along the bands of Nap tai tradition', 'My image is like not-being able to stand alone/be independent' and 'Finding hope in motherhood despite of conflicts and stigmas'. CONCLUSION: Vietnamese married immigrant women experienced not only the negative aspects but also sublimation of maternal conflicts. Based on the results, health professionals need to develop effective nursing interventions toward a positive maternal identity and approach with interculturalism for the Vietnamese married immigrant women in Korea.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Communication Barriers ; Emigrants and Immigrants/*psychology ; Family/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Marriage ; Maternal Behavior/*psychology ; Pregnancy ; Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Vietnam

The nevus of Ota is a distinctive, mesodermal pigmentation of the facial skin commonly combined with pigmentation of the eye, usually congenital but capable of benign progression. It is usually unilateral, but in the 1st of these 2 cases, pigmentation of the facial skin and the eye was bilateral and associated with pigmentation of the left shoulder and the anterior cervical area(nevus of Ita). In the 2nd of these 2 cases, pigmentation of the eye and the shoulder was bilateral. Pigmentation of the eye accompanies that of sclera in every case, that of conjunctiva, iris and choroid in some case. It accompanies that of optic disc rarely, but in the 1st of these 2 cases, the pigmentation of optic disc was found in both eyes, in the 2nd, in the right eye. We have experienced the above-mentioned 2 cases of nevus of Ota associated with nevus of Ito which accompanied the pigmentation of optic disc, that are rare. We briefly reviewed the literature relating to nevus of Ota and Ito.
Choroid ; Conjunctiva ; Iris ; Mesoderm ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Pigmentation ; Sclera ; Shoulder ; Skin

No abstract available.
Krukenberg Tumor*

No abstract available.
Krukenberg Tumor*

No abstract available.
HIV* ; Humans ; Lymphocytes*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide fundamental information about childbirth and antenatal care for pregnancy women and to find differences in mother's antenatal care and delivery service satisfaction between vaginal delivery and cesarean section. METHODS: This study was conducted in 4 residential areas and a study sample of 184 postpartum mothers who agreed to collect data. Data was collected from September 1 to October 20 2007 and a structured questionnaire were recruited by the survey. The data was analyzed by t-test and chi-squire test using SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in delivery place between vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery. Only 10.7% of vaginal delivery group delivered in general hospitals, however 24.5% of the cesarean section group delivered in general hospitals. Early antenatal care also showed statistical difference in mode of delivery. 43.5% of vaginal delivery mothers visited hospitals for the detection of pregnancy but 28.3% of cesarean section mothers did that. Vaginal delivery mothers more satisfied with her own delivery method and suggested a vaginal delivery to others. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that cesarean section mother's sensitivity of early antenatal care was less than vaginal delivery mother. Satisfaction related to delivery care services were higher in the vaginal delivery group.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Mothers ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Hypertrophic scarring and depression are the principal problems of burn rehabilitation. This study was done to verify the effects of skin rehabilitation massage therapy (SRMT) on pruritus, skin status, and depression for Korean burn survivors. METHODS: A pretest-posttest design using a nonequivalent control group was applied to examine the effects of SRMT for 3 months in a group of 18 burn survivors. The major dependent variables-including pruritus, objective and subjective scar status, and depression-were measured at the beginning and at the end of the therapy to examine the effects of SRMT. RESULTS: Burn survivors receiving SRMT showed reduced pruritus, improved skin status, and depression. The remaining scar also showed improvement in skin pigmentation, pliability, vascularity, and height (compared to the surrounding skin) as measured on the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that SRMT for burn survivors may improve their scars both objectively and subjectively, and also reduce pruritus and depression.
Adult ; Burns/complications/*rehabilitation ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic/etiology/*prevention & control ; Depressive Disorder/etiology/*prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Massage ; Pruritus/etiology/*prevention & control