Background: This study is a 1-year follow-up study for mentally disabled people who started living independently. The purpose of this study is to confirm the performance of the supported independent housing (SIH) program for severe mental illness and to compare the effectiveness with the collective living family, a group home (GH). Methods: This study included mentally disabled people living in publicly supported SIH (n=24) and living in GH (n=31). The outcome measures were brief psychiatric rating scale, Global Assessment Function (GAF), internalized stigma, hope, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and working alliance. Analyzes were performed using descriptive methods and chi-square analysis, Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Friedman test. Results: In the case of the SIH group, GAF and internalized stigma showed a significant effect after 1 year, and the working alliance showed a tendency to decrease at 6 months and then increase again after 1 year. In comparison between the two groups, only GAF showed a significant difference after 1 year. Hope, self-esteem, and life satisfaction showed a significant effect in the GH group after 1 year, but not in the SIH group. Conclusions Results show that the SIH and GH housing types achieve different results over the 1-year period. GAF and internalized stigma were significant in SIH, and psychological variables were significant in GH. In GAF, SIH showed a more significant effect than GH. Housing support should take into account the various individual circumstances and preferences of the client, and above all, securing housing stability and expanding accessibility is important.

No abstract available.
Glycopeptides*

No abstract available.
Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic*

No abstract available.
Adenoids* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Lacrimal Apparatus*

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the relationship of 25(OH)D3 levels with anticonvulsant use and other possible factors in epileptic children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 143 patients with epilepsy (90 boys, 53 girls; 11.21+/-4.49 years), who had been treated with anticonvulsants for more than 1 year. Patients who had taken multiple vitamins before the blood test and those who have the limitation of physical activity (wheelchair-bound) were excluded from the study. We evaluated the difference in vitamin D status according to the type and number of anticonvulsants taken and other factors such as gender, age, intelligence and seizure variables. RESULTS: For patients with mental retardation or developmental delay, 25(OH)D3 levels were lower than the levels in patients with normal intelligence quotient levels (p=0.03). 25(OH)D3 levels were lower in patients who had taken anticonvulsants for more than 2 years as compared to those who had taken them for less than 2 years (p=0.03). Those taking oxcarbazepine had significantly lower vitamin D levels than patients taking valproic acid (p=0.01). However, no effects of number of anticonvulsants taken were detectable. More than two-thirds of the patients were diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis in patients showing either vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. CONCLUSION: The possibility of vitamin D deficiency can be considered in pediatric patients taking anticonvulsants if they have mental retardation or developmental delay or if they have been taking anticonvulsants for more than 2 years or taking hepatic enzyme inducing drugs.
Adolescent* ; Anticonvulsants ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Child* ; Developmental Disabilities ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Intelligence ; Methods ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis ; Seizures ; Valproic Acid ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Background: Benign bladder tumors are rare disease entities, and insufficient studies have assessed their epidemiological characteristics. The authors investigated the prevalence of benign bladder tumors by retrospectively investigating pathology reports of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) procedures over the past 20 years. Methods: We analyzed 1,674 pathology reports of TURBT conducted in 1,160 patients from January 1, 2000, to April 30, 2022. The prevalence of benign tumors and histological classification according to the presence of primary (group 1) and recurrent (group 2) bladder lesions were retrospectively investigated. Results: The mean age of patients was 65.2±11.5 years, and 1,284 cases (79.1%) were in men. Benign bladder tumors comprised 278 cases (248 patients) accounting for about 17.1% of the total TURBT cases (278/1,624). Furthermore, 184 patients (16.0%, 184/1,147) belonged to group 1 and 78 patients (27.4%, 78/285) belonged to group 2. Among all benign lesions that underwent TURBT, cystitis was the most common (41.0%, 114/278), and this rate was higher in group 2 (64/184 [34.8%] vs. 50/94 [53.2%], p<0.001). The prevalence of non-neoplastic lesions was higher in group 1 (44/184 [23.9] vs. 11/94 [11.7%], p<0.001). There was no difference in the prevalence of noninvasive urothelial neoplasms between the two groups (22/184 [12.0%] vs. 8/94 [8.5%], p=0.86). Conclusions The probability of benign lesions in TURBT was 17.1%, among which cystitis was the most common. When TURBT was performed for recurrent lesions, the frequency of benign tumors was higher than that of primary benign bladder tumors.

Focal nodular hyperplasia-like nodules (FNH-like nodules) are hypervascular lesions that occur in the cirrhotic liver. Histologically,they are similar to classical FNH in an otherwise normal liver. Radiologically, FNH-like nodules may mimic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and they have been misdiagnosed as HCC based on radiological findings. Their pathogenesis and etiology are unclear, but they may arise from a local hyperplastic response to vascular alterations like classical FNH. Rarely, these nodules transform into malignant tumors and cause complications. We report the case of a 28-year-old man with multiple FNH-like nodules in congenital liver cirrhosis.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the intracellular signal transduction pathways of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in inducing matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in human myometrial smooth muscle cells. METHODS: We studied the expression of MMP-9 induced by cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) with zymography. The influence of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta on the phosphorylation of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and IkB were studied with immunoblotting for p-JNK and p-IkB. The intranuclear shifting of NF-kB and AP-1 after treatment with TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were evaluated by EMSA. RESULTS: TNF-alpha- and IL-1beta-induced MMP-9 expression was not suppressed by NF-kB inhibitor (CAPE), AP-1 inhibitor (curcumin) and PKC inhibitor (calphostin C) but was inhibited by tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein). After treatment of myometrial smooth muscle cells with TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, phosphorylation of JNK and phosphorylation of IkB with degradation of IkB were evidently observed. The intranuclear translocations of NF-kB and AP-1 were strongly enhanced after treatment with TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta as demonstrated in EMSA. CONCLUSION: In myometrial smooth muscle cells, MMP-9 is induced by TNF-alpha and IL-1beta through PKC activation and transcriptional activations of NF-kB and AP-1. Independent of PKC activation, the signaling of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in the induction of MMP-9 seems to be transmitted by way of either NF-kB or AP-1 activation in myometrial smooth muscle cells.
Cytokines* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Interleukin-1beta ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Signal Transduction* ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Uterus

Male factors account for 20% to 50% of infertility cases, and infection in the genitourinary tract may play a contributing role in up to 15% of male infertility. Leukocytospermia is a well-known indicator of infection or inflammation in the male sex glands and the urogenital tract. Although great deal of effort has been expended to elucidate definite management strategies in infertile men with leukocytospermia, the gold standard of treatment remains unclear. Until recently, broad spectrum antibiotics and antioxidants have been used in the treatment of leukocytospermia for male infertility to eliminate infection and reduce reactive oxygen free radicals produced inside cellular mitochondria as a result of inflammation. The present review reveals that antibiotics might improve sperm parameters, the rate of resolution of leukocytospermia, the bacteriologic cure rate, and even the pregnancy rate, although some reports conflict. Antioxidants might also have clinical benefits for sperm function as shown by in vitro studies. However, the data are insufficient to conclude whether antibiotics and antioxidants for the treatment of infertile men with leukocytospermia are effective or not. Better designed investigations into leukocytospermia are needed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antioxidants ; Free Radicals ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male* ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Male* ; Mitochondria ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa

BACKGROUNG: The aim of this study was to investigate the mid-term outcomes of our modifications to the maze procedure using cryoablation for treating atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between March 2000 and February 2004, 177 consecutive patients underwent the modified maze procedure with the use of cryoablation concomitant with mitral valve surgery for atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease, and were divided into three groups: (1) modified Cox-maze III (CM group, n=88); (2) modified Kosakai-maze (KM group, n=63); and (3) left atrial maze procedure (LA group, n=26). The postoperative and follow- up results were analyzed and compared between the groups. RESULT: There were three hospital deaths (1.7%) and no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications between the three groups. The operative time, such as the cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic crossclamp time, were significantly longer in the CM group than in the KM and LA groups, respectively (p<0.0001). The mean follow-up was 22.4+/-15.1 months (1~52.6 months) for all patients. One late death developed in the CM group (0.6%). At last follow-up, 139 patients exhibited sinus rhythm (79.9%), which was also regained in 67 patients (77.9%) in the CM group, 50 (80.7%) in the KM group and 22 (84.6%) in the LA group (p=0.743). The actuarial freedom from stroke at 4 years was 84.6+/-9.4% in the CM group, 95.0+/-4.9% in the KM group, and 92.9+/-6.9% in the LA group (p=0.916). CONCLUSION: The modified maze procedure using cryoablation is safe and effective in treating chronic atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cryosurgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Freedom ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mitral Valve* ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Stroke