Conjoined twins are uncommon complications of monoamniotic twinning. Among them, cephalopagus twins are very rare. The accurate prenatal diagnosis of conjoining is essential for the optimal obstetric counseling and management. We describe a case where prenatal sonographic diagnosis of cephalopagus associated with multiple anomalies including meningomyelocele, diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele, and club feet was made at 18 weeks of gestation.
Counseling ; Diagnosis* ; Foot ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; Hernia, Umbilical ; Humans ; Meningomyelocele ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Twins, Conjoined ; Ultrasonography*

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the association between physical activity and pregnancy in 6 months among infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: The participants included in this study were infertile women who underwent IVF at Cha Fertility Center in Seoul Station from October 2019 to February 2020. Of 132 women who agreed to participate in the study, one was eliminated for omitting the exercise questionnaire. A survey assessing the level of physical activity of infertile women was conducted using the Korean version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires. We calculated metabolic equivalent task-minutes (MET-min) scores and obtained their IVF results after 6 months of the survey. Participants with less than 3,000 MET-min were classified into the minimally active group, and those with ≥3,000 MET-min were classified as the healthenhancing group. The 2 groups were compared based on age, anti-Müllerian hormone levels, body mass index, infertility duration, nulliparity, harmful alcohol drinking, history of smoking, obesity, male factors, and pregnancy rates. Adjusted relative risk for pregnancy was calculated using log-binomial regression analysis. Results: There was no significant difference in basal characteristics between the less active and health-enhancing groups. When controlling for all covariates, the relative risk for pregnancy was close to null with health-enhancing activity. The adjusted pregnancy rate decreased with increasing MET-min in the generalized additive model. Conclusion We observed no positive association between physical activity and pregnancy rate among interfile women undergoing IVF. To confirm our findings, subsequent interventional studies would be needed.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the association between physical activity and pregnancy in 6 months among infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: The participants included in this study were infertile women who underwent IVF at Cha Fertility Center in Seoul Station from October 2019 to February 2020. Of 132 women who agreed to participate in the study, one was eliminated for omitting the exercise questionnaire. A survey assessing the level of physical activity of infertile women was conducted using the Korean version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires. We calculated metabolic equivalent task-minutes (MET-min) scores and obtained their IVF results after 6 months of the survey. Participants with less than 3,000 MET-min were classified into the minimally active group, and those with ≥3,000 MET-min were classified as the healthenhancing group. The 2 groups were compared based on age, anti-Müllerian hormone levels, body mass index, infertility duration, nulliparity, harmful alcohol drinking, history of smoking, obesity, male factors, and pregnancy rates. Adjusted relative risk for pregnancy was calculated using log-binomial regression analysis. Results: There was no significant difference in basal characteristics between the less active and health-enhancing groups. When controlling for all covariates, the relative risk for pregnancy was close to null with health-enhancing activity. The adjusted pregnancy rate decreased with increasing MET-min in the generalized additive model. Conclusion We observed no positive association between physical activity and pregnancy rate among interfile women undergoing IVF. To confirm our findings, subsequent interventional studies would be needed.

BACKGROUND: It is known that QT dispersion represents asynchronous repolarization of ventricle which is related to ventricular fibrillation. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia is increased after acute myocardial infarction. So this study compared QT dispersion and other repolarization indexes for detection of asynchronous repolarization in acute myocardial infarction. We also investigated which portion of repolarization is the key portion of the asynchrony. METHODS: In 37 acute myocardial infarction patients and 38 angina patients dispersion of QT, JT, JTpeak and QTpeak were measured. We also measured maximum adjacent dispersion of same parameters in precordial leads. In 20 survived patients and 17 dead patients after acute myocardial infarction were also compared. We also investigated correlation of PVC's on Holter monitoring with these repolarization parameters. RESULTS: 1) All ventricular repolarization indexes(QT, QTc, JT, JTpeak, QT peak and TpeakTend dispersion) were significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction group than compared with those of angina group(p<0.05). 2) Maximal precordial dispersion(QT, QTc, JT, JTpeak and QTpeak) were also significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction group than angina group(p<0.05). 3) Dead patient group after myocardial infarction showed significantly increased QTc and TpeskTend dispersion compared with those of survived patient group(p<0.05). 4) Multivariate linear correlation showed that TpeakTend dispersion and JT dispersion was correlated with QT dispersion. CONCLUSIONS: There were asynchronous myocardial repolarization changes in acute myocardial infarction. Our study demonstrated that T wave change was major determinant of dispersion of myocardial repolarization.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Ventricular Fibrillation

Background: Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and may cause immunological disorders in children. Therefore, according to the region, we investigated urinary phthalates and BPA levels and the relationship between urinary phthalate, aeroallergen sensitization, and eosinophil count during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: In total, 203 schoolchildren (134 residential and 69 industrial) aged 7–10 years were enrolled between July 2021 and July 2022. The BPA, metabolites of four high-molecularweight phthalates (Σ4HMWP) and three low-molecular-weight phthalates (Σ3LMWP), were measured in the urine samples. Total eosinophil count and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were also measured along with the skin prick test. Results: The two groups had no differences in terms of BPA. The industrial group had significantly more plastic container usage, and there was a difference in the Σ3LMWP (P < 0.001) between the two groups but no difference in the Σ4HMWP (P = 0.234). The quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP and Σ3LMWP (P < were not associated with the total eosinophil count, vitamin D level, or TEWL. After adjusting for cofactors, the quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP and Σ3LMWP were significantly associated with total eosinophil count (P < 0.001) but not with aeroallergen sensitization or vitamin D. Conclusion Exposure to phthalates was significantly associated with eosinophil count but not with aeroallergen sensitization or vitamin D. Therefore, reducing the use of plastic containers may effectively prevent exposure to phthalates and reduce Th2 cell-mediated inflammation in children.

The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary attitudes and meal management of married immigrant women according to residence period in Korea. The study was conducted by administering a questionnaire survey to 220 married immigrant women in Korea. More than one third of the immigrant women who stayed in Korea less than 3 years tended to eat a limited variety of foods. Irregularity of meal time decreased as residence time period increased (P<0.05). As immigrant women stayed longer in Korea, they became more responsible for the diet of their family (P<0.001) and had more time to share breakfast and dinner with all family members (P<0.05). Nearly half of immigrant women in all residence periods indicated their husband's family as the most influential factor in acquiring Korean foods (P<0.05). Immigrant women became more familiar with Korean cooking and recognition of nutritious foods (P<0.001) the longer they lived in Korea and more enjoyable meal times with family (P<0.05). In summary, as the period of residence in Korea increased, the dietary attitudes of immigrant women became more positive towards Korean food and diet culture. Further, immigrant women became more responsible for guiding children's dietary habits and offering healthy foods to their family as residence period increased. Therefore, the government and social programs should conduct constant and organized lessons on Korean culture and cooking according to residence period for immigrant women to build up stable and positive dietary attitudes.
Breakfast ; Cooking ; Diet ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Korea ; Meals ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have documented increased release of endothelin(ET) during acute attack of asthma. The purpose of this study is to observe the link between plasma level and urinary excretion of each and changes during acute exacerbation. METHOD: Plasma and 24 hour urine were collected from sixteen asthmatics during acute exacerbation, twice ; first day of symptomatic exacerbation and two weeks after treatment. Controls were ten healthy normal subjects. All patients were treated with corticosteroid and beta-2 adrenergic agonist on admission. ET was determined by radioimmmunoassay and had 100% cross reactivity with ET-1, 67% with ET-2, 84% with ET-3, and 8% with Big-ET. RESULTS: Plasma ETs were significantly elevated during acute attack of asthma compared with those in remission and controls. However, there was no significant changes in urine ET concentrations or total ET amounts in 24 hour urine during exacerbation upto two weeks. Those levels of urine ET in asthmatics were still higher than controls. ET concentrations in plasma or urine were not correlated with pulmonary functional parameters and hypoxemia. CONCLUSION: The findings suggests that increased plasma ETs are related with exaggerated release during acute asthma. Urinary ET excretion is increased in asthma. However, urine ET changes during exacerbation should be observed in a larger and longer scale.
Adrenergic Agonists ; Anoxia ; Asthma* ; Endothelin-2 ; Endothelins* ; Humans ; Plasma*

PURPOSE: The morphologic characteristics and adhesion complex formation of cultured limbal epithelium of rabbit on amniotic membrane, in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Rabbit limbal explants were cultured in vitro on amniotic membrane for 4 weeks. In the in vivo culture, the rabbit corneal epithelium was removed. Next, a tunnel was created at the limbus and, the edge of amniotic membrane was secured in the tunnel and cultured for 4 weeks. The proliferation of epithelium on the amniotic membrane was observed for 4 weeks at 1 week intervals. RESULTS: AE-5 immunohistochemical staining was positive and PAS staining was negative for cultured rabbit limbal epithelium, in vitro and in vivo. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining showed the morphologic characteristics of normal rabbit corneal epithelium in both groups. Transmission electron microscopy performed at an interval of 1 week showed adhesion complex by 3 weeks of in vitro culture, and no significant change was seen until week 4. The formation of the adhesion complex was shown starting at week 1 of in vivo culture and increased until week 4. CONCLUSIONS: The morphology of corneal limbal epithelium of rabbits cultured on amniotic membrane in vitro and in vivo, did not differ significantly compared with normal rabbit epithelium. In vivo culture resulted in more a normal-looking adhesion complex compared with the in vitro culture.
Amnion* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epithelium* ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Hematoxylin ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Rabbits

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP) is a type of diffuse interstitial lung disease that has emerged in the past decade as an important cause of acute respiratory illness in adult. Clinically, the entity usually starts with a subacute influenza-like illness, followed by cough, progressive dyspnea, and weight loss. Organized inflammatory polypoid materials predominantly affecting distal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and peribronchial alveolar spaces are a key pathologic findings. BOOP is characterized by a good response to glucocorticoid and an excellent prognosis. However, there is a subset of BOOP who presents with a fulminant course leading to death or chronic severe fibrosis with marked impairment of lung function. Recently, we have experienced a case of rapidly progressive BOOP, diagnosed by open lung biopsy and showed a reluctant response to corticosteroid.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Bronchioles ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans* ; Bronchiolitis* ; Cough ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia* ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Prognosis ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of self-efficacy promoting program on self-efficacy, self-care behavior and psychosocial adaptation in patients with a colostomy. METHOD: A non-equivalent control group pre test post test design was used. The self efficacy promoting programs was composed of a CD image program based on varicaious experience, education and telephone coaching program based on verbal persuasion, and Stoma care practice, and Self care performance based on performance accomplishment. This study was carried out from July 2, 2005 to April 20, 2006 and 21 patients with a colostomy at one of 2 hospitals participated. Descriptive statistics, chi-square-test, and Mann-whitney U test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There were significantly different for specific self efficacy, self care and psychosocial adaptation between the experimental group and control group. CONCLUSION: The self efficacy promoting program for patients with stomas was effective in improving degree of specific self efficacy, self care and psychosocial adaptation.
Colostomy* ; Education ; Humans ; Persuasive Communication ; Self Care* ; Self Efficacy* ; Telephone