BACKGROUND: The smoking rate of adult male is 68.2% in Korea and that of adolescent and women has risen recently. Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to raise the price of cigarettes by 1,000 Won per pack this year in hopes of securing funds to aid the underprivileged and discourage excessive smoking. In this study, we tried to find the relationship between tobacco price increase and willingness to quit smoking among university students, and the factors associated with willingness to quit smoking. METHOD: The data were collected by questionnaire survey from 225 university students living in Seoul. The questionnaire contained items on age, sex, smoking history, economical status and the intention to quit smoking when the tobacco price be raised. RESULT: The proportion of smokers who has the intention to quit smoking if the price of tobacco be raised by 3,000 Won was 46.2%. The factors associated with willingness to quit smoking were age of initiating smoking, opinion for price of cigarette, self efficacy scores, current plans to quit smoking, and viewpoint of changes in the rate of smokers. CONCLUSION: The results showed that tobacco price rises will increase willingness to quit smoking among university students.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Financial Management ; Hope ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Male ; Self Efficacy ; Seoul ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal or epidural neostigmine has a postoperative analgesic effect. In this study we evaluated the effects of epidural neostigmine on postoperative analgesia and stress responses after gastrectomy. METHODS: Eighty, ASA physical status 1 or 2, patients scheduled for gastrectomy were randomly assigned to one (n = 20) of four groups. Patients received 5 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine with either saline (N0 group), neostigmine 5microgram/kg (N5 group), neostigmine 10microgram/kg (N10 group), neostigmine 15microgram/kg (N15 group) epidurally 30 minutes before operation. All patients received identical general anesthesia. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) was provided by bupivacaine (0.05%) and fentanyl (4 microgram/ml) for postoperative analgesia. RESULTS: The N10 and N15 groups showed reduced 24-h PCEA consumptions compared with the N0 and N5 groups (P < 0.05). No differences in visual analog pain scores at rest or during movement were observed between the groups. The concentrations of plasma cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine and glucose did not differ among the four groups, and their incidences of postoperative adverse effects were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural neostigmine 10 and 15microgram/kg in bupivacaine produced a postoperative analgesic effect, but did not suppress stress responses after gastrectomy
Analgesia* ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Bupivacaine ; Epinephrine ; Fentanyl ; Gastrectomy* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Incidence ; Neostigmine* ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma

BACKGROUND: Recently, many studies have reported that university students have been suffering from stress because of their the uncertainty of their future and employment. Eating habits have often been considered as one of health-related behaviors that may be affected by life stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between stress and eating habits in university students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed. The subjects were 282 university students which assessed their eating habits and stresses. The total numbs of students in the study 263. Eating habits were scored using a questionnaire consisting of three categories-regularity, balance, and preference. The stress was assessed by modified Korean version of BEPSI. RESULTS: The stress score was 2.4 and the total score of eating habits was 44.2. The regularity among the domains of eating habits was 14.1, the balance score was 16.1, and the preference was 14.0. In multiple regression after adjustment with confounding variables, stress had a negative relationship with eating habits. CONCLUSION: The relationship between stress and eating habits was statistically significant, especially in regularity and balance. It is important to know not only the health status, but also the factors associated with health such as stresses and eating habits in order to improve the health status of the university students. Further research needs to uncover causality and make a generalization.
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eating* ; Employment ; Generalization (Psychology) ; Humans ; Stress, Psychological ; Uncertainty ; Surveys and Questionnaires

IgA nephropathy can occur commonly in alcoholic liver cirrhosis and is the most common form of secondary IgA nephropathy. Defective clearance of IgA-containing complexes by liver is thought to contribute to the development of IgA nephropathy in alcoholic cirrhosis. Although IgA deposition is found up to 64% in autopsy cases of alcoholic cirrhosis, most patients have mild clinical symptoms, and nephrotic range proteinuria occurs rarely in these patients. We report a case of IgA nephropathy with a membranoproliferative pattern that is detected with unusual massive ascites in a patient with alcoholic liver disease. A 60-year-old male patient was referred to our hospital for evaluation and management of abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasonographic findings were compatible with diffuse liver cirrhosis with splenomegaly and large amount of ascites. He had nephrotic range proteinuria, azotemia, hyperlipidemia, and hematuria in dipstick. Renal biopsy performed under the impression of acute nephritis revealed mesangial and endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis with double contour of capillary loop. Immunofluorescence findings showed mesangial IgA and C3 deposit, compatible with IgA nephropathy. He was treated with high dose steroid, and steroid was tapered during 2 months. Steroid treatment induced complete remission state, and ascites was resolved.
Alcoholics ; Ascites ; Autopsy ; Azotemia ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Immunoglobulin A ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephritis ; Proteinuria ; Splenomegaly

PURPOSE:To evaluate the changes of QT dispersion (QTd) in CAPD patients serially from the period before the initiation of CAPD until several years after CAPD, and to find any associated factors. METHODS:We performed a retrospective cohort study with a total of 101 patients who initiated CAPD between 1990 and 1996. All data were recruited from the patients' medical records before CAPD initiation, within one year after CAPD, and between one and three years after CAPD. RESULTS:QTd and Corrected QTd (QTdc) values after CAPD did not show differences in the paired t-test of those before CAPD and within one year after CAPD. There was a definite correlation between the QTds before CAPD and that within one year after CAPD (r=0.530, p<0.001). In addition, the QTds from within one year after CAPD showed a correlation with those taken from one to three years after CAPD (r=0.487, p=0.019). Upon analysis of all-cause mortality, the change rate of QTd after CAPD initiation was revealed as a predicting factor along with the QTd, QTc max, and QTdc within one year after CAPD (RR=1.055, p=0.005). The change rate also remained a predictor of cardiovascular mortality (RR= 1.088, p=0.007). In a multivariate Cox regression, cardiomegaly and previous cardiovascular disease were revealed to be independent factors for the change rate of QTd. CONCLUSION:QTd in CAPD patients did not change after initiation of CAPD, and the change rate of QTd after CAPD initiation was revealed as a risk factor for both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality.
Cardiomegaly ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Hypothyroidism is a clinical state which results from decreased production of thyroid hormone, and its symptoms are various including lack of energy, dryness of skin and hair, dyspnea, bradycardia, hypotension, body weight gain, and constipation. Muscle disorders due to hypothyroidism may include myalgia, muscle weakness, stiffness, delayed tendon reflex, abnormality of electromyography, changes of muscle tissues and increased muscle enzymes. Hypothyroid myopathy manifests as a mild form of myopathy rather than an acute rhabdomyolysis, that is a very rare complication of hypothyroid myopathy and that can cause acute renal failure. We report a case of primary hypothyroidism presented with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. A 50-year-old male referred to our hospital for evaluation and management of generalized edema, muscle weakness, fatigue and myalgia. He had acute rhabdomyolysis and progressed to acute renal failure due to newly developed primary hypothyroidism. After hormone replacement therapy with levothyroxine, the patients renal function and muscular symptom completely recovered.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Body Weight ; Bradycardia ; Constipation ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Electromyography ; Fatigue ; Hair ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Hypothyroidism* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscular Diseases ; Myalgia ; Reflex, Stretch ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroxine

BACKGROUND: Although the frequency of respiratory viral infection in patients with pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is not uncommon, clinical significance of the condition remains to be further elucidated. The purpose of this study was to compare characteristics and outcomes of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with influenza and other respiratory viruses. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with respiratory viruses January 2014–June 2018 were reviewed. Respiratory viral infection was identified by multiplex reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Among 126 patients who underwent multiplex RT-PCR, respiratory viral infection was identified in 46% (58/126): 28 patients with influenza and 30 patients with other respiratory viruses. There was no significant difference in baseline and clinical characteristics between patients with influenza and those with other respiratory viruses. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was more frequent in patients with influenza than in those with other respiratory viruses (32.1% vs 3.3%, p=0.006). Co-bacterial pathogens were more frequently isolated from respiratory samples of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with influenza virus than those with other respiratory viruses. (53.6% vs 26.7%, p=0.036). There were no significant differences regarding clinical outcomes. In multivariate analysis, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II was associated with 30-mortality (odds ratio, 1.158; 95% confidence interval, 1.022–1.312; p=0.022). CONCLUSION Respiratory viral infection was not uncommon in patients with pulmonary ARDS. Influenza virus was most commonly identified and was associated with more co-bacterial infection and ECMO therapy.

BACKGROUND: Although the frequency of respiratory viral infection in patients with pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is not uncommon, clinical significance of the condition remains to be further elucidated. The purpose of this study was to compare characteristics and outcomes of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with influenza and other respiratory viruses. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with respiratory viruses January 2014–June 2018 were reviewed. Respiratory viral infection was identified by multiplex reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Among 126 patients who underwent multiplex RT-PCR, respiratory viral infection was identified in 46% (58/126): 28 patients with influenza and 30 patients with other respiratory viruses. There was no significant difference in baseline and clinical characteristics between patients with influenza and those with other respiratory viruses. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was more frequent in patients with influenza than in those with other respiratory viruses (32.1% vs 3.3%, p=0.006). Co-bacterial pathogens were more frequently isolated from respiratory samples of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with influenza virus than those with other respiratory viruses. (53.6% vs 26.7%, p=0.036). There were no significant differences regarding clinical outcomes. In multivariate analysis, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II was associated with 30-mortality (odds ratio, 1.158; 95% confidence interval, 1.022–1.312; p=0.022). CONCLUSION: Respiratory viral infection was not uncommon in patients with pulmonary ARDS. Influenza virus was most commonly identified and was associated with more co-bacterial infection and ECMO therapy.
APACHE ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Multivariate Analysis ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult

Percutaneous device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) has proven to be safe and effective, and become a widely accepted option to the surgical repair. However, the embolization of Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) occurs in about 0.55% to 3.5% of cases, regardless of ASD size, device size, or the physician's expertise. We report a case of embolization of an ASO into the thoracic descending aorta, successfully removed through a surgical approach.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Septal Occluder Device