Since first introduction of oral contraceptive pills in 1960, with increased women's right of sexual decision, oral contraceptives had been used widely around the globe as a highly effective and safe contraceptive method. The physiological mechanisms of oral contraceptives were a reduced maturation of ovarian follicles and blocked ovulation to fertile women. Also, oral pills induce uterine endometrial decidualization, thickening of cervical mucus, disturbance of intrauterine sperm movement and embryo implantation. However, in addition to providing effective reversible contraception to fertile women, oral contraceptive pills offer various non-contraceptive benefits to numerous conditions. In this review, we summarize the list of currently available oral contraceptive pills in Korea and discuss non-contraceptive indications of oral contraceptives pills.
Cervix Mucus ; Contraception ; Contraceptives, Oral* ; Embryo Implantation ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovulation ; Pregnancy ; Spermatozoa ; Women's Rights

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and subfertility. However, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unclear and accurate non-invasive diagnostic methods are unavailable. Although clinical symptoms, serum biomarkers, and imaging studies, such as transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful diagnostic aids, laparoscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of endometriosis. The treatment of endometriosis should be individualized and a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended based on degree of disease-associated symptoms, patient characteristics and preferences, reproductive plans, and desired quality of life. Surgical management is effective for subfertility, chronic pain, and ovarian endometriomas. The principle of surgery is removal of all ectopic endometrial lesions while ensuring that no lesions are missed. Currently, numerous medical treatment options are available to manage endometriosis-associated symptoms; however, all modalities are suppressive rather than curative. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact pathophysiology of endometriosis to enable the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools for early detection and to indicate potential therapeutic targets for this chronic and frustrating disease.
Biomarkers ; Chronic Pain ; Diagnosis ; Dysmenorrhea ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Laparoscopy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pelvic Pain ; Quality of Life ; Ultrasonography

Myasthenia gravis (MG) crisis is a life-threatening condition characterized by respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Cardiac problem in patients with MG crisis is a rare condition, presenting as cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, heart failure and sudden death. We report two cases that developed arrhythmia and stress-induced cardiomyopathy during MG crisis episodes.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathies ; Death, Sudden ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Intubation ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency

Background: The annual incidence of skin cancer has been increasing, and surgical ablation is presently the treatment of choice for skin cancer. However, it leaves soft tissue defects that require reconstruction. The methods for reconstruction include locoregional flaps (LRFs) and full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs). We compared these two surgical methods for reconstruction of defects in the nose, which is prominently visible and the most common site of facial skin cancer, and assessed the cosmetic results by evaluating the scars. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between July 2012 and January 2021. Patients were evaluated for scars after at least 6 months of follow-up. Patients were divided into LRF and FTSG groups. The scars were evaluated using the Vancouver Scar Scale. Results: In total, 27 patients were included in this study. Their mean age was 66.8 years. Eighteen patients underwent LRF, and nine patients underwent FTSG. The average defect size was 1.55 cm² in the LRF group, and 1.38 cm² in the FTSG group. The average scar score was 1.44 points in the LRF group and 3.67 points in the FTSG group. The LRF group showed significantly lower total scores than the FTSG group. Conclusions Although LRFs and FTSGs are useful reconstructive methods for nasal soft tissue defects, this study showed that LRFs are superior to FTSGs in terms of aesthetic results.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and subfertility. However, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unclear and accurate non-invasive diagnostic methods are unavailable. Although clinical symptoms, serum biomarkers, and imaging studies, such as transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful diagnostic aids, laparoscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of endometriosis. The treatment of endometriosis should be individualized and a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended based on degree of disease-associated symptoms, patient characteristics and preferences, reproductive plans, and desired quality of life. Surgical management is effective for subfertility, chronic pain, and ovarian endometriomas. The principle of surgery is removal of all ectopic endometrial lesions while ensuring that no lesions are missed. Currently, numerous medical treatment options are available to manage endometriosis-associated symptoms; however, all modalities are suppressive rather than curative. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact pathophysiology of endometriosis to enable the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools for early detection and to indicate potential therapeutic targets for this chronic and frustrating disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a theory on the gambling addiction process in adults who experienced domestic violence in childhood. Methods: Data were collected from 20 adults from May 1st to August 30th, 2020. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology as suggested by Strauss and Corbin. Results: The core category of this study was revealed to be ‘becoming addicted to gambling to avoid the physical and emotional pain caused by childhood domestic violence and be rewarded’. The core phenomenon was ‘struggle from pain’, which was derived from casual and contextual conditions: ‘ruthless physical violence’, ‘intolerable psychological pain’, and ‘bystand of violence’, ‘family addiction problem’. ‘parental immoral attitude’, The action and interaction strategies were ‘making money by any means’, and ‘gambling to forget the pain’. The intervening conditions affecting them were ‘a distorted view of money’, ‘resignation to helpless’, and ‘avoiding emotional distress’. The phases abbreviated through the produced process were the trauma phase, the avoidance phase, and the addiction phase. Conclusion Adults became addicted to gambling as a manifestation of distorted compensation mentality in an attempt to avoid the physical and emotional trauma of domestic violence in childhood.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the mediating effects of insecure adult attachment and tact (nunchi) on the relationship between life stress and college adjustment in Korean college students.
Methods: A total of 170 college students were recruited into this study and were asked to participate in an online survey. By using SPSS/WIN 24.0, Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationships among the variables. The mediating effects were examined by using PROCESS Macro for SPSS Ver. 3.14 model 6.
Results: There were significant correlations among the four main variables of this study - insecure adult attachment, nunchi, life stress, and college adjustment. Insecure adult attachment and nunchi mediated the relationship between life stress and college adjustment in college students.
Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, various evidence-based programs can be developed to improve college adjustment and decrease life stress in college students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify how women who were adult children of alcoholics and spouses of alcoholics had grown up in difficult situations and found the meaning of life. Methods: This study used a life history research method and data were collected from three participants who are adult children of alcoholics and spouses of alcoholics. In-depth interviews with each participant were conducted three times from September to October 2020. Results: In this study, ‘realm of life’ includes taking care of the family like a young hero, difficulty in express one’s feelings and desire, facing the problems of the family at stake. ‘Turning point’ meeting a role model overcoming addiction problems, sharing one’s story in the Therapeutic Community, self-awareness to live independently not as a victim. ‘Adaptation’ includes recognizing and expressing one’s thoughts and feelings, trying to separate from the family psychologically and spatially, reinterpretation of one’s life and discovery of the meaning of life. Conclusion Their meaning of life was to love and respect themselves, make responsible choices in their circumstances, break the inheritance of addiction and had a healthy family life. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an existential meaning therapy program that helps them find the meaning of life and recover to their original self.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a theory on the gambling addiction process in adults who experienced domestic violence in childhood. Methods: Data were collected from 20 adults from May 1st to August 30th, 2020. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology as suggested by Strauss and Corbin. Results: The core category of this study was revealed to be ‘becoming addicted to gambling to avoid the physical and emotional pain caused by childhood domestic violence and be rewarded’. The core phenomenon was ‘struggle from pain’, which was derived from casual and contextual conditions: ‘ruthless physical violence’, ‘intolerable psychological pain’, and ‘bystand of violence’, ‘family addiction problem’. ‘parental immoral attitude’, The action and interaction strategies were ‘making money by any means’, and ‘gambling to forget the pain’. The intervening conditions affecting them were ‘a distorted view of money’, ‘resignation to helpless’, and ‘avoiding emotional distress’. The phases abbreviated through the produced process were the trauma phase, the avoidance phase, and the addiction phase. Conclusion Adults became addicted to gambling as a manifestation of distorted compensation mentality in an attempt to avoid the physical and emotional trauma of domestic violence in childhood.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the mediating effects of insecure adult attachment and tact (nunchi) on the relationship between life stress and college adjustment in Korean college students.
Methods: A total of 170 college students were recruited into this study and were asked to participate in an online survey. By using SPSS/WIN 24.0, Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationships among the variables. The mediating effects were examined by using PROCESS Macro for SPSS Ver. 3.14 model 6.
Results: There were significant correlations among the four main variables of this study - insecure adult attachment, nunchi, life stress, and college adjustment. Insecure adult attachment and nunchi mediated the relationship between life stress and college adjustment in college students.
Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, various evidence-based programs can be developed to improve college adjustment and decrease life stress in college students.