Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships between fatigue, psychosocial stress, and behavior of infertile males that reduces endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure and to provide baseline data needed for nursing intervention. Methods: A total of 110 infertile males were recruited from a special fertility hospital in Gwangju city in Korea. The participants were administered a self-reported questionnaire. Results: The mean scores were as follows: for fatigue, 59.1 out of 133; for psychosocial stress, 20.3 out of 54; and for behavior that reduced EDC exposure, 52.6 out of 85. Fatigue and psychosocial stress had a positive correlation(r=0.68, p<0.001), behavior that reduces EDC exposure was negatively correlated with fatigue and psychosocial stress(r=-0.54, p<0.001; r=-0.61, p<0.001) Conclusion Fatigue and stress were higher in infertile males. Our findings suggest that a nursing intervention program should focus on reducing fatigue and stress in infertile males and induce behaviors that decrease EDC exposure.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships between fatigue, psychosocial stress, and behavior of infertile males that reduces endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure and to provide baseline data needed for nursing intervention. Methods: A total of 110 infertile males were recruited from a special fertility hospital in Gwangju city in Korea. The participants were administered a self-reported questionnaire. Results: The mean scores were as follows: for fatigue, 59.1 out of 133; for psychosocial stress, 20.3 out of 54; and for behavior that reduced EDC exposure, 52.6 out of 85. Fatigue and psychosocial stress had a positive correlation(r=0.68, p<0.001), behavior that reduces EDC exposure was negatively correlated with fatigue and psychosocial stress(r=-0.54, p<0.001; r=-0.61, p<0.001) Conclusion Fatigue and stress were higher in infertile males. Our findings suggest that a nursing intervention program should focus on reducing fatigue and stress in infertile males and induce behaviors that decrease EDC exposure.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the psychiatric status of HIV-infected/AIDS inpatients in a general hospital over the past 2.5 years. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of psychiatric consultations performed between January 1, 2011, and July 30, 2013. The records of 97 HIV-infected/AIDS patients were analyzed. These included a total of 282 psychiatric consultations. RESULTS: Of the 97 patients, 91(93.8%) were male, the mean age was 48 years, and mean number of consultations was 2.8. Depressed mood was reported in 102 consultations(23.8%), insomnia in 60(14.0%), and anxiety in 31(7.2%). Psychiatric disorders diagnosed on initial consultation included depressive disorder(37 patients ; 37.0%), cognitive disorder(11 ; 11.0%), and delirium(9 ; 9.0%). Recommended psychotropic medication included Lorazepam(99 ; 17.2%), Escitalopram(90 ; 15.7%), and Quetiapine(84 ; 14.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The main complaints of HIV-infected/AIDS patients were depressed mood, insomnia, and suicidal ideation(including suicide attempts). In total, 85(93.3%) patients of those consulted were diagnosed as meeting the criteria for a psychiatric condition. However, considering that only 16.9% of patients consulted received follow-up treatment, longitudinal research is needed to examine the influence of psychiatric disorders on the transmission of HIV-infection/AIDS, as well as on prognosis and treatment adherence.
Anxiety ; Follow-Up Studies ; HIV ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Male ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Suicide

BACKGROUND: The eosinophil chemotactic and activating effects of eotaxin and the known association of eosinophils with asthma suggest that eotaxin expression is increased during an asthma attack. This study was aimed to determine whether the plasma eotaxin levels are higher in patients during as asthma attack and to correlate the eotaxin levels with the disease activity, severity and response to therapy. METHOD: A case-control study of the plasma eotaxin levels was performed in 100 patients with exacerbated asthma and 48 age-and sex-matched subjects with stable asthma. RESULTS: The plasma eotaxin levels were significantly higher in the 100 patients with exacerbated asthma (233±175 pg/ml) than in the 48 subjects with stable asthma(169±74 pg/ml). A tread toward higher eotaxin levels was observed in asthmatic subjects who were taking oral steroids (332±225 pg/ml) than in those who were not (214±159 pg/ml) and higher levels were found in those admitted to the hospital (275±212 pg/ml) than in those discharged after receiving only emergency treatment (190±115 pg/ml). The eotaxin levels inversely correlated with the FEV1 (r=-0.25, p<0.01). The eotaxin levels were higher in moderate persistent (323±256 pg/ml) and severe persistent asthmatics (276±170 pg/ml) than in mild intermittent asthmatics (160±60 pg/ml). CONCLUSION: Eotaxin expression is directly associated with asthma exacerbation, impaired pulmonary function and the disease severity.
Asthma* ; Case-Control Studies ; Emergency Treatment ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Steroids

No abstract available.
Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Disability Evaluation* ; Humans ; Perfusion* ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

Holoprosencephaly of unknown definite causes, has been associated with several chromosome abnormalities involving the autosomes and the sex chromosomes. The most commonly reported associations include dup(3p), del(7q), deletions of chromosome 13, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and triploidy. In previously reported cases in Korea, none were associated with chromosome 21 anomalies. In conclusion, we reported the first case of holoprosencephaly(semilobar type) associated with pure monosomy 21. We experienced a semilobar type holoprosencephaly with monosomy 21 in a neonate who had multiple congenital anomalies, including an abnormal face, a small thorax with widely spaced hypoplastic nipples and nail hypoplasia, lung hypoplasia with severe scoliosis and cardiac abnormalities. Chromosomal analysis revealed a 45, XY, -21.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Holoprosencephaly ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Lung ; Monosomy ; Nipples ; Scoliosis ; Sex Chromosomes ; Thorax ; Triploidy ; Trisomy

PURPOSE: The status of the pelvic lymph node provides important information with respect to the choice of therapy and prognosis in patients with prostate cancer. we evaluated the clinical effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection in 7 patients with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1996 to December 1997, 7 patients whose mean age was 67.7year (range 56-73) underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection as a staging procedure for prostatic cancer. We evaluated the clinical stage, Gleason score, PSA, number of harvested lymph nodes, operative time, postoperative hospital stay, and complications. RESULTS: Clinical stage was T1c-T2c, and mean Gleason score was 7.6(range 6-10). Mean preoperative PSA was 35.3ng/ml(range 19-56.2). The mean number of removed lymph nodes was 8.4(range 5-12) and lymph node metastases were noted in 2 patients. Mean operative time was 180.7minutes (range 140-260). Mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.1 days(range 2-3). Conversion from the laparoscopic procedure to open surgery was not required. Subcutaneous emphysema occurred in 2 patients and was conservatively managed. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experience suggests that laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection could be performed safely and efficiently to detect the pelvic lymph node metastasis in patients with prostate cancer with a short hospital stay and a low morbidity, though being more time-consuming.
Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Operative Time ; Prognosis ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Subcutaneous Emphysema

BACKGROUND: Prevention of postherpetic neuralgia as well as management of the symptoms of the acute stage is an important therapeutic goal in the treatment of herpes zoster. Corticosteroid, acyclovir and sympathetic block have all been advocated as effective therapeutic tools for the treatment of the disease. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the necessity of sympathetic block for prevention of postherpetic neuralgia in acute herpes zoster. METHODS: The author observed the duration and degree of pain and the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in 54 patients with herpes zoster treated with three different therapeutic measures. Group A was treated with triamcinolone acetonide 80mg three times, acyclovir and sympathetic blockade, group B with triamcinolone acetonide 80mg three times and acyclovir, and group C with triamcinolone acetonide 40mg three times and acyclovir. RESULTS: 1. Addition of sympathetic blockade to corticosteroid and acyclovir therapy did not seem to reduce the duration of pain and incidence of postherpetic neuralgia. 2. The Incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was higher in the elderly, especially with underlying systemic disease including diabetes melitus, hypertension, etc. Al] the therapeutic measures could not completely prevent the development of postherpetic neuralgia in those patients. 3. Regarding corticosteroid dosage, daily triamcinolone acetonide 80mg for three consecutive days showed no better effect than daily 40mg for consecutive days. CONCLUSION: When herpes zoster was treated with proper dosages of corticosteroid and acyclovir in its acute stage, sympathetic block showed no additional beneficial effect.
Acyclovir ; Aged ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

No Abstract available.
Atherosclerosis* ; Osteoporosis*

Craniofacial clefts are rare among facial anomalies with an incidence of 1.5 to 5 per 100,000 births, and 1 per 100 cases of cleft lip and palate. The Tessier No. 7 clefts are unusual lesions that result from failure of the embryonic mandibular and maxillary processes to properly fuse and form the corners of the mouth. We experienced a case of Tessier No. 7 craniofacial cleft in a 1 day-old female patient who presented with a macrostomia and auricular malformation. The diagnosis was established by clinical and radiographic findings. A brief review of literature was made.
Cleft Lip ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Macrostomia ; Mouth ; Palate ; Parturition