This study was performed to investigate the effect of octreotide on the contractility of rat vas deferens. The -smooth muscle strips isolated from the prostatic portion were myographied in isolated organ bath. Electric -field stimulation (monophasic square wave, duration : 1. mSec, voltage : 50 V, frequency : 5 Hz or 30 Hz, train : 10 Sec) produced reproducible contraction. The contraction was composed of two component, first phasic component (FPC) and second tonicc component (STC).. These contractions were abolished by -tetrodotoxin (1 microM). Octreotide inhibited the field stimulation induced contractions both FPC and STC concentration- dependently. The FPC was decreased by a desentization of purinergic receptor by pretreatment of mATP, and the STC was decreased by pr,,creatment of reserpine (3 mg/kg, EP) 24 hours before experiments. Octreotide reduced the field stimulation induced contraction in the presence of mATP and of reserpinized muscle strips. The inhibitory effect of octreotide was more potent at 5 Hz than at 30 Hz. Octreotide did not affect basal ton and exogenous norepinephrine- or ATP-induced contraction. These results suggest that octreotide inhibit the contractility of the isolated rat vas deferens by inhibition of the release of neurotransmitters, both ATP and norepinephrine from adrenergic nerve terminal.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Baths ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Norepinephrine ; Octreotide* ; Rats* ; Reserpine ; Vas Deferens*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in awareness and practice of oral health care in pregnant women with and without oral health care education experience. METHODS: Participants in the survey for this study were 221 pregnant women in female exclusive hospitals located in B city and G city. Data were collected from October to December, 2014 using self-report structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS/Win 21.0 program. RESULTS: The number of pregnant women experienced in oral health education was 36.2%. The oral health care awareness of pregnant women experienced in oral health education total score was 15.14±1.96, and inexperienced pregnant women total score was 14.14±2.63 (t=3.26, p=.001). The oral health care practice of pregnant women experienced in oral health education total score was 12.90±2.48, and inexperienced pregnant women total score was 10.95±4.06 (t=3.89, p<.001). The relationship between the awareness and practice of oral health care was positively correlated. CONCLUSION: Based on this study outcomes, considering the importance for oral health education in the antenatal care program when the pregnant women visiting the hospital for medical check-up.
Education* ; Female ; Humans ; Oral Health* ; Pregnant Women*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was the development and validation of a scale to measure the self-care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in Korea. METHOD: Self-care scale was developed based on the self-care activities patients had to carry out in order to manage their COPD. The original scale contained 34 items rated along a five-point Likert scale and was reviewed by 18 professional nurses and 10 Korean patients with COPD for content validity. Subsequently, patients with COPD were asked to complete this 23-item scale and further tests were done with the 125 useable responses. RESULT: Factor analysis identified eight factors- "maintaining a clean air way", "taking medication", "support from family", "preventing infection", "managing symptoms", "breathing exercising", and "taking in nutrition". The internal consistency of the total scale was Cronbach's alpha=0.7226. These eight factors explained 60.8% of total variance. There was correlation among Korean Self-Care Scale score, administration level, and knowledge level but there was no correlation to patients' satisfaction with medical services. CONCLUSION: The 23 item questionnaire positively identified 8 areas defined important for COPD patients. Further studies are required to see how these can be integrated into patient education.

BACKGROUND: The identification of genetic abnormalities in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) has gained emphasis because genetics-based risk stratification significantly affects overall survival (OS). We investigated genetic abnormalities using conventional cytogenetics and FISH and analyzed the prognostic significance of the identified additional abnormalities in MM. METHODS: In total, 267 bone marrow samples were collected from February 2006 to November 2013 from patients who were newly diagnosed as having MM in a tertiary-care hospital in Korea. The clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively obtained. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to examine the relationship between clinical/genetic factors and survival outcome, using univariate and multivariate models. RESULTS: Using conventional cytogenetic analysis and FISH, 45% (120/267) and 69% (183/267) patients, respectively, were identified to harbor genetic abnormalities. In the univariate analysis, the following genetic variables were identified to affect OS: abnormal karyotype (P < 0.001), aneuploidy (P=0.046), −13 or del(13q) (P=0.002), 1q amplification (P < 0.001), and t(4;14) (P=0.020). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of −13 or del(13q) was the only significant genetic factor affecting OS (P=0.012) with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.131 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.185–3.832) in addition to the clinical factor of age (>65 years) (P=0.013) with an HR of 2.505 (95% CI, 1.218–5.151). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of applying a comprehensive approach for detecting genetic abnormalities, which could be closely associated with the prognostic significance of MM.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Aneuploidy ; Bone Marrow ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; Humans ; Korea ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in adults is a life-threatening disorder characterized by acute renal failure, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia, which is not related to E. coli. Digital gangrene is one of the grave signs in emergency medicine because it requires prompt evaluation and treatment. We describe a 37 year-old Thailand woman, initially treated for suspected Neisseria septicemia, who went on to develop renal complications, thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia, which made the diagnosis of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. The patient was complaining of dysesthesia on all extremities and severe pain in both legs. Serologically, she was diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She was treated with plasma exchanges using fresh frozen plasma, parenteral steroid, anticoagulant and antibiotics, successfully. This is the first report of digital gangrene complicated by atypical HUS in a patient with SLE in Korea.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Emergency Medicine ; Extremities ; Female ; Gangrene ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Korea ; Leg ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Neisseria ; Paresthesia ; Plasma ; Plasma Exchange ; Sepsis ; Thailand ; Thrombocytopenia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differential features of complete and partial-thickness tears of the anteriorcruciate ligament, as seen on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectvely reviewedMR images of 36 patients with ACL injuries (complete tear 16, incomplete tear 20). In all cases, the presence ofan ACL tear was determined by arthroscopy or surgery. Primary and secondary signs of ACL injury and associatedinjuries were assessed. RESULTS: Ligamentous discontinuity of the ACL was observed in ten complete tears (63 %),but in only four (10%) of those that were partial (p=0.009). In addition, complete tears were more likely to showa low degree of ACL axis, less than 45 degree(11/16 : 2/20, p=0.001). There was, however, no statistically significantdifference between complete and partial tears with regard to signal intensity of ACL, PCL buckling or angle,anterior dis-placement of the tibia, uncovered meniscus sign, deep notch sign, empty notch sign, and associatedinjuries. CONCLUSION: Ligamentous discontinuity and the ACL axis are features which usefully differentiatebetween complete and partial tears of the ACL.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Tibia

No abstract available.
Electrocardiography* ; Family Practice* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Base Sequence ; Brachydactyly/diagnosis/*genetics ; DNA/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Fingers/abnormalities ; Hedgehog Proteins/*genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Republic of Korea ; Toes/abnormalities

PURPOSE: The prevalence of intoxication and toxidromes, such as altered mental status, from Sedatives/hypnotics is high. Many patients have been transferred to a higher-level emergency center. This study was designed to analyze the clinical features of these patients and to compare patients transferred from a regional hospital with patients who directly visited a higher-level emergency center. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 298 sedative/hypnotic intoxication patients examined from January 2008 to December 2012. After excluding patients intoxicated from other category medications and missing data on medical records, 158 acute intoxication patients were enrolled in the study and divided into transferred and direct-visit groups. Gastric lavage patients (n=108) were also subdivided into two groups by irrigation site. Clinical features, treatments, and complications were investigated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in initial clinical manifestations, laboratory data, and toxicological information, except for charcoal treatment and complications from pneumonia. The use of charcoal was significantly lower in the group transferred from a regional medical center. The transferred group showed a higher incidence of pneumonia than the direct-visit group (10/54(18.5%) vs. 5/104(4.8%), respectively, p=0.007). In the subgroup analysis of gastric lavage patients, there was also a higher incidence of pneumonia in the regional hospital lavage group compared to the higher-level emergency center lavage group (8/32(25.0%) vs. 5/76(6.6%), respectively, p=0.011). From a comparative analysis of pneumonic complications and mental status, pneumonia patients showed a higher incidence of painful responses and unresponsive mentality (6(40.0%) and 4(26.7%), respectively, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In acute sedative/hypnotic intoxication patients, transferred patients, including regional hospital gastric lavage patients, showed a higher incidence of pneumonia. Pneumonic complication patients showed a higher incidence of a decreased mentality. Therefore, for patients transferred or treated for an altered mental status, precautions for complications from pneumonia must be considered.
Charcoal ; Emergencies* ; Gastric Lavage ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia ; Poisoning ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Therapeutic Irrigation

Chikungunya infection is caused by an arbovirus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. A 19-year-old man who had traveled to the Republic of Surinam to perform volunteer work complained of a fever, arthralgia, articular stiffness, and a skin rash on both the arm and trunk. Chikungunya fever was diagnosed using a Chikungunya virus specific IgM antibody in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using blood samples obtained during follow-up visits. In this report, we describe a case of imported Chikungunya fever that presented with arthralgia and a skin rash, with islands of normal skin, that occurred following travel to Surinam, South America.
Aedes ; Arboviruses ; Arm ; Arthralgia ; Chikungunya virus* ; Culicidae ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Islands ; Skin ; South America* ; Suriname* ; Volunteers ; Young Adult