OBJECTIVES: Subacute thyroiditis is a nonsuppurative inflammation of thyroid gland and is probably caused by a cytopathic virus. Typical clinical symptoms and features of subacute thyroiditis vary widely during the course of illness. It has a clinical course, evolving from hyperthyroidism through a temporary hypothyroidism to recovery. However, the final outcome of this disease remains unpredictive in some patients. Permanet hypothyroidism occurs infrequently. METHODS: Thirty-three patients proven to have subacute thyroiditis at the Ewha Womans University Hospital from September 1993 to November 1995 were studied. We analyzed their clinical features, laboratory findings, and duration of recovery to cha- racterize the course of the disease. RESULTS: 1) Total 33 patients were studied: 31 patients were female and 2 patients were male. Their mean age was 42.6+/-8.3 years old. The peak months were August through October in this study. 2) Initial mean ESR was 73.0+/-35.2mm/hr, mean T3 was 217.3+/-73.9ng/dl, mean T4 was 15.2+/-8.5microgram/ dl, and TSH was 0.06+/-0.09microIU/ml. The positive rates of antithyroglobulin and anitmicrosomal antibodies were 31% and 6% respectively, and TSH receptor antibody was elevated in one patient. 3) In the thyroid scan, 91% showed both lobes nonvisualisation, and 9% showed one lobe nonvisualization. Radioactive iodine uptake(RAIU) at 24 hour was 2.4+/-3.3%. 4) With the predisolone therapy, 90% of patients completely recovered, 57% of these patients had no hypothyroid phase and remaining 33% of them had hypothyroid phase during course of the disease. Three of the patients had permanent hypothyroidim. 5) The average duration of recovery was 3.2+/-1.4 months and it has no correlation with initial thyroid hormone levels, antithyroid antibodies and duration of steroid administration. CONCLUSION: There was no historical, physical, laboratory findings that help us predict those patients likely to have an exacerbation of the disease.
Antibodies ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Inflammation ; Iodine ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis, Subacute

Background: Postpartum thyroiditis is a painless, destructive lymphocytic inflammation of the thyroid gland that occurs during the postpartum period and is associated with a high prevalence of serum thyroid autoantibodies. Clinical symptoms and laboratory fi#ndings of postpartum thyroiditis vary widely during the course of illness and the final outcome of this disease remains unpredictive in some patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical course and the predictors of the outcome of the disease. Methods: Thirty-eight patients proven to have postpartum thyroiditis at the Ewha Womans University Hospital were studied. We analyzed their clinical features, laboratory findings and duration of recovery to characterize the course of the disease. Results: Their mean age was 29.0±3.3 years and the time of diagnosis was 4.9±1.9 months after delivery. The prevailed months of delivery were November through January in this study. Twenty six patients were hypothyroid and 12 were thyrotoxic at initial thyroid function. The positive rates of antithyroglobulin and anitmicrosomal antibodies were 92%, 67% in the hypothyroid group and 75%, 67% in th thyrotoxic group respectively. TSH receptor antibodies were negative in all patients. In the hypothyroid group the titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were significantly higer than the thyrotoxic group. The titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were positively correlated with serum TSH and negatively correlated with serum T4. In all patients, the titers in thyroid function tests returned to the normal range without long-term hypothyroidism. Conclusion: The titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were significantly higher in the hypothyroid group than the thyrotoxic group. Thus the titers of antimicrosomal antibodies can help guide the physician in the care of patients with postpartum thyroiditis who will probably be hypothyroid. In this study, we were surprised that all patients became euthyroid without permanent hypothyroidism.
Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Clinical Study ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Inflammation ; Postpartum Period ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the current situation of community health nursing practicum in bachelor programs. METHOD: Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of questions on education goals, teaching items, teaching methods, and evaluation methods and items. Forty five nursing departments/colleges or 84.9% of four-year nursing schools in Korea responded to the survey. RESULT: Nursing process application and understanding about the role and function of community health nurses were major goals of practice education. Community health centers were the most significant practice fields because all nursing schools mentioned them as places for practice. All nursing schools used a specific evaluation tool to measure students outcomes and utilized guidebooks to help students. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the goals of practice education should be standardized to improve the quality of education. Besides, evaluation tools that can be used commonly at all nursing schools should be developed to measure the effectiveness of practice education of community health nursing.
Community Health Centers ; Community Health Nursing* ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing ; Nursing Process ; Schools, Nursing ; Teaching ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify changes in physical activity, sleep quality, and quality of life (QOL) during COVID-19 in adults by age group. Methods: An online survey was conducted on a total of 160 participants who were divided into three groups by age; young adults, middle-aged adults, and old adults. The participants responded to the self-reported assessment of the impact of social distancing during COVID-19, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and Pearson’s correlation were used for data analysis. Results: There were significant differences between the three age groups in physical activity (p < 0.05) and PSQI (p < 0.01) and a post hoc analysis showed that the young adults’ group had significantly higher physical activity than the old adults’ group, while the old adults’ group had significantly lower scores of PSQI (better sleep quality) than the others. The young adults’ group showed a significant negative correlation between the stress from social distancing and QOL (r = -0.27, p < 0.05) and between PSQI and QOL (r = -0.48, p < 0.05). For the middle-aged adults’ group, there was a significant negative correlation between PSQI and QOL (r = -0.53, p < 0.05). The old adults’ group showed a significant negative correlation between the stress from social distancing and physical activity (r = -0.35, p < 0.05) and PSQI (r = -0.50, p < 0.05), while there was a significant positive correlation between physical activity and PSQI (r = 0.30, p < 0.05) and QOL (r = 0.30, p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this study could be used as basic data for the promotion of physical and mental health in the post-COVID-19 era

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the usefulness and the limitation of magnetic resonance angiography in imaging portal vein and hepatic vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance portography was performed in five normal subjects and seven patients with hepatomas, two patients with Budd-Chiari syndromes, one patient with liver cirrhosis and one patient with hepatic metastasis from stomach cancer. Magnetic resonance angiography was done with a 1.5-T Scanner. Breath-hold two-dimensional time-of flight images with spoiled gradient echo technique were acquired. Scan parameters were 34/8/40degrees(TR ms/TE ms/flip angle). The portal vein and the hepatic vein were selectively imaged by applying two presaturation bands. These images were then postprocessed by a maximum intensity projection algorithm. MRA findings were compared with ultrasonography in all cases of the hepatic disease, and conventional angiography (SMA portography) in four cases. RESULTS: In normal subjects, the splenic vein, intrahepatic and extrahepatic portions of the portal vein, and the hepatic veins were well visualized. In the patients with hepatic diseases, the varices (4 cases), the splenorenal shunts (2 cases), and the recanalized umbilical vein (1 case) were demonstrated. There were portal vein thrombosis in the cases of hepatomas and hepatic metastasis. In the cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome, the hepatic veins were not visualized and there were inferior vena cava obstructions with multiple collateral vessels. CONCLUSION: Compared with ultrasonography, MRP may be useful in evaluation of varices, splenorenal shunts, and other collaterals, though less accurate than conventional angiography. MRP can be useful as a noninvasive screening alternative in the evaluation of portal vein and hepatic veins.
Angiography ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Portal Vein ; Portography* ; Splenic Vein ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography ; Umbilical Veins ; Varicose Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Venous Thrombosis

The syndrome of ectopic production of ACTH by non-pituitary neoplasm occur with various types of tu#rnors. Pheochromocytoma is a rare, but one of the important causes of this syndrome. Recently we experienced a 36-year-old male patient with ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma. After left adrenalectomy, serum ACTH level retumed to the normal range. The patient became normotensive without antihypertensive agents and hyperglycemia resolved and insulin therapy was discontinued. Secretion of ACTH was confirmed by immunohistochemical stain.
ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic* ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Adult ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Male ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Reference Values

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to find the association between the depression and perception of obesity by adolescent girls in Jung Eup City, Chollapukdo. The data were collected by questionnaire from July to October, 1996. RESULTS: 1. While the obesity rate of the girls by BMI criteria was 6.0%, 41.1% of girls perceived that they were obese. 2. Forty-eight percent of respondents tried weight control already, and as the method of weight control 33.3% tried exercise, 27.2% reduced food, 23.6% avoided snack before going to bed. 3. while 39.3% among those whose BMI was lower than 20 and 54.2% among those with BMI 20-24 tried weight control, only 5.1% among those who perceived their bodies as slim tried weight control. 4. By the analysis of self-rating depression scale (SDS) only 14.8% was normal without depression and the rest showed high SDS scale; 36.9% as mild, 38.5% as moderate, and 9.7% as severe state of depression. 5. While no statistically significant difference of SDS scores by the size of BMI was shown, significant different of SDS scores was shown among groups with different perception of their obesity and practice of weight control. 6. As a result of stepwise multiple regression analysis, dieting, perceived body image, and body mass index were significantly associated with depression of the adolescent girls. CONCLUSION: Adolescent girls who perceived themselves overweight regardless of actual weight were more likely to diet than other girls. And these characteristics had an influence on the depression of the adolescents. It is suggested that appropriate education should be required to prevent thoughtless weight control of the adolescents and to maintain mental health of the adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Body Image ; Body Mass Index ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression* ; Diet ; Education ; Female* ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Obesity* ; Overweight ; Snacks

Bronchogenic cysts are rare congenital anomalies that are most frequently found in the mediastinum along the tracheobronchial tree, especially in the posterior aspect of the superior mediastinum. Bronchogenic cysts have also been reported in intrapulmonary, intrapericardial, abdominal, and retroperitoneal locations. Herein, we report a case of a retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst in the presacral space. The patient was diagnosed based on a post-operative histopathological examination.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to make a guideline of uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine leiomyomas accompanying with adenomyosis in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed the retrospective study for 37 women who had uterine leiomyomas accompanying with adenomyosis. Bilateral uterine artery embolization was performed in 37 patients (age range 25-65) during 17 months with pain, hypermenorrhea, urinary frequency etc due to leiomyomas. Ultrasound imaging was performed before the procedure and at mean 6.9 months after the procedure. RESULTS: All procedures were technically successful. Mean clinical follow-up was 12.8 months. Minor complication occurred in 82% patients after the procedure. After imaging follow-up (mean, 6.9 months postprocedure), median uterine volume decreased 34.4%, and dominant myoma volume decreased 86%. There was no statistical difference in uterine volume reduction and dominant myoma size reduction whether occluding agents was polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol plus gelfoam, and gelfoam, and whether ultrasound measured Resistance Index value before the procedure was low or high. CONCLUSION: Primary candidates for uterine artery embolization include those with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas who no longer desire fertility but wish to avoid surgery or are poor surgical risks. To our study, uterine volume reduction and dominant myoma size reduction in patients who had adenomyosis were similar to previous other studies in patients who had not adenomyosis. Therefore adenomyosis should not be considered as a contraindication for uterine artery embolization. Because there is little data about subsequent reproductive potential after this procedure, it should not be routinely advocated for infertile women. Further investigation is warranted for occluding agents and Resistance Index.
Adenomyosis* ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Humans ; Korea ; Leiomyoma* ; Menorrhagia ; Myoma ; Polyvinyl Alcohol ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Artery Embolization

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop and test a hypothetical stage model of workplace self-protective behaviors with respect to blood transmitted infections and musculoskeletal injuries for Korean nurses. METHODS: A nonexperimental, cross-sectional study designwas adopted. The study participants were 320 nurses at two Korean university hospitals. Perceived sensitivity, severity, barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, social support, and safety climate were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, fit indicators showed a good fit for the hypothetical model of self-protective behaviors against blood transmitted infections and musculoskeletal injuries. The significant factors of self-protective behaviors against blood transmitted infections were perceived barriers and social support. The significant factors of self-protective behaviors against musculoskeletal injuries were perceived benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the significant psychosocial constructs of stages of self-protective behavior are dependent on health problem type. Accordingly, we advise that characteristics of behavior and types of disease and health problem should be given priority when developing intervention programs for particular self-protective health behaviors.
Adult ; *Blood-Borne Pathogens ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Infection Control/*methods ; *Models, Theoretical ; Musculoskeletal System/*injuries ; Nurses/*psychology ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Workplace ; Young Adult