PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of various factors on preterm labor symptoms (PLS) and preterm birth (PB). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 193 women in the second stage of pregnancy. Multiple characteristics including body mass index (BMI), smoking, and pregnancy complications were collected through a self-report questionnaire. Pregnancy stress and PLS were each measured with a related scale. Cervical length and birth outcome were evaluated from medical charts. Multiple regression was used to predict PLS and logistic regression was used to predict PB. RESULTS: Multiple regression showed smoking experience, pregnancy complications and pregnancy specific stress were predictors of PLS and accounted for 19.2% of the total variation. Logistic regression showed predictors of PB to be twins (OR=13.68, CI=3.72~50.33, p<.001), shorter cervix (<25mm) (OR=5.63, CI=1.29~24.54, p<.05), BMI >25 (kg/m²) (OR=3.50, CI=1.35~9.04, p<.01) and a previous PB (OR=4.15, CI=1.07~16.03, p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the multiple factors affect stage II pregnant women can result in PLS or PB. And preterm labor may predict PB. These findings highlight differences in predicting variables for pretrm labor and for PB. Future research is needed to develop a screening tool to predict the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women.
Body Mass Index ; Cervical Length Measurement ; Cervix Uteri ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth* ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Twins

A considerable body of evidence has been accumulated suggesting that invasive squamous cell carcinoma develops from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN). Most women with invasive cancer of the cervix are from lower socioeconomic groups, have begun heterosexual activity early in life, marry early, are multiparous, and have many sexual partners. Although the epidemiology of the cervical cancer is known well, the pathogenesis of the cervical cancer from CIN is subtle yet. Apoptosis, including the programmed cell death, is important event in normal cell turnover and maintenance of adult tissues. Apoptosis exerts a homeostatic function in relation to tissues dynamics, as the steady state of continuously renewing tissues achieved by a balance between cell replication and cell death. The specific labelling of nick ends of fragmented DNA was used to see the apoptotic cells from normal epithelium of the cervix to invasive cervical cancer. The apoptotic cells were found normally in the parabasal layer of the epithelium. As the grade of CIN increase, the apoptotic cell were found in superficial of the cervix and number of the apoptotic cell were increased. In the cervical cancer, the apoptotic cell were found in the cancerous tissues more than in the normal epithelium. This results suggest that the cell proliferation is more important than the inhibition of the apoptosis in the carcinogenesis of the cervical cancer.
Adult ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Cervix Uteri ; DNA ; Epidemiology ; Epithelium ; Female ; Heterosexuality ; Humans ; Sexual Partners ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVES: Cadmium (Cd), a toxic and non-essential metal, is recognized as a human carcinogen, which has a tendency to accumulate in the human body. The levels of Cd in renal cortex and liver are good indicators as an index of Cd exposure in the general population. In this study, we present an estimation of reference Cd levels in tissue (renal cortex and liver) and total body burden in the general population of Korea. MEDTHODS: Cd and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in renal cortex and liver from 254 autopsies (male : 188 cases, female : 66 cases) aged 0 to 87 years. RESULTS: Geometric mean concentration of Cd was 27.4 and 3.1 ua/g wet weight in renal cortex and liver, respectively. The level of Zn in renal cortex and liver was 35.4 and 42. 6 v/g wet weight, respectively. The result suggests that kidney is the target organ for Cd accumulation. The accumulation of Cd in renal cortex was age-dependent with a biphasic pattern. The level of Cd in renal cortex increased with age up to the fifties, and then leveled off thereafter. Based on the data, the regression model for Cd accumulation in renal cortex by age is predicted by : Log KCd = 0. 2325 + 0. 0553 Age 0. 0005 Age. The highest Cd accumulation in renal cortex of Koreans was estimated at 43. 3 ua/g wet weight at 50. 8 years old. In addition, the total Cd body burden by age was estimated by the following equation: Total Cd Body Burden = -4. 5948 + l. 2278 Age - 0. 0121 Age. The highest body burden of Cd was estimated at 26. 5 mg at age 50. 7 years in the Korean general population. The positive correlation between Zn and Cd was observed in renal cortex and liver. CONCLUSIONS: The level of Cd exposure in Korean was found to be lower than in Japanese, but same as or higher than in American and Europeans.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autopsy ; Body Burden ; Cadmium* ; Child ; Female ; Human Body ; Humans ; Kidney Cortex ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Liver* ; Reference Values* ; Zinc

PURPOSE: The purpose was to identify factors which affect nursing students' self-leadership according to their locus of control. METHODS: This study was a descriptive research. Participants were 600 D city junior and senior nursing students who had completed clinical training. RESULTS: Results showed the following characteristics of students who had high self-leadership: For students with external locus of control the following correlations with self-leadership were found:, general creativity (r=.46), social support (r=.48), academic self-efficacy (r=.29), and communication competence (r=.49). For students with internal locus of control, self-leadership was correlated with general creativity (r=.46), social support (r=.41), academic self-efficacy(r=.36), and communication competence (r=.48). For the nursing students with external locus of control, age (β=−.24, p=.010), satisfaction with campus life (β=.16, p=.027), general creativity (β=−.20, p=.017), and social support (β=−.20, p=.028) had significant effects on their self-leadership: explanatory power of 44% (F=6.53, p < .001). For students with internal locus of control, self-leadership was effected by general creativity (β=.20, p=.011) and social support (β=.19, p=.012): explanatory power was 42%(F=5.96, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Applying these findings to the curriculum of nursing students would improve their self-leadership and increase the efficiency of organizational culture and contribute to goal achievement in nursing organizations.
Creativity ; Curriculum ; Humans ; Internal-External Control ; Mental Competency ; Nursing ; Organizational Culture ; Students, Nursing

To investigate the change of nitric oxide(No), copper, and zinc in serum on smoking and alcohol ingestion in young adults, this study was performed in a cross-sectional study in 127 healthy, men in Korea who had HBsAg(-), HCVAb(-), and no symptomatic liver, heart, gastrointestinal, chronic diseases, and inflammatory sign(lower than 10,000 white blood cell count in CBC). At the men's entry into the study, blood samples were drawn from each subject and immediately centrifuged for analysis of NO, copper, and zinc. Each man completed a questionnaire that provided information on smoking, alcohol intake and present and past medical history. NO was analyzed by HPLC(Green et al., 1982), copper and zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometer with air-acetylene flame and total cholesterol(TC) by Spectrum EPX. smoking(number of cigarettes per day and pack-year) and alcohol intake was grouped tertile. Copper was adjusted for age and zinc and for age and TC. NO, copper, and zinc on smoking and alcohol ingestion were analyzed in general linear models, respectively. NO, copper and zinc in serum did not show statistical differences between non-smoking and high-smoking group and no-alcohol intake and high-alcohol intake group. This study, suggested that copper, zinc, and NO was not good biological marker for early effect by smoking and alcohol intake in young adults. However, selection bias should be Considered in evaluation of this result. A large prospective study, will be needed in advance on usefulness of copper, zinc, and NO as a marker for risk fictors and early change of atherosclerosis.
Absorption ; Atherosclerosis ; Biomarkers ; Chronic Disease ; Copper* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eating ; Heart ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Linear Models ; Liver ; Male ; Nitric Oxide* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Selection Bias ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products ; Young Adult ; Zinc*

OBJECTIVE: The survey was conducted to improve the health of Korean adolescents and to prepare adequate teaching programs by investigating their sexual behavior. METHODS: The participants of the survey was 80,000 middle and high school students aged 13 to 18. The survey was conducted from September 1st, 2007 to September 22nd, 2007. RESULTS: 78,834 students were surveyed and 74,698 (94.8%) students responded the survey. 35,232 (47.2%) of respondents were male students and 39,466 (52.8%) of respondents were female students. 38,820 (52.0%) of respondents were middle school students, 25,051 (33.5%) of respondents were high school students and 10,827 (14.5%) of respondents were technical high school students. 5.2% of respondents experienced sexual intercourse. The average age of the first sexual intercourse was 14.2 years old. 1.0% of respondents had a sexual intercourse before they enter the middle school. The pregnancy rate was 0.3%. Among respondents who experienced sexual intercourse, the rate of the use of contraceptive methods was 38.2%. The rate of using inappropriate contraceptive methods was 21.6%. The average age of a first wet dream for boys was 13.2 years old. The average age of menarche for girls was 12.4 year old. The rate of respondents who had a sex education was 72.2%. CONCLUSION: The average age of the first wet dream and menarche had been decreased. The average age of the first sex experience among adolescents had been decreased. The rate of adolescents who experienced a sexual intercourse was increased. However, the rate of using reliable contraceptive methods was very low. Therefore, adequate sex educations including effective contraceptive methods needs to be conducted to prevent unwanted pregnancy of adolescents.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Coitus ; Contraception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dreams ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Menarche ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Unwanted ; Sex Education ; Sexual Behavior

BACKGROUND: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a serological marker of malignant tumors, demonstrates a modest increase under nonmalignant conditions such as aging and smoking. Also, recent study results suggested that serum CEA levels may be related to insulin resistance or low-grade inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with serum CEA levels in healthy non-smokers. METHODS: Data was gathered from 21,501 adults aged 20 and over. We excluded 19,081 subjects who had omissions in anthropometric measurements or laboratory tests, or who had previous or current smoking history. RESULTS: The mean CEA level was 1.18 +/- 0.85 ng/dL in males and 0.93 +/- 0.73 ng/dL in females. After adjustment for age, CEA level was positively correlated with fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate in males. In females, CEA level was positively correlated with fasting glucose, HbA1C, HDL cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. In both gender groups, HbA1C had a strong influence on CEA levels when all other variables were included in the regression model (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Within normal range, serum CEA levels were significantly associated with HbA1C levels but not with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in the non-smoking population. These findings suggest that serum CEA levels are influenced by the glucose level itself instead of insulin resistance.
Adult ; Aging ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; C-Reactive Protein ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Fasting ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Glucose ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Reference Values ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: Although several risk factors associated with reduced age at natural menopause (ANM) have been investigated, the results are inconsistent. Excessive stress, which leads to elevation of stress hormones, can also negatively affect reproductive ability, including by accelerating menopause. However, a direct association between stress level and ANM has not yet been demonstrated. Therefore, the object of this study was to investigate the association between stress level and ANM in Korean women. METHODS: Study participants were Korean women between 40 and 70 years old who were in natural menopause during the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n=3,176). The level of stress in daily life was estimated based on data from the mental health topics of the survey. We used the t-test and one-way analysis of variance to analyze the correlation between stress level and ANM. Regression (beta) coefficients calculated by multiple regression analysis were used to estimate various factors affecting ANM. RESULTS: Women who experienced a high level of stress in daily life had a lower mean ANM than women with a low stress level (50.17+/-3.7 and 50.58+/-3.5 years, respectively), with a statistically significant correlation (P<0.05). This correlation was still observed after adjusting for age, body mass index, menstrual regularity, and personal income (P<0.05 for variables). CONCLUSION: In Korean women between 40 and 70 years of age who are in natural menopause, there is a statistically significant correlation between stress level and ANM. In particular, women who experience a high level of stress in daily life have reduced ANM.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Mental Health ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Risk Factors

Ovarian failure and infertility are typical features in Turner syndrome. Conception without ovum donation is very rare. We experienced one case of pregnancy and Cesarean delivery in a Turner mosaic with previous recurrent miscarriages.
Abortion, Habitual ; Female ; Fertilization ; Infertility ; Mosaicism ; Oocyte Donation ; Pregnancy ; Turner Syndrome

Gastric cancer associated with pregnancy is extremely rare and the information on this particular subject is limited. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite are common during pregnancy but also can be the only symptoms in stomach cancer until the late stage. Clinicians' reluctance to pursue diagnostic studies appears to be a major contributing factor of delayed diagnosis and poor outcome. A 33-year-old-women at 30 weeks gestation with advanced gastric cancer died sixteen days after emergency cesarean delivery. We report this case to alert clinicians to this rare possibility.
Abdominal Pain ; Appetite ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Nausea ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Vomiting