This study was performed to investigate the effect of kimchi intake on free radical and oxidative substance production in young adults and the elderly. Daily kimchi intake by people in their twenties (n = 93, 20 to 29 years old) and over sixty-five (n = 143, over 65 years old) in M city were surveyed and blood was drawn to analyze the free radicals in their plasma. The average amount of kimchi intake by the subjects was 115.8 +/- 91.7 g. The amount of kimchi intake of those in their twenties (106.1 +/- 80.6 g) was significantly lower than that of those over sixty-five (125.5 +/- 102.9 g, p<0.05). Concentrations of total free radicals and OH radicals were 27 and 33% greater respectively, in those over sixty-five than in those in their twenties, indicating that more free radicals were produced by the older group. The concentration of GSH was not signiacantly different in the two groups, but that of GSSG in the over sixty-five age group was 53% greater than in the twenties group, which resulted in a 35% reduction in GSH/GSSG in the elderly group. TBARS concentration in the over sixty-five group was 26% greater than that of the twenties group. In order to see the effect of kimchi intake on free radical production, subjects in same age group were divided into two sub groups-the mean over and the mean under groups-according to the average amount of kimchi intake, which was 115.8 g. The total free radicals, the OH radicals, the GSH, the GSSG, and the GSH/GSSG in the twenties group were not significantly different in the two kimchi intake groups. However, those in the over sixty-five group were significantly different. The concentration of total free radicals and OH radicals of the mean over group were 21 and 26% lower respectively, than those of the mean ova. group (p<0.05). The GSH and GSH/GSSG of the mean ova. groups were higher by 8 and 12%, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the kimchi intake and the total free radicals was -0.1862 (p<0.05) and that for GSH/GSSG was 0.1861 (p<0.05). In conclusion, the production of free radicals and oxidative substances increased with age, and kimchi seemed to retard this phenomena.
Aged* ; Free Radicals ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Disulfide ; Humans ; Ovum ; Plasma ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Young Adult*

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitor (AI) for ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with thin endometrium, hyper-responsiveness after clomiphene citrate (CC) treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 43 PCOS patients (50 cycles) with ovulatory dysfunction between March 2004 and September 2004. AI group (total 36 cycles) included the patients 1) with thin endometrium below 6 mm on hCG day after CC (n=17), 2) with more than 5 ovulatory follicles after 50mg of CC (n=4), 3) who do not want multiple pregnancy (n=14). Patients were treated with Letrozole 2.5mg for days 3 to 7 of the menstrual cycle. CC group (total 14 cycles) were treated with CC 50~100 mg. RESULTS: In PCOS patients, ovulation was occurred 97.2% after AI use. Between AI group and CC group, there was no significant difference in the mean age, duration of infertility, interval of menstruation, basal FSH, prior treatment cycles, and the day of hCG administration. But, the number of mature follicles (> or =15 mm) was lower in the AI group (1.08+/-0.45 vs. 1.64+/-0.75) (p=0.018), and the thickness of endometrium (mm) was significantly thicker in the AI group (10.35+/-1.74 vs. 9.23+/-1.61) (p=0.044), and E2 (pg/ml) concentration on hCG day was lower in the AI group (116.9+/-75.8 vs. 479.5+/-300.8) (p=0.001). Among the AI group, patients with prior thin endometrium (below 6 mm) during CC treatment showed 10.6+/-1.6 mm in the endometrial thickness and 106.6+/-66.8 pg/ml in E2 concentration. Patients with more than 5 ovulatory follicles after CC showed decreased follicle number (1.25+/-0.5) compared to prior CC cycle. CONCLUSIONS: In PCOS patients, AI group showed significantly thicker endometrium, lesser number of mature follicles, and lower E2 concentration on hCG day than CC group. AI might be useful alternative treatment for ovulation induction in PCOS patients with thin endometrium and hyper-responsiveness after CC treatment.
Aromatase* ; Clomiphene* ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Ovulation ; Ovulation Induction ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the difference of implantation rate (IR) and clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) between two protocols of endometrial preperation in women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. METHODS: This study was performed during the different time periods: A retrospective study from January 2000 to June 2001 (phase I) and a prospective study from July 2001 to March 2002 (phase II). All the patients received estradiol valerate (6 mg p.o. daily) starting from day 1 or 2 of the menstrual cycle without pituitary down regulation. Progesterone was administered around day 14 after sonographic confirmation of endometrial thickness > or = 7 mm and no growing follicle. In Group A (n=88, 99 cycles) of phase I, progesterone was administered i.m. at a dose of 50 mg daily from one day prior to thawing of pronuclear (PN) stage frozen embryo or three days prior to thawing of 6-8 cell stage frozen embryo and then each stage embryos were trasnsferred 2 days or 1 day later after thawing. In Group B (n=246, 299 cycles) of phase I, patients recieved progesterone 100 mg i.m. from one day earlier than group A; two days prior to PN embryo thawing, four days prior to of 6-8 cell embryo thawing. During the phase II, to exclude any differences in embryo transfer procedures, in Group 1 (n=23, 28 cycles) of phase II embryo was transfered by one who have used the progesterone protocol since the phase I. In Group 2 (n=122, 139 cycles) of phase II embryo was transfered by one who use the progesterone protocol from the phase II. RESULTS: When compared across the phase and group, there were no significant differences in the characteristics. During the phase I, there were significant increase in IR (14.4% vs 5.9%, p=0.001) and CPR (28.3% vs 14.5%, p=0.000) in group A. During the phases II, IR (11.8% vs 10.6%) and CPR (27.6% vs 27.3%) show no differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In FET cycles, IR and CPR are increased significantly by the change of dosage and timing of progesterone administraton. And the timing is considered to be more important factor because the dosage of progesterone did not affect implantation window in previous studies. Therefore, we suggest that progesterone administration in FET cycle should begin from one day prior to PN stage embryo thawing and three days prior to 6-8 cell stage embryo thawing.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Down-Regulation ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Estradiol ; Female ; Humans ; Menstrual Cycle ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Progesterone* ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

To estimate the incidence of uterine cervix cancer among Korean women, we have conducted a study using the claim data on the beneficiaries of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). All medical records of the potential cases with diagnosis of ICD-9 180, 181, 182, 199, 219, 233 in the claims sent by medical care institutions in the whole country to the KMIC from January 1988 to December 1989, were abstracted and Gynecology specialist reviewed the records to identify the new cases of uterine cervix cancer among the potential cases during the corresponding period. Using these data, the incidence of uterine cervix cancer among Korean women was estimated as of July 1, 1988 to June 30, 1989. The crude rate was estimated to be 17.34(95% CI: 16.76~17.92) per 100,000 and the cumulative rates for the ages 0~64 and 0~74 were 1.7% and 2.2%, respectively. The age-adjusted rate for the world population was 19.93 per 100,000 which was higher than those of other Asian countries including China and Japan in 1983~1987. The truncated rate for ages 35~64 was 52.05 per 100,000 which was one of the highest in the world. With increasing age, the incidence rate increased to 78.11 per 100,000 in women aged 55~59 years, then it decreased in the older groups. This finding suggests that detecting rate of uterine cervix cancer may decrease in women aged 60 years or older due to detecting rate of uterine cervix cancer may decrease in women aged 60 years or older due to inadequate medical care seeking behavior. In the geographical area, the SIR of Jeju province was significantly low but it might be due to statistical unstability by small case numbers.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cervix Uteri* ; China ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Insurance ; International Classification of Diseases ; Japan ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Specialization

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity to both cell-killing and chromosome-damaging effects of ionizing radiation is a consistent feature of cells from individuals with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT). This radiobiological behavior of AT cells is a component of genetic instability and may contribute to cancer risk. Also, heterozygotes for AT-mutated (ATM) genes have no clinical expressions of AT, but may become cancer prone with a moderate increase in in-vitro radiosensitivity. METHODS: We performed a chromosomal analysis on lymphocytes from 3 AT patients, 5 obligate AT carriers (siblings and parents of the patients), and 5 normal controls. RESULTS: Increases in chromosomal breakages after irradiation with 1 gray/min in cells from AT patients ranged from 0.65 to 0.83 rearrangements per metaphase, while in the carriers and controls the levels of breakage were between 0 and 0.15 per metaphase cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with previously reported chromosomal radiosensitivity in AT patients. However, carriers do not show moderate radiosensitivity due to various technical factors such as the dose or distance of radiation. Although this research has some limitations due to the small numbers of patients, carriers and controls, this method may be an easy and useful diagnostic tool for AT patients in Korea. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(5):509~513, 2001)
Ataxia Telangiectasia* ; Ataxia* ; Chromosome Breakage ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Lymphocytes* ; Metaphase ; Parents ; Radiation Tolerance ; Radiation, Ionizing

Objectives: ：The purpose of this study was to identify characteristic Vibraimage parameters in schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Methods: ：This study retrospectively analyzed subjects who were referred to the National Forensic Hospital in Gongju city for psychiatric evaluation between April 2019 and October 2019. After divided into two groups; Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders group and non-organic non-psychotic disorders group, Vibraimage parameters and MMPI-2 items were compared between the two groups. In addition, we investigated the relations between Vibraimage parameters and MMPI-2 items characteristic of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders by using the Correlation analysis. Results: ：Compared to non-organic non-psychotic disorders group, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders group scored low at Aggression (t=-2.752, p=0.007), Tension (t=-2.106, p=0.039), and Suspects (t=-2.617, p=0.011); high at Neuroticism (t=4,215, p<0.001) in the Vibraimage, and the group scored comparatively high at Sc (Schizophrenia) (t=-2.099, p=0.039) and low at Hy (Hysteria) (t=-2.228, p=0.029) in the MMPI-2. The Sc (Schizophrenia) item in the MMPI-2 showed a negative correlation with Suspect parameter (r=0.242 p=0.035) and positive correlation with Neuroticism parameter (r=0.267, p=0.02) in the Vibraimage. Conclusion ：Our findings suggest that Suspect and Neuroticism parameters of the Vibraimage were characteristic in schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, and showed potential as diagnostic tools, especially in psychiatric evaluations.

Objectives: ：The purpose of this study was to identify characteristic Vibraimage parameters in schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Methods: ：This study retrospectively analyzed subjects who were referred to the National Forensic Hospital in Gongju city for psychiatric evaluation between April 2019 and October 2019. After divided into two groups; Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders group and non-organic non-psychotic disorders group, Vibraimage parameters and MMPI-2 items were compared between the two groups. In addition, we investigated the relations between Vibraimage parameters and MMPI-2 items characteristic of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders by using the Correlation analysis. Results: ：Compared to non-organic non-psychotic disorders group, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders group scored low at Aggression (t=-2.752, p=0.007), Tension (t=-2.106, p=0.039), and Suspects (t=-2.617, p=0.011); high at Neuroticism (t=4,215, p<0.001) in the Vibraimage, and the group scored comparatively high at Sc (Schizophrenia) (t=-2.099, p=0.039) and low at Hy (Hysteria) (t=-2.228, p=0.029) in the MMPI-2. The Sc (Schizophrenia) item in the MMPI-2 showed a negative correlation with Suspect parameter (r=0.242 p=0.035) and positive correlation with Neuroticism parameter (r=0.267, p=0.02) in the Vibraimage. Conclusion ：Our findings suggest that Suspect and Neuroticism parameters of the Vibraimage were characteristic in schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, and showed potential as diagnostic tools, especially in psychiatric evaluations.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the attitude of nurses toward transsexuals. METHOD: The Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each item was used. Twenty-nine nurses classified the 50 selected Q-statements into a normal distribution using a 9 point scale. The collected data was analyzed using the Quanl PC program. RESULT: Four types of attitudes toward transsexuals were identified. The first type (humanitarian acceptance) showed an attitude of respecting transsexuals as human beings and understanding and accepting their desires and difficulties. The second type (superficial understanding) understood the psychological conflicts and suffering of transsexuals but could not accept them as members of families or society. The third type (insufficient understanding) did not feel a sense of rejection toward transsexuals but showed a lack of understanding of their desires and difficulties. The fourth type (rejection) failed to understand the desires and difficulties of transsexuals and showed a sense of rejection toward them, in addition to regarding them as sexually immoral people. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that different approaches of educational programs based on the four types of attitudes toward transsexuals are recommended.
Adult ; *Attitude of Health Personnel ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Models, Educational ; Nursing Staff/*psychology ; Q-Sort ; Questionnaires ; *Transsexualism

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) profile following preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is lower than that of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. METHODS: A total of 129 PGD cycles and 1,161 age-matched ICSI cycles, which resulted in pregnancy (serum beta-hCG> or =5 mIU/mL) on post-ovulation day (POD) 12 were included. We compared the mean serum beta-hCG levels on POD 12, 14, 21, and 28, doubling time of serum hCG, and created a cut-off value for predicting a singleton pregnancy in each group. RESULTS: The mean serum beta-hCG concentration of the PGD group was significantly lower than that of the control group on POD 12, 14, and 21. The doubling time of serum beta-hCG at each time interval showed no significant difference. The cut-off-value of serum beta-hCG for predicting a single viable pregnancy was 32.5 mIU/mL on POD 12 and 113.5 mIU/mL on POD 14 for the PGD group, which was lower than that for the control group. CONCLUSION: Blastomere biopsy may decrease the beta-hCG-producing activity of the trophoblasts, especially in early pregnancy. Setting a lower cut-off value of serum beta-hCG for predicting pregnancy outcomes in PGD may be needed.
Biopsy ; Blastomeres ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Prostaglandins D ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Trophoblasts