PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine economic stress, depression, suicidal ideation, resilience and social support in college students and to examine the correlation between these variables. METHODS: The participants were 157 3th and 4th year college students. Data were collected in September and October, 2016. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. RESULTS: Students' economic hardship and worry about future economic security, sub-categories of economic stress had positive correlations with depression and suicidal ideation. Economic hardship showed a significant negative correlation with resilience but no correlation with social support while worry about future economic security had negative correlations with resilience and social support. Factors significantly influencing suicidal ideation were depression (β=.37, p<.001) and social support (β=−.31, p<.001), with a total explanatory power of 36% (F=9.09, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that intervention strategies for managing economic stress in college students should include developing resilience and providing social support as well as decreasing depression and suicidal ideation.
Depression* ; Humans ; Suicidal Ideation*

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) induces a wide range of cellular responses to produce atherosclerotic lesion, but key factors determining the response are not understood. In this study, purified LDL was oxidized with copper sulfate, and its physical properties and the related biological responses were investigated. The average hydrodynamic diameter of the lightly oxidized LDL was approximately 25 nm and its Rf value relative to nLDL on agarose gel was between 1.0 and 1.25. The diameter of the extensively oxidized LDL was over 30 nm, the Rf value was over 2.0. A 24 h-exposure of resting RAW264.7 macrophage cells to 100 microg/ml of the lightly oxidized LDL induced proliferation and macrophage activation whereas the extensively oxidized LDL induced cell death at the same concentration. In contrast, 200 microg/ml of oxLDL caused cell death regardless of oxidation degree. Short incubation (4-6 h) of the highly oxidized LDL (100 microg/ml) also resulted in cell proliferation. OxLDL-induced cell death showed mixed characteristics of apoptosis and/or necrosis depending on the strength and duration of the insult. These results suggest that cellular responses induced by oxLDL be dependent on the oxidation degree, the duration of exposure, and the concentration of oxLDL. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
Animal ; Apolipoproteins B/metabolism ; Apoptosis/physiology ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Cell Death/physiology* ; Cell Division/physiology ; Copper Sulfate/metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Human ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lipids/metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL/pharmacology ; Lipoproteins, LDL/metabolism* ; Macrophages/pathology ; Macrophages/drug effects ; Macrophages/cytology* ; Mice ; Necrosis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolism

PURPOSE: Diabetic women commonly reported decreased sexual arousal and a lack of vaginal lubrication. Genital arousal depends on the vaginal blood flow and the vaginal smooth muscle tone. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus on the relaxation of the vaginal smooth muscles in the rabbit models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: New Zealand White female rabbits (3-3.5kg) were divided into two groups: control (n=5) and experimental (n=20). The experimental group received an intravenous injection of alloxan (100mg/kg). The development of diabetes was verified by measuring the body weight and blood glucose levels. After 12 weeks, the reactivity of the vaginal tissue from the control and diabetic animals was studied examined in the organ chambers. Vaginal The vaginal tissue was also processed immunohistochemically to determine the presence of the neuronal NOS isoform (n-NOS) in similar groups of rabbits. RESULTS: By After 12 weeks, five 5 of the 20 animals developed diabetes mellitus. The mean blood glucose level was significantly increased higher in the experimental group (340.8+/-116.9 mg/dl) compared to the control group (81.3+/-6.2mg/dl) (p=0.004). There was no significant difference in terms of the rRelaxation of vaginal tissue to electrical stimulation of the autonomic nerves, to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine and to the endothelium-independent vasodilator nitroprruside was not significantly different between the control and diabetic group. n-NOS immunoreactivity was also similar in both the control and diabetic groups. CONCLUSIONS: This The results suggest that diabetes mellitus may does not impair the neurogenic and endothelium-dependent relaxation of the rabbit vaginal smooth muscle. However, further intensive studies areinvestigation is needed to verify these results.
Acetylcholine ; Alloxan ; Animals ; Arousal ; Autonomic Pathways ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Electric Stimulation ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lubrication ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Neurons ; New Zealand ; Rabbits ; Relaxation* ; Vagina

Background: Postsurgical hypocalcemia is the most common and troublesome consequence of thyroidectomy. We investigated the potential role of routine calcium or vitamin D supplementation in preventing postsurgical hypocalcemia. Methods: We searched MEDLINE and Embase for English-language publications using the keywords “calcium,” “vitamin D,” and “thyroid cancer.” The primary outcome was any postoperative hypocalcemia, and the secondary outcome was symptomatic hypocalcemia. Results: Four studies that included 381 patients were eligible for this meta-analysis. A random-effects model showed no significant difference in the occurrence of hypocalcemia between calcium/vitamin D treatment and placeboo treatment. However, the occurrence of symptomatic hypocalcemia was lower in patients with calcium/vitamin D treatment. In the combined results, preoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation were associated with a reduced incidence of symptomatic hypocalcemia. Conclusions Our findings support the use of preoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation in conjunction with routine postsurgical supplementation for patients after total thyroidectomy.

Purpose: To seek Pearson correlations of tear film osmolarity measured by the I-PEN® (I-MED Pharma Inc., Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Canada) with Schirmer test result, tear break-up time, and Ocular Surface Disease Index score in patients with mild dry eye syndrome. Methods: Patients with mild dry eye syndrome were divided into two groups according to Ocular Staining Score: group 1 (50 patients; 67 eyes) and group 2 (59 patients; 91 eyes), 90 patients and 158 eyes in total. The above mentioned correlations were derived. Results: No significant correlations were observed between tear film osmolarity and Schirmer test result (r < -0.01, p = 0.97), tear break-up time (r = 0.05, p = 0.54), or Ocular Surface Disease Index score (r = 0.03, p = 0.76). When the two groups were compared, the Ocular Surface Disease Index score significantly differed between groups (p < 0.01), whereas the Schirmer test result (p = 0.31), tear break-up time (p = 0.11), and tear film osmolarity (p = 0.12) did not. Conclusions No significant correlations were found between tear film osmolarity and other dry eye indicators in patients with mild dry eye syndrome. The diagnostic utility of tear film osmolarity in patients with moderate dry eye syndrome is should be evaluated.

Purpose: To seek Pearson correlations of tear film osmolarity measured by the I-PEN® (I-MED Pharma Inc., Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Canada) with Schirmer test result, tear break-up time, and Ocular Surface Disease Index score in patients with mild dry eye syndrome. Methods: Patients with mild dry eye syndrome were divided into two groups according to Ocular Staining Score: group 1 (50 patients; 67 eyes) and group 2 (59 patients; 91 eyes), 90 patients and 158 eyes in total. The above mentioned correlations were derived. Results: No significant correlations were observed between tear film osmolarity and Schirmer test result (r < -0.01, p = 0.97), tear break-up time (r = 0.05, p = 0.54), or Ocular Surface Disease Index score (r = 0.03, p = 0.76). When the two groups were compared, the Ocular Surface Disease Index score significantly differed between groups (p < 0.01), whereas the Schirmer test result (p = 0.31), tear break-up time (p = 0.11), and tear film osmolarity (p = 0.12) did not. Conclusions No significant correlations were found between tear film osmolarity and other dry eye indicators in patients with mild dry eye syndrome. The diagnostic utility of tear film osmolarity in patients with moderate dry eye syndrome is should be evaluated.

Purpose: To investigate the safety of laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) by drawing a comparison between two groups divided according to age (18-19 vs. 20-21 years old). Methods: The study was conducted as a retrospective analysis including 339 patients (678 eyes) who underwent LASEK between January 2017 and April 2020. Patients were divided by age group, group I (18-19 years old) and group II (20-21 years old). The objectives of the study included determination of visual acuity and refractive errors before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure. Results: The preoperative mean spherical equivalents (SEs) were -4.73 ± 0.88 diopters (D) in group I and -4.58 ± 0.87 D in group II (p = 0.34). At 1 month postoperatively, mean SEs were 0.32 ± 0.46 D in group I and 0.26 ± 0.59 D in group II (p = 0.18). At 3 months postoperatively, the mean SEs were 0.30 ± 0.47 D in group I and 0.28 ± 0.50 D in group II (p = 0.67). At 6 months postoperatively, the mean SEs were 0.15 ± 0.47 D in group I and 0.14 ± 0.50 D in group II (p = 0.89). There were no significant differences in postoperative best corrected visual acuity between group I and group II at 1, 3, or 6 months (p = 0.20, p = 0.13, and p = 0.11, respectively). Conclusions There were no significant differences in postoperative mean SE or safety of LASEK between moderate myopia patients 18-19 years old and those 20-21 years old.

Background: The purpose of this study was to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on emergency departments (EDs) in patients under the age of 18 years with respiratory disease. Also, we analyzed similarities and differences in patients including revisit before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: This study population was respiratory patients under the age of 18 years who visited all 403 EDs in Korea between January 1st, 2019 and December 31st, 2020, using the National Emergency Department Information System Database. The primary outcome was the number of respiratory patients according to age, sex, the type of EDs, season, Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) levels, the result of ED, and length of stay. The secondary outcome was the number of revisit respiratory patients within 72 hours. We calculated the risk-adjusted revisit rates according to the KTAS level using a multiple logistic regression model. Results: The number of ED visits decreased from 274,526 in 2019 to 79,007 in 2020; this number was 71.2% lower than that before COVID-19. In spring 2020, this number was 90.1% lower than during the same period in 2019. For the revisit rate in the study population, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.22 (1.05-1.41) in 2019 and 1.39 (1.07-1.81) in 2020. Conclusion Implementing appropriate emergency care policies in severe respiratory patients would have contributed to improving the safety of reducing in revisit rate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare quantitative and qualitative image quality parameters in pediatric abdominopelvic dual-energy CT (DECT) using noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic image (VMI) and conventional VMI at different kiloelectron volt (keV) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive abdominopelvic DECT scans were retrospectively included. Noise-optimized VMI and conventional VMI were reconstructed at seven energy levels, from 40 keV to 100 keV at 10 keV intervals. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the liver, pancreas, and aorta were objectively measured and compared. Image quality was evaluated subjectively regarding image noise, image blurring of solid organ, bowel image quality and severity of beam-hardening artifacts. Optimal monoenergetic levels in keV for both algorithms were determined based on overall image quality score. RESULTS: The maximal CNR and SNR values for all investigated organs were observed at 40 keV in noise-optimized VMI (CNR and SNR of liver, pancreas, aorta in order [CNR; 20.93, 17.34, 46.75: SNR; 37.39, 33.80, 63.21]), at 60–70 keV and at 70 keV in conventional VMI (CNR; 8.12, 5.67, 15.97: SNR; 19.57, 16.66, 26.65). In qualitative image analysis, noise-optimized VMI and conventional VMI showed the best overall image quality scores at 60 keV and at 70 keV, respectively. Noise-optimized VMI at 60 keV showed superior CNRs, SNRs, and overall image quality scores compared to conventional VMI at 70 keV (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Optimal energy levels for noise-optimized VMI and conventional VMI were 60 keV and at 70 keV, respectively. Noise-optimized VMI shows superior CNRs, SNRs and subjective image quality over conventional VMI, at the optimal energy level.
Aorta ; Artifacts ; Liver ; Noise ; Pancreas ; Retrospective Studies ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio

Brucellosis is a zoonosis caused by Brucella species. B. melitensis, B. suis, B. abortus and B. canis can infect humans. Recently, as the cases of bovine brucellosis have increased every year in Korea, the cases of human brucellosis have also increased among livestock workers and veterinarians in rural areas, since the first human case was reported in 2003. Because clinical manifestations of the disease are nonspecific and may be very atypical, clinicians and laboratory persons need to be active in using diagnostic tools including polymerase chain reaction in addition to the ordinary culture and serologic tests, and taking an appropriate measure to prevent intralaboratory infection. We report herein our experience in three human brucellosis cases diagnosed by cultures, serologic tests and gene detection.
Animals ; Brucella ; Brucellosis* ; Brucellosis, Bovine ; Cattle ; Humans* ; Korea ; Livestock ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serologic Tests ; Veterinarians