Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Azaperone ; Durapatite ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Polyethylenes ; Polypropylenes ; Seeds ; Swine

OBJECTIVES: A growing body of research has documented that job stress has a pivotal role in developing adverse health outcomes. However, little is known about the relationship between farmers' job stress and health outcomes. This study was undertaken to identify the relationship between job stress and self-perceived fatigue in Korean farmers. METHODS: A total of 526 Korean farmers were asked to participate in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the participants' general characteristics, job stress and self-perceived fatigue. Job stress was measured using a forty-eight item Farm Stressor Inventory (FSI), and the self-perceived fatigue was estimated by Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS). Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between job stress and self-perceived fatigue. RESULTS: The result showed that job stress was associated with self-perceived fatigue. For the farmers with high job stress, the risk of self-perceived fatigue was more likely to increase compared to those with low job stress. For males, labor intensity (OR, 3.88; 95% CI, 1.91~7.89), job environment (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.22~4.93), social support (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.07~4.13), social isolation (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.15~5.60), financial problems (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.53~6.91), uncertainty (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.30~4.75) and health problems (OR, 5.77; 95% CI, 2.46~13.53) were associated with self-perceived fatigue. For females, job environment (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.22~4.08), social isolation (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.05-4.15), physical environment & weather condition (OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.33~5.12), financial problems (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.55~5.32), uncertainty (OR, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.95~6.83) and health problems (OR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.57~7.27) were associated with self-perceived fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that farmers' job stress plays a role in the development of fatigue, and job stressors related to fatigue are slightly different according to gender.
Agriculture ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Social Isolation ; Uncertainty ; Weather

Bone and Bones ; Calcium ; Durapatite ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Polyethylenes ; Polymers ; Polypropylenes ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Engineering ; Transplants

Alveolar Bone Loss ; Animals ; Dental Implants ; Dogs ; Electrodes ; Femur ; Implants, Experimental ; Osseointegration ; Plasma ; Porosity ; Titanium ; Vacuum

PURPOSE: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia, but significant complications are associated with this procedure. The aim of this study was to compare the standard TURP with the high power (80W) potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser (KTP/532; Greenlights PVTM laser system; Laserscope, San Jose, USA) to elucidate the efficacy and safety of laser treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed comparative trials of 40 patients suffering with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia from February 2005 to June 2005. Twenty patients were treated with TURP (Group I) and 20 patients were treated with KTP (Group II). All patients were assessed preoperatively and at an interval of 3 months postoperatively based on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the quality of life (QoL) index, changes in maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and the postvoid residual urine (ml). The safety parameters we evaluated included the operative time (minutes), the postoperative catheterization time (day) and the blood loss (ml). The Kolmogorov- Smirnov & Shapiro-Wilk test, Student's t-test, Student's t-test (paired), and Fisher's Exact test were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of each group was 68.9+/-9.9 years (group 1) and 63.9+/-9.7 years (group II), and the prostate weight was 49.5+/-15.4cc and 45.0+/-17.3cc, respectively. The mean operation time was shorter for group II (27.7+/-13.6min) than for group I (48.1+/-22.6min) (p<0.05). The mean catheterization time was 5.6+/-1.82 and 1.36+/-1.64 days, respectively, (p<0.001). The blood loss was lower in group II (11.7+/-11.4ml) than in group I (181.9+/-168.17ml, respectively) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary short-term study, KTP Laser enucleation of the prostate was shown to be an effective alternative for treating benign prostate hyperplasia as compared with standard TURP.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Laser Therapy* ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Operative Time ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction

PURPOSE: This study was performed in order to evaluate the factors related to the development of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and prostate associated symptoms of professional taxi drivers in Korea, who had to abstain from adequate voiding on working time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study, including 192 professional taxi drivers and 120 sedentary desk workers (control group), was performed. The subjects were assessed by a questionnaire that was composed of three parts; structurized 13 basic questions including voiding abstinence, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). All possible factors that affect the presence of LUTS and prostate associated symptoms were analyzed, such as age, the duration of service, on-duty time per day, and length of voiding abstinence. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age between the taxi driver group and the control group. The duration of service of the control group was significantly longer, however, on-duty time per day was significantly longer in the taxi driver group than the control group (p<0.01). The length of voiding abstinence during duty was significantly longer in the taxi driver group than the control group (p<0.01). The total score, irritative symptom score, obstructive symptom score, and quality of life score of the IPSS questionnaire were significantly high in the taxi driver group (p<0.01). Also, the total score, pain score, urinary symptom score, and quality of life impact score of the NIH-CPSI questionnaire were significantly higher in the taxi driver group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: LUTS and prostate associated symptoms were more frequent and severe in the taxi driver group than the control group. The habitual abstinence of voiding and prolonged sedentary working environments could contribute to poor voiding function and prostate associated symptoms in taxi drivers.
Automobile Driving ; Korea ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate* ; Prostatitis ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Tract*

PURPOSE: To determine the role of TGF-beta1, and its receptors, in bladder tumor, their expressions at various stages of chemically-induced rat bladder carcinogenesis were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250g) were given drinking water containing 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN), and twenty rats, used as a control group, were given tap water. After 10, 20, 25 and 30 weeks of the administration, the bladders of the rats were harvested. The control and BBN-treated rat bladders were analyzed for the expressions of TGF-beta1, and its receptors (RI, RII and RIII), in the mRNA by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expressions of the TGF-beta1 increased in the mRNA with the BBN treatment, while those of the TGF-beta receptors decreased. The up-regulation of TGF-beta1 was statistically significant after 25 weeks of BBN treatment, but down-regulations of RI, RII, and RIII were significant after 20, 25, and 30 weeks of BBN treatment, respectively (p<0.05). The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the TGF-beta1, and its receptors, were localized in the tumor cytoplasm, and their intensities reflected the expression in the mRNA of these tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the enhanced expression of TGF-beta1, as well as the loss of the expressions of RI, RII, and RIII, at the various stages, contributes to the carcinogenesis of the bladder and tumor progression.
Animals ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cytoplasm ; Drinking Water ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Up-Regulation ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder* ; Water

PURPOSE: There is controversy surrounding the benefits and risks to health of a circumcision of the male prepuce. The purpose of this study was to provide educational material to the general population and medical doctors to help them understand appropriate opinions relating to a circumcision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study, including 1,124 adult men, 772 women, with sons, and 971 doctors, was performed. The subjects were interviewed, in detail, about their cognition of circumcision, their circumcision status, their age at circumcision, how many men received circumcisions, their reasons and thoughts relating to circumcision, the pros and cons and their current knowledge of the health benefits and risks associated with male circumcision. RESULTS: 81% of the general subjects, and 77% of the doctors, taking part in the study, were circumcised. The most common age at circumcision, accounting for 34% of the subjects, was over 18 years old. 77% of the general subjects, and 80% doctors, agreed with circumcision. The greatest motive for a circumcision, accounting for 38% of the subjects, was their parents wish. The satisfaction rate of a circumcision was 93%. Most Koreans (69%) considered that a circumcision is an ordinary operations in males. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, most Korean men were found to be circumcised, and were very much satisfied with the results, and on most occasions the procedure had been performed after adolescence. These results suggest that, in Korea, circumcision has a position as a customary conduct, and in itself is inevitable. Therefore, it is essential to explain the advantages and disadvantages of a circumcision to patients and their parents.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Circumcision, Male* ; Cognition ; Consciousness* ; Female ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea ; Male ; Parents ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment

PURPOSE: The clinical significance of prostatitis associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains to be determined. We determined the differences in the prevalence, pattern, clinical symptoms and outcome in BPH patients both with, and without prostatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 134 consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms related to BPH. The patients were divided into 2 groups relating to the expressed prostatic secretion caused by prostate massage (group 1: more than 10 leukocytes per high power field, group 2: less than 10 leukocytes per high power field). Tamsulosin, a selective alpha1-blocker, and finasteride were administered at doses of 0.2 and 5mg, respectively, once a day for one year. The primary efficacy criteria included, symptomatic improvement (International Prostate Symptom Score: I-PSS), maximum flow rate (Qmax) and residual urine volume. RESULTS: Prostatitis was identified in 67 of 119 patients (56.3%); the other 15 patients failed the prostatic massage. Of the patients with associated prostatitis, 8 (11.9%) showed bacterial growth. The serum PSA level was higher in group 1 than in group 2, but there were no significant differences in the other clinical parameters. There was no significantly difference in the improvement of the total I-PSS after treatment between the two groups. However, in group 1, the rritative symptom was significantly less improved (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prostatic inflammation is a common finding in patients with symptoms of BPH. In such cases, the response to medical treatment for irritative symptoms was inferior in the BPH only cases. There is a need for more studies to distinguish chronic prostatitis and BPH, and to ascertain any additional treatment requirements.
Finasteride ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Massage ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Prostatitis*

PURPOSE: Although a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the most effective treatment method for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it is difficult to predict the exact prognosis with this method. The peak flow rate (PFR) and post void residual urine (PVR), measured by abdominal compressing immediately after TURP in the operating room, were evaluated to see if they correlated with the surgical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients, having undergone TURP, had their PFR and PVR measured by abdominal compressing, both before and after TURP in the operating room. The abdomen was compressed to 100cm H2O of intravesical pressure with a concrete test hammer. All patients were requested to undergo uroflowmetry, and their international prostate symptom scores (IPSS) were assessed, 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: The PFR and PVR, measured by abdominal compressing immediately after TURP, correlated well with the PFR measured 3 months after the TURP (p<0.05). Higher PFR, lower PVR and a greater improvement in the IPSS were observed, but these were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the PFR and PVR, measured by abdominal compressing immediately after TURP, are thought to be a good parameter for predicting the prognosis of TURP.
Abdomen ; Humans ; Operating Rooms ; Prognosis ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate*