The baseline questionnaires included demographic and health history information. The age-adjusted prevalence of current depression by GDS (X18), of ED by IIEF-5 score (o18), and of concomitant ED and depression were 12.2%, 28.2% and 11.0%, respectively. GDS increased according to severity of ED, adjusted for age, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol, hypertension, regular exercise, total cholesterol level, fasting blood sugar, body mass index (Po0.001, by analysis of covariance). ED was strongly associated with depression symptoms after controlling for potential confounding factors using logistic regression. Compared with GDS o8, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for 12-17 GDS and 18 or more GDS were 3.38 (1.30-8.77) and 6.56 (2.18-19.81), respectively. ED is significantly associated with highly depressive symptoms, regardless of age, health habit or concomitant comorbidity. Our results demonstrate that multidisciplinary approaches are important for the successful treatment of ED.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between body fat mass (BFM) and erectile dysfunction (ED) in Korean men. This study was a cross-sectional study using data on 208 men (the mean age ¼ 67.4 ± 8.2). ED was diagnosed by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 and body fat percentage (BF%) was quantified with bioelectrical impedance. BF% was divided into quintiles (quintile 1: p20.5%, quintile 2: 20.6-23.2%, quintile 3: 23.3-25.8%, quintile 4: 25.9-28.8%, quintile 5: X28.9%). Using subjects with quintile 3 of BF% as reference, the adjusted odds ratios of subjects with the lowest quintile of BF% and with the highest quintile were 9.29 (95% CI: 2.29-37.72) and 4.99 (95% CI: 1.37-18.09), respectively. This study showed that BFM and ED had a U-shaped relationship in Korean men. These findings suggest that not only obesity but also a low BFM may be a risk factor of ED in Asians.

To increase healing rate of tympanic membrane (TM) perforations, patching procedure has been commonly conducted. Biocompatible, biodegradable patching materials which is not limited across cultures is needed. The authors evaluated the effectiveness of novel transparent duck's feet collagen film (DCF) patch in acute traumatic TM perforation. This procedure was compared with spontaneous healing and paper patching. Cell proliferation features were observed in paper and DCF patches. Forty-eight TMs of 24 rats were used for animal experiment, perforations were made on each TMs, and divided into three groups according to treatment modality. Sixteen were spontaneously healed, 16 were paper patched and 16 were DCF patched. The gross and histological healing results were analyzed. Both paper and DCF patch showed no cytotoxicity, but cell proliferations were more active in DCF than paper in early stage. In animal study, the healing of TM perforations were completed within 14 days in all three groups, but found to be faster in DCF patch group than paper patch or spontaneous healing group. The DCF patches were transparent and size of DCF patches were gradually decreased, so there were no need to remove the DCF patches to check the wound status or after the completion of healing. According to this result, authors concluded that DCF patch is transparent, biocompatible and biodegradable material, and can induce fast healing in acute traumatic TM perforations.