In systemic hypertension, capillary resistance is highly elevated and' contractility of vascular smooth muscle is elevated. This is due to increased calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the vascular smooth muscle. Recently, nifedipine, an antihypertensive medication which inhibits calcium uptake into the vascular smooth muscle is commonly used. It decreases the contractility of the vascular smooth muscle and causes the vessels to relax, which in turn lowers the blood pressure. In 1987, according to Rodriguez-Sargent et al. the increased incidence of cataract in Dahl-salt sensitive rats(DSR) was due to increasd water and sodium contents and decreased potassium content. In this investigative study on hypertension, the water, Sodium and potassium contents in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats(SHR) were measured. After treatment with nifedipine in SHR, we observed decreased blood pressure along with the changes in water, sodium and potassium contents of the lenses. The following results were obtained from our experiments. 1. In normal SDR, The blood pressure did not decrease with nifedipine injection. 2. After 3-7 days of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of SHR did not decrease. 3. After 2 weeks of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of the SHR decreased slightly and after 4 weeks of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of SHR decreased significantly. 4. Water and sodium contents of SHR were higher than that of SDR and the potassium content was similar to that of SDR. 5. The elevated water and sodium contents of SHR decreased along with decrease of blood pressure, and after 2 weeks of nifedipine injection, showed similar level as the contents of SDR lenses. 6. Potassium contents of SHR lenses showed no change were similar to SDR lines except the 4 weeks nifedipine injection group which showed higher potasslum contents.
Animals ; Blood Pressure* ; Calcium ; Capillary Resistance ; Cataract ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nifedipine* ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; Sodium ; Water*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was the development and validation of a scale to measure the self-care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in Korea. METHOD: Self-care scale was developed based on the self-care activities patients had to carry out in order to manage their COPD. The original scale contained 34 items rated along a five-point Likert scale and was reviewed by 18 professional nurses and 10 Korean patients with COPD for content validity. Subsequently, patients with COPD were asked to complete this 23-item scale and further tests were done with the 125 useable responses. RESULT: Factor analysis identified eight factors- "maintaining a clean air way", "taking medication", "support from family", "preventing infection", "managing symptoms", "breathing exercising", and "taking in nutrition". The internal consistency of the total scale was Cronbach's alpha=0.7226. These eight factors explained 60.8% of total variance. There was correlation among Korean Self-Care Scale score, administration level, and knowledge level but there was no correlation to patients' satisfaction with medical services. CONCLUSION: The 23 item questionnaire positively identified 8 areas defined important for COPD patients. Further studies are required to see how these can be integrated into patient education.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of examinees who took the first clinical skill examination in Korea. METHODS: The data were collected by written survey, telephone, and face-to-face interviews with 46 examinees who took a clinical skills examination test at Jeju National University School of Medicine. Thirty-two questionnaires were valid for analysis. RESULTS: Examinees' self-evaluation scores with regard to the level of difficulty of the CPX was 2.83 on average (1 for very easy, 5 for very difficult), and the score on the degree of adequate time for the CPX was 2.69 on average (1 for enough, 5 for very short). Examinees' self-evaluation scores on the level of difficulty of the OSCE was 2.37 on average (1 for very easy, 5 for very difficult), and the score on the degree of adequate time for the OSCE was 2.56 on average (1 for enough, 5 for very short). CONCLUSION: We hope that our study provides useful information on practical questions in the development and review of exams and will be used to develop educational content and teaching methods in medical education.
Clinical Competence ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Education, Medical ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; Educational Measurement ; Humans ; Licensure ; Schools, Medical ; Teaching ; Telephone ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Congenital limb anomalies are manifested in various degree of severity and complexity bearing confusion for description and nomenclature of each anomaly. We retrospectively analyzed the roentgenograms of congenital limb anomalies for the purpose of further understanding of radiologic manifestations based on the embryonal defect and also to find the incidence of each anomaly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total number of the patients was 89 with 137 anomalies. Recently the uniform system of classification for congenital anomalies of the upper limb was adopted by International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), which were categorized as 7 classifications. We used the IFSSH classification with some modification as 5 classifications;failure of formation of parts, failure of differentiation of parts, duplications, overgrowth, and undergrowth. RESULTS: The patients with upper limb anomalies were 65 out of 89(73%), lower limb were 21(24%), and both upper and lower limb anomalies were 3(4%). Failure of formation was seen in 18%, failure of differentiation 39%, duplications 39%, overgrowth 8%, and undergrowth in 12%. Thirty-five patients had more than one anomaly, and 14 patients had intergroup anomalies. CONCLUSION: The upper limb anomalies were more common than lower limb. Among the anomalies, failure of differentiation and duplications were the most common types of congenital limb anomalies. Patients with failure of formation, failure of differentiation, and undergrowth had intergroup association of anomalies, but duplication and overgrowth tended to be isolated anomalies.
Classification ; Extremities* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Retrospective Studies ; Upper Extremity

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of an obesity control program including rhythmical dance exercise, on body composition, knowledge about obesity, life habits and self-esteem among obese elementary school children. This program included obesity related health education and counseling based on behavior modification once a week, 1 hour-rhythmical dance class once a week and 40-minute jump rope classes twice a week for 8 weeks. METHOD: There were 29 students with obesity in the experimental and 28 in the control group. Participated was voluntary. The data were collected from April 16 to July 6 2007. chi-square-test, Fisher's exact test, paired t-test and t-test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Students in the experimental group showed significantly lower fat mass (t=-2.16, p=.036) and percent body fat (t=-2.93, p=.005) and significantly higher muscle mass (t=2.05, p=.045) and lean body mass (t=2.71, p=.009) than those in the control group. Knowledge of obesity increased significantly and eating habits changed significantly. But difference in exercise habits and self-esteem were not significant. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that an 8 week-obesity control program including rhythmical dance exercise is effective in decreasing body fat, increasing muscle mass and increasing knowledge of obesity in children who are obese.
Adipose Tissue ; Behavior Therapy ; Body Composition ; Child ; Counseling ; Eating ; Health Education ; Humans ; Muscles ; Obesity

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to predict spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days in low risk pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation by ultrasonographic examination of cervical changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 110 singleton low risk pregnancies between 37(+0) and 37(+6) weeks of gestation. Fifteen cases were lost during follow-up and finally 95 pregnant women (58 nulliparous, 37 multiparous) were analysed. The study period was from Oct/2005 to May/2007. Four cervical changes (length, gland thickness, funneling and canal formation) were evaluated. Main outcome was remaining day to delivery after the examination. Remaining days to actual delivery with spontaneous labor onset were recorded and the pregnancies were divided into two groups according to remaining days (within 7 days, over 7 days) to compare predicting power of delivery within 7 days. ROC curves were drawn to find out cut-off values of cervical length and gland thickness. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were extracted from four cervical changes. RESULTS: Mean cervical length of pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation was 25.8 (+/-10.0) mm and mean cervical gland thickness was 4.3 (+/-1.2) mm. Funnelings of uterine cervix were detected in 13 cases (13.7%), canal formations in 6 cases (6.3%). All four cervical changes were statistically valuable to predict delivery within 7 days and the cervical length showed highest sensitivity. When the cervical length was measured under 20 mm, the possibility of delivery within 7 days was 78.6% (p<0.001). The cervical gland thickness less than 4 mm could predict the delivery within 7 days with sensitivity of 57.1% (p<0.01). Sensitivities of funneling and canal formation for delivery within 7 days were 54.5%, 36.4% each. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic examination of the cervical changes in low risk singleton pregnancy at 38 weeks' of gestation are valuable for predicting spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days. Among four cervical changes, cervical length is most sensitive ultrasonographic marker.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Labor Onset ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: There recurred controversies related to legal allowance of abortion since newly advancing prenatal genetic testing technology. This survey was aimed to identify the attitudes toward marriage, and pregnancy (AMP) and terminating pregnancy (ATP) among Korean nursing students. METHOD: A descriptive study was performed from October to November 2012 in South Korea. 424 nursing students responded to two types of tools developed by authors. Questionnaire for ATP is consisted of 10 items with 5-points Likert Scale. Questionnaire for AMP is 12 items containing 5 categories. RESULTS: Mean score of ATP was 36.90. Students that are enrolled in bachelor degree had a significant higher ATP. Students who are currently dating with an opposite gender showed much higher level of ATP than those are not. Lower group of delayed the time of getting marriage and pregnancy showed highest score of ATP, significantly. CONCLUSION: Individual factor must be primarily considered when assessing ATP of nursing students, for example current relationship with opposite gender and educational background, attitude toward marriage and pregnancy. Further studies are needed to identify personal factors of the young adults affecting on the ATP.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Korea ; Marriage* ; Pregnancy* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Nursing* ; Young Adult

There has been many ophthalmologists warning sudden loss of central vision and small residual visual fields in far advanced glaucomatous damaged eyes after filtration surgery. Although this warning against glaucoma surgery in patients with limited visual fields has been a concern for over a century, little data exist to convincingly support this belief. The purpose of this paper is to share our experience in facing this dilemma. Authors performed filtration surgery on 31 eyes with advanced glaucomatous field defects and evaluated postoperative visual field and visual acuity at 8 weeks postoperatively in order to ensure if there was any change. The eyes were classified into three categories according to the severity of the visual field loss evaluated with Humphrey computerized visual field analyser. No patients suffered a sudden loss of central visual acuity or a rapidly progressive loss of small residual visual fields after filtration surgery during 8 weeks follow-up period. In the light of our clinical experiences, authers concluded that there was nothing to worry about in performing filtration surgery on far advanced glaucomatous damaged eyes just only because they have small residual visual fields.
Filtering Surgery* ; Filtration* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Visual Acuity* ; Visual Fields*

During the period from July to August 1987, the microbial flora in conjunctival sac of 93 newborns (186 eyes: normal vaginal delivery) and 19 newborns (38 eyes: cesarean section delivery) in nursery of Ewha Womans University Hospital were investigated for isolation and identification of bacteria on delivery day and on two days after birth. The results of the investigation are as follows: 1. Of 186 eyes (normal vaginal delivery), bacterial growth of one species was shown in 40 eyes (21.5%) on delivery day and in 64 eyes (34.4%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species shown in 10 eyes (5.4%) on delivery day and in 10 eyes (5.4%) on two days after birth. 2. Of 38 eyes (cesarean section delivery), bacterial growth of one species was shown in 2 eyes (5.3%) on delivery day and in 20 eyes (52.6%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species was shown 2 eyes (5.3%) on two days after birth. 3. Several kinds of bacterial species were isolated in normal vaginal delivery and cesarean section delivery. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus were isolated.
Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Cesarean Section ; Conjunctiva/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn/*microbiology ; Pregnancy

During the period from July to August 1987, the Microbial flora in Conjunctival Sac of 93 new borns(186 eyes; Normal Vaginal delivery) and 19 new borns(38 eyes; Cesarean Section delivery) in Nursery of EWha Woman's University Hospital had been investigated for isolation and identification of bacteria on delivered day and two days after birth. The results of the investigation are as follows: 1. Of 186 eyes(Normal Vaginal delivery) bacterial growth of one species was showed in 40 eyes(21.5%) on delivered day and in 64 eyes(34.4%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species was showed in 10 eyes(5.4%) on delivered day and in 10 eyes(5.4%) on two days after birth. 2. Among the incidence of isolation of bacterial species(Normal Vaginal delivery), Staphylococcus epidermides(28 eyes; 15.1%), Escherichiae coli(26 eyes; 14.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus(6 eyes; 3.2%) were isolated on delivered day and Staphylococcus epidermidis(40 eyes; 21.5%), Escherichiae coli(27 eyes; 14.5%), Staphylococcus aureus(13 eyes; 7.0%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae(4 eyes; 2.2%) were isolated on two days after birth. 3. of 38 eyes(Cesarean Section delivery), bacteral growth of one species was showed in 2 eyes(5.3%) on delivered day and in 20 eyes(52.6%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species was showed in 2 eyes(5.3%) on two days after birth. 4. Among the incidence of isolation of bacterial species(Cesarean Section delivery), Staphylococcus epidermidis(1 eyes; 2.6%) and Escherichiase coli(1 eyes; 2.6%) were isolated on delivered day and Staphylococcus epidermidis(10 eyes; 26.3%), Esche richiae coli(8 eyes; 21.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6 eyes; 15.8%) were isolated on two days after birth.
Bacteria ; Cesarean Section ; Escherichia ; Female ; Incidence ; Klebsiella ; Nurseries ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus