BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that diabetic patients are under high oxidative stress and plasma MDA concentration is a reliable marker for oxidative stress. However, some studies showed that plasma MDA is not a good marker for oxidative stress. Reeently, the total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAPc) has been proposed as a marker for the overall antioxidant property of plasma samples. Therefore, in this study, we tried to evaluate whether MDA and TRAPc are reliable markers of the oxidative stress-antioxidant system or not. METHODS: The plasma samples from 67 type 2 diabetic patients and 31 normal subjects were collected. The plasma MDA, protein-bound SH groups, uric acid and vitamin C were determined by fluorophotometry or spectrophotometry. Plasma vitamin E concentration was analyzed by HPLC. Calculated TRAP (TRAPc) were determined by the proposed calculation methods. RESULTS: 1. Diabetic patients had significantly lower TRAPc, compared with normal subjects. 2. SH groups, uric acid, vitamin C and vitamin E were not different between the two groups. 3. MDA and MDA/TG were significantly higher in diabetic subjects. CONCLUSION: From the results of this study, TRAPc seems to be a reliable parameter of overall plasma antioxidant system and the plasma MDA may be used as a marker of oxidative stress, but further long-term logitudinal studies are needed.
Ascorbic Acid ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma ; Spectrophotometry ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

No abstract available.
Abdominal Wall* ; Diagnosis* ; Fetus*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi Sampling* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Female ; Pregnancy

Unusual morphology of aberrant forms of bacteria, presented with grotesque-giant form, 15 m 3 m, with central emptiness and fusiform ends was observed in urine Gram stain from a 26-year-old woman who was admitted with the symptoms of acute urinary tract infection. On wet smear, these bacilli were markedly swollen, yeast-like organisms. In addition to normal shaped bacilli, various shapes of another aberrant bacteria, such as long bacilli, filamentous form, filamentous form with central bulge, and bipolar staining with central emptiness were also observed in the same specimen. The morphologic characteristics of these unusual aberrant bacilli were more distinct on Papanicolaou stain than on Gram stain. In Korea, where antimicrobial agents are overused and disused, the frequency of observing the aberrant bacteria would be much higher than cases reported. Here we report unusual morphology of aberrant forms of Escherichia coli with the emphasis on awaring of the potential appearance of such bacilli in clinical specimen and avoiding confusion with fungi and other naturally filamentous organisms.
Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria* ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Korea ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of integrated palliative care intervention on quality of life in terminally ill patients. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed via PubMed, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, LWW (Ovid), CINAHL and several Korean databases. The main search strategy was to combine terms indicating palliative care intervention, presence of terminal illness and study design. Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias for randomized studies and Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized studies. Data were analyzed by the Stata 10 program. RESULTS: Eight clinical trials met the inclusion criteria with a total of 356 participants. Integrated palliative care interventions were administered for a mean of 6.5 weeks, 5.6 sessions and an average of 47.8 minutes per session. Effect sizes were heterogeneous, and subgroup analysis was done. Integrated palliative care interventions had a significant effect on quality of life (ES=1.83, P=0.018, l2=92%), spiritual well-being (ES=0.78, P=0.040, l2=0), depression (ES=0.86, P<0.001, l2=32) and anxiety (ES=0.69, P=0.041, l2=71.1). But integrated palliative care interventions had no significant effect on pain (ES=0.365, P=0.230, l2=69.8). CONCLUSION: Results support findings that integrated palliative care interventions were helpful in lessening depression and anxiety and improving quality of life and spiritual well-being, however, the interventions did not assist pain management in terminal cancer patients. These findings suggest that various integrated palliative care interventions can assist terminal cancer patients with better quality of life in the socio-psycho-spiritual dimension.
Anxiety ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Depression ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Palliative Care* ; Quality of Life* ; Terminally Ill

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine how well patients who had hip arthroplasty comply with medical regimens given to them after the operation. METHOD: The subjects of the study were patients who had arthroplasty at P Hospital between April 1. 2001 and August 30, 2002. 20 patients of the subjects experienced complications after the operation and the other 20 did not. Data from a survey using the qustionnaire were statistically analyzed in terms of real number, percentage point, mean and standard deviation by using chi2test. t-test and ANOVA. RESULT: 1) the surveyed patients were significantly different in the compliance of medical regimen among them according to their education background as one of the subjects general characteristics. 2) It was found that the group of complication was higher in the compliance of medical regimen than that of non-complication. The two groups showed statistically significant difference with each other in the degree of compliance with therapeutic instructions than the experimental group in terms of the maintenance of abduction after the operation, training instructions on step-by-step basis, urination cotrol on bed, accurate use of crutch, compliance with medication, balance among medical treatment, training, leisure, rest and nutrition. instructions by physicians, nurses and physical therapists, use of low armchairs and toilet bowels and no bending of the body forward, and use of a non-operated leg in case of go upstairs or downstairs. CONCLUSION: It seems necessary to develop systematic and sessional education programs for improving the compliance of medical regimen. ultimately reducing complications following hip arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty* ; Compliance ; Education ; Hip* ; Humans ; Leg ; Leisure Activities ; Patient Compliance* ; Physical Therapists ; Urination

Objective: The effectiveness of music therapy programs for the elderly with dementia has been verified through several studies, but there is a limitation in that most of them are compared with a single group, no treatment group or waiting group. In this study, to overcome this problem, the two groups that performed similar interventions were selected and compared retrospectively. Methods: For 37 people who participated in the treatment programs for the elderly with dementia at Dongdaemun Center for De-mentia and its branch center, we retrospectively analyzed the changes in Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale and GeriatricQuality of Life Scale-Dementia scores measured before and after treatment. Results: Prior to treatment, there is no significant difference between the groups in the demographic variables and the depression and quality of life scores. The difference between pre- and post-scores was not significant in the group at the branch center without a music therapy, but depression was significantly reduced and quality of life had improved in the group at Dongdaemun center with the music therapy program. Conclusion It was confirmed that participation in the structured music therapy program had a positive effect on the improve-ment of depression and quality of life in the elderly with dementia compared to other similar interventions.

Objective: The effectiveness of music therapy programs for the elderly with dementia has been verified through several studies, but there is a limitation in that most of them are compared with a single group, no treatment group or waiting group. In this study, to overcome this problem, the two groups that performed similar interventions were selected and compared retrospectively. Methods: For 37 people who participated in the treatment programs for the elderly with dementia at Dongdaemun Center for De-mentia and its branch center, we retrospectively analyzed the changes in Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale and GeriatricQuality of Life Scale-Dementia scores measured before and after treatment. Results: Prior to treatment, there is no significant difference between the groups in the demographic variables and the depression and quality of life scores. The difference between pre- and post-scores was not significant in the group at the branch center without a music therapy, but depression was significantly reduced and quality of life had improved in the group at Dongdaemun center with the music therapy program. Conclusion It was confirmed that participation in the structured music therapy program had a positive effect on the improve-ment of depression and quality of life in the elderly with dementia compared to other similar interventions.