OBJECTIVES: To investigate the information searching behavior of health care consumers according to sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted of 1,507 persons who were selected through a multi-stage stratified area cluster sampling of the Republic of Korea, excluding the province of Jeju-do. Personal were conducted through a door-to-door survey between 27 July and 10 August 1999. RESULTS: 80.5% of respondents used more than one source of information and those 40~59 years of age, female, a housewife or student and those who claimed a religion demonstrated more active information searching behavior. A personal informer was used significantly more in those 20~39 years old, female, and those who claimed a religion. Clerical workers, those with post-secondary education and a monthly income greater than 2,000,000 won ($1500) were more actively used a public informer. Low socioeconomic status and older persons used an experimental informer when they chose a health care institution. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the sociodemographic characteristics, personal and experimental informers were the most useful source of information. Because appropriate information was not easy to obtain, the health care consumer was dependent upon word-of-mouth communication(personal informer) when using health care services.
Appetitive Behavior* ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Jeju-do ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Social Class

Field trials evaluating selected commercially available mosquito traps variously baited with light, carbon dioxide, and/or octenol were conducted from 18 - 27 September 2000 in a malarious area near Paekyeon-ri (Tongil-Chon) and Camp Greaves in Paju County, Kyonggi Province, Republic of Korea. The host-seeking activity for common mosquito species, including the primary vector of Japanese encephalitis, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, was determined using hourly aspirator collections from a human and propane lantern-baited Shannon trap during hours when temperatures exceeded 15oC. The total number of mosquitoes and number of each species captured during the test was compared using a block design. Significant differences were observed for the total number of mosquitoes collected, such that, the Mosquito MagnetTM with octenol > Shannon trap > ABC light trap with light and dry ice > Miniature Black Light trap (manufactured by John W. Hock) >; or = New Jersey Trap > ABC light trap with light only. Significant differences in numbers collected among traps were noted for several species including: Aedes vexans (Meigen), Anopheles lesteri Baisas and Hu, An. sinensis Weidemann, An. sineroides Yamada, An. yatsushiroensis Miyazaki, Culex pipiens L., Cx. orientalis Edwards and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. Host-seeking activity for most common species showed a similar bimodal pattern. Results from these field trap evaluations can significantly enhance current vector and disease surveillance efforts especially for the primary vector of Japanese encephalitis, Cx.tritaeniorhynchus.
Animals ; *Appetitive Behavior ; Culicidae/*physiology ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; Humans ; Insect Vectors ; Korea ; Light ; Mosquito Control/*instrumentation/methods ; Seasons

The aim of this study was to investigate food intake, serum leptin levels, and leptin mRNA expression during the sexual cycle in rats. Female Wistar-Imamichi rats aged 8-10 weeks were used in this experiment. Food intake was measured during the light and dark phases (light on at 07:00 and off at 19:00) of the 4-day estrous cycle in female rats. Serum leptin levels were measured by ELISA, and leptin mRNA expression levels were analyzed using real-time PCR on diestrous- and proestrous-stage rats. Our results revealed that during the sexual cycle, food intake was significantly higher in the dark phase compared with the light phase. Food intake in proestrous females was significantly lower in the light and dark phases compared with the other groups. Serum leptin concentrations were significantly higher in both phases in proestrous rats compared with diestrous rats. There was a significant increase in leptin mRNA expression in adipose tissue during the proestrous period compared with the diestrous period. These findings suggest that increased leptin mRNA expression and serum leptin levels, which are induced by estrogen during the proestrous stage, may play a role in regulating appetitive behavior.
Adipose Tissue ; Aged ; Animals ; Appetitive Behavior ; Eating ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Estrogens ; Estrous Cycle ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; Light ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger

INTRODUCTION: Interdigital pilonidal sinus is an acquired condition secondary to penetration of hair fragments into the skin of the web spaces of the hands commonly observed in hairdressers, and occasionally, among pet groomers. Local literature reports or guidelines to ensure practice of protective measures for this population of workers are currently lacking. CASE SUMMARY: A 24-year old pet groomer consulted due to occasional white hair strands emerging from two openings in the third interdigital space of his dominant hand. Histopathologic examination of the sinus tract showed an acanthotic, hyperplastic epidermis with scale crust, and nodular dermal infiltrates composed of epithelioid histiocytes, plasma cells, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. Transepidermal extrusion of polarizable hair cortical material was also evident establishing the diagnosis of an interdigital pilonidal sinus. Sinusectomy and debridement with healing by secondary intention resulted in an optimal wound closure and full motion of the affected hand after one week and minimal scarring with no recurrence after seven months. CONCLUSION Surgical excision followed by proper wound care is essential to avoid recurrence. In conclusion, since interdigital pilonidal disease is a rare condition, awareness among physicians would lead to accurate diagnosis, optimal treatment, and proper patient education.
occupational diseases ; grooming ; extremities ; Pilonidal sinus

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the development of neuropathic pain by radiofrequency thermocoagulation on a rat infraorbital nerve (IoN). METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 35) were divided into three groups, consisting of the S, T and sham operation. In the experimental groups, rats were thermocoagulated by subjecting them to 70oC for 60 sec (S group, n = 12) or 20 sec (T group, n = 11) on IoN. In the control group (sham operation, n = 12), IoN was not thermocoagulated. The ipsilateral grooming count and escape threshold by von Frey filament (mechanical allodynia) was measured at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 postoperative days. After two weeks, a 5% formalin solution was injected into the rat upper lips and grooming time was measured for 45 minutes. RESULTS: Grooming count and mechanical allodynia significantly increased in the thermocoalgulation groups (S and T groups) compared to control group (sham operation) for the postoperative days. Nerve injury by radiofrequency thermocoagulation enhanced the grooming time after formalin injection in the rat upper lips. CONCLUSIONS: These results lend support to the hypothesis that thermal injury using radiofrequency thermocoagulation can induce neuropathic pain in rat IoN and this type of nerve injury increases the responsiveness of chemical nocieptive stimuli.
Animals ; Electrocoagulation* ; Formaldehyde ; Grooming ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Lip ; Male ; Neuralgia* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; United Nations

This study examined the behavioral change and memory impairment following transient forebrain ischemia in 20 male rats: ten rats were subjected to sham operation. Inchemia was induced by a combination of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and induced hypotension. During the recovery period, behavioral change was evaluated by open-field method. Histopathological examination was performed 7 days after ischemic insult. The results were as follows 1) Hippocampus CA 1 neuron was the most vulnerable to 10-minute forebrain ischemia. 2) There was increase in locomotor activity and rearing during early post-ischemic period. 3) Ischemia resulted in suppressed preening and grooming. From the above mentioned results, authors suggested that transient forebrain ischemia produced severe neuronal damage in CA l sector of hippocampus, therefore produced behavioral change and memory impairment.
Animals ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Grooming ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Ischemia* ; Male ; Memory* ; Motor Activity ; Neurons ; Prosencephalon* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive training to Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) in community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: The participant were 786 elders who were aged over 59 years visiting local rest area from February 2015 to November 2015. The demographic data was collected. IADL were evaluated by Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (S-IADL). Cognitive functions were evaluated by Korean Version of Mini Mental Status Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS). Before and after cognitive training, we analysed these data. RESULTS: In all 15 items of S-IADL, 4 items (using the telephone, grooming, managing belongings, talking recent events) were specially improved (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: After cognitive training, indoor activities of S-IADL were improved but some items, especially outside activities were not improved for community dwelling elderly. In future, other programs to increase outside activities or social activities should be included in cognitive training programs for community dwelling elderly.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Aged* ; Animals ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Education ; Grooming ; Humans ; Independent Living ; Mass Screening ; Telephone

Hair has a significant physical, psychological and social impact on an individual's daily life and well being. Understanding the basic structure and the factors that affect hair fiber integrity leads to better handling and care of our hair.
Hair is a slowly renewable protein fiber which grows at a rate of about 1 cm per month. Once hair emerges from the scalp, it is a non living matter.' From the scalp exit point to the distal portion of the hair strand, any injury to the hair structure is irreversible. Subjecting the hair fiber to the least amount of dailytrauma helps to minimize any damage to the hair fiber.
Hair fiber is mainly keratin protein and a small amount of lipid and other components. It is made up of an inner cortex, medulla and an external cuticle layer. The hair cuticle is made up of overlapping cell layers (approximately 5-10 layers) which covers the entirehair fiber. Each cuticular cell has inner layers (A layer and the endocuticle), outer sublamellar structures and an outer membrane, containing lipids mainly 18-methyl eicosanoic acid which imparts a hydrophobic nature to the cuticle.' The condition of the cuticle mainly determines the cosmetic appearance of the hair and being the most external layer, is the part of the hair most vulnerable to the effects of daily grooming, cosmetic treatments and the environment.
The cortex has a winded helical configuration of long microfibers linked to each other to form larger structures which gives the hair its tensile strength and elasticity." The inner location of the cortex makes it less prone to damage thus injury to the cortex signifies more severe damage to the outer cuticles allowing extension to the inner cortex. The medulla is the innermost cylindrical part of the hair fiber whose function is not as clear as the other two structures.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Eicosanoic Acids ; Elasticity ; Grooming ; Hair ; Keratins ; Lipids ; Scalp ; Scleroproteins ; Tensile Strength

Predatory hunting is an important type of innate behavior evolutionarily conserved across the animal kingdom. It is typically composed of a set of sequential actions, including prey search, pursuit, attack, and consumption. This behavior is subject to control by the nervous system. Early studies used toads as a model to probe the neuroethology of hunting, which led to the proposal of a sensory-triggered release mechanism for hunting actions. More recent studies have used genetically-trackable zebrafish and rodents and have made breakthrough discoveries in the neuroethology and neurocircuits underlying this behavior. Here, we review the sophisticated neurocircuitry involved in hunting and summarize the detailed mechanism for the circuitry to encode various aspects of hunting neuroethology, including sensory processing, sensorimotor transformation, motivation, and sequential encoding of hunting actions. We also discuss the overlapping brain circuits for hunting and feeding and point out the limitations of current studies. We propose that hunting is an ideal behavioral paradigm in which to study the neuroethology of motivated behaviors, which may shed new light on epidemic disorders, including binge-eating, obesity, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Animals ; Zebrafish ; Hunting ; Predatory Behavior/physiology* ; Neurons/physiology* ; Motivation

BACKGROUND: The growing number of spinal cord injured individuals facing old age makes the understanding of age related limitations increasingly important. This study was to investigate the age-related differences in rehabilitation outcome according to the level of cervical spinal cord injury and each category of activity of daily living(ADL). METHODS: Subjects were 79 adults with tetraplegia all of whom were admitted in National Rehabilitation Hospital. The level of injury was classified into upper cervical(C4, C5), mid-cervical(C6), and lower cervical(C7, C8) spinal cord injury. Eight ADL categories including feeding, grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting, bed-transfer, toilet/tub transfer, and indoor mobility were assessed using the scale of Spinal Cord Independence Measure. Age related differences were examined by separating the sample into two age groups(> or =40 and <40 years) RESULTS: There was no age related difference in rehabilitation outcome in upper cervical cord injury patients. In mid-cervical cord injury level, ADL capacities differed only in the feeding and grooming activities. In lower cervical cord injury level, older patients showed lower rehabilitation outcome than younger counterparts in all ADL categories examined. CONCLUSION: Along with injury level, age should be considered when formulating rehabilitation plans and functional prognostic statements in tetraplegic patients.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Animals ; Bandages ; Baths ; Grooming ; Humans ; Quadriplegia ; Rehabilitation* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Treatment Outcome*