OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change in plantar skin temperature in normal subjects wearing five different kinds of insoles. METHOD: Twenty normal subjects were chosen and were made to walk on a treadmill for five 30-minute sessions wearing the same shoes, and wearing five different kinds of insoles (four types were endothermic insoles, but one type was a normal insole) respectively. Subjects sat on a chair for 10 minutes before and after walking. The plantar skin temperature was recorded on 4 sites (from channel 1 to 4) on each left insole. The plantar skin temperature was recorded every 10 seconds for a total of 50 minutes, with T-type Thermocouple(R). RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in the change of plantar skin temperature for each insole before, during and after walking. No statistical differences in subjective thermal sense and Borg Rating on perceived exertion scale for each insole before, during and after walking. Time in peak plantar temperature was 25.9~28.3 minutes (after subjects starts walking), wearing normal insole. CONCLUSION: There was no statistical difference in the change of plantar skin temperature for the five different kinds of insoles However, we found this method to be effective in examining plantar skin temperature during walking.
Foot ; Shoes* ; Skin Temperature ; Walking

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the correlation between blood uric acid and homocysteine levels, based on alcohol-related facial flushing. METHODS: Among male adults who visited a health examination center of a university hospital located in Daejeon, Korea, for a personal health examination from March 2013 to February 2014, 702 subjects were analyzed including 401 subjects without alcohol-related facial flushing and 301 with facial flushing. Pearson's correlation and stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses were performed between the log homocysteine levels and other variables including uric acid. RESULTS: Uric acid showed a significant positive correlation with log homocysteine (gamma=0.166, P=0.001) (beta=0.176; P=0.001) in the non-flushing group. In contrast, none of the variables showed any significant correlations with log homocysteine in the flushing group. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol users not exhibiting alcohol-related facial flushing showed a positive correlation between uric acid and homocysteine levels, whereas those without facial flushing showed no such correlation.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Flushing* ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Male ; Uric Acid*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to understand the experience and adjustment process of organ transplantation recipients in Korea, using grounded theory method. METHODS: Eight patients after liver transplantation and two patients after heart transplantation were selected for this study, for whom minimum follow-up duration was at least 6 months after transplantation. Data was collected from July to November 2005 through in-depth individual interviews either at home or hospital. The data were analyzed using a constant comparative method in which new data was continuously coded into categories and properties. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed that "safekeeping the graft" was the core category in experience of organ transplantation recipients. In order to safekeep transplanted organ, recipients used seven different strategies to deal with various problems and conflicts which occurred during the recovery process: 1) altering the role function of family, 2) complying the treatment regimen, 3) developing the know-how for self-care, 4) returning to the normal life, 5) keeping the positive thinking, 6) concerning for the donor, and 7) improving the self-fulfillment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provided deep understanding on the recovery process after organ transplantation and these would help establishing more appropriate intervention to improve quality of life for organ transplantation recipients.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans ; Korea* ; Liver Transplantation ; Organ Transplantation* ; Qualitative Research ; Quality of Life ; Self Care ; Social Adjustment ; Statistics as Topic ; Thinking ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*