This study was designed to develop a program for unemployed matriarchs and show if the program affected their view on the meaning in life. The subjects were women registered in an occupational training program for unemployed matriarchs, which is being practiced in the 'Working Women Center' located in Busan. The researchers selected 44 persons from the group who agreed to our program. This study was done from the 10th of March, 1999 to the 9th of October. The researchers used the measurement tools, The Purpose in Life, Self-esteem, Hope and Meaning in Life which was composed of 63 items developed by them. Their Cronbach's alpha were .88, .79, .76 and .95. The researchers analyzed the data with frequency, percentage, Mean, S.D, Wilcoxon signed ranks test which were deduced from SPSS 10.0 WIN program. The results of this study were as follows: 1) The program is composed of 'becoming intimate', 'open-minded', 'exploration on self', 'relax of repressed emotion', 'self- acceptance', 'establishing the life-goal', 'enrichment of human relationship' and closing. It took 20 hours for this program to come into practice. 2) According to the analysis of the general traits of all subjects, average age was 39.36. High school graduates were 86%, college graduates were 14% and divorce were 57%, bereavement were 18%, and the rest were 25%. 3) The result of 1st progam showed self-esteem during the program was high. 4) The result of 2nd progam showed self-esteem during the program was high. 5) The result of 3rd progam showed the sum scores of meaning in life, creative meaning, and attitudinal meaning during the program was high. 6) The result of 4th progam showed the sum scores of meaning in life and creative meaning during the program was high. On the viewpoint of above results, we convinced that 'a program for unemployed matriarch is effective to establish a stronger meaning in life. Therefore, it is demanded that support for unemployed matriarchs should not only be economic help such as technical training and help of living expenses, but also psychological, professional and systematic support.
Bereavement ; Busan ; Counseling* ; Divorce ; Education ; Female ; Hope ; Humans

Platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) has been shown to play an important role in periodontal regeneration. The purpose of the present study was to examine the distribution of PDGF in experimentally created periodontal intrabony defects after flap surgery with various bone graft materials. Six healthy mongrel dogs were used in this study. Three-wall bony defects were created in maxillary and mandibular premolars, inflammation induced by wire ligation and injection of impression material into the defects. Eight weeks later, the experimental lesions thus obtained were treated by plain flap surgery(control group), flap surgery plus autogenous bone graft(autogenous bone group), flap surgery plus Biocoral graft(Biocoral group), or flap surgery plus bioglass graft(bioglass group), which were randomly assigned to the defects. After 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively, 2 dogs were sacrificed at each time and the specimens were taken for histological examinations and immunohistochemical examinations for PDGF. In the control defects the amount of new bone formation was minimal. In the autogenous bone and Biocoral group new bone was deposited around implanted particles and the amount of new bone was increased with time. A large number of bioglass particles exibited a central excabation and bone formation could be observed in the central excabation as well as around the particles. The expression of PDGF was low in the control group. The expression of PDGF in Biocoral group was increased at 4, 8 week, but decreased at 12 week. The increased PDGF expression in autogenous bone and bioglass group was maintained to the end of the experiment
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Dogs ; Inflammation ; Ligation ; Osteogenesis ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor* ; Regeneration ; Transplants*

Anesthetic experience in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with severe hypotension associated autonomic dysfunction has not yet been reported. Here in case, we report on the case of treatment with vasopressin to refractory hypotension in FTD patient. A 54-year-old male presented with a ten-year history of FTD with frequent syncope. The patient was scheduled to undergo subtotal gastrectomy for resection of stomach cancer. During the operation, sudden hypotension occurred and it was refractory to fluid and 1 unit of blood resuscitation and did not respond to catecholamine. Transesophageal echocardiography showed normal heart with adequate volume state. After intravenous administration of arginine vasopressin, the patient's vital signs returned to baseline values. Arginine vasopressin might be considered as a valuable alternative for treatment of severe refractory hypotension in autonomic dysfunction patients with FTD.
Administration, Intravenous ; Arginine Vasopressin ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Frontotemporal Dementia* ; Gastrectomy ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Resuscitation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Syncope ; Vasopressins ; Vital Signs

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a disease of unknown cause which involves various organs and primary involvement of urinary bladder is very rare. We experienced a case of a female patient with SLE and urologic manifestations (interstitial cystitis, hydroureters and hydronephrosis), which were resolved spontaneously without any immunosuppressive therapy. There was no significant correlation between clinical course and disease activity index.
Cystitis* ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSES: Efforts directed at early detection of breast cancer have resulted in an increased incidence of nonpalpable mammographic lesions that warrant excisional biopsy. The most common localization method is the needle-localization biopsy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness and the usefulness of a needle localization biopsy in the diagnostic work-up of nonpalpable mammographic abnormalities that are suspected of being cancerous, and to determine the frequency of malignancy detection as well as the incidence of noninvasive carcinoma. METHODS: One hundred seventy eight needle-localization biopsies of nonpalpable breast lesions were performed at Samsung Medical Center from January 1995 to December 1999. A retrospective review was undertaken to assess histopathologic findings based on mammographic abnormalities, as well as pathologic staging and the treatment of breast cancer detected by needle-localization biopsy. RESULTS: Needle-localization biopsies led to the diagnosis of malignancy in 29.8% of the biopsies. Of the malignancies detected, 81.2% were in-situ carcinomas. Invasive carcinomas were less than 2 cm in size (T1) in 70% of the cases and were 2 to 5 cm (T2) in 30% of the cases; there were no evidence of lymph node metastases in 70% of the cases. Overall, 90.6% of the patients were found to be within pathologic stage 0 or stage 1. Microcalcifications only were more related with DCIS than mass density with or without microcalcifications findings. Fine linear, branching, granular, pleomorphic microcalcifications findings and ill defined, irregular, spiculated mass densities were likely to result in higher rate of malignancy. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that needle- localization breast biopsy of nonpalpable suspicious mammographic lesions is an important and effective method for the detection of early breast cancer and noninvasive carcinomas. Appropriate selection ofcases for needle localization biopsy should be made to avoid unnecessary breast biopsies and to increase the percentage of early breast cancer.
Biopsy* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Needles* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies

Mediastinal interfaces on a chest radiograph result from contact between mediastinal structures and the adjacent lung, while mediastinal lines result from contact between the two lungs across the midline. A variation of mediastinal interface is mediastinal stripe, a narrow band produced by contact of both sides of a mediastinal structure with the lungs. Alterations in mediastinal interfaces and lines may be due to variations in normal anatomy, or may reflect the presence of abnormalities within the mediastinum. Familiarity with the various normal mediastinal interfaces and lines, and the changes that occur with disease is important for the interpretation of the chest radiograph and in the diagnosis of mediastinal abnormalities. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the most important normal and abnormal interfaces and lines and also to correlate radiographic and CT findings.
Diagnosis ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Recognition (Psychology)

PURPOSE: Interleukin (IL)-9 induces allergic responses; however, the roles of anti-IL-9 antibody in the induction of tolerance remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of anti-IL-9 antibody on oral tolerance (OT) in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: the control, AR, OT, and OT with anti-IL-9 antibody (OT+IL9AB) groups. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used for sensitization and challenge. Mice in the OT and OT+IL9AB groups were fed OVA for immunotherapy. During immunotherapy, OT+IL9AB mice were injected with anti-IL-9 antibody. Allergic symptoms, tissue eosinophil counts, and serum OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) were measured. The mRNA expressions of cytokines and transcription factors of T cells of nasal mucosa were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The protein levels of GATA3, ROR-γt, and Foxp3 in nasal mucosa were determined by Western blot. CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Administration of anti-IL-9 antibody decreased allergic symptoms, OVA-specific IgE levels, and eosinophil counts. In addition, it inhibited T-helper (Th) 2 responses, but had no effect on Th1 responses. Protein levels of ROR-γt and mRNA levels of PU.1 and ROR-γt were reduced by anti-IL-9 antibody. Anti-IL-9 antibody increased Foxp3 and IL-10 mRNA expression, Foxp3 protein, and induction of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-IL-9 antibody decreased allergic inflammation through suppression of Th2 and Th17 cells. Anti-IL-9 antibody enhanced the tolerogenic effects of regulatory T cells. These results suggest that anti-IL-9 antibody might represent a potential therapeutic agent for allergen immunotherapy in patients with uncontrolled allergic airway disease.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Eosinophils ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunotherapy* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-9 ; Interleukins ; Mice ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhinitis, Allergic* ; RNA, Messenger ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells ; Transcription Factors

BMP can induce ectopic bone formation when implanted into sites such as rat muscle and can greatly enhance healing of bony defects when applied exogenously. In addition, BMP stimulated osteoblastic differentiation in vitro in various types of cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein(rhBMP-2) on the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts. The cell number and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured in 3 experimental groups of human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts(control group, rhBMP-2 50ng/ml group, and rhBMP-2 100ng/ml group) at 1 and 2 weeks after culture. At the same time, total RNA of cultured cells were extracted and reverse trascription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was performed to determine the expression of mRNA of bone matrix protein. RhBMP-2 had no effect on the cell proliferation of human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts. Alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated significantly by rhBMP-2 in both cells. And periodontal ligament cells showed significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity than gingival fibroblasts. beta-actin, type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, BMP-2 mRNA were expressed in all of the samples. Osteopontin, osteocalcin mRNA were expressed in all periodontal ligament cell groups, and rhBMP-2 50ng/ml group, rhBMP-2 100ng/ml group of 2 week culture period of gingival fibroblasts. Bone sialoprotein mRNA was only expressed in rhBMP-2 50ng/ml group and rhBMP-2 100ng/ml group of 2-week culture period. These results suggest that rhBMP-2 stimulates osteoblastic differentiation in human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts in vitro.
Actins ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Matrix ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Osteopontin ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Rats ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND: Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) is known to provide good postoperative analgesia in many types of surgery including laparoscopic surgery. However, no study has compared PCEA with patient-controlled intravascular analgesia (PCIA) in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LARP). In this study, the efficacy and side effects of PCEA and PCIA after LARP were compared. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing LARP were randomly divided into two groups: 1) a PCEA group, treated with 0.2% ropivacaine 3 ml and 0.1 mg morphine in the bolus; and 2) a PCIA group, treated with oxycodone 1 mg and nefopam 1 mg in the bolus. After the operation, a blinded observer assessed estimated blood loss (EBL), added a dose of rocuronium, performed transfusion, and added analgesics. The numeric rating scale (NRS), infused PCA dose, and side effects were assessed at 1, 6, 24, and 48 h. RESULTS: EBL, added rocuronium, and added analgesics in the PCEA group were less than those in the PCIA group. There were no significant differences in side-effects after the operation between the two groups. Patients were more satisfied with PCEA than with PCIA. The NRS and accumulated PCA count were lower in PCEA group. CONCLUSIONS: Combined thoracic epidural anesthesia could induce less blood loss during operations. PCEA showed better postoperative analgesia and greater patient satisfaction than PCIA. Thus, PCEA may be a more useful analgesic method than PICA after LARP.
Administration, Intravenous ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Laparoscopes ; Laparoscopy ; Methods ; Morphine ; Nefopam ; Oxycodone ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pica ; Prostatectomy ; Thoracic Vertebrae

Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome is a rare complication of strongyloidiasis that frequently occurs in immunosuppressed patients. The parasite ordinarily localizes in the small intestines, especially in the duodenal and jejunal part. Reports of gastric involvement are rare. We report a case of an immunosuppressed patient who had severe S. stercoralis infection of the stomach in association with purulent meningitis.
Gastritis ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Meningitis* ; Parasites ; Stomach* ; Strongyloides stercoralis* ; Strongyloides* ; Strongyloidiasis