PURPOSE: To date most research related to patients with breast cancer has discriminately investigated the status within or after the treatment although the patients demand holistic nursing care from the time of diagnosis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the trajectory of breast cancer diagnosis and patients' experiences in the pre-treatment period. METHOD: This qualitative study used qualitative thematic analysis. Nineteen Korean women who were diagnosed with breast cancer within the last 6 month participated in the study. Individualized interviews were conducted with each participant in a cancer center in K city. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the thematic analysis process. RESULTS: The overriding theme was "the scattered life in an unforeseen swirl", which illustrates the participants' unexpected crisis with confusion and emotional distress. Two subthemes included "falling into an unavoidable journey", and "staggering in a muddle with urgency". The categories were "unexpected probability", "nagging nodularity", "ominous presentiment", "emotional upheaval", "bad thought intrusion", and "a sense of urgency". CONCLUSION: Patients in the pre-treatment period encountered utter emotional distress and a sense of urgency after being diagnosed breast cancer. Strategies to develop nursing care for patients in this period and nursing implications are discussed.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Holistic Nursing ; Humans ; Nursing Care ; Qualitative Research

No abstract available.
Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral* ; Ulnar Nerve*

There are limited data evaluating the relationship between influenza treatment and hospitalization duration. Our purpose assessed the association between different treatments and hospital stay among Korean pediatric influenza patients. Total 770 children < or = 15 yr-of-age hospitalized with community-acquired laboratory-confirmed influenza at three large urban tertiary care hospitals were identified through a retrospective medical chart review. Demographic, clinical, and cost data were extracted and a multivariable linear regression model was used to assess the associations between influenza treatment types and hospital stay. Overall, there were 81% of the patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza who received antibiotic monotherapy whereas only 4% of the patients received oseltamivir monotherapy. The mean treatment-related charges for hospitalizations treated with antibiotics, alone or with oseltamivir, were significantly higher than those treated with oseltamivir-only (P < 0.001). Influenza patients treated with antibiotics-only and antibiotics/oseltamivir combination therapy showed 44.9% and 28.2%, respectively, longer duration of hospitalization compared to those treated with oseltamivir-only. Patients treated with antibiotics, alone or combined with oseltamivir, were associated with longer hospitalization and significantly higher medical charges, compared to patients treated with oseltamivir alone. In Korea, there is a need for more judicious use of antibiotics, appropriate use of influenza rapid testing.
Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Antigens, Viral/analysis/immunology ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Influenza A virus/metabolism ; Influenza B virus/metabolism ; Influenza, Human/*drug therapy ; Male ; Oseltamivir/*therapeutic use ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of peanut sprout extracts (PSE) on health indices in overweight and obese women (BMI > or = 23 kg/m2). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Subjects were divided into three groups by double-blind randomized trial; the Placebo group (n = 15) and the Low PSE group (2.6 g PSE/day, n = 15), and the High PSE group (5.8 g PSE/day, n = 15). Subjects consumed 12 capsules per day, three times a day, 30 min before meals, for 4 weeks. Anthropometric data, blood biochemical variables, and dietary intake were evaluated before and after the experiments. RESULTS: In the Low and High PSE group, the waist circumference showed a significant decrease between pre- and post-test. In the Low PSE group, the reduction of systolic blood pressure between pre- and post-test was statistically significant. Serum LDL or triglyceride levels in both Low and High PSE groups were significantly decreased, and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were significantly decreased only in the Low PSE group. The parameters regarding erythrocyte and leucocyte counts showed no significant differences between pre- and post-test among groups, which suggested the safety of intake of peanut sprouts as a dietary supplement. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that PSE supplementation improves abdominal obesity and overall health indices. Therefore, an appropriate amount of peanut sprouts may be a plausible effective agent for obesity and obesity related health problems in obese women.
Abdominal Fat* ; Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Pressure ; Capsules ; Dietary Supplements ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Humans ; Meals ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Overweight* ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: Fast eating or overeating can induce gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis. However, the association between gastritis and speed of eating is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether eating speed is associated with increased risk of endoscopic erosive gastritis (EEG). METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study involving 10,893 adults who underwent a general health checkup between 2007 and 2009. Two groups, EEG patients and EEG-free patients, were compared by using the t-test and the chi-square test. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between eating speed and EEG. RESULTS: The group with EEG had a higher proportion of males, average age, body mass index, and percentages of current smokers and risky drinkers than those without EEG. After adjusting for anthropometric, social, and endoscopic parameters, the group with the highest eating speed (<5 min/meal) had 1.7 times higher risk for EEG than the group with the lowest eating speed (> or =15 min/meal) (odds ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.45). CONCLUSION: High eating speed is an independent risk factor for EEG. Our results indicate the need for further studies to clarify the role of eating speed in gastritis.
Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eating* ; Electroencephalography ; Feeding Behavior ; Gastritis* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine whether long-term exercise training will improve age-related cardiac metabolic derangement using proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Young and old male Fischer 344 rats were assigned to sedentary controls groups {young control (YC) group-3 months of age: YC, n=10; old control (OC) group-22 months of age: OC, n=10}, and an exercise training group (OT, n=5). After 12-week of treadmill exercise training, MR spectroscopy at 4.7 T was performed to assess myocardial energy metabolism: measurements of myocardial creatine-to-water ratio (Scr/Sw) were performed using the XWIN-NMR software. RESULTS: Exercise capacity was 14.7 minutes greater in OT than that in OC (20.1+/-1.9 minutes in OT, 5.4+/-2.3 minutes in OC; p<0.001). The 12-week exercise training rendered the old rats a maximum exercise capacity matching that of untrained YC rats (17.9+/-1.5 minutes in YC, 20.1+/-1.9 minutes in OT; p>0.05). The creatine-to-water ratios in the interventricular septa of YC did not differ significantly from that of OT (0.00131+/-0.00025 vs. 0.00127+/-0.00031; p=0.37). However, OC showed significant reduction in creatine-to-water ratio compared to OT (0.00096+/-0.00025 vs. 0.00127+/-0.00031; p<0.001). Mean total creatine concentrations in the myocardium were similar between YC and OT (13.3 +/-3.6 vs. 11.5+/-4.1 mmol/kg wet weight; p=0.29). In contrast, the mean total creatine concentration of OC was significantly reduced compared to OT (6.8+/-3.2 vs. 11.5+/-4.1 mmol/kg wet weight; p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that long-term exercise training in old rats induced prevention of age-related deterioration in myocardial metabolism.
Animals ; Creatine ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Male ; Myocardium ; Protons ; Rats ; Spectrum Analysis

3T3-L1 preadipocyte were differentiated to adipocytes, and then treated with 0, 10, 20, and 40 microg/mL of peanut sprout ethanol extract (PSEE). The main component of PSEE is resveratrol which contained 5.55 mg/mL of resveratrol. The MTT assay, Oil-Red O staining, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, and the triglyceride concentration were determined in 3T3-L1 cells. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities as well as mRNA expressions of C/EBP beta and C/EBP alpha were also investigated. As the concentration of PSEE in adipocytes increased, the cell proliferation was decreased in a dose-dependent manner from 4 days of incubation (P < 0.05). The GDPH activity (P < 0.05) and the triglyceride concentration (P < 0.05) were decreased as the PSEE treatment concentration increased. The mRNA expression of C/EBPbeta in 3T3-L1 cells was significantly low in groups of PSEE-treated, compared with control group (P < 0.05). The MMP-9 (P < 0.05) and MMP-2 (P < 0.05) activities were decreased in a dose-dependent manner as the PSEE concentration increased from 20 microg/mL. In conclusion, it was found that PSEE has an effect on restricting proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes.
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Ethanol ; Fibroblasts ; Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; Stilbenes

OBJECTIVE: The most common operation in gynecology is hysterectomy. To compare the indications, patient characteristics and clinical outcome, complication between total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and vaginal total hysterectomy (TVH), laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). METHODS: This study was designed to analyze 147 patients of TAH (Group I) from January 2003 to September 2003, 48 patients of TVH (Group II), 108 patients of LAVH (Group III) at Eulji medical center of obstetrics and gynecology from January 2002 to September 2003. We analyzed the result with patient characteristics, parity, medical disease, history of previous operation, indication of hysterectomy, uterine weight, concurrent surgical procedure, operation time, bleeding amount, complication and length of hospital stay. Uterine prolapse was excluded in the analysis of this study. RESULTS: Patient characteristics, parity, medical disease were no differences. Number of previous operation were 63 cases (42.9%) in TAH group, 10 cases (20.8%) in TVH group, 43 cases (39.8%) in LAVH group, and the most common of operation was tubal ligation in three gropups. Most common indication of hysterectomy was uterine leiomyoma. The mean uterine weight was 374.31 +/- 250.26 gm in TAH group, 187.70 +/- 109.62 gm in TVH group and 203.26 +/- 94.92 gm in LAVH group. The mean operation time was 89.61 +/- 25.24 min in TAH group, 73.39 +/- 21.80 min in TVH group and 96.18 +/- 27.98 min in LAVH group. Postoperative complication was observed 60 cases (40.8%) in TAH group, 8 cases (16.7%) in TVH group, 19 cases (17.6%) in LAVH group. Most common complication was bleeding and required transfusion (TAH 32 cases (21.8%), TVH 3 cases (6.3%), LAVH 10 cases (9.3%)). CONCLUSION: LAVH and TVH present superior result in terms of complication when compared with TAH. LAVH and TVH have advantage of lower morbidity, less pain, shorter hospital stay and convalescence. LAVH should be considered when the vaginal approach is unfeasible, showing clear advantages over abdominal hysterectomy.
Bleeding Time ; Convalescence ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Leiomyoma ; Length of Stay ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Postoperative Complications ; Sterilization, Tubal ; Uterine Prolapse

PURPOSE: The anti-tumor effect of the complex of acriflavine and guanosine (AG60) was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro cytotoxicity of AG60 was measured using SRB assay, and in vivo antitumor activity of AG60 was examined in CDF1 mice intraperitoneally inoculated with the P388 leukemic cells and in ICR mice inguinally implanted with S-180 cells. Tumor size and mean survival time were determined. RESULTS: AG60 and acriflavine showed strong anti-tumor effect in vitro on lung cancer (A549), renal cancer (UO-31) and colon cancer (COLO205) cells. However, AG60 did not show the cytotoxicity against normal cell line, 3T3. The range of the IC50 of AG60 to the various tumor cell lines was 0.09 microgram/ml through 1.94 microgram/ml. The treatment of ascitic tumor bearing CDF1 mice with AG60 resulted in over 160% increases in the mean survival time. The most effective dose of AG60 was 30 mg/kg body weight in tumor implanted mice. In solid tumor bearing ICR mice tumor growth and progression were suppressed in response to the different doses at 30 days; 69.8% suppression of tumor size in response to acriflavine, 16.0% to guanosine, 87.7% to AG60 and 78.5% to doxorubicin. In addition, 35% increases were observed in the means survival time of AG60 treated group compared with control group. CONCLUSION: The prominant anti-tumor effects of AG60 shown in this report would represent the possibility of the clinical trials.
Acriflavine* ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Doxorubicin ; Guanosine* ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association between retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We studied 41 patients with non-arteritic RAO without any history or symptoms of CAD, who had undergone coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) for systemic atherosclerotic evaluation between 2007 and 2012. The age- and gender-matched control group comprised 4-fold subjects who were randomly selected from asymptomatic subjects who underwent CCTA during general health evaluation. Medical records and CCTA findings were compared between RAO patients and control groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the risk factors associated with CAD. RESULTS: Cardiovascular risk factors were not significantly different between RAO patients and control groups. RAO patients showed higher coronary artery calcium score than did control subjects (267.9 ± 674.9 vs. 120.2 ± 289.5). On CCTA, the prevalence of obstructive CAD (diameter stenosis ≥ 50%) in RAO patients was significantly higher than that in controls (29% vs. 15%; odds ratio [OR], 3.0). RAO patients demonstrated a significantly higher segment-involvement score (SIS) (2.6 ± 3.0 vs. 1.6 ± 2.4) and segment-stenosis score (SSS) (3.6 ± 4.8 vs. 2.0 ± 3.3) than did controls. After adjustment of associated factors, RAO showed significant association (OR, 3.0) with obstructive CAD and extensive CAD (SIS > 4: OR, 2.8; SSS > 8: OR, 3.4). CONCLUSION: Patients with RAO had a higher prevalence of subclinical obstructive CAD with a more extensive and heavier burden of coronary artery plaques than did age- and gender-matched controls. Physicians should understand the potential risk of CAD in RAO patients.
Angiography ; Atherosclerosis ; Calcium ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Retinal Artery Occlusion ; Retinal Artery ; Retinaldehyde ; Risk Factors