PURPOSE: With the process of neoangiogenesis being linked to the growth and metastasis of various tumors, anticancer therapeutics with a basis in the suppression of neoangiogenesis has recently been receiving attention. In this study, we tried to clarify the immunoreactivities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), major angiogenic inducer and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), major angiogenic inhibitor in human Wilms' tumor and its clinicopathological significance. MATERAILS AND METHODS: Utilizing immunohistochemical staining, we assessed the immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 in archival tissues of 29 Wilms' tumors and 25 normal kidneys. Also, we assessed the relationship between expression of each factor and clinicopathological parameters in 29 cases of Wilms' tumors. RESULTS: Immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 were detected mainly in the cytoplasm of the tubular cells in normal kidneys. In Wilms' tumors, whereas VEGF was detected in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells and peritumoral stromal tissues, but TSP-1 only in the peritumoral stromal tissues. Immunohistochemical expression patterns of each factor were divided into two groups according to the area of immunoreactivity (negative:<10%, positive: > OR =10%). VEGF immunoreactivity was detected in 25 (100%) normal kidneys and in 20 (69%) Wilms' tumors. However, TSP-1 immunoreactivity was detected in 24 (97%) normal kidneys and in 3 (10%) Wilms' tumors. Therefore, although no significant difference was observed between the expressions of VEGF and TSP-1 in normal kidney, the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors. A relatively higher rate of positive expression of TSP-1 was observed in the patients with no demonstrable lymph node metastasis. Also, as for the VEGF, maximal diameter of the tumor was larger in the positive expression group. However, it proved otherwise for TSP-1 as the negative expression group demonstrated tumors with larger maximal diameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors, and disease progression has a tendency to be found in the VEGF-positive cases and TSP-1 negative cases. We suggest that the growth and metastasis of Wilms' tumor may be influenced mainly by TSP-1 decrease rather than VEGF increase.
Cytoplasm ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Wilms Tumor*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: A low birth weight (LBW) rate is associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality. Many different factors are related to birth weight and LBW. This study examined the effects of various factors on birth weight. METHODS: The study was conducted from January 1997 to August 1997 through direct interview with mother and medical history. Sample were drawn from 1,248 pairs of mothers and infants. The variables assessed included birth weight, gender, gestation age, birth order, maternal age, education, frequency of antenatal care, maternal complication and illness, parental smoking habit, alcohol and caffeine intake. The obtained data were coded and inputted into a computer using a SAS statistic package and estimated by multiple regression and logistic regression. RESULTS: The rate of LBW was 7.9% and premature rate was 3.4%. The variables affecting birth weight were maternal smoking habits, maternal complication and illness, gestation age, caffeine intake and gender. After adjusting for extraneous factors through multiple regression, we found that shortened gestation age, female infant, maternal complication and illness significantly played an important role in the decrease of birth weight. After logistic regression in the group of LBW infants, it was shown that the variables associated with LBW were maternal complication and illness, shortened gestation age, old age over 35 years, inadequate prenatal care, and female infant. CONCLUSION: Birth weight and LBW were more related to gestation age, gender, maternal complication and illness than maternal smoking habit, alcohol and caffeine intake.
Birth Order ; Birth Weight* ; Caffeine ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Age ; Mortality ; Mothers ; Parents ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVES: With the increase in cancer prevalence, the health behavior of cancer survivors has become an important issue. This study was conducted to examine the psychosocial correlates of behavior changes after cancer diagnosis. METHODS: 95 patients completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, insomnia, posttraumatic stress symptoms, social constraints, personal beliefs about cancer cause and health-related behavior changes after cancer diagnosis. RESULTS: In the multiple logistic regression analysis, insomnia was the only significant predictor of positive change in physical behavior : normal sleep group(Odds ratio=9.462, 95% CI 1.738-51.509) and subthreshold insomnia group(Odds ratio=10.529, 95% CI 1.701-65.161) showed a larger increase compared to the insomnia group. In psychosocial behavior, low age, religion and causal belief in hormonal factors were independent factors that predicted increase in positive change. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a difference between predictors of physical and psychosocial health behavior change after breast cancer diagnosis. Multi-faceted approaches are required to promote positive change in health behavior in cancer patients.
Anxiety ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Depression ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Survivors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define and clarify the concept of 'resilience' in patients with cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: A hybrid model was used to develop the concept of resilience. The model included a field study carried out in Cheonan, Korea. The participants in this study were 9 patients with cardiovascular diseases who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention. RESULTS: The concept of resilience was found to be a complex phenomenon having meanings in two dimensions: the personal-dispositional and interpersonal dimensions. Four attributes and seven indicators were defined. CONCLUSION: A resilient person was defined as one who has a positive attitude toward restoration, the power to reconstruct and control his/her disease (personal dimension), and support from a supportive system with supportive persons (interpersonal dimension). In the clinical setting, resilience plays an important role in managing the care plans of cardiovascular patients. Therefore, nurses who work closely with patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases should be aware of the attributes and indicators of resilience to enhance the resilience of their patients.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Attitude to Health ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Resilience, Psychological

Purpose : Shortness is the most frequent and quite disturbing characteristics of patients with Turner syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting final adult height(FAH) in these patients. METHODS : The study group was comprised of 19 patients who were diagnosed as Turner syndrome and attained FAH. We analyzed the influences of various factors on FAH in GH treated group with those in GH untreated group. Results : Nineteen patients were enrolled; thirteen received GH treatment and six did not. The mean duration of GH treatment was 24.3 months(range : 9 to 50 months), and the mean dosage of GH was 0.98+/-0.35IU/kg/wk in GH treated group. The mean growth velocity during GH treatment was 5.6+/-1.8 cm/yr, which was significantly higher than that during pretreatment period(P<0.05). In GH treated group, the mean chronological age, bone age, mean height, and height SD score at GH therapy were 13.7+/-1.7yr, 11.3+/-1.9yr, 129.7+/-7.9cm, and -4.1+/-1.1, respectively, which were not statistically different from those at diagnosis of GH untreated group. In GH treated group, the mean FAH and FAH SD score were 144.8+/-5.0cm, and -3.2+/-0.9, respectively, which showed no significant difference compared with those of GH untreated group. Analyzing the factor affecting FAH in all Turner girls of both groups together, parental height, chronological age, bone age, and bone age delay at diagnosis(or at the initiation of GH therapy) were not related to FAH. Height and height SD score at diagnosis(or at the initiation of therapy) were positively related to FAH(P<0.05, r=0.72). CONCLUSION : The results suggest that GH treatment dose not improve FAH in patients with Turner syndrome, despite increased growth velocity during GH treatment, which might come from intermittern GH therapy. This should be remained to be clarified with more Turner patients who attained FAH.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Parents ; Turner Syndrome*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to test the effect of a scenario based hand hygiene education program on hand hygiene knowledge, hand hygiene perception, hand hygiene compliance and hand hygiene method in nursing students. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group, non-synchronized quasi-experimental design was used. Forty five nursing students participated in the study with 22 in the experimental group and 23 in the control group. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ2-test, t-test, and repeated measures of ANOVA. RESULTS: There were significant increases in hand hygiene knowledge (t=-4.28, p<.001) and accuracy of the hand hygiene method by week (F=7.33, p<.001). However, hand hygiene perception (t=-1.67, p=.102) and hand hygiene compliance rate (F=7.33, p=.405) were not significantly changed. CONCLUSION: The effects of the scenario based hand hygiene education program provided in this study were excellent, compared to the other hand hygiene education programs. Moreover, as a result of investigating the education effects through direct observation for 4 weeks, appropriate feedback was offered in the third week, and it was found that maintaining the effect was necessary. However, the current status of hand hygiene compliance and accuracy of methods for ensuring hand hygiene need to be studied further.
Compliance* ; Education* ; Hand Hygiene* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Methods* ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing*

Purpose: This study aimed to apply a health partnership program using commercially available mobile health apps to improve cardiovascular risk factors in male employees and verify its effectiveness. Methods: Using a randomized control group pretest-posttest design, male employees with cardiovascular risk factors from five small and medium-sized workplaces were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 31). The experimental group was encouraged to use three mobile health apps for 12 weeks to acquire the necessary cardiovascular disease-related information and practice strengthening training, walking, and diet management appropriate to their level. They also received feedback on their weekly activities and motivational text messages from health partners. Hypotheses were tested using the SPSS WIN 22.0. Results: The experimental group showed a significant difference compared to the control group in terms of their perception of mobile health app (p < .05), self-efficacy for exercise and diet, self-management partnership, and cardiovascular disease prevention health behavior (p < .001). In particular, there were significant decreases in the body mass index, ratio, serum fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, and triglyceride in the experimental group (p < .001); however, there was no significant difference in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Conclusion Intervention using mobile apps based on partnership with health managers is effective in improving the objective cardiovascular risk index in male employees; therefore, such intervention should be continuously used as a useful lifestyle modification strategy in the workplace.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to understand and explain the essences and structures of the experience of Korean women who have had a spinal cord injury. METHODS: The data were collected in 2010 through individual in-depth interviews using open-ended questions. A total of 9 women with spinal cord injuries participated in the study. Each interview lasted about 2 hours. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Five theme clusters emerged from the analysis using Colaizzi's method: frozen mind with rigid body; shame due to restrictions of physical function and dependency; struggle to go back to the previous normal body; disabilities that are noticeable in everyday family life; rebirth by discarding the obsessions of the past. These theme clusters illustrate that although most participants faced very strange and unbearable situations in most aspects of life after the injury, they were empowered finally by finding their hope and by giving new meanings to the current existence. CONCLUSION: This study provides deep understanding of women with spinal cord injuries who are relatively alienated from society. Based on the results of the study, health professionals could develop effective nursing interventions to improve quality of life of these women.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Disabled Persons ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Middle Aged ; Qualitative Research ; Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Spinal Cord Injuries/*psychology ; Stress, Psychological

No abstract available.
Holoprosencephaly*