No abstract available.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Humans ; Humans* ; Hypertension* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of knowledge of stroke and heart attack (HA) symptoms and risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rural elderly people who are at risk for CVD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 444 adults over the age of 60 living in a rural province of Korea with at least one CVD risk factor participated in this survey. RESULTS: A total of 72.5% of the participants had hypertension and 28.4% had diabetes, whereas approximately 40% exhibited over two CVD risk factors. The mean knowledge scores for HA symptoms (4.3/9) were lower than scores for stroke symptoms (5.8/9), and the mean knowledge score for risk factors was 7.3/11. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that old age, low level of education, and low income level were the determining factors for low knowledge levels of stroke and HA symptoms as well as CVD risk factors. A low perceived risk of stroke or HAs also predicted a low knowledge of CVD risk factors. CONCLUSION: Community-wide public campaigns are needed, which are designed to help elderly people in rural areas with low education levels and socioeconomic status at risk for CVD to improve the awareness of stroke and HA.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Risk Factors ; Social Class ; Stroke ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: p53 gene mutations, one of the most common alterations found in human tumors, has also been detected in gastric carcinoma, and shown to have a crucial and early role in gastric carcinogenesis of intestinal type and mainly associated with tumor progression in the cancer of diffuse type. We tried to investigate the frequency of p53 mutations in 27 gastric carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh tumor tissue from a series of gastric carcinoma was screened for p53 mutations by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) with silver staining and confirmed by direct-sequencing in 27 cases of gastric carcinoma. Immunohistochemical method for p53 protein accumulation was also performed in the same cases. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry revealed 20 of 27 cases of gastric carcinoma, positive for p53. PCR-SSCP analysis of p53 exons 5-8 detected mobility shift in 4 out of 20 p53-positive tumors; three from exon 5 and the other from exon 7, respectively. DNA sequencing of exon 5 showed CGC to CAC point mutation in one of three cases; exon 7, ATC to AAC point mutation. It seemed that there was no correlation between genetic alterations of p53 gene detected by PCR-SSCP and expression of p53 protein by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIOAS: Our results suggest that mutations of the p53 gene are rare genetic events in carcinogenesis of gastric carcinomas. There was discrepancy between mutations screened by PCR-SSCP and overexpressions in immunohistochemical staining.
Carcinogenesis ; Exons ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational* ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Silver Staining

The hepatitis C vims(HCV) is now known to be the chief cause of transfusion-associated non-A, non-B hepatitis. The ultimate goal of blood donor screening for anti-HCV antibodies is the specific exclusion of vital carriers from the blood donor population. Recently, a third generation anti-HCV screening(Green Cross Center Innotest HCV 3.0 Genedia HCV 3.0 ) and immunoblot assay, Inno-Lia HCV Ab III (Innogenetics) using antigens derived from the core and different nonstructural regions(NS3, NS4 and Ns5) of the HCV viral genome were developed. To evaluate the usefulness of these assays, anti-HCV reaction patterns of the Inno-Lia HCV Ab III or presence of HCV-RNA detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) were examined samples in which were repeatedly positive or discrepant with Abbott EIA-2, Innotest HCV 3.0 Genedia HCV 3.0 The reaction intensity of Innotest HCV 3.0 Genedia HCV 3.0 was higher than that of Abbott EIA-2. The sensitivity and specificity of Innotest HCV 3.0 and Genedia HCV 3.0 were 92.9% and 86.8%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 72.2% and 97.1%. both. The sensitivity and specificity of Abbott EIA-2 were 100% and 78.9%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 63.6% and 100%, respectively. We concluded that the new third generation HCV EIA reagents can decrease a false positivity of second generation EIA reagents and correlate well with detection of HCV-RNA by RT-PCR.
Blood Donors ; Genome, Viral ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques* ; Indicators and Reagents* ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the effects of the hand acupressure therapy on sleep quality and mood state of adults having insomnia. METHODS: The study was a one group pretest-posttest design. The subjects for this study were 15 insomniac adults. All the subjects were assessed for their sleep quality and mood state using PSQI(Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and POMS(Profile of Mood States). The pellet stimulating hand acupressure therapy was applied using New Seoam Press Pellets 1 Ho for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed by the SPSS 12.0 version program with descriptive statistics and wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: The mean total score of PSQI was 6.67 and the POMS was 6.68. There were significant decreases in subject's total PSQI score(p=.000) and in total POMS score(p=.008) after the therapy. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that pellet stimulating hand acupressure therapy is effective for sleep quality and mood state of adults having insomnia.
Acupressure ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Hand ; Humans

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the stages of exercise behaviors changes of low back pain patients. METHODS: The participants in this study were 220 low back pain patients who have been treated by therapeutic exercise or had the exercise treatment under the doctor's advice. The tools used for this study were the stages of exercise behavior change, intrinsic motivation questionnaires, and physical activity social support scale (PASS). RESULTS: The group that did exercise (preparation stage, maintenance stage, action stage) was 75.9% but the group that did not exercise (precontemplation stage, contemplation stage) was 24.1%. Social supports from family members and friends and motivation affected the exercise behaviors changes. And 34.6% of the exercise behavior change can be explained by the social support (family, friend) and motivation. CONCLUSION: There were two recommendations for maintaining the exercise behaviors of low back pain patients based on theoretical background. First, we recommended more exercise programs which reinforce social supports from family and friend for constant exercise behaviors of low back pain patients. Second, more exercise programs for the low back pain patients who have similar health goals or problems were needed for motivating them to join the exercise programs.
Friends ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Motivation ; Motor Activity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Various cancer types have been associated with cancer-related cerebral infarction. In this study, we describe the first case of cancer-related cerebral infarction in which the underlying disease was primary bone marrow lymphoma (PBML). A 79-year-old man presented with abruptly developed bilateral lower extremity weakness and confusion. Diffusion-weighted imaging on admission showed multiple cortical and subcortical embolic infarction lesions in multiple vascular territories. Diagnostic evaluations to determine the embolic source revealed no abnormalities. Laboratory testing demonstrated elevated D-dimer (2.59 μg/mL) but no other prothrombotic abnormalities. In suspicion of cancer-related stroke, we performed chest CT, abdomen CT, and FDG-PET to detect the hidden malignancy. Findings revealed no evidence of cancer; however, they did reveal signs of anemia (hemoglobin 9.0 g/dL). Bone marrow aspiration biopsy showed large atypical B cell involvement suggestive of high-grade B cell lymphoma. The patient was diagnosed with primary bone marrow diffuse large B-cell lymphoma initially presenting with ischemic stroke. Our case suggests that primary bone marrow cancer may be a candidate for the differential diagnosis of hidden malignancy in patients with suspected cancer-related stroke. Bone marrow biopsy may be essential for establishing an appropriate differential diagnosis in patients with abnormal hematologic findings.

Although immune checkpoint inhibitor-related encephalitis has been reported, its underlying mechanism and treatment strategies remain unclear. Here, we present the case of a 60-yearold male patient with small cell lung cancer who developed autoimmune encephalitis during treatment with atezolizumab. Notably, this case involved the concurrent detection of two paraneoplastic autoantibodies (anti-Hu and anti-SOX1). Encephalitis was treated by discontinuing atezolizumab and administering steroids, despite the persistence of the antibodies. This case provides insights into the interaction between immune checkpoint inhibitors and paraneoplastic autoantibodies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify factors that affect coping with fatigue in middle-aged men according to Q-methodology and to provide basic strategies for health promotion. METHOD: 25 subjects in Seoul, Incheon, Chung-buk classified 24 selected Q-statements in to 9 points standard. The collected data were analyzed by using a QUNAL pc program. RESULT: Principal component analysis identified 3 types of coping with fatigue among middle-aged Korean men. 1st Type: Coping with fatigue through various kinds of game, using alcohol, smoking cigarette other than rest and sleep. 2nd Type : Coping with fatigue through rest and sleep, taking medicine or food which helps relieving fatigue. 3rd Type : Coping with fatigue through acitivities such as sports or trip other than sleep. CONCLUSION: We have found how Korean middle-aged men cope against fatigue through this research. To setup and apply different nursing intervention on each type based on this result is needed.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Fatigue* ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Incheon ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nursing ; Principal Component Analysis ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sports ; Tobacco Products

PURPOSE: Change of foods intake during infancy and early childhood is being indicated as a causal factor for recent dramatic increase in the number of allergic diseases in children. The food allergens may have an important role for the development of allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis in children. Early prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis are important to prevent of allergic disease later in life. METHODS: The questionaire survey about the diet patterns of their children and the parents' awareness and knowledge on the relationship between food and allergy was performed for the parents of 316 patients aged under 48 month old at 7 university hospitals (4 allergy clinics and 3 general clinics) or 4 private clinics in September, 2002. RESULTS: Formular fed is more common in all age group and it comprised over 70% in the group under age 6 month old in compare with breast milk fed. The mean age of the start of weaning was 5.2+/-1.8 months in a child with a history of allergy, and 4.6+/-2.0 months who had no allergy history. The most common reason to start weaning was nutritional supplement and the next was to train for adult foods. Fruit juice was the first introduced weaning food in most cases. Among 316 children, 108 children had experience of having grain diet, live diet or natural diet for better nutrition. More than half of the parents had relatively correct knowledge about allergy such as the relationship between food and allergy especially in the group with a allergic disease. Many parents started grain diet, live diet, a soup of bone, and the white of an egg to their children under 12 months of age. CONCLUSION: In general, most of the parents enrolled had relatively correct information about the time and the purpose of weaning. However, their knowledge about the kinds of food and time of first exposure is at issue to be pointed out. Especially as a point of view for early intervention of allergic disease, continued more active education about the food allergens and their relation to allergic diseases are strongly recommended.
Adult ; Allergens ; Edible Grain ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Diet ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Eating* ; Education ; Fruit ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Infant ; Milk, Human ; Ovum ; Parents ; Weaning