Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. The tumor contains a variety of cell types that are thought to arise from a focus of primitive pluripotential mesenchymal cells in the area of the fossa ovalis. Throughout the myxoid stroma, there are variable amounts of reticular fivers, collagen, elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells. A 38-year-old female had right atrial myxoma with multiple pulmonary infarcts. In this case, we experienced an unusual degenerative change in the tumor of granulomatous lesion consisting of hemosiderin pigments, foreign body giant cells and peculiar, spheroid, semilunar or bamboo-shaped degenerated elastic fibers. Microscopically it resembles Gamna-Gandy nodule seen in the spleen of chronic passive congestion.
Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
C-Reactive Protein* ; Female ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Pregnancy ; Tocolysis*

No abstract available.
Hemifacial Spasm*

Vibrio vulnificus infection is one of the most fatal diseases in Korea. This study was undertaken to determine the cellular fatty acid (CFA) compositions of ninety-five clinical strains of V. vulnificus isolated from Korea during 1985-1995. We compared these results with the CFA profile of V. vulnificus in the Microbial Identification System (MIS) (CLIN library version 3.9; Microbial ID Inc., Newark, Del.), and also evaluated the MIS ability to identify V. vulnificus. Subgrouping of V. vulnificus by CFA analysis was performed and its results were compared with those of serotyping. Most of the CFAs in V. vulnificus strains were similar to the CFA profile of V. vulnificus in the MIS, but some distinctive differences were observed. First, means of two major CFAs, 16:0 and 16:1w7c, were 22.16% and 18.26% in this study, but 23.52% and 25.44% in the MIS respectively. Second, all isolates had 11:Oiso3OH, which was not present in the MIS. Eighty-five strains (89.5%) disclosed the first choice identification of V. vulnificus by the MIS, but only two strains (2.1%) were identified with SI values of 0.6. Remaining ten strains (10.5%) showed 'NO MATCH' results. Cluster analysis of CFA could separate V. vulnificus into nine subgroups, and predominant subgroups were subgroup VII (45 strains) and V (36 strains). There was heterogeny between subgroups by CFA and serotypes of V. vulnificus. The strains of 04 serotype which accounted for 80% (76/95) of the isolates were distributed into six different subgroups such as VII (40 strains), V (27 strains), III (4 strains), I (2 strains) and VI (1 strain). These showed that V. vulnificus strains isolated from Korea had different characteristics in the CFA composition in comparison with the MIS V. vulnificus library. Subgrouping by the CFA analysis might be a useful tool for the epidemiological study of V. vulnificus infection in Korea.
Korea* ; Serotyping ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

The most common causes of acute viral diarrhea in infants and toddlers are rotavirus, astrovirus and norovirus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate epidemiological data of pathogens obtained from stool exams and compare them with the clinical course in pediatric patients with symptoms of viral acute diarrhea and to investigate the clinical efficacy of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) for acute diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Clinical data for three types of viral acute diarrhea were compared with the viral detection results by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Viruses were detected in 65.8% of subjects, with rotavirus being the most commonly reported in 63.3% of subjects. To examine the characteristics of each virus, a clinical epidemiological study was performed for 482 cases. Noroviral infection symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea in patients of all age groups. Dehydration in noroviral acute diarrheal patients was less common than in rotaviral acute diarrheal patients. The clinical efficacy of orally administered L. acidophilus in the treatment of acute viral diarrhea in infants and toddlers was also evaluated. L. acidophilus was a probiotic adjuvant in viral acute diarrhea in infants and toddlers.
Dehydration ; Diarrhea* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Infant* ; Lactobacillus acidophilus* ; Lactobacillus* ; Norovirus ; Probiotics ; Rotavirus ; Treatment Outcome ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation of gestational age and birth weight with weight gain of very low birth weight infants(VLBWI) during their hospital stay. METHOD: This is a 5 year retrospective study of which data were collected through review of medical records. Subjects were 124 VLBW infants with a birth weight more than 1000g and less than 1500g who received neonatal intensive care at the university hospital between January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2001. RESULT: After calculating the z scores of birth weights and discharge weights, z scores of discharge weight and birth weight were compared with the median weight of a fetus of comparable gestational age based on an intrauterine growth reference. There was a significant difference between z scores of birth weight and discharge weight(t=11.60, df=122, p=0.000). Regardless of intensive care during the prolonged hospital stay, VLBW infants showed slow growth rate compared with the median weight of a fetus of comparable gestational age. CONCLUSION: VLBW infants developed a poor velocity of weight gain during the prolonged hospital stay after birth. The development worsened during the period of physiological weight loss and regain, and they did not reach to comparable growth rate of normal fetus even at the time of discharge. This poor growth velocity of VLBW infants influence negatively for their future growth. Therefore nureses who work at the neonatal intensive care unit must develop an effective nursing intervention protocol to promote the velocity of weight gain and to conduct the parental educational sessions to emphasize the importance of weight gain for VLBW infants at home.
Birth Weight* ; Fetus ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Nursing ; Parents ; Parturition* ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Gain* ; Weight Loss ; Weights and Measures ; Child Health

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop a sexual health education program for unmarried mothers that were intended to provide the correct sexual knowledge, to help them establish positive sexual perception and to improve sexual health. The program was applied and its effect was evaluated. METHOD: One group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design was applied to evaluate the effect of a sexual health education program unmarried mothers. The research team developed a 34 hour program of 16 units, where the basic schemes were human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society & culture. We applied the program to 32 unmarried mothers in the Institute for unmarried mothers in Gangwon-do, Korea from April 19, 2004 to June 14, 2004. RESULT: After the application of an 8 week sexual health education program, the subjects significantly showed a better perception of self-efficiency, self-esteem, sexual knowledge and sexual behavior than before the program. CONCLUSION: The sexual health education program for unmarried mother in this study was effective on improving sexual perception and promoting sexual health behavior.
Education* ; Gangwon-do ; Health Education ; Human Development ; Humans ; Illegitimacy* ; Korea ; Reproductive Health* ; Research Design ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexuality ; Single Person*

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the types and seriousness of pregnancy-related physical and psychological symptoms among pregnant couples. METHOD: Subjects consisted of 77 pregnant couples at one hospital in Seoul, Korea. The pregnant couples had not been diagnosed with any medical complications. Data were analyzed by the SPSS WIN program. RESULT: In the degree of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects, the mean score of perceived physical symptoms (2.40, 1.86) was higher than the mean score of psychological symptoms (2.13, 1.83) for both pregnant women and their spouses. In the couple's difference of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects, there were not statistically significant differences in the physical symptoms: "I have hemorrhoids" (t=1.91, p=.06), "My body weight decreased" (t=1.78, p=.08), "I have colds more often" (t=1.77, p=.08), and "I became more active than ordinary times" (t=1.99, p=.05) or in the psychological symptoms: "I am more elated than ordinary times" (t=.83, p=.41), and "I feel inferior" (t=1.62, p=.11). Therefore, these symptoms are coincidental between couples. In the difference of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects according to general characteristics, there were not significant differences. In the relationship between physical and psychological symptoms experienced by subjects, there were statistically significant correlations between subject's physical symptoms and psychological symptoms (r=.54, p< .001; r=.78, p< .001). CONCLUSION: Physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by pregnant couples are an issue for nurses who perform an important role in the care of pregnant women and their spouses
Body Weight ; Family Characteristics* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Seoul ; Spouses

Electromyography and related electrodiagnostic techniques are being applied to clinical studies of neuromuscular diseases with increasing frequency and effectiveness. Four patients with obstetrical palsy were examined and followed up with electromyography. The findings from clinical observation and electromyographic studies were discussed in regard to the site of the lesion, prediction of prognosis and the degree of nerve regeneration. It is emphasized that findings provided by electromyographic examinations can not only contribute to accurate diagnosis, but also serve as a guide for selecting appropriate means of treatment with physical therapy for the patients with obstetrical palsy as well as to monitor progress, by doing a series of periodic examinations. Adler and Patterson(1967) reported that the incidence of Erb's palsy has remarkably decreased. From 1939 to 1962 they found only one hundred and twenty three cases instead of four hundred and ninety one cases in the period from 1928 to 1939 at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Statistics on obstetrical palsy due to the brachial plexus injury are not available in Korea. It is assumed however that its incidence here must also be decreased as the obstetric services have advanced significantly in recent years. The clinical picture of a brachial plexus palsy is dependent on the location of the pathology in the plexus and it is not easy to predict the prognosis without knowledge of the degree of injury. With electromyographic studies it is possible to detect the exact site of the lesion in the brachial plexus, the degree of injury and the progress of nerve regeneration. Therefore, it is a useful tool for making accurate diagnosis and prognosis and the findings provided by the electromyographic studies permit appropriate selection of treatment as the nerve regeneration takes place. Four cases of obstetrical palsy of the brachial plexus were referred to Severance Hospital for electromyographic examination and subsequent treatment from February to September 1972.
Child, Preschool ; Electromyography* ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Paralysis, Obstetric/diagnosis* ; Paralysis, Obstetric/therapy

Electromyography and related electrodiagnostic techniques are being applied to clinical studies of neuromuscular diseases with increasing frequency and effectiveness. Four patients with obstetrical palsy were examined and followed up with electromyography. The findings from clinical observation and electromyographic studies were discussed in regard to the site of the lesion, prediction of prognosis and the degree of nerve regeneration. It is emphasized that findings provided by electromyographic examinations can not only contribute to accurate diagnosis, but also serve as a guide for selecting appropriate means of treatment with physical therapy for the patients with obstetrical palsy as well as to monitor progress, by doing a series of periodic examinations. Adler and Patterson(1967) reported that the incidence of Erb's palsy has remarkably decreased. From 1939 to 1962 they found only one hundred and twenty three cases instead of four hundred and ninety one cases in the period from 1928 to 1939 at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Statistics on obstetrical palsy due to the brachial plexus injury are not available in Korea. It is assumed however that its incidence here must also be decreased as the obstetric services have advanced significantly in recent years. The clinical picture of a brachial plexus palsy is dependent on the location of the pathology in the plexus and it is not easy to predict the prognosis without knowledge of the degree of injury. With electromyographic studies it is possible to detect the exact site of the lesion in the brachial plexus, the degree of injury and the progress of nerve regeneration. Therefore, it is a useful tool for making accurate diagnosis and prognosis and the findings provided by the electromyographic studies permit appropriate selection of treatment as the nerve regeneration takes place. Four cases of obstetrical palsy of the brachial plexus were referred to Severance Hospital for electromyographic examination and subsequent treatment from February to September 1972.
Child, Preschool ; Electromyography* ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Paralysis, Obstetric/diagnosis* ; Paralysis, Obstetric/therapy