PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Korean hand acupressure on pain and abdominal bloating of patients receiving laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: This study was a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group pre-post test. The experimental group and the control group were 39 patients each who were hospitalized at gynecology ward of a hospital located in Gyeonggi-do. The experimental group received Korean hand acupressure therapy on the meridian point: A5, A6, H3, H7, I38 for 48 hours immediately after the surgery. Pain and abdominal bloating were measured at 5 times. Data were analyzed using SPSS/Win 18.0. RESULTS: The experimental group showed lower pain score than the control group (p<.001). While there was no significant difference in abdominal bloating (p=.528), the time effect was significantly different (p<.001). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that Korean hand acupressure reduces pain and abdominal bloating of laparoscopic surgery patients.
Acupressure* ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Gyeonggi-do ; Gynecology ; Hand* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Laparoscopy

No abstract available.
Alopecia* ; Scalp* ; Tissue Expansion*

PURPOSE: This study explored the feasibility of a 12 week self-efficacy based exercise intervention for overweight and obese college students. METHOD: A repeated measure, 4-group randomized controlled design was used. Students were recruited from two universities, in Seoul, Korea using: (1) flyers either on the campus bulletin boards or in campus restrooms; (2) advertisement on campus e-board; and (3) self-referral. Inclusion criteria were: (1) Korean college students aged 18 to 29; (2) BMI >23; (3) viscerally obese; and (4) accessible to a phone and a computer. Participants completed three self-reported questionnaires: socio-demographic questionnaire (at the baseline), Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (at the baseline and 12th week), and Physical Fitness sub-subscale (at the baseline and 12th week). Additionally, physiological data (height, weight, blood pressure) were collected at the baseline and 12th week. Descriptive statistics and a two-way mixed ANOVA were performed using SPSS12.0. RESULTS: No significant group difference was observed. However, students with increased exercise self-efficacy during the program showed better physical fitness in the 12th week. When students' physical fitness was enhanced, the physiological factors were improved. CONCLUSIONS: Self-efficacy based exercise intervention may be applicable and acceptable to the college students. It is necessary to conduct a replicated study with a larger sample and an elongated intervention period.
Feasibility Studies* ; Humans ; Korea ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Physical Fitness ; Self Efficacy ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Abdominoplasty* ; Classification*

Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms (emotional flatness, apathy, and lack of speech). It causes social and economic burdens to patients and their family. Although etiology of schizophrenia is still uncertain, dopamine dysregulation is traditionally considered as a main etiological factor of schizophrenia, which has been utilized to develop drugs for treating schizophrenia. Recently, inflammation has presented being a risk factor for schizophrenia in that neuroinflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the exacerbation of symptom severity. Various factors including diet can regulate inflammatory state. Specific foods or dietary patterns have anti- or pro-inflammatory potentials. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglia activation have been reported in schizophrenia populations and were related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Omega-3 fatty acids were often recommended to schizophrenia patients because of their anti-inflammatory activities. In this review, we investigate the inflammation-related pathogenesis of schizophrenia and summarize potential nutritional approaches to inhibit the manifestation of symptoms and to alleviate symptom severity using anti-inflammatory nutrients or functional components.

Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms (emotional flatness, apathy, and lack of speech). It causes social and economic burdens to patients and their family. Although etiology of schizophrenia is still uncertain, dopamine dysregulation is traditionally considered as a main etiological factor of schizophrenia, which has been utilized to develop drugs for treating schizophrenia. Recently, inflammation has presented being a risk factor for schizophrenia in that neuroinflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the exacerbation of symptom severity. Various factors including diet can regulate inflammatory state. Specific foods or dietary patterns have anti- or pro-inflammatory potentials. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglia activation have been reported in schizophrenia populations and were related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Omega-3 fatty acids were often recommended to schizophrenia patients because of their anti-inflammatory activities. In this review, we investigate the inflammation-related pathogenesis of schizophrenia and summarize potential nutritional approaches to inhibit the manifestation of symptoms and to alleviate symptom severity using anti-inflammatory nutrients or functional components.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of donepezil on cognitive function in patients with brain injury who had cognitive impairment. METHOD: Twenty one subjects with brain injury (18 males,3 females) were enrolled and classified into two groups, experimental and control group. There was no significant difference between two groups in age, postonset duration, and level of education. For the experimental group, one tablelet of Aricept(R) (5 mg of donepezil per tablet) was administered daily for 6 weeks. The baseline and follow up cognitive assessments were performed before and 6 weeks after. Mini- mental Status Examination (MMSE), Computerized Neuropsychologic Test (CNT), Judgement of Line Orientation (JLO), and visuospatial Wechsler memory test were used for the assessment of cognitive function. RESULTS: In baseline study, two groups showed no difference in their cognitive function. After 6 weeks, the experimental group showed significantly higher performance in forward digit span, verbal learning test, backward visual span, visual learning test, non-verbal Wechsler memory test, and judgement of line orientaion than control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the administration of Aricept(R) was beneficial in improving the cognitive func tion, especially verbal and visual memory and visuospatial perception in patients with brain injury.
Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Learning ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Verbal Learning

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the relationship between genotype of Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) and severity of disability after brain injury as well as serum lipid profile. METHOD: One hundred thirty-five brain injured patients (mean age 54.6 16.7 years, 90 male and 45 female) were enrolled. There were 34 patients with ischemic Stroke, 61 hemorrhagic stroke, and 40 traumatic brain injury. Apo E genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The serum concentra tions of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol were measured. The outcome of brain injury was assessed by functional independence measure (FIM) scores. RESULTS: Most frequent Apo E genotype was E 3/3 (72%). In hemorrhagic stroke patients with Epsilon4 allele, FIM score at admission was significantly lower than that of the patients without Epsilon4 allele (p<0.05). In traumatic brain injury patients with Epsilon4 allele, FIM score change was significantly smaller than that of patients without Epsilon4 allele (p<0.05). The level of total serum cholesterol was lower in the ischemic stroke patients who have Epsilon2 allele in comparison with the patients without that allele. CONCLUSION: The presence of Epsilon4 allele is considered to have relationship with the severity of disability and functional outcome in the patients with brain injury.
Alleles ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Cholesterol ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stroke ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: This study was designed to verify effects of perineal care with aroma essential oil on urinary tract infection(UTI) in patients with indwelling urinary catheter. METHOD: The research design was non equivalent control group pretest-post test design. The data were collected from March to August, 2005 at C university hospital in Seoul. The subjects were 43 patients who had a indwelling catheter in neurosurgery intensive care unit(NSICU). They were assigned to two groups, 21 subjects to the experimental group and 22 subjects to the control group. The experimental group received perineal care with 3% blending essential oil for 4 days. RESULTS: In the experimental group, white blood cells and bacteria in urine were significantly lower than control group. Bacteria in urine culture was lower in the experimental group at post test. CONCLUSION: Perineal care with aroma essential oil could be an effective intervention to reduce the UTI of patients in NSICU.
Aromatherapy ; Bacteria ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Leukocytes ; Neurosurgery ; Research Design ; Seoul ; Urinary Catheters* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

Blood glucose homeostasis is well maintained by coordinated control of various hormones including insulin and glucagon as well as cytokines under normal conditions. However, chronic exposure to diabetic environment with high fat/high sugar diets and physical/mental stress can cause hyperglycemia, one of main characteristics of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Hyperglycemia impairs organogenesis and induces organ abnormalities such as cardiac defect in utero. It is a risk factor for the development of metabolic diseases in adults. Resulting glucotoxicity affects peripheral tissues and vessels, causing pathological complications including diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, vessel damage, and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, chronic exposure to hyperglycemia can deteriorate cognitive function and other aspects of mental health. Recent reports have demonstrated that hyperglycemia is closely related to the development of cognitive impairment and dementia, suggesting that there may be a cause-effect relationship between hyperglycemia and dementia. With increasing interests in aging-related diseases and mental health, diabetes-related cognitive impairment is attracting great attention. It has been speculated that glucotoxicity can result in structural damage and functional impairment of brain cells and nerves, hemorrhage of cerebral blood vessel, and increased accumulation of amyloid beta. These are potential mechanisms underlying diabetes-related dementia. Nutrients and natural food components have been investigated as preventive and/or intervention strategy. Among candidate components, resveratrol, curcumin, and their analogues might be beneficial for the prevention of diabetes-related cognitive impairment. The purposes of this review are to discuss recent experimental evidence regarding diabetes and cognitive impairment and to suggest potential nutritional intervention strategies for the prevention and/or treatment of diabetes-related dementia.
Adult ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Amyloid ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Curcumin ; Cytokines ; Dementia ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Diet ; Glucagon ; Hemorrhage ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Mental Health ; Metabolic Diseases ; Organogenesis ; Risk Factors