PURPOSE: This study was to investigate symptom occurrence related to the disease characteristics of patients with cancer. METHOD: A total of 301 patients with cancer participated in this study. The participants were recruited from University Hospitals located in Seoul, Wonju, Kwangju, Daegu, and Pusan. Data collection was performed by using a questionnaire on symptom occurrence. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS computer program that included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and t-test. 1) Yonsei University (Wonju College of Medicine) 2) Ajou University 3) Home Health-Hospice Research Institute at Yonsei University 4) Research Institute of Nursing Science at Chonnam National University 5) The Institute of Nursing Science at Kyungpook National University 6) Research Institute of Wholistic Nursing Science at Kosin University. RESULT: The mean score of fatigue was the highest (3.24), followed by loss of appetite, lack of concentration, change in appearance, pain, insomnia, change in bowel pattern, nausea/ vomiting, coughing, and dyspnea. Most symptoms were significantly correlated with each other. The level of symptom occurrence in patients with lung cancer or cervix cancer was significantly higher than the level in patients with stomach cancer. Patients receiving radiation therapy or a combined therapy of radiation therapy and chemotherapy experienced significantly higher level of symptom occurrence than those receiving chemotherapy only. Also, female patients experienced higher level of symptom occurrence than male patients did. CONCLUSION: The sites of cancer, types of treatment, and gender influence the level of symptom occurrence of patients with cancer. Thus, these variables should be considered when assessing and planing for symptom occurrence of patients with cancer.
Academies and Institutes ; Adult* ; Appetite ; Busan ; Cough ; Daegu ; Data Collection ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Fatigue ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Gwangju ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vomiting ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A case of lacunar skull associated with meningomyelocele, spina bifida, kyphcsis on thoracolumbar area, hydrocephalus, bilateral club foot and paralysis of lower extremities at birth was reported. Diagnosis was made by X-ray of skull, whole spine, upper and lower extremities. On skull X-ray film, multiple small area of round rarefaction surrounded by arborizing pattern of bony ridge was visualized on both parietal area. On autopsy, outer table of the parietal bone was smooth and inner table of the parietal area was irregular and rough due to bony defect which was surrounded by bony ridges. A brief review of the literautre on lacunar skull is given.
Autopsy ; Diagnosis ; Foot ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant, Newborn ; Lower Extremity ; Meningomyelocele ; Paralysis ; Parietal Bone ; Parturition ; Rabeprazole ; Skull* ; Spinal Dysraphism ; Spine ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the research papers published in three nursing journals to suggest the direction for Journal of Korean Oncology Nursing (JKON). METHODS: To compare JKON with Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education and Cancer Nursing, all the research papers published in those three journals, 2010 were reviewed using an analysis criteria developed by the researchers, focusing on type of research, characteristics of authors and subjects, research design, data collection and analysis methods, sample size estimation, and ethical considerations regarding data collection. RESULTS: JKON lacked research papers which were supported by research funds, produced by multidisciplinary teams, addressing cancer survivors or patients with metastatic cancers, and written in qualitative methodologies. However, JKON showed higher ratio of research papers than the other two journals which were adapted from thesis or dissertations, describing sample size estimation process precisely, and participating subjects diagnosed with various cancers. CONCLUSION: The study found out that JKON is presenting well the area of oncology nursing in Korea and also has several weak points that need to be improved. The study therefore suggested several recommendations for the JKON to take the professional and global leader roles.
Data Collection ; Education, Nursing ; Financial Management ; Humans ; Korea ; Manuscripts as Topic ; Nursing Research ; Research Design ; Research Subjects ; Sample Size ; Survivors

PURPOSE: It is not surprising that serologically based epidemiologic studies have documented the high incidence of mycoplasma respiratory infection throughout the world. We studied the epidemiologic and clinical aspects of mycoplasma pneumonia in children if there is any differences in the peak age-related incidence, seasonal predominance and clinical manifestations in compare with other studies reported in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed 1004 cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia diagnosed by clinical manifestations and positive serologyc tests, retrospectively, who were admitted to the department of pediatrics in four university hospitals in Seoul and Inchon during the last 5 years from 1993 to 1997. RESULTS: 1) The age distribution of mycoplasma pneumonia showed highest incidence in children 4-6 years old. There was no difference in sex distribution at any age group. 2) Although there was little difference in annual distribution, it was highest in 1997. 3) Cough was the most prevalent prodromal symptom. 4) Vomiting, Nausea, Abdominal pain and headache were noted as the extrapulmonary manifestations. 5) Pulmonary infiltration was noted mostly in lower lobe lobes on chest X-ray. They showed interstial involvement in 34.5%, lobar involvement in 30.0%, and pleural effusion in 7.8% of the total. 6). As the complications, aggravate or trigger the asthma attack were noted in 4.0%, development of sinusitis in 3.5% and otitis media in 1.4% of the total. There were four cases of aseptic meningitis and one case of lung abscess. CONCLUSIONS: In our survey, there was little or no epidemiologic differences in the incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. We can find the increasing tendency of lobar pattern of involvement on chest X-ray in mycoplasma pneumonia in children.
Abdominal Pain ; Age Distribution ; Asthma ; Child ; Cough ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Headache ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incheon ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung Abscess ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Nausea ; Otitis Media ; Pediatrics ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Sex Distribution ; Sinusitis ; Thorax ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Although the chronic sinusitis is one of the most common and troublesome respiratory diseases in children, the pathogenesis still remains unclear. It is suggested that many of the immunologic factors including allergic conditions may contribute the nasal inflammatory changes. This study was designed to evaluate and demonstrate the possible role of various immunologic factors on the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis in children. METHODS: During the 6 months study period from March to August, 1995, 33 children with chronic and recurrent clinical symptoms of sinusitis were evaluated. History taking, physical examinatin, paranasal radiologic examination, total IgE, allergen-specific IgE antibodies, serum IgA, IgG subclasses and T cell subsets were analysed in most of the children. RESULTS: The results were as follows; 1) The value of total serum IgE was increased in 19 cases(63.3% of the total). 2) All children in this study shows normal serum IgA levels. 3) In ten of 31 children(74.1%) with chronic sinusitis, serum concentrations of IgG2 were lower than geometric mean value. There was a decreased concentration of IgG1 in 3 cases(21.4%), IgG3 in 4 cases(28.6%), and IgG4 in 2 cases(14.3%). 4) The ratio of T4 to T8 was less than 2 in 23 cases(82.1%) out of 28 cases and reversed in 1 case. 5) Decreased serum concentration of IgG2 was more prevalent in cases with normal serum IgE levels rather than the cases with high serum IgE levels. 6) There was no correlation between the toral serum IgE levels and the ratio of T4 to T8 7) In the case with reversed T4 to T8 ratio, all the IgG subclasses are decreased except IgG3. 8) Chronic cough was the most common clinical manifestations in this study and postnasal drip, purulent nasal discharge, nasal stuffiness, fever and allergic shiner were noted in order. 9) Many of the children in this study have an allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis(48.5%), asthma(45.5%), and atopic dermatitis(33.3%). 10) PNS radiographs show diffuse opacification or mucosal thickening in all of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we suggested that complex immunologic reactions including IgE-mediated allergic reaction, IgG subclasses deficiencies and cellular immunity are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic and recurrent sinusitis.
Antibodies ; Child* ; Cough ; Cyprinidae ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunologic Factors ; Sinusitis* ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the HRCT findings of bronchial asthma during maintenance bronchodilator therapy and to determine whether there were irreversible bronchial changes occurred in pediatric patients with this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HRCT findings of the lung in 21 asthmatic children [14 boys and 7 girls aged between 3.5 and 13.8 (mean : 7.7) years] who were receiving maintenance bronchodilator therapy were retrospectively studied. At the time of CT examination, 16 were receiving nonsteroid bronchodilator therapy only, and five were receiving both bronchodilator and steroid therapy. Thirteen patients were defined as allergic and eight were nonallergic. The clinical severity of chronic asthma was graded as severe in seven cases, and moderate in 14. The duration of the disease ranged from 4 months to 6 years (mean 3.2 years). HRCT was performed in 19 cases for evalvation of the atelectasis, hyperinflation, and prominent bronchovascular bundles seen on plain radiographs, and in two cases for evaluation following acute exacerbation. A CT W-2000 scanner (Hitachi Medical Co. Tokyo, Japan) was used during the end inspiratory phase, and in addition, ten patients were scanned during the expiratory phase. Scans were reviewed for evidence of bronchial thickening, bronchiectasis, emphysema, abnormal density, mucus plugs, and other morphological abnormalities. The presence of bronchial wall thickening or air trapping was evaluated according to the duration, severity and type of asthma. RESULTS: Among the 21 patients, 7(33.3%) had normal HRCT findings, while in 14 (66.7%), bronchial wall thickening was demonstrated. Eleven of the 14 patients with bronchial wall thickening (78.6%) also had air trapping. No patient was suffering from bronchiectasis or emphysema. There were no statistically significant correlations between the presence of bronchial wall thickening or air trapping and the duration of the disease, its severity, or type of asthma. There was, however, a statistically significant correlation between bronchial wall thickening and air trapping (p < . 0 5 ). CONCLUSION: In asthmatic children who were under maintenance therapy, the most frequent HRCT findings were bronchial wall thickening and air trapping, with significant correlation between the presence of these two phenomena. No destructive lesion such as bronchiectasis or emphysema was found in these asthmatic children, however, and this is probably due to the short duration of the disease, and different disease processes.
Asthma ; Bronchiectasis ; Child* ; Emphysema ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Mucus ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of horticultural therapy by analyzing researches on horticultural therapy applied to elderly Koreans. METHODS: We evaluated 401 research papers including dissertations on horticultural therapy applied to elderly Koreans from Jan. 2000 to Feb. 2016. We reviewed the appropriate 12 papers among them for the final analysis. RESULTS: Horticultural therapy had physiological and psychosocial effects. First of all, it showed the physiological effects of reducing stress hormones. Outdoor horticultural therapy improved the gross motor movements of the body. Indoor horticulture therapy improved delicate cognitive & operating functions. Second, horticultural therapy showed the psychosocial effects of reducing depression and improving cognitive functions, language abilities, comprehension, daily activity, life satisfaction and sociality. But the effects appeared differently dependent on the implementation protocol & period of horticultural therapy, as well as the professionalism of the therapists. Therefore, if horticultural therapy were to be administered through nursing, it should be based on its key principle, in other words, the principle of action-interaction-response of horticultural therapy. CONCLUSION: The results of this study will be useful for developing therapeutic interventions through nursing. Also they will be helpful in applying horticultural therapy programs in nursing practice.
Aged* ; Cognition ; Comprehension ; Depression ; Horticultural Therapy* ; Humans ; Language ; Nursing ; Professionalism

We experienced a patient who developed a cerebral air embolism after subclavian venous catheter removal. The patient underwent gastric antrectomy under impression of gastric cancer. After surgery, right subclavian venous catheter was removed while the patient was kept in supine position for 15 minutes. When he changed to sitting position, he became agitated and O2 saturation was dropped to 72%. Im-mediately 100% O2 was administered via air mask. Computed tomography of brain showed multiple focal air densities in the cerebral vessels. Three days after the event, he slowly regained consciousness with persistent left hemipareis. After rehabilitation, he was able to walk with quadcane and gained functional improvement.
Brain ; Catheters* ; Consciousness ; Dihydroergotamine ; Embolism, Air* ; Embolism, Paradoxical ; Humans ; Masks ; Rehabilitation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Supine Position

After slip down, a 64 years old female had pain on the left buttock and the back without weakness or sensory change. Physical examination revealed tender points on left buttock and quadratus lumborum muscle. Straight leg raising test was 40degrees/20degrees. After trigger point injection on tender points, her symptoms were improved. Magnetic resonance imaging showed central extruded disc at L3-S1. After systemic steroid therapy was started, fever was developed about 39.3degrees C and laboratory evaluation showed inflammatory sign. Systemic steroid injection was stopped. Physical examination revealed a palpable and painful mass on the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography of abdomen and pelvis showed a large (7x5 cm) irregular shaped cystic mass along left iliopsoas muscle. Percutaneous catheter was inserted for drainage. Thick turbid yellow-greenish pus (300 cc) was drained. Intravenous antibiotics were administered and the patient's symptoms gradually improved. Culture of the pus revealed Streptococcus agalactiae.
Abdomen ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Buttocks ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; Physical Examination ; Psoas Abscess* ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Suppuration ; Trigger Points* ; Ultrasonography

In patients with epilepsy, depression is a common comorbidity but difficult to be treated because many antidepressants cause pro-convulsive effects. Thus, it is important to identify the risk of seizures associated with antidepressants. To determine whether paroxetine, a very potent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), interacts with ion channels that modulate neuronal excitability, we examined the effects of paroxetine on Kv3.1 potassium channels, which contribute to highfrequency firing of interneurons, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Kv3.1 channels were cloned from rat neurons and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Paroxetine reversibly reduced the amplitude of Kv3.1 current, with an IC₅₀ value of 9.43 µM and a Hill coefficient of 1.43, and also accelerated the decay of Kv3.1 current. The paroxetine-induced inhibition of Kv3.1 channels was voltage-dependent even when the channels were fully open. The binding (k₊₁) and unbinding (k₋₁) rate constants for the paroxetine effect were 4.5 µM⁻¹s⁻¹ and 35.8 s⁻¹, respectively, yielding a calculated K(D) value of 7.9 µM. The analyses of Kv3.1 tail current indicated that paroxetine did not affect ion selectivity and slowed its deactivation time course, resulting in a tail crossover phenomenon. Paroxetine inhibited Kv3.1 channels in a usedependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that paroxetine blocks the open state of Kv3.1 channels. Given the role of Kv3.1 in fast spiking of interneurons, our data imply that the blockade of Kv3.1 by paroxetine might elevate epileptic activity of neural networks by interfering with repetitive firing of inhibitory neurons.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; Clone Cells ; Comorbidity ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Depression ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Fires ; Humans ; Interneurons ; Ion Channels ; Neurons ; Ovary ; Paroxetine* ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Seizures ; Serotonin ; Shaw Potassium Channels* ; Tail