PURPOSE: To perform and compare differential diagnosis of patients with thyroid-associated myopathy, idiopathic orbital myositis and normal controls based on orbital computed tomography. Orbital fat and extraocular muscle densities were quantified using Hounsfield Unit (HU) and their characteristics were compared and analyzed. METHODS: From February 2005 to January 2013, orbital computed tomography was performed on 90 eyes of 47 thyroid-associated myopathy patients, 18 eyes of 14 idiopathic orbital myositis patients and 280 eyes of 140 normal subjects. The average values of orbital fat and extraocular muscle densities were measured and compared using HU. The density differences between the patients with thyroid-associated myopathy and the normal group were analyzed by age, clinical activity score, ocular protrusion and disease duration. RESULTS: In the thyroid-associated myopathy group, orbital fat and extraocular muscle densities were -87.8 +/- 12.5 HU and 48.7 +/- 7.1 HU, respectively. In the idiopathic orbital myositis group, the orbital fat and extraocular muscle densities were 79.9 +/- 9.9 HU and 49.2 +/- 9.1 HU, respectively. There was a statistically significant lower result of orbital fat in the thyroid-associated myopathy group (p = 0.002), however, the extraocular muscle density did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.775). The orbital fat and extraocular muscle densities of the normal group were -79.0 +/- 11.2 HU and 54.3 +/- 6.3 HU, respectively. There were significantly lower results in both orbital fat and extraocular muscle densities in the thyroid-associated myopathy group than normal group (p = 0.000). In active cases and those accompanied by ocular protrusion, there was no significant difference in orbital fat density (p = 0.345 and p = 0.952, respectively), while extraocular muscle density significantly decreased (p = 0.007 and p = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A difference between the orbital fat and extraocular muscle densities in thyroid-associated myopathy and idiopathic orbital myositis could be quantitatively found using HU and orbital computed tomography.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Muscles* ; Muscular Diseases* ; Orbit* ; Orbital Myositis*

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the effect of delivery nursing care using essential oils on labor stress response, labor anxiety and postpartum status anxiety for primipara. METHODS: This study used nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of this experiment consisted of forty eight primipara with single gestation, full term, & uncomplicated pregnancies. Twenty four primipra were in the experimental and control group each. Their mean age was 27.9 years old, their mean gestation period 279.9 days. As a treatment, delivery nursing care using essential oils was applied by nurses. Data collected epinephrine, norepinephrine, anxiety during labor. In the 24 hours after birth, the data for the postpartum mother's status anxiety was collected. Data was analyzed by t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, & Wilcoxon signed ranks test with SPSS Program. RESULTS: Plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine were significantly low in the experimental group (P=0.001, P=0.033, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups in anxiety during labor and postpartum mother's status anxiety. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that delivery nursing care using essential oils could be effective in decreasing plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine. But, that could not be verified in decreasing mother's anxiety.
Stress/*prevention & control ; Pregnancy ; Postpartum Period/*psychology ; Oils, Volatile/*therapeutic use ; Norepinephrine/blood ; Labor, Obstetric/*psychology ; Humans ; Female ; Epinephrine/blood ; Delivery, Obstetric/*nursing ; *Aromatherapy ; Anxiety/*prevention & control ; Adult

The high caffeine intake by adolescents has been a concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness and consumption of caffeine-containing foods among 443 high school students using a questionnaire. An analysis of the spending patterns of the students’ weekly allowance showed that the amounts spent on purchasing caffeine-containing foods were higher for female students than male students (P ＜0.001). The scoring of the perception of caffeine was 3.1 out of 5, interest in the caffeine content of food was 2.6, consumption of caffeine-containing foods was 2.6, and usefulness of caffeine-containing foods was 2.7. The awareness of caffeine content in food was significantly higher in females (7.3 out of 11) than male students (6.7) (P＜0.01). Approximately 59% of students perceived that the relationship between caffeine-containing foods and health, was harmful, and the experience of side effects after taking caffeine was significantly higher in female students than males. These side effects include heartburn (P＜0.001), headache or dizziness (P＜0.001), irregular heartbeat (P＜0.05), and hands and feet shake (P＜0.01). Caffeine-containing foods were purchased at convenience stores (62.1%). The factor considered when purchasing caffeine-containing foods was taste (72.2%), and the use of nutrition labeling for caffeine-containing foods scored 2.0 out of 5 points. When assessing the intake of caffeine-containing foods, the foods consumed more than once a week were in the order of coke, chocolate, chocolate milk, chocolate pie, and chocolate bars. These results suggest that it is necessary to prepare a caffeine-related nutrition guide improvement by sales management, and strengthen food labeling standards for the desirable recognition of caffeine and its safe intake by adolescents.

The high caffeine intake by adolescents has been a concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness and consumption of caffeine-containing foods among 443 high school students using a questionnaire. An analysis of the spending patterns of the students’ weekly allowance showed that the amounts spent on purchasing caffeine-containing foods were higher for female students than male students (P ＜0.001). The scoring of the perception of caffeine was 3.1 out of 5, interest in the caffeine content of food was 2.6, consumption of caffeine-containing foods was 2.6, and usefulness of caffeine-containing foods was 2.7. The awareness of caffeine content in food was significantly higher in females (7.3 out of 11) than male students (6.7) (P＜0.01). Approximately 59% of students perceived that the relationship between caffeine-containing foods and health, was harmful, and the experience of side effects after taking caffeine was significantly higher in female students than males. These side effects include heartburn (P＜0.001), headache or dizziness (P＜0.001), irregular heartbeat (P＜0.05), and hands and feet shake (P＜0.01). Caffeine-containing foods were purchased at convenience stores (62.1%). The factor considered when purchasing caffeine-containing foods was taste (72.2%), and the use of nutrition labeling for caffeine-containing foods scored 2.0 out of 5 points. When assessing the intake of caffeine-containing foods, the foods consumed more than once a week were in the order of coke, chocolate, chocolate milk, chocolate pie, and chocolate bars. These results suggest that it is necessary to prepare a caffeine-related nutrition guide improvement by sales management, and strengthen food labeling standards for the desirable recognition of caffeine and its safe intake by adolescents.

Dyslipidemia has significantly contributed to the increase of death and morbidity rates related to cardiovascular diseases. Clinical nutrition service provided by dietitians has been reported to have a positive effect on relief of medical symptoms or reducing the further medical costs. However, there is a lack of researches to identify key competencies and job standard for clinical dietitians to care patients with dyslipidemia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the job components of clinical dietitian and develop the standard for professional practice to provide effective nutrition management for dyslipidemia patients. The current status of clinical nutrition therapy for dyslipidemia patients in hospitals with 300 or more beds was studied. After duty tasks and task elements of nutrition care process for dyslipidemia clinical dietitians were developed by developing a curriculum (DACUM) analysis method. The developed job standards were pretested in order to evaluate job performance, difficulty, and job standards. As a result, the job standard included four jobs, 18 tasks, and 53 task elements, and specific job description includes 73 basic services and 26 recommended services. When clinical dietitians managing dyslipidemia patients performed their practice according to this job standard for 30 patients the job performance rate was 68.3%. Therefore, the job standards of clinical dietitians for clinical nutrition service for dyslipidemia patients proposed in this study can be effectively used by hospitals.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Curriculum ; Dyslipidemias* ; Humans ; Job Description ; Nutrition Therapy* ; Nutritionists ; Professional Practice

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment methods for pediatric thyroid-associated orbitopathy in pediatric patients with thyroid disorders. METHODS: To determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of pediatric thyroid-associated orbitopathy, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 34 patients admitted to the Pediatrics Department of our institution between September 2010 and September 2012. The patients had been diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disorder and were admitted for treatment of thyroid-associated orbitopathy. RESULTS: In the 24.1 months of follow-up observation, 14 patients were diagnosed with Graves' disease (41.2%) and 20 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (58.8%). Of the 34 patients, 15 (44.1%) developed eye symptoms. Among the eye symptoms, lid swelling was the most prevalent in 41.2% of patients, followed by eyelid retraction in 23.5%, lid lag in 17.6%, conjunctival injection in 14.7%, proptosis in 8.8%, and extraocular muscle hypertrophy in 17.6%. Severe impairment of visual acuity, visual field, and ocular motility were not observed in our study. Although eyelid surgery was performed in 3 cases, most patients were treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric thyroid-associated orbitopathy was frequently observed in patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Compared to adults, children showed milder disease manifestation and progression, and the disease could be managed with conservative treatment.
Adult ; Child ; Exophthalmos ; Eye ; Eyelids ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Medical Records ; Muscles ; Pediatrics ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields

BACKGROUND: This study is to investigate on how much the dysmenorrhea and lower abdominal pain(LAP)/back pain are improved by the aromatherapy which is emerging as an alternative therapy. METHODS: In order to get the data by questionnaire, 245 subject was selected from women student class of a high school at rural area from June 2000 to August 2000. 125 subject was selected who are above the 5 grade of LAP/back pain. Among the 129 subject, aroma was given to 69 subject and placebo was given to 56 subject. The subject was investigated how the dysmenorrhea was improved by using the aroma and placebo. RESULTS: After the aromatherapy, severities of dysmenorrhea and LAP/back pain imporved in aroma group and placebo group. Therefore, there is not statistical difference between both groups. CONCLUSION: The herbal aroma is not effective more than placebo aroma to relieve dysmenorrhea.
Aromatherapy* ; Dysmenorrhea* ; Female ; Female* ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To prevent surgical site complications, many plastic surgeons use the so-called “conventional protocol,” which immobilizes the shoulder and upper arm for 1 month after reconstruction. In an effort to improve the shoulder mobility of patients who received immediate breast reconstruction with tissue expander insertion (TEI), we introduced an early rehabilitation protocol with a short-term immobilization period of 2 weeks. This study aims to compare this early rehabilitation exercise program with the conventional protocol and to determine factors affecting shoulder mobility and quality of life of patients after immediate breast reconstruction. METHODS: A total of 115 patients with breast cancer who underwent reconstructive surgery were retrospectively reviewed. For patients who underwent reconstruction before January 2017, the conventional protocol was followed with immobilization of their shoulder for over 4 weeks. Patients who underwent reconstruction after January 2017 were educated to undergo a self-exercise program after a short-term immobilization period of 2 weeks. We compared shoulder mobility, pain, quality of life, and complications at postoperative 1 and 2 months between the groups. RESULTS: Patients who received early rehabilitation showed greater shoulder flexion and abduction range at postoperative 1 month than those who received the conventional protocol. This increased shoulder abduction range continued until postoperative 2 months. There were no significant surgical site problems in both groups during the 2 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: To enhance the recovery of shoulder mobility, early rehabilitation with a shorter immobilization period should be recommended to patients with breast cancer undergoing reconstruction surgery with TEI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03541161
Arm ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Mammaplasty ; Mastectomy, Simple ; Plastics ; Quality of Life ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Tissue Expansion Devices

HHV-8 virus is known to be associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in HIV seropositive patients and its seroprevalence has geographic difference. In South Korea, incidence of KS is low not only in general population but also in HIV patients compared to other countries. It is speculated that low seroprevalence of HHV-8 has contributed to the low incidence of KS in South Korea. We examined the seroprevalence of anti HHV-8 IgG of HIV seronegative health care workers in one University hospital. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used for diagnosis. One person (0.6%, 1/164) was seropositive, six were equivocal (3.7%, 6/164) and 157 people were seronegative (95.73%, 157/164). This study revealed that seroprevalence of HHV-8 in general population was low in South Korea. Further studies are needed to be carried out to evaluate the low HHV-8 seroprevalence in Korea.
Delivery of Health Care ; Herpesvirus 8, Human ; HIV ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence ; Korea ; Republic of Korea ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Viruses

HHV-8 virus is known to be associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in HIV seropositive patients and its seroprevalence has geographic difference. In South Korea, incidence of KS is low not only in general population but also in HIV patients compared to other countries. It is speculated that low seroprevalence of HHV-8 has contributed to the low incidence of KS in South Korea. We examined the seroprevalence of anti HHV-8 IgG of HIV seronegative health care workers in one University hospital. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used for diagnosis. One person (0.6%, 1/164) was seropositive, six were equivocal (3.7%, 6/164) and 157 people were seronegative (95.73%, 157/164). This study revealed that seroprevalence of HHV-8 in general population was low in South Korea. Further studies are needed to be carried out to evaluate the low HHV-8 seroprevalence in Korea.
Delivery of Health Care ; Herpesvirus 8, Human ; HIV ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence ; Korea ; Republic of Korea ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Viruses