A comparative study was conducted to identify the effects of prenatal education on primiparas' self-confidence, satisfaction in maternal role performance and perception of delivery experience. Data were collected from 91 primiparas from August 1 to 30, 2001 using structured questionnaires. The subjects were selected from 2 OB & GY hospitals which operate the same prenatal education programs in M city. One group of subjects was primiparas who did receive prenatal education (n= 44) and another group of subjects was primiparas who did not receive prenatal education (n= 47). This study hypothesized that primiparas in education group would have higher self- confidence, satisfaction in maternal role performance and perception of delivery experience than those of non-education group. Descriptive statistics, X(2)-test, t-test, and correlation were used for data analyses. The results of this study were as follows: 1.Primiparas in prenatal education group would not have better perception of delivery experience than those of non-education group (t= 1.405, p = 0.163). 2.Primiparas in prenatal education group would have higher self-confidence in maternal role performance than those of non-education group (t=7.669, p= 0.000). 3.Primiparas in prenatal education group would have higher satisfaction in maternal role performance than those of non- education group (t= 4.115, p = 0.000). 4.There was significant correlations between self-confidence and satisfaction (r= 0.489, p= 0.000). Moreover, there was significant correlation between self-confidence and perception of delivery experience (r = 0.284, p = 0.006). The results of this study indicated that prenatal education needs to be developed and applied to nursing practice to increase self-confidence and satisfaction in maternal role performance. Experimental studies are needed to identify the effect of prenatal education.
Education ; Nursing ; Prenatal Education* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Statistics as Topic

Background : It has been suggested that thrombospondin (TSP) is a p53-dependent negative regulator of tumor angiogenesis. TSP expression and localization in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and its association with overexpression of p53 protein were investigated. Methods : TSP-1 and -2 expressions were examined in 40 HCC specimens by immunohistochemical staining and in 4 HCC cell lines by Western blotting. In addition, p53 protein expression and microvessel density (MVD) were correlated with the TSP expression. Results : Strong immu- nopositivity for TSP-1 was observed in fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and some vas- cular smooth muscle cells of the stroma in 18 cases (45%), and in tumor cells in 3 cases (7.5%) of 40 cases of HCC. Immunoreactivity for TSP-2 was observed in only the sinusoidal lining cells of the tumor in 15 cases (46%), and in tumor cells in 2 cases (6%) of 32 cases of HCC. TSP-1 expression was inversely correlated with MVD (p=0.028), but TSP-2 expression did not show any correlation with MVD. Although p53 was overexpressed in 17 cases, there was no significant correlation between TSP and p53 expressions. None of the HCC cell lines expressed TSP-1 or -2. Conclusions : These findings indicate that TSP-1 is mainly derived from nonparenchymal cells, and may decrease tumor angiogenesis in HCC.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Microvessels ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Thrombospondins

A simple, rapid and selective liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is developed and validated for quantification of venlafaxine in human plasma with simple liquid-liquid extraction step consisted of extraction with ether and dichloromethane for 10 min and mixing with 1 M sodium acetate in human plasma using fluoxetine as an internal standard (IS). The analyte are separated using an isocratic mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 5 mM ammonium formate (4/3, v/v) on a isocratic YMC hydrosphere C18 (2.0x50.0 mm, 3.0 microm) column and analyzed by MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the transitions of respective [M+H](+) ions, m/z 278.2-->260.3 and m/z 310.1-->148.1 for quantification of venlafaxine and IS, respectively. The standard calibration curves showed good linearity within the range of 1.0-200.0 ng/mL (r2=0.9986, 1/chi2 weighting). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1.0 ng/mL. The retention times of venlafaxine and IS were 0.6 min and 0.7 min that means the potential for the high-throughput potential of the proposed method. In addition, no significant metabolic compounds were found to interfere with the analysis. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for the concentrations over the standard curve range. The validated method was successfully applied to bioequivalence study after 75-mg of venlafaxine sustained-release (SR) capsule in 24 healthy Korean subjects.
Ammonium Compounds ; Calibration ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Ether ; Fluoxetine ; Humans ; Ions ; Liquid-Liquid Extraction ; Methylene Chloride ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma* ; Sodium Acetate ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Therapeutic Equivalency* ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluated the effects of alcohol on neurocognitive function, psychomotor performance and subjective response in healthy Korean adults with different ALDH2 genotypes. METHOD: A total of 24 males, half with active ALDH2*1/2*1 and the other with inactive ALDH2*1/2*1, was selected through genotyping using restriction fragment length polymorphism. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design, each subject consumed 0.5g/kg dose of alcohol, given as a mixture of 40% vodka and orange juice, and placebo(orange juice) on two separate occasions on an average of weekly intervals. The blood alcohol concentrations(BACs) were measured using a breath analyzer at baseline and at 30, 60 minutes after drinking. P300s were measured at baseline and at 30 minutes after alcohol and placebo intake. Vital signs and psychomotor performance[Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold(CFFT), Choice Reaction Time(CRT), Digit Symbol Substitution(DSS)] were measured at baseline and at 60 minutes after alcohol and placebo intake. Subjective responses were measured at the end of the study. The statistical analysis focused on whether there were any differences between groups with different ALDH2 genotypes. RESULTS: The major results are as follows. 1) BACs in inactive group were overall equivalent to those in the active group. Only in terms of time, BACs were significantly higher overall at 30 minutes than at 60 minutes after alcohol intake. 2) Pulse rates were significantly increased after alcohol intake compared with placebo, and the increase was greater in the inactive than in the active group. 3) P300 latencies in leads Fz(frontal), Cz(cental) and Pz(parietal) were significantly increased after alcohol intake compared to placebo, and the increase was greater in the inactive than in the active group. P300 amplitudes in leads Cz and Pz were significantly decreased overall after alcohol intake compared to placebo. 4) Compared with placebo, alcohol produced significant effect on the psychomotor performance : impairment in the inactive group, improvement in the active group. 5) Compared with placebo, alcohol significantly induced a negative or an intense effect on the subjective responses in the inactive group, but little negative and even a somewhat positive effect in the active group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ALDH isozyme variance might be an important factor to determine the effects of acute dose of alcohol on the various psychobehavioural functions and also to determine the alcohol use pattern and to predict the future development of alcohol overuse and/or abuse.
Adult ; Citrus sinensis ; Cross-Over Studies ; Drinking ; Flicker Fusion ; Genotype* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Psychomotor Performance* ; Vital Signs

Successful treatment of the non-growing patient with an open bite of either dental skeletal pattern often presents a difficult challenge. The morphologic pattern in anterior open bite is characterized by longer vertical dimensions, an increase in development of the maxillary posterior dento-alveolar structure and a steep mandibular plane. In such cases, molar intrusion would be a good remedy for treatment. This article reports the successful treatment and retention of two anterior open-bite cases. We used orthodontic mini-implants for treatment and a circumferential retainer with posterior bite block or skeletal fixed retainer for retention. The diagnostic criteria and mechanics for appropriate treatment are discussed. Our results suggest that open bite can be reduced successfully with intrusion of molars using orthodontic mini-implants (OMI) without orthognathic surgery, and that circumferential retainer with posterior bite block and skeletal fixed retainer are effective for retention.
Adult ; Bites and Stings ; Humans ; Mechanics ; Molar ; Open Bite ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Retention (Psychology) ; Vertical Dimension

Pigmented squamous cell carcinoma is a very rare malignant, pigmented, epidermal tumor. The rarity of pigmented squamous cell carcinomas may reflect in part their misdiagnosis as other pigmented neoplasms, particularly malignant melanoma. To our knowledge, only five cases have been reported in literature. We recently experienced a case of pigmented squamous cell carcinoma arising from pigmented actinic keratosis in a 77 years old female. Physical examination showed a 0.8 0.6 cm, smooth, dark brown pigmented patch with irregular but sharply defined borders located on the upper left chest. The biopsy specimen showed histologic findings of pigmented actinic keratosis with abundant melanin pigments, which became pigmented squamous cell carcinoma. Most of pigments in the squamous cell carcinoma were contained within the melanocytes along with the neoplastic squamous cells.
Actins* ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic* ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Thorax

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Abdominal Pain* ; Peptic Ulcer*

In order to evaluate the effects of incision location and suture method on induced astigmatism in cataract surgery, three different procedures were applied to 150 eyes which had phacoemulsification through 6 mm incision with 6 mm optic IOLs. The group 1(50 eyes) had posterior limbal incision followed by interrupted radial sutures. The group 2(50 eyes) had posterior limbal incision followed by continuous shoelace sutures. The group 3(50 eys) had scleral pocket incision at 2 - 2.5 mm apart from the surgical limbus followed by sutureless technique. The corneal astigmatism was ana lysed by algebraic and vector methods. Keratometric astigmatic changes with vector analysis on postoperative 1 day were 2.34 diopter(D), 1.41D, 0.74D in the group 1, group 2, gruop 3 respectively. There were statistically significant differences among the three groups(p<0.01). At postoperative 1 week. the keratometric astigmatic change of the group 3 was less than that of the group 1(p<0.01) and the visual acuity of the group 3 was better than that of the group 1(p<0.05). During postoperative 1 to 6 months, there was no statistically significant differences among the three groups in astigmatic changes or visual acuity. It could be concluded that scleral pocket incision with suture less technique showed significantly less astigmatism than other techniques initially, and continuous shoelace suture technique could have more stable and less astigmatism than interrupted radial suture technique.
Astigmatism* ; Cataract ; Phacoemulsification* ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures* ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors which contribute to the time of the first stool and the first urine passage. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a chart of 1,221 infants > or = 34 weeks of gestational age admitted to the normal newborn nursery of Il Sin Christian Hospital, Busan, from November 2004 to April 2005. We compared the time to first stool and urine according to maternal factors(maternal age, parity, mode of delivery, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and maternal diabetes) and infant factors (gender, Apgar score, gestational age, type of feeding during first 24 hours, age at the first feeding, number of feeds during the first 12 hours and age at discharge). RESULTS: In total, 95.3 percent of our infants had passed their first stool by 24 hours and 99.8 percent of them had a stool by 36 hours. A total of 95.8 percent of our infants had passed urine by 24 hours of age and 98.3 percent of them by 36 hours. Comparing preterm and term infants, the time to first urine is 6.5+/-5.8 hours and 12.1+/-6.6 hours, respectively(P=0.000). The time to first stool is 20.7+/-13.5 hours and 10.0+/-6.3 hours, respectively(P=0.000) Early-fed infants were significantly earlier in time to first urine(P=0.023) and first stool(P=0.012). There was no statistically significant relationship between the number of feeds in 0-12 hours, mode of delivery, Apgar score, parity, gender, type of feeding, maternal diabetes and the time of the first urine and first stool. CONCLUSION: Gestational age, birth weight and age at first feeding were significantly related to the time of the first urine and first stool passage. When there is delayed passage of the first urine and first stool, we should consider close observation of other associated symptoms and other factors previously mentioned, to avoid extensive evaluation and intervention.
Amniotic Fluid ; Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Busan ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Nurseries ; Parity ; Retrospective Studies