The use of complementary alternative therapies in cancer patients are increasing with the increase in cancer incidence and treatment rates. Studies were conducted to find out about cancer patients’ knowledge and attitudes (treatment effect, intention to use) towards complementary and alternative therapies. 10 complementary alternative therapies (hyperthermia, ascorbate, thymosin, mistletoe, immunocyanin, selenium, Phellinus linteus, cholecalciferol, glutathione, herb remedies) were selected from evidence review. 100 patients who visited cancer care hospitals were surveyed about their knowledge and attitudes (effectiveness, treatment choices) by self-questionnaire. The total score for knowledge/attitude (effectiveness/intent to use) towards complementary and alternative therapies was 25.4 points (26.7 points/24.7 points, out of 40). Knowledge and attitude scores for hyperthermia were the highest, and knowledge and attitude scores for immunocyanin and glutathione were the lowest. Herbal remedies scored higher on knowledge but lower on attitude (effectiveness and choice). Vitamin C had moderate knowledge and effectiveness scores, but the highest intention-to-use score. There was a negative correlation between the effectiveness of complementary and alternative therapies and the choice of treatment regimen with lower scores as people aged. The use of complementary alternative therapies is increasing although the evidence has not been proven for the cancer cure rate or survival. It is necessary to recognize the effectiveness and limitations of complementary alternative therapies and educate patients so that they can choose the appropriate treatment. Further research is needed on the effects and side effects of various complementary alternative therapies used in addition to standard treatments.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Measles*

Allergic angitis and granulomatosis is a kind of rare systemic vasculitis, with various manifestations of disease of lung, heart, skin, musculoskeletal system, nervous system and hepatobiliary tract. There was no report of a case with manifestation of pleuritis and pericarditis, while several cases had been reported in Korea. So we here report a case of allergic angitis and granulomatosis with manifestations of pleuritis and pericarditis. The case also showed clinical manifestations of hypereosinophilia, asthma, rhinitis, pulmonary infilterates with eosinophilia and nephritis. Open lung biopsy showed arteritis with heavy infilteration of activated eosinophil in lung, pleura and pericardium. The involvement of heart might cause critical complication leading death. The patients who are supposed as allergic angitis and granulomatosis should be examined for the involvement of heart.
Arteritis ; Asthma ; Biopsy ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Heart ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Musculoskeletal System ; Nephritis ; Nervous System ; Pericarditis* ; Pericardium ; Pleura ; Pleurisy* ; Rhinitis ; Skin ; Systemic Vasculitis

Leiomyoma and adenomyosis of the uterus are the most common gynecologic disorders in an enlarged uterus. The characteristic US and MR findings in differentiation between both lesions were prospectively evaluated in 30 patients. Of 30 patients, 15 were leiomyomas, 6 were adenomyosises, 8 were leiomyomas and adenomyosises, and 1 was a normal pregnancy, histologically. The total number of leiomyom nodules were 49 while adenomyosises were 14 (9 diffuse and 5 focal). Among 49 myomas nodules, 36 were correctly diagnosed by sonography. The characteristic US findings of uterine leiomyoma were well defined nodules (36), hypoechoic peripheral rim (16), and whorl-like internal echoes (13). Forty four of the 49 myoma nodules were correctly diagnosed by MRI. The characteristic MR findings of myoma were well defined nodules (43), peripheral low signal intensity rim on T1WI (13) and T2WI (9), and peripheral high signal intensity rim on T2WI (5). Among 14 adenomyosises, 9 were correctly diagnosed by sonography. The characteristic US findings of adenomyosis were diffuse uterine hypertrophy more than 5.5cm in AP diameter with endometrial displacement and no significant echo change in myometrium All 14 adenomyosis as were correctly diagnosed from MRI. On T2WI, adenomyosis appeared as ill defined localized or diffuse thickening of the junctional zone more than 1cm in thickness. It was our conclusion that to differentiate between leiomyoma and adenomyosis focused on should be the detection of existence of nodule in leiomyoma, the primary sign, not on the secondary indirect sign.
Adenomyosis* ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Leiomyoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mice ; Myoma ; Myometrium ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Uterus

Objectives: The use of qualitative healthcare services or its discrepancy between different income levels of the type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients has seldom been studied concurrently. The present study is unique that regarding T2D patients of early stages of diagnosis. Aimed to assess the utilization of qualitative healthcare services and influence of income levels on the inequality of care among newly diagnosed patients with T2D. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 7590 patients was conducted by the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort 2.0 from 2002 to 2015. Insured employee in 2013 with no history of T2D between 2002 and 2012 were included. The standard of diabetes care includes hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc; 4 times/y), eyes (once/y) and lipid abnormalities (once/y). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the difference between income levels and inequality of care. Results: From years 1 to 3, rates of appropriate screening fell from 16.9% to 14.1% (HbA1c), 15.8% to 14.5% (eye), and 59.2% to 33.2% (lipid abnormalities). Relative to income class 5 (the highest-income group), HbA1 screening was significantly less common in class 2 (year 2: odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61 to 0.99; year 3: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.91). In year 1, lipid screening was less common in class 1 (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98) than in class 5, a trend that continued in year 2. Eye screening rates were consistently lower in class 1 than in class 5 (year 1: OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.89; year 2: OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.78; year 3: OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.99). Conclusions Newly diagnosed T2D patients have shown low rate of HbA1c and screening for diabetic-related complications and experienced inequality in relation to receiving qualitative diabetes care by income levels.

Objectives: The use of qualitative healthcare services or its discrepancy between different income levels of the type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients has seldom been studied concurrently. The present study is unique that regarding T2D patients of early stages of diagnosis. Aimed to assess the utilization of qualitative healthcare services and influence of income levels on the inequality of care among newly diagnosed patients with T2D. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 7590 patients was conducted by the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort 2.0 from 2002 to 2015. Insured employee in 2013 with no history of T2D between 2002 and 2012 were included. The standard of diabetes care includes hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc; 4 times/y), eyes (once/y) and lipid abnormalities (once/y). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the difference between income levels and inequality of care. Results: From years 1 to 3, rates of appropriate screening fell from 16.9% to 14.1% (HbA1c), 15.8% to 14.5% (eye), and 59.2% to 33.2% (lipid abnormalities). Relative to income class 5 (the highest-income group), HbA1 screening was significantly less common in class 2 (year 2: odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61 to 0.99; year 3: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.91). In year 1, lipid screening was less common in class 1 (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98) than in class 5, a trend that continued in year 2. Eye screening rates were consistently lower in class 1 than in class 5 (year 1: OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.89; year 2: OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.78; year 3: OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.99). Conclusions Newly diagnosed T2D patients have shown low rate of HbA1c and screening for diabetic-related complications and experienced inequality in relation to receiving qualitative diabetes care by income levels.

Objectives: The use of qualitative healthcare services or its discrepancy between different income levels of the type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients has seldom been studied concurrently. The present study is unique that regarding T2D patients of early stages of diagnosis. Aimed to assess the utilization of qualitative healthcare services and influence of income levels on the inequality of care among newly diagnosed patients with T2D. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 7590 patients was conducted by the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort 2.0 from 2002 to 2015. Insured employee in 2013 with no history of T2D between 2002 and 2012 were included. The standard of diabetes care includes hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc; 4 times/y), eyes (once/y) and lipid abnormalities (once/y). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the difference between income levels and inequality of care. Results: From years 1 to 3, rates of appropriate screening fell from 16.9% to 14.1% (HbA1c), 15.8% to 14.5% (eye), and 59.2% to 33.2% (lipid abnormalities). Relative to income class 5 (the highest-income group), HbA1 screening was significantly less common in class 2 (year 2: odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61 to 0.99; year 3: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.91). In year 1, lipid screening was less common in class 1 (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98) than in class 5, a trend that continued in year 2. Eye screening rates were consistently lower in class 1 than in class 5 (year 1: OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.89; year 2: OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.78; year 3: OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.99). Conclusions Newly diagnosed T2D patients have shown low rate of HbA1c and screening for diabetic-related complications and experienced inequality in relation to receiving qualitative diabetes care by income levels.

Objectives: The use of qualitative healthcare services or its discrepancy between different income levels of the type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients has seldom been studied concurrently. The present study is unique that regarding T2D patients of early stages of diagnosis. Aimed to assess the utilization of qualitative healthcare services and influence of income levels on the inequality of care among newly diagnosed patients with T2D. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 7590 patients was conducted by the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort 2.0 from 2002 to 2015. Insured employee in 2013 with no history of T2D between 2002 and 2012 were included. The standard of diabetes care includes hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc; 4 times/y), eyes (once/y) and lipid abnormalities (once/y). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the difference between income levels and inequality of care. Results: From years 1 to 3, rates of appropriate screening fell from 16.9% to 14.1% (HbA1c), 15.8% to 14.5% (eye), and 59.2% to 33.2% (lipid abnormalities). Relative to income class 5 (the highest-income group), HbA1 screening was significantly less common in class 2 (year 2: odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61 to 0.99; year 3: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.91). In year 1, lipid screening was less common in class 1 (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98) than in class 5, a trend that continued in year 2. Eye screening rates were consistently lower in class 1 than in class 5 (year 1: OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.89; year 2: OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.78; year 3: OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.99). Conclusions Newly diagnosed T2D patients have shown low rate of HbA1c and screening for diabetic-related complications and experienced inequality in relation to receiving qualitative diabetes care by income levels.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at exploring the current status of graduate programs for an advanced practice nurse(APN) to recommend future directions of APN education. METHODS: A total of 142 students enrolled in seven APN specialty programs, 67 professors who were involved in APN education, and nine nurse administrators participated in the study. Data was collected by questionnaires and focus group interviews. RESULTS: The current definition of APN was found not to be specific enough to represent expected roles of APN in regards to knowledge, attitudes, roles, and skills. Standard curricula employed regardless of the area of APN specialty, lack of qualified clinical practice settings, as well as prepared instructors were found to be problematic. CONCLUSION: The following needs to be addressed: 1. redefining of APN roles, 2. tailoring specialty areas of APN, 3. consolidating educational programs, and 4. ensuring APN role models and faculty. Suggesting a CNS role in Korean APN, areas of APN should be rearranged toclarify their roles and educational programs need to be further developed to meet the expectations and quality of APNs. It is necessary to ensure APN's employment in the health care system by laws and policies to perform advanced nursing roles.
Adult ; Curriculum ; Education, Nursing, Continuing ; Education, Nursing, Graduate ; Educational Measurement ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Middle Aged ; Nurse Clinicians/*education ; Nurse Practitioners/*education ; Nursing Evaluation Research ; Questionnaires ; Societies, Nursing ; Specialties, Nursing/*education

BACKGROUND: Increased abdominal obesity is clearly associated with metabolic diseases and associated with increased risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. But the mechanisms underlying these associations are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to correlate the regional body composition with pulse wave velocity in the overweight and obese women. METHODS: We investigated 104 overweight and obese participants. Regional body composition was distinguished by anthropometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and computed tomography (CT). For estimates of arterial stiffness, we measured brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Fasting blood glucose, lipid parameters, CRP, and free fatty acid were measured. Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted to identify the relationship between baPWV and regional body composition. RESULTS: Average age, fasting blood sugar, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, HOMA-IR, abdominal visceral fat area measured by CT, visceral fat area/ subcutaneous fat area (VSR), and visceral fat area/midthigh muscle area (VMR) were all significantly higher in the visceral obesity group than the subcutaneous obesity group. BaPWV was positively correlated with age, blood pressure, triglyceride, waist circumference, waist hip ratio, abdominal visceral fat area measured by CT, and VSR and inversely correlated with thigh subcutaneous fat area. In multiple regression models, after adjustment for confounding factors, baPWV was independently correlated with abdominal visceral fat area measured by CT (R2=0.560, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Abdominal visceral fat area measured by CT was the only measurement positively associated with baPWV which explains the relationship of regional body composition and arterial stiffness.
Abdominal Fat* ; Absorptiometry, Photon ; Ankle ; Anthropometry ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Composition ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Metabolic Diseases ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Overweight* ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Thigh ; Triglycerides ; Vascular Stiffness* ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio