PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy for young adults. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pre-post-test design was used. One hundred three university students participated in the study. Participants in the experimental group (n=51) were provided the health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy for five weeks. The program consisted of weekly sessions that included action planning and group feedback. The control group (n=52) was provided with health information every week for 5 weeks. Program outcomes, including self-efficacy, physical activity health behaviors, total exercise time per week, daily cigarette consumption, frequency of alcohol drinking per month, nutritional health behaviors, and subjective health status, were assessed at baseline and at follow-up after 5 weeks. RESULTS: The participants in the experimental group demonstrated significant increases in self-efficacy, physical activity health behaviors, weekly exercise time, and nutritional health behaviors and significant decreases in daily cigarette consumption than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy is a brief and effective intervention to promote health behaviors among young adults. Further investigation is warranted to assess the program's effectiveness among other age groups and populations at high risk for chronic illness.
Alcohol Drinking ; Chronic Disease ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Self Efficacy ; Tobacco Products ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy for young adults. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pre-post-test design was used. One hundred three university students participated in the study. Participants in the experimental group (n=51) were provided the health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy for five weeks. The program consisted of weekly sessions that included action planning and group feedback. The control group (n=52) was provided with health information every week for 5 weeks. Program outcomes, including self-efficacy, physical activity health behaviors, total exercise time per week, daily cigarette consumption, frequency of alcohol drinking per month, nutritional health behaviors, and subjective health status, were assessed at baseline and at follow-up after 5 weeks. RESULTS: The participants in the experimental group demonstrated significant increases in self-efficacy, physical activity health behaviors, weekly exercise time, and nutritional health behaviors and significant decreases in daily cigarette consumption than those in the control group. CONCLUSION The health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy is a brief and effective intervention to promote health behaviors among young adults. Further investigation is warranted to assess the program's effectiveness among other age groups and populations at high risk for chronic illness.

Thalamic pain is a primary cause of central post-stroke pain (CPSP). Clinical symptoms vary depending on the location of the infarction and frequently accompany several pain symptoms. Therefore, correct diagnosis and proper examination are not easy. We report a case of CPSP due to a left acute thalamic infarction with central disc protrusion at C5-6. A 45-year-old-male patient experiencing a tingling sensation in his right arm was referred to our pain clinic under the diagnosis of cervical disc herniation. This patient also complained of right cramp-like abdominal pain. After further evaluations, he was diagnosed with an acute thalamic infarction. Therefore detailed history taking should be performed and examiners should always be aware of other symptoms that could suggest a more dangerous disease.
Abdominal Pain ; Arm ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Infarction ; Pain Clinics ; Sensation

Colonoscopic examination is a safe procedure, however, unexpected complications can sometimes occur. Bleeding and perforation of the colon have been reported as the most common complications. Hemoperitoneum after colonoscopy is an unusual complication, but it may be catastrophic. We report on a 20-year-old man who experienced left low quadrant pain after undergoing colonoscopy. Hemoperitoneum was diagnosed using abdominal CT. A laparoscopic exploration was urgently performed, revealing a lacerated mesocolon of the descending colon. Bleeding of the injured site was controlled without complication. The patient recovered fully without signs of recurrent bleeding. This report implies that if the patient has persistent abdominal pain after undergoing colonoscopy, we should consider hemoperitoneum as one of the causes. To the best of our knowledge, no case of isolated laceration of the mesocolon of the descending colon after colonoscopy has been reported.
Colonoscopy/adverse effects ; Hemorrhage/etiology ; Humans ; Lacerations/*diagnosis/radiography ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Mesocolon/blood supply ; Pneumoperitoneum/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a painful mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneouse nerve (LFCN) characterized by localized symptoms of numbness, tingling, pain and paresthesia along the anterolateral thigh area. L4 and L5 radiculopathy is set of symptoms that include sharp, burning or shooting pain, which is usually localized to anterolateral leg area and along the dermatomal distribution. When symptoms of MP and lumbar disc disease occur together it is not easy to diagnose MP. We report a case of synchronous post-traumatic MP and radiculopathy due to intervertebral disc herniation at L3–4 and 4–5. A 59-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency room with symptoms of low back pain with left severe L4, L5 radiculopathy. This patient also complained of numbness and paresthesia in the left anterolateral thigh. After detailed history taking and lateral femoral cutaneouse nerve block, he was diagnosed with MP.
Burns ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Intervertebral Disc ; Leg* ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mononeuropathies ; Nerve Block ; Paresthesia ; Radiculopathy* ; Thigh

BACKGROUND: In cirrhotic patients, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is associated with poor outcomes. Diastolic wall strain (DWS) is a new index of left ventricular diastolic function that correlates with the myocardial stiffness. In this study, we aimed to determine whether DWS calculated from preoperative transthoracic echocardiography can predict the survival of liver transplantation recipients. METHODS: A total of 981 patients who underwent liver transplantation were enrolled. We collected the clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data retrospectively. The left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end-systole (LVPWs) and end-diastole (LVPWd) were measured using M-mode imaging. DWS was calculated as follows: DWS = (LVPWs – LVPWd) / LVPWs. As previously reported, DWS ≤ 0.33 was defined as low DWS and DWS > 0.33 was defined as normal DWS. The primary outcome of this study was 2-years survival after liver transplantation. RESULTS: The 2-years mortality rate following liver transplantation was higher in low DWS group than normal DWS group (14.6% vs.10.0%, P = 0.038). In univariate Cox regression analysis, age, model for end-stage liver disease score, Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, creatinine, b-type natriuretic peptide, heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, left ventricular stroke volume index, left ventricular ejection fraction, E/A ratio, e′, E/e′ ratio, and DWS were associated with 2-years survival after liver transplantation. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, DWS was an independent predictor of 2-years survival after adjusting significant univariate covariates. CONCLUSIONS: This study results indicated that the DWS is an independent prognostic predictor in liver transplantation recipients.
Creatinine ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Mortality ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Survival Rate*

Recent clinical trials showed that bortezomib, a novel proteasome inhibitor, had therapeutic activity in multiple myeloma. However, there was no data about the feasibility of bortezomib in Korean patients. We performed a pilot study of bortezomib in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma (1.3 mg/m2 twice weekly for 2 week in a 3-week cycle). Seven patients were enrolled. The median age of patients was 59 yr. All patients previously received VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone) and thalidomide chemotherapy. Three patients previously received alkylator-containing chemotherapy and 4 patients, autologous stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib monotherapy resulted in 3 partial remissions (43%), 3 no changes (43%) and 1 progressive disease (14%). One patient who had no response to bortezomib monotherapy experienced partial remission after addition of dexamethasone to bortezomib. The most common serious toxicity was thrombocytopenia (grade 3/4, 10 of 20 cycles (50%)) and grade 3 peripheral neuropathy was developed in 2 of 20 cycles (10%). Drug-related adverse event led to discontinuation of bortezomib in 1 patient. There was no treatment related mortality. Overall, bortezomib seems to be effective and feasible. Conduction of larger clinical studies on Korean patients is necessary to characterize clinical efficacy and safety of bortezomib more precisely.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Boronic Acids/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Dexamethasone/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Disease Progression ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma/*drug therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pilot Projects ; Pyrazines/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Survival Analysis ; Thrombocytopenia/chemically induced ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: CKD-516 is a newly developed vascular disrupting agent. This phase I dose-escalation study of CKD-516 was conducted to determine maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients received CKD-516 intravenously on D1 and D8 every 3 weeks, in a standard 3+3 design. Safety was evaluated by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events ver. 4.02 and response was assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor ver. 1.1. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were treated with CKD-516 at seven dosing levels: 1 mg/m2/day (n=3), 2 mg/m2/day (n=3), 3.3 mg/m2/day (n=3), 5 mg/m2/day (n=3), 7 mg/m2/day (n=3), 9 mg/m2/day (n=6), and 12 mg/m2/day (n=2). Mean age was 54 and 56.5% of patients were male. Two dose-limiting toxicities, which were both grade 3 hypertension, were observed in two patients at 12 mg/m2/day. The MTD was determined as 12 mg/m2/day. Most common adverse events were gastrointestinal adverse events (diarrhea, 34.8% [30.4% grade 1/2, 13.0% grade 3]; nausea, 21.7% [all grade 1/2]; vomiting, 21.7% [all grade 1/2]), myalgia (17.4%, all grade 1/2), and abdominal pain (21.7% [21.7% grade 1/2, 4.3% grade 3]). The pharmacokinetic study showed the dose-linearity of all dosing levels. Among 23 patients, six patients (26.1%) showed stable disease. Median progression-free survival was 39 days (95% confidence interval, 37 to 41 days). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates feasibility of CKD-516, novel vascular disrupting agent, in patients with advanced solid tumor. MTD of CKD-516 was defined as 12 mg/m2/day on D1 and D8 every 3 weeks.
Abdominal Pain ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Myalgia ; National Cancer Institute (U.S.) ; Nausea ; Pharmacokinetics ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: We previously reported the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to be 3.3% among an elderly Korean urban cohort recruited during 2005-2006. Here, we report a 5-year follow-up study of the previously identified MGUS cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 680 participants from the initial cohort were followed-up for a median of 5 years. Sera were collected between 2010 and 2011. Two-step screening was performed with standard serum electrophoresis followed by immunofixation and determination of the serum concentration of monoclonal-protein (M-protein). RESULTS: Of the 680 participants (21 with MGUS), 348 (51%) agreed to participate in the follow-up study and 10 were found to have MGUS. Among the 21 MGUS patients initially identified, nine were followed-up, six had persistent M-protein, and one patient had progressed to multiple myeloma (progression rate, 1.0%/yr). The M-protein disappeared in the remaining two individuals. Among the 339 participants without MGUS who were followed-up, four developed an M-protein. There was no significant difference in survival with respect to the presence of MGUS (p=0.66). CONCLUSION: The 5-year follow-up data show that the natural clinical course of MGUS in Korea is similar to that in Western countries. MGUS was not associated with an increased risk of death over the 5-year study period.
Aged* ; Cohort Studies* ; Electrophoresis ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance* ; Multiple Myeloma ; Prevalence

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of low-dose paclitaxel/cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer that had failed 5-fluorouracil/platinum-based chemotherapy. Thirty-two patients with documented progression on or within 6 months after discontinuing 5-fluorouracil/platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled. As a second-line treatment, paclitaxel (145 mg/m2) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2) was administered on day 1 every 3 weeks. Among 32 patients enrolled, 8 (25%) responded partially to paclitaxel/cisplatin, 8 (25%) had stable disease, and 14 (44%) had progressive disease. Two patients (6%) were not evaluable. The median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival for all patients were 2.9 months and 9.1 months, respectively. The most common hematologic toxicity was anemia (47%). Grade 3 neutropenia developed in three patients (9%), but no other grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity occurred. The most common non-hematologic toxicities were emesis (31%) and peripheral neuropathy (38%). Three cases (9%) of grade 3/4 emesis and 2 cases (6%) of grade 3 peripheral neuropathy developed. In conclusion, low-dose paclitaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy showed moderate activity with favorable toxicity profiles. However, relatively short TTP of this regimen warrants the development of more effective paclitaxel-based regimens other than combination with cisplatin in these patients as second-line therapies.
Adenocarcinoma/*drug therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*administration & dosage/adverse ; Cisplatin/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Female ; Fluorouracil/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Humans ; Leucovorin/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organoplatinum Compounds/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Paclitaxel/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Stomach Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Failure