OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate recognition, dietary attitude and education needs for reducing sodium intakes of dietitian at customized home visiting health service (CHVHS). METHODS: The subjects were 75 dietitian at CHVHS. We investigated several variables (recognition, dietary attitude, education needs for reducing sodium intakes) and determined sodium intakes level of subjects as 'low', 'middle' and 'high' by Dish Frequency Questionnaire 25 (DFQ 25). Also, we assessed the differences in recognition, dietary attitude, sodium intake level and education needs by dietitian career period (under 3 yrs vs. over 3 yrs) at CHVHS. RESULTS: In recognition related reducing sodium intake, they showed 'checking a sodium content in nutrition labeling' score 2.5/4.0 and 'perception difference between sodium and salt' score 3.1/4.0. There was no difference in the recognition between under 3yrs' group and over 3yrs' group. In dietary attitude related reducing sodium intake, they showed 'palatability for salty taste' score 0.8/1.0, 'attitude in related soups' 0.7/1.0, 'attitude in related using natural spice' 0.6/1.0. There was a difference in 'attitude in related soups' between under 3yrs' group and over 3yrs' group (0.6 vs. 0.7). In sodium intake level by DFQ 25, they showed 'low group' 41.3%, 'middle group' 41.3% and 'high group' 17.3%. There was no difference in the distribution of sodium intake level by the career. In education needs related reducing sodium intakes, there were 'teaching experience' 93.3%, 'have a difficulty in teaching about reducing sodium intakes' 86.6%, and 'necessity of education for CHVHS dietitians' 100.0%. 'Needed education contents for CHVHS dietitians' were ranked as 'cooking way to reduce sodium intake' 58.7%, 'relation between hypertension and sodium' 17.3%, 'composing way to reduce sodium intake' 17.3%. There was a difference in needed education contents 'relationship between hypertension and sodium' (33.3% vs. 2.6%) and 'The cooking way to reduce sodium intake' (38.9% vs. 76.9%) by the career. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that a capacity training program for reducing sodium intake may be needed for dietitians at CHVHS to improve health of the community elderly. For effective training program related reducing sodium intake for dietitians at CHVHS, it may be necessary to consider the career period as dietitians at CHVHS.
Aged ; Cooking ; Education* ; Health Services* ; House Calls* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sodium*

Purpose: To evaluate the retinal vascular caliber in early type 2 diabetic patients without retinopathy. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 85 patients who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (age, 10-48 years) and sex-matched healthy controls. Dilated fundus examinations were performed to confirm the absence of diabetic retinopathy. Fundus photographs were acquired and analyzed using software that semi-automatically measured retinal vascular caliber. Central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE), and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) were determined using the revised Parr-Hubbard formula. Healthy controls were examined using the same approach. Results: There were no significant differences between patients and controls in terms of CRAE (149.92 ± 21.29 µm and 144.85 ± 17.14 µm, respectively; p = 0.137) or CRVE (195.85 ± 22.94 µm and 196.69 ± 18.43 µm, respectively; p = 0.829). However, AVR was significantly higher in the patient group (0.768 ± 0.088 vs. 0.737 ± 0.061; p = 0.031). In the patient group, AVR was significantly correlated with hemoglobin A1c (r = 0.325, p = 0.006), but not with body mass index (p = 0.478). Conclusions An increase in peripapillary AVR may be an early feature of retinal vessels observed in patients with type 2 diabetes, which is closely related to elevated blood sugar.

No abstract available.
Apoptosis* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia*

BACKGROUND: Although there are controversies regarding the benefit of fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer (CRC), the pathologic features affecting postchemotherapeutic prognosis in these patients have not been fully identified yet. METHODS: A total of 26 histopathologic and immunohistochemical factors were comprehensively evaluated in 125 stage II or III MSI-H CRC patients who underwent curative resection followed by fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy. We statistically analyzed the associations of these factors with disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Using a Kaplan- Meier analysis with log-rank test, we determined that ulceroinfiltrative gross type (p=.003), pT4 (p<.001), pN2 (p=.002), perineural invasion (p=.001), absence of peritumoral lymphoid reaction (p=.041), signet ring cell component (p=.006), and cribriform comedo component (p=.004) were significantly associated with worse DFS in patients receiving oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy (n=45). By contrast, pT4 (p<.001) and tumor budding-positivity (p=.032) were significant predictors of poor survival in patients receiving non-oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy (n=80). In Cox proportional hazards regression model-based univariate and multivariate analyses, pT category (pT1-3 vs pT4) was the only significant prognostic factor in patients receiving non-oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy, whereas pT category, signet ring cell histology and cribriform comedo histology remained independent prognostic factors in patients receiving oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: pT4 status is the most significant pathologic determinant of poor outcome after fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II/III MSI-H CRC.
Cellular Structures ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Microsatellite Instability ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pathology ; Prognosis*

This study aims to examine the effect of methylphenidate, which is the most extensively prescribed medicine treating children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), on the children's neuropsychiatric functions by comparing the symptomatic differences before and after its medication. MEHTODS: The subjects of this study were 48 children who corresponded to the diagnostic criteria for ADHD of DSM-IV, did not have any problem in vision or hearing, did not have neurologic disorder such as epilepsy and brain damage, and did not have other long term medication. To evaluate the effects of behavioral response and medication, after stopping medication over a week we handed out questionnaires to the parents and conducted CPT to the subjects. A dose of 0.3-0.7 mg/kg (bid or tid) was medicated at 8AM and 1PM everyday. After 4 weeks of medication, the same tests were conducted. RESULTS: Average age of the subjects was 8.88+/-1.55. There were 44 boys (91.7%) and 4 girls (8.3%). Mean intelligence was 96.60+/-18.12 and mental processing was 102.90+/-16.51. On ADDES-HV, after medication attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity were significantly improved (p<0.05). On AcTeRS, after medication attention, impulsivity and social skill were significantly improved (p<0.05). On CAPs, after medication inattention and hyperactivity were significantly improved (p<0.05). On SNAP, after medication inattention impulsivity and hyperactivity were significantly improved (p<0.05). On the academic performance rating scale, after medication total score, learning ability, impulse control and social withdrawal were significantly improved (p<0.05). On performing CPT, after medication commissions error, hit reaction time standard error, variability of standard error and attentiveness were significantly improved (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With these results, we recognized methy-lphenidate is more effective in children's impulsivity and hyperactivity than attention, contrary to the clinical observation.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* ; Brain ; Child* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Hand ; Hearing ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Intelligence ; Learning ; Methylphenidate* ; Nervous System Diseases ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reaction Time

BACKGROUND: Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is a category of renal cell carcinoma composed of histologically characteristic tumor cells. E-cadherin is an intercellular adhesion protein that has been correlated with tumor aggressiveness in many carcinomas, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma. However, the significance of an E-cadherin expression in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is not known. METHODS: We evaluated the E-cadherin expression status of 65 chromophobe renal cell carcinomas by performing immunohistochemical staining with the tissue microarray method. The percentage of positively stained tumor cells was evaluated and this was then classified into two categories: a low expression where 0 to 25% of the cells are positive, and a high expression where more than 25% of the cells are positive. RESULTS: Among 65 cases, 11 cases (17%) showed a low expression, and 54 cases (83.0%) showed a high expression. The tumors with low expression were more likely to have a higher stage but this was not significant (p=0.056). On the survival analysis, a low E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with poor cancer-specific survival (p=0.005) and progression-free survival (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The E-cadherin expression is a good prognostic marker for survival in patients with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.
Cadherins ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of anthocyanoside and ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG), according to the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: A chart review of patients with normal tension glaucoma was retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent a Humphrey visual field (HVF) test and logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (log MAR BCVA) was measured over a 6 months period. Changes in mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD) of visual field and log MAR BCVA were compared among anthocyanoside, GBE and no medication (control) groups. Patients were divided according to the presence of DM. RESULTS: A total of 406 NTG patients, including 151 DM patients, were included in the present study. MD was improved in the anthocyanoside and GBE groups, but not in the control group. PSD was not significantly different in all groups. BCVA was improved in the anthocyanoside group, but deteriorated in the control group. The results were similar in patients with or without DM. The generalized linear model demonstrated that systemic medication affected changes in visual indices. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present study suggest that anthocyanoside and GBE may be helpful for improving visual function in some patients with NTG regardless of their DM status.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Low Tension Glaucoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: We conducted a study to evaluate the effects of brinzolamide/timolol fixed combination (BTFC) in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 33 normal-tension glaucoma patients treated with BTFC in the unilateral eye. We measured intraocular pressure (IOP) every 2 and 1/2 hours between 09:00 am and 04:30 pm. After using BTFC at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm for 6 months, we measured the IOP at the same time period. We analyzed and compared the IOP of eyes treated with BTFC and contralateral eyes. RESULTS: The mean reduction in IOP was -2.85 +/- 1.43 mm Hg (-18.36 +/- 8.58%) in the eyes treated with BTFC and -2.21 +/- 1.73 mm Hg (-13.90 +/- 10.66%) in the contralateral eyes. The IOP lowering effect was greater in the eyes treated with BTFC than in the contralateral eyes. After 6 months of BTFC instillation, the changes in IOP measurements were the lowest at 11:30 am and increased at each time point afterwards. The greatest reduction in IOP was observed at 1 month; however, significant IOP reduction was observed at 3 and 6 months in both BTFC and contralateral eyes. There was no serious adverse event causing ocular damage. CONCLUSIONS: BTFC provided a significant IOP reduction in both BTFC and contralateral eyes in NTG patients.
Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Timolol*

BACKGROUND: A major ingredient of green tea is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and this is known to have many beneficial effects for cancer prevention and also on the cardiovascular system and neurodegenerative diseases through its anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering and neuroprotective properties. Its actions on nociception and the spinal nervous system have been examined in only a few studies, and in these studies EGCG showed an antinociceptive effect on inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and a neuroprotective effect in motor neuron disease. This study was performed to investigate the effect of EGCG on acute thermal pain and the development of morphine tolerance at the spinal level. METHODS: The experimental subjects were male Sprague-Dawley rats and the Hot-Box test was employed. A single or double-lumen intrathecal catheter was implanted at the lumbar enlargement for drug administration. An osmotic pump was used to infuse morphine for 7 days for induction of morphine tolerance. EGCG was injected repeatedly for 7 days at twice a day through the intrathecal catheter. RESULTS: Intrathecal EGCG increased the paw withdrawal latency (PWL) after repeated administration for 7 days at twice a day, but this did not happen with administering on single bolus injection of EGCG. In addition, the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal morphine was not affected by co-administration with EGCG. A continuous 7-day infusion of morphine caused a significant decrease of the PWL in the control group (M + S, morphine plus saline). In contrast, intrathecal EGCG injection over 7 days blocked the decrease of the PWL in the experiment group (M + E, morphine plus EGCG). CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal ECGC produced a weak antinociceptive effect for acute thermal pain, but it did not change the morphine's analgesic effect. However, the development of antinociceptive tolerance to morphine was attenuated by administering intrathecal EGCG.
Cardiovascular System ; Catechin ; Catheters ; Humans ; Male ; Morphine ; Motor Neuron Disease ; Nervous System ; Neuralgia ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Nociception ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tea

Pheochromocytoma is an uncommon tumor that originates in the adrenal medulla or in other paraganglia of the sympathetic nervous system. If a hypertensive crisis occurs during general anesthesia in incidental or untreated pheochromocytoma, it is a life-threatening event with a mortality rate of about 80%. Anesthetic drugs such as pancuronium, atracurium, and metoclopromide can exacerbate the potentially lethal cardiovascular effects of catecholamines. We report a case of a patient with pheochromocytoma who display abrupt increases in systolic arterial pressure and plasma norepinephrine following rocuronium administration. This case indicates the possible involvement of elevated sympathetic nervous system to a catecholamine crisis triggered by rocuronium in pheochromocytoma.
Adrenal Medulla ; Androstanols ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Arterial Pressure ; Atracurium ; Catecholamines ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Pancuronium ; Pheochromocytoma ; Plasma ; Sympathetic Nervous System