Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of the Horticultural Therapy Program on interpersonal relations, self-efficacy, and stress awareness for patients with mental illness. Methods: This was a non-equivalent control group pre and post-test design study. Participants were recruited from a closed ward of mental health hospitals located in the G city. 23 patients from two hospitals were in the experimental group and 20 patients from four hospitals were in the control group. A ninety-minute horticultural program was performed once a week for 8 weeks. Results: Results revealed that the Horticultural Therapy Program was effective for self-efficacy (z=-3.06 p=.002) and stress awareness (z=2.92, p=.004) for patients with mental illnesses. Conclusion These results indicate that the Horticultural Therapy Program is effective for self-efficacy and stress awareness in patients with mental illnesses. Therefore, the Horticultural Therapy Program is recommended as an effective psychiatric nursing intervention for mental health promotion and rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Easy access to intervention and support for certain behaviors is important for obesity prevention and management. The available technology such as smartphone applications can be used for intervention regarding healthy food choices for obesity prevention and management in elementary-school students. The transtheoretical model (TTM) is comprised of stages and processes of change and can be adopted to tailored education for behavioral change. This study aims to develop TTM-based nutrition contents for mobile applications intended to change eating behaviors related to weight gain in young children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A synthesized algorithm for tailored nutrition messages was developed according to the intake status of six food groups (vegetables, fruits, sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food and instant food, snacks, and late-night snacks), decision to make dietary behavioral changes, and self-confidence in dietary behavioral changes. The messages in this study were developed from December 2014 to April 2015. After the validity evaluation of the contents through expert consultation, tailored nutrition information messages and educational contents were developed based on the TTM. RESULTS: Based on the TTM, stages of subjects are determined by their current intake status, decision to make dietary behavioral changes, and self-confidence in dietary behavioral changes. Three versions of tailored nutrition messages at each TTM stage were developed so as to not send the same messages for three weeks at most, and visual materials such as figures and tables were developed to provide additional nutritional information. Finally, 3,276 tailored nutrition messages and 60 nutrition contents for applications were developed. CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone applications may be an innovative medium to deliver interventions for eating behavior changes directly to individuals with favorable cost-effectiveness. In addition, using the TTM for tailored nutrition education for healthy eating is an effective approach.
Beverages ; Child ; Eating ; Education ; Fast Foods ; Feeding Behavior ; Fruit ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Mobile Applications ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity* ; Pediatric Obesity ; Preventive Health Services ; Smartphone* ; Snacks ; Weight Gain

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacies of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin combined with intravitreal bevacizumab in choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: Photodynamic therapy followed by 3 monthly intravitreal injections of bevacizumab were performed for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD group) and PCV (PCV group). The injections were performed within 2 weeks after PDT and then every 4 to 6 weeks. During the 12-month follow-up period, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield macular thickness (CSMT), and number of reinjections were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Out of 38 eyes, there were 21 eyes in the AMD group (mean age 66.8 years old) and 17 eyes in the PCV group (mean age 66.4 years old). The average follow-up duration was 17.0 months. At 12 months, the BCVA (logMAR) improved from 0.75 at baseline to 0.49 in the AMD group (p = 0.01) and from 0.81 to 0.63 in the PCV group (p = 0.03). The CSMT decreased significantly from 329 to 231 in the AMD group and from 354 to 223 in the PCV group. At 12 months, 20 eyes (95.2%) in the AMD group and 15 eyes (88.2%) in the PCV group increased or maintained BCVA. The numbers of reinjections were 4.3 in the AMD group and 3.0 in the PCV group. There were no significant differences in BCVA, BCVA changes, CSMT, or number of reinjection between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Combined PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab injections showed no significant difference in stabilization of vision or retreatment rates between neovascular age-related macular degeneration and PCV.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Choroid ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Degeneration ; Photochemotherapy ; Porphyrins ; Retreatment ; Triazenes ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity ; Bevacizumab

PURPOSE: To evaluate the HRCT findings and to correlate the findings with the results of a pulmonary function test (PFT) in patients with reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: On March 2003, a fire at a boarding house of primary school soccer players caused a multiple casualty disaster. After 8 months, nine boys that presented with chronic cough and dyspnea were treated, and were subjected to follow-up evaluations. Eight patients underwent a chest radiograph, HRCT, and a PFT. Two patients with severe symptoms received extended follow-up after 1 year. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed the chest radiographs and the follow-up HRCT scans. We correlated the HRCT findings with the results of the PFT. RESULTS: Six patients with an inhalation injury were diagnosed with RADS. On the chest radiographs, eight patients showed no abnormal findings. On an HRCT scan, four patients showed abnormal findings. The abnormal findings were mosaic air trapping (n = 4), bronchial wall thickening (n = 1), and parenchymal consolidation (n = 1). In all four patients that showed abnormal findings in the HRCT scan, abnormal results of the PFT were also seen. The two patients that received extended follow-up showed an improvement of the clinical symptoms, as seen by the PFT, and had a decreased extent and degree of mosaic air trapping, as seen on HRCT. CONCLUSION: An HRCT scan is an essential modality for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with RADS. Both a full expiratory and inspiratory HRCT scan must be performed for an accurate diagnosis.
Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Disasters ; Dyspnea ; Fires ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Lung ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Function Tests* ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke Inhalation Injury ; Soccer ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: We investigated the association of survivin expression with the prognosis in advanced rectal cancer with preoperative chemoradiotherapy for pathological analysis. METHODS: We examined 16 patients with rectal cancer who were preoperatively staged as T3 or T4. The enrolled patients were given 5-FU, 425 mg/m2/day, and leucovorin, 20 mg/m2/day, intravenously for 3 days during weeks 1 and 5 of pelvic radiotherapy. Surgical resection was performed 4~6 weeks after completion of the schedule. Tumor response was divided into CR (complete remission), PR (partial remission), and NR (non remission). Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections using monoclonal antibodies for survivin, bcl-2, and p53 was performed on pretreatment biopsy and surgically resected tissue by using the standard avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. RESULTS: No CR was achieved. PR was achieved in 10 patients (62.5%), and NR in 6 patients (37.5%). After preoperative treatment, survivin expression tended to be decreased in tumor cells (62.5% to 31.3%) and slightly increased in adjacent normal mucosa a (12.5% to 25%). After preoperative treatment, survivin expression was correlated with lymph-node metastasis in the statistical analysis. We failed to find any other significant relationship between survivin expression and any parameters, except lymph node metastasis and apoptotic index. CONCLUSIONS: Survivin expression before preoperative treatment was not related to the prognosis in rectal cancer patients, but survivin expression after preoperative treatment was related to lymph node metastasis of advanced rectal cancer. Further studies, including large numbers of rectal cancer cases with a sufficient follow-up period, are needed in order to establish survivin as a prognostic target in rectal cancer.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Appointments and Schedules ; Biopsy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leucovorin ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in not only cancer development and metastasis but also non-cancerous conditions. Hypoxia is one of the proposed critical factors contributing to formation of chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis. Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) has antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we analyzed whether wheatgrass has an inhibitory effect on the EMT process in airway epithelial cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells were incubated in hypoxic conditions (CO₂ 5%/O₂ 1%) for 24 h in the presence of different concentrations of wheatgrass extract (50, 75, 100, and 150 µg/mL) and changes in expression of epithelial or mesenchymal markers were evaluated by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Accordingly, associated EMT-related transcriptional factors, Snail and Smad, were also evaluated. RESULTS: Hypoxia increased expression of N-cadherin and reduced expression of E-cadherin. Mechanistically, E-cadherin levels were recovered during hypoxia by silencing hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α or administering wheatgrass extract. Wheatgrass inhibited the hypoxia-mediated EMT by reducing the expression of phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3) and Snail. It suppressed the hypoxia-mediated EMT processes of airway epithelial cells via HIF-1α and the pSmad3 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that wheatgrass has potential as a therapeutic or supplementary agent for HIF-1-related diseases.
Adenocarcinoma ; Anoxia ; Cadherins ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition* ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; Immunoblotting ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sinusitis ; Snails ; Triticum

Adolescents in Busan area were asked in a survey about their perception and attitudes towards fast food. Most respondents answered that they consume fast food once a month because it is fast, easily accessible and tasty. Although they perceived fast food as unhealthy and less nutritious, they were less aware of its effect on their health and nutritional status. The more knowledgeable respondents were about nutrition and health the less likely they were to choose fast food over other meals. However, respondents who had little or no knowledge about the nutritional factors of fast food accounted for 43.1%. As to their source of dietary information, students relied on themselves (31.0%), parents (20.5%) and friends (19.9%). The medium through which students got the most nutrition and health information was television (66.8%), followed by the Internet (36.7%) and magazines (29.7%). This study will enable educators to plan more effective strategies for improving the dietary knowledge of the adolescent population.
Adolescent ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Fast Foods ; Friends ; Humans ; Internet ; Meals ; Nutritional Status ; Parents ; Periodicals as Topic ; Television

PURPOSE: To investigate the usefulness of dynamic MR imaging in the diagnosis of pituitary microadenomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dynamic MR imaging was performed in 31 patients with suspicious pituitary microadenoma. The MR examination was performed on a 2.0T or 1.5T superconductive MR unit using spin echo(SE) technique with arepetition time of 200m sec, echo time of 15 m sec, 128 x 256 matrix and one excitation. Actual sampling time perimage was 26 seconds. The field of view was 25cm and a section thickness of 3mm with 2mm gap was chosen. After arapid hand injection(2-3ml/sec) of Gd-DTPA(0.1 mmol/kg of body weight), dynamic coronal plane MR images were obtained every 20-30 seconds for 3-5 minutes. Between never and ten serial images were usually obtained. After dynamic MR imaging, routine SE T1-weighted images(T1WI) were obtained in the same plane as dynamic images, and detection rates of pituitary microadenoma using dynamic MR imaging and using routine enhanced T1WI, were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: On early dynamic images(30|90 seconds), 23 of 31 adenomas(74.2%) were well visualized, with a clear border ; of particular note is the fact that 11 of the 31 were well visualized at 30-second dynamic image. On late dynamic images(120-180 seconds), six microadeomas(19.4%) were well-visualized and; two(6.5%) were well-visualized throughout on all dynamic images. Meanwhile, 12 of 31 microadenomas(38.7%) were well-visualized on routine Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI. CONCLUSION: Dynamic MR imaging with Gd-DTPA bolus injection was the most useful technique for the detection of pituitary microadenomas, especially on early-phase dynamic images.
Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

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