Afloqualone is a centrally acting muscle relaxant and has been used in therapy for musculotensive diseases. A 35-year-old female had been taking afloqulaone for a left hemifacial spasm for one month. The patient visited our hospital with erythematous papules and patches on the sun exposed area. A photopatch test with afloqualone ointment with the concentration of 0.1%, 1%, 5% turned out negative. An oral provocation test was also done and it showed a positive result with a decrease of MED to UVA (10 J/cm²).
Adult ; Dermatitis, Phototoxic* ; Female ; Hemifacial Spasm ; Humans ; Solar System

No Abstract Available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of panretinal photocoagulation and additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections on central retinal vessel diameters and characteristic retinal vascular caliber changes in diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Changes in central retinal vessel diameters were retrospectively analyzed before and 6 months after panretinal photocoagulation with or without additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections in 64 eyes first diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. Vessel diameters and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) were measured using Interactive Vessel Analysis (IVAN) software and the Big six formula. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) in both groups, with and without additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections, 6 months after completion of panretinal photocoagulation (p < 0.001, p = 0.008), but no significant change in AVR (p = 0.338). Additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections did not produce significant changes in central retinal vessel diameters after 6 months compared to vessel diameters treated with panretinal photocoagulation only. Retinal vascular caliber of progressed diabetic retinopathy showed smaller CRAE, larger CRVE, and smaller AVR compared to those of normal or diabetic Korean subjects in a previous study and showed no significant association with age. CONCLUSIONS: CRAE and CRVE decreased significantly 6 months after panretinal photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy, but additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections did not cause significant additive changes to central retinal vascular calibers in this study. We established the standard retinal vascular caliber of Korean subjects in diabetic retinopathy and analyzed the effects of retinopathy on retinal vessel caliber.
Bevacizumab* ; Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Light Coagulation* ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Vein ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinaldehyde* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify employment experiences of nurses caring for hospitalized foreign patients. METHODS: For this study, 10 nurses caring for foreign patients for more than 6 months were chosen purposively. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews from July to September 2013 and analyzed in terms of Giorgi's phenomenological methodology. RESULTS: Five themes-clusters were identified from fifteen themes; 1) Awesome challenges; 2) Laborious dealing with barriers; 3) Acceptance of cultural differences; 4) Complete concentration of personal energy; 5) Taking a powerful step towards tomorrow. CONCLUSION: Results of this study reveal the significance of nurses' experiences in caring for foreign patients for the first time in Korea. The following are suggested: First, facilitation and training is necessary for language proficiency, communication skills and ability to understand cultural traits of foreign patients. Second, manuals and international guidelines for caring for foreign patients should be systematically developed to improve quality of healthcare services.
Employment* ; Humans ; Korea ; Quality of Health Care

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a cognitive behavioral stress management program on diabetic self-care and glycemic control with type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Thirty three diabetic patients who were older than 40 were recruited from a public health center and conveniently assigned into both experimental(n=16) and control groups(n=17). Participants in the experimental group had attended the weekly cognitive behavioral program for 8 weeks. Data were collected from June 2005 to August 2006 and analyzed by independent t-test using the SPSS WIN program. RESULTS: After an 8 week intervention, participants in the experimental group reported on increasement of diabetic self-care behaviors and an increasement of blood glucose levels, which were significantly different from those in the control group. CONCLUSION: On the basis of those findings, we concluded that the cognitive behavioral stress management program has positive effects on diabetic self-care and glycemic control for the patients with DM. Further research is needed to identify the long-term effects of the cognitive behavioral program.
Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Public Health ; Self Care*

PURPOSE: MDM-2 is an oncoprotein that inhibits p53 tumor-suppressor protein. These abnor malities have a role in tumorigenesis through inactivation of p53 function. To determine the clini copathological and prognostic value of MDM2 abnormalities in gastric adendegrees Carcinoma, MDM-2& p53 protein expression were analysed in surgically resected materials of gastric adendegrees Carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty cases which had got follow-up after surgical resection were immunohistdegrees Chemically studied with p53 and MDM-2 antibodies. We defined variable clinico pathologic factors for expression of p53 and MDM-2 protein and analysed their relationships. RESULTS: Immunohistdegrees Chemical stain revealed expression of MDM-2 protein as a 52.0% (26/50) and p53 protein 20.0% (10/50), respectively. But their expressions were not assdegrees Ciated with clinicopathological factors such as T-factor, N-factor, stage, histology and differentiation. Overall, p53-negative patients seemed to have a better prognosis regardless of MDM-2 protein status (P= 0.057). MDM-2 protein status was considered to have no play as a prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: In the gastric adendegrees Carcinoma, p53 protein expression seemed to have a inverse relationship with clinical outcomes but MDM-2 protein expression, which was observed more frequently than those of p53, seemed not to be prognostic indicator.
Antibodies ; Carcinogenesis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; Stomach Neoplasms

It has been demonstrated that the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) gene, the normal human counterpart of the viral erb-B oncogene, is amplified and overexpressed in 40-50% of malignant astrocytomas. Although little is known about the functional status of the overexpressed protein molecule, overexpression of a growth factor receptor evenly distributed throughout a tumor would be an ideal target for monoclonal antibody or growth factor receptor targeted therapy. We undertook the immunohistochemical study of the EGFR with malignancy grade. The results were as follows 1) Expression of EGFR was deteced in 1 case(6.7%) of low grade astrocytoma, 14 cases(63.6%) of anaplastic astrocytoma and 19 cases(73.1%) of glioblastoma multiforme. It was more frequent in malignant astrocytoma that low grade astrocytoma(p<0.01). 2) The distributed proportion and staing density of EGFR-expressed tumor cells was more increased in glioblastoma multiforme than anaplastic astrocytoma. 3) Regional heterogeneity of EGFR-expressed tumor cells was recognized in cases of EGFR expressed malignant astrocytoma. These results suggest that overexpression of EGFR would be involved in malignant progression of astrocytoma, and the use of monoclonal antibody or growth factor receptor targeted therapy maybe limited due to heterogeneity of EGFR expressed tumor cells in malignant asrotcytoma.
Astrocytoma ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Glioblastoma ; Humans ; Oncogenes ; Population Characteristics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*

PURPOSE: We investigated the safety and efficacy of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in terminally ill cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent PICC at the hospice-palliative division of KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) Medical Center between January 2013 and December 2013. All PICCs were inserted by an interventional radiologist. RESULTS: A total of 30 terminally ill cancer patients received the PICC procedure during the study period. Including one patient who had had two PICC insertions during the period, we analyzed a total of 31 episodes of catheterization and 571 PICC days. The median catheter life span was 14.0 days (range, 1~90 days). In 25 cases, catheters were maintained until the intended time (discharge, transfer, or death), while they were removed prematurely in six other cases (19%; 10.5/1000 PICC days). Thus, the catheter maintenance success rate was 81%. Of those six premature PICC removal cases, self-removal due to delirium occurred in four cases (13%; 7.0/1000 PICC days), and catheter-related blood stream infection and thrombosis were reported in one case, each (3%; 1.8/1000 PICC days). Complication cases totaled eight (26%; 14.1/1000 PICC days). The time to complication development ranged from two to 14 days and the median was seven days. There was no PICC complication-related death. CONCLUSION: Considering characteristics of terminally ill cancer patients, such as a poor general condition, vulnerability to trivial damage, and a limited period of survival, PICC could be a safe intravenous procedure.
Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheterization, Peripheral ; Catheters* ; Delirium ; Hospice Care ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Rivers ; Terminal Care ; Terminally Ill* ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to comprehensively investigate nursing students' experience of their first encounter with death of a patient during clinical practice. METHODS: This study took place from January 27 through March 6, 2012 with eight female senior nursing students enrolled at Pusan National University located in Y city who have experienced patient death. We collected their experience of their first death encounter during their clinical rotation by asking, "What is your first experience of patient's death during the clinical practice?" Husserl's phenomenological approach was applied in this study. RESULTS: In this study, 17 themes, 15 clusters of themes and eight categories were derived. The categories included "Desire to avoid the reality of death", "Powerlessness", "Anticipation for recovery shifted to fear of death", "Various interpretations of death", "Limitations in their nursing practice", "Resentment of lack of nurses", "Longing to better understand death", and "Motivation for inner growth". CONCLUSION: Through their first encounter with death of a patient, nursing students experienced various emotions and viewed their role as hospice caregiver by projecting themselves as fully trained nurses in future. Participants considered terminal care as a part of nursing care. The result of this study indicates the need to include education of death in the nursing school curriculum.
Busan ; Caregivers ; Curriculum ; Education ; Female ; Hospices ; Humans ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Schools, Nursing ; Students, Nursing ; Terminal Care

Purpose: Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases constitute the most common and fatal disease among menopausal women. However, the risk of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases in menopausal women compared to men has been underestimated, with insufficient related studies. Therefore, we examined the incidence and risk factors of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases among Korean menopausal women. Methods: A retrospective observational study design with secondary analysis was conducted using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study survey. We used the study’s data of 1,197 menopausal women, aged 40–64 years, who did not have cardio-cerebrovascular diseases at baseline and their related data from the biennial follow-ups over 14 years. Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were defined as hypertension, coronary artery disease, or stroke. The incidence of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases was calculated per person-years, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the predictors of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases during the follow-up period. Results: Of the 1,197 cases, 264 were early or surgical menopausal women. The overall incidence of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases was 18.75 per 1,000 person-years. Early or surgical menopause (HR = 4.32, p < .001), along with family history of cardiovascular disease (HR = 1.87, p = .024), elevated blood pressure (HR = 1.79, p < .001), abdominal obesity (HR = 1.37, p = .046), or duration of menopause at the same age (HR = 1.01, p = .001), were strong predictors of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Conclusion Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to identify and closely monitor women with early or surgical menopause for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases prevention. Also, prevention of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases through blood pressure and abdominal obesity management is vital for menopausal women.