The purpose of this study is compare IVF cycle outcome in poor responders between clomiphene citrate (CC) stimulated and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocol. A total of 94 patients responding poorly in previous IVF cycles (estradiol<600 pg/ml or less than 3 oocytes retrieved) subsequently underwent either COH (COH group: 122 cycles, 68 patients) or CC-stimulated cycles (CC group: 43 cycles, 26 patients). CC was administered for five consecutive days starting on cycle day 3 at a dose of 100 mg daily. Serial transvaginal ultrasound examination was done from cycle day 8. Urine was collected 3~4 times before hCG injection for the detection of LH surge. The hCG was administered when serum estradiol reached greater than 150 Pg/ml and mean follicle diameter>16 mm. In COH group, ovarian stimulation was done using short protocol (GnRH-a/FSH/HMG/hCG). No difference in age or number of transferred embryos was found between CC group and COH group. COH group had significantly (p<0.05) higher mean peak level of E2 (810+/-112 vs 412+/-55 pg/ml) and greater number of retrieved oocytes (3.0+/-0.2 vs 2.0+/-0.2) than CC group. CC group had significantly embryos (1.8+/-0.2) compared with (2.1+/-0.2) in COH group. However, CC group had higher pregnancy rate than COH group per retrieval [26.9% (7/26) vs 6.2% (6/97)], or per transfer [31.8% (7/22) vs 7% (6/86)]. Although cycle cancellation rate in CC group (48.8%) was higher than that of COH group (21.3%), the pregnancy rate per cycle in CC group was still higher (16.3%) than COH group (4.9%). In addition, implantation rate in CC group was 17.5% (7/40), which was significantly p<0.01) higher than 3.9% (7/180) in COH group. These data suggest that oocyte and embryo quality are lower in COH cycles of poor responders than CC cycles. We suggest that clomiphene citrate stimulated IVF cycle may be more efficient than COH IVF cycle in poor responders in terms of lower costs and higher pregnancy performance.
Clomiphene* ; Embryonic Structures ; Estradiol ; Fertilization* ; Humans ; Oocytes ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Ultrasonography

This study examined the types of touch received by elderly patients from nurses, and explored the elderly patient' and nurses' perceptions of touch occurring during nursing activities. Non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews were the methods employed for data collection. The study subjects were composed of 24 nurses of the three medical wards, and their 83 elderly patients who were hospitalized at S Hospital in Seoul from February 15th to March 15th in 1996. The Observation Schedule, the Perception of Touch Instrument, and the Patient classification were study instruments. The most common types of touch occurring during the nurse-elderly patient interactions were : task touch(82.9%), caring touch(4.9%), and concurrent type of touch (12.2%). The mean score of the elderly patients' perception of touch was higher at 30.45(range 5-35)compared to the mean score of the nurses' perception of touch which was 23.01(range 5-35). Elderly patients received the nurses' touch much more positively than the nurses. But the two scores were not significantly correlated(r=.06, 29). The elderly patient's touch perception score was higher(p<.05) in the group that was touched upon approach than the group was touched later. Elderly patients preferred caring touch to task touch, but it was not significant. Nurses' touch perception scores were higher(p<.05) for female than male. Elderly patients felt most comfortable when the nurses administered the touch on their painful site.
Aged ; Appointments and Schedules ; Classification ; Data Collection ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Touch Perception

This erratum is being published to correct of Table 4.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of 10% lidocaine spray and aroma hand massage on pain, anxiety, blood pressure, and pulse during arteriovenous (AV) fistula needling in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: This study used a quasi-experimental design. Forty HD patients were assigned to either 10% lidocaine spray group (n=21) or aroma massage group (n=19). 10% lidocaine was sprayed 3 times around AV fistula 10 minutes before. Aroma hand massage was performed for 5 minutes with fluids containing 2% of lavender, peppermint, and geranium concentrate mixture. Pain, anxiety, blood pressure, and pulse were measured during AV fistula needling without any intervention on the first week and during interventions on the second week. Data were analyzed with χ² test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, paired t-test and MANCOVA. RESULTS: Pain and anxiety were significantly decreased in both the lidocaine spray group and aroma massage group. Aroma hand massage was more effective to reduce pulse during AV fistula needling. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that 10% lidocaine spray and aroma hand massage may be effective to reduce pain, anxiety, and pulse during AV fistula needling in HD patients.
Anxiety* ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Blood Pressure* ; Fistula ; Geranium ; Hand* ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Lidocaine* ; Massage* ; Mentha piperita ; Renal Dialysis*

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to correlate the CT and histopathologic findings of abscess wall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT findings of 12 patients with pathologically proven brain abscess were retrospectively analyzed with particular attention to the thickness, smoothness and uniformity of enhancing abscess wall, and the results were correlated with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: Two patients with acute cerebritis showed an isodense ring on non-contrast CT(NCCT), but a true capsule formation could not be identified at pathologic examination. Six other patients with isodense ring on NCCT consisted of early to late cerebritis(3 cases), late cerebritis to early capsule(1 case), early capsule(1 case), and late capsule(1 case). These 6 cases showed ring enhancement on contrast enhanced CT(CECT) and true capsule formation pathologically. There was no isodense ring on NCCT in the remaining four patients. They consisted of early to late cerebritis(2 cases), late cerebritis(1 case), and late cerebritis to early capsule formation(1 case). These also showed ring enhancement on CECT and true capsule formation pathologically. CONCLUSION: We found that it is difficult to predict the exact stage of brain abscess on preoperative CT findings. It is suggested that clinical findings and sequential dynamic CT may provide more detailed informations for evaluation of abscess staging.
Abscess ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

To evaluate the achievement of health care services in Korea independent of other socioeconomic factors, we observed the time trend of avoidable death between 1983 and 2004. A list of avoidable causes of death was constructed based on the European Community Atlas of ''Avoidable Death''. We calculated sex- and agestandardized mortality rates of Korean aged 1-64 yr using data of the Korea National Statistical Office. The avoidable mortality rate (per 100,000 persons) decreased from 225 to 84 in men and from 122 to 41 in women. Accordingly, the proportion of avoidable deaths among all classifiable deaths was reduced by 8.1% in men and 6.4% in women. However, mortality rates from some preventable causes such as ischemic heart disease and malignant neoplasms of lung, breast, cervix, and colorectum have been on the rise. Mortality preventable by appropriate medical care showed the greatest reduction (by 77.8%), while the mortality preventable by primary prevention showed the least reduction (by 50.0%). These findings suggest that health care service has significantly contributed to the improvement of health in Korea. However, more effective intervention programs would be needed given the less reduction in mortality avoidable by primary or secondary prevention than expected and unexpectedly increasing mortality from several preventable causes.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortality/*trends ; Neoplasms/mortality ; Primary Prevention/*trends ; Secondary Prevention/*trends ; Sex Factors

BACKGROUND: Menstruation is often regarded as a privilege for women allowing reproductive activity. However, abrupt hormonal fluctuations in menstrual cycle may cause distressing physical and psychological symptoms such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is known to have a great impact on daily life activities and social functions, and might result in significantly decreased quality of life (QOL). In this study, we aimed to evaluate a relation between PMS and QOL in young adult Korean women. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to a total of 514 women who were aged 16~35 years and who were employed in an industrial complex located in Gyeonggi-do, Korea. PMS was assessed using diagnostic criteria recommended by the American Psychiatric Association. QOL was assessed using Korean health related Quality of Life Scale. The association between PMS and QOL was examined in 440 women using the two-sample t-test after excluding 74 women who were missing for variables essential for the assessment of PMS and QOL. RESULTS: The prevalence of PMS was 7.3% (32 out of 440 women). Women with PMS had the worse QOL score in almost all domains of QOL except for spiritual health (physical function, psychological health, social function, pain, vitality, role limitation, health status perception, and health status change). CONCLUSION: There was a significant relation between PMS and QOL. The finding of significantly lower QOL in women with PMS suggests that PMS should be evaluated and treated actively in primary care.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; Quality of Life ; Women's Health ; Young Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Although zirconium oxide ceramics are more and more commonly used in restorative dentistry, for many clinical applications only limited data can be found in the literature. However, it is quite clear that hydrofluoric acid etching is impossible with zirconia ceramics. Therefore, other bonding techniques are required in order to lute these materials adhesively. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of surface treatments on shear bond strengths between two resin cements and a zirconia ceramic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental industrially manufactured yttrium-oxide-partially-stabilized zirconia ceramic discs (Adens, Korea) were used for this study. The ceramic specimens divided into five experimental groups and a control group (as received). Five surface treatments were studied. 1) sandblasting with 110 micrometer Al2O3 at 3 bars pressure 13 seconds at a distance of 10mm, 2) flame-treated with the Silano-Pen for 5 s/cm2, 3) grinding with a diamond bur, 4) sandblasting + Silano-Pen treatment, 5) diamond bur preparation+ Silano-Pen treatment. Acrylic plastic tube (5 mm in height and 3 mm in diameter) were filled with composite to fabricate composite cylinders. The composite cylinders were bonded to the ceramic specimens with either Superbond C & B or Panavia F resin luting agents. All cemented specimens were tested under shear loading until fracture on universal testing machine at a crosshead speed 1mm/min, the maximum load at fracture was recorded. Shear bond strength data were analyzed with oneway analysis of variance and Tukey HSD tests (p<.05). Treated ceramic surfaces and fracture surfaces after shear testing were examined morphologically using scanning electron microscope. Results: Ceramic surface treatment with Silano-Pen after sandblasting improved the bond strength of Superbond C & B resin cement. Superbond CandB resin cement at Silano-Pen after sandblasting(27.4 +/- 3.8 MPa) showed statistically higher shear bond strength than the others. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, Superbond C & B resin cement are suitable for cementation of zirconia ceramics and flame-treated with the Silano-Pen after sandblasting is required to enhance the bond strength.
Cementation ; Ceramics* ; Dental Cements ; Dental Instruments ; Dentistry ; Hydrofluoric Acid ; Plastics ; Resin Cements* ; Zirconium

PURPOSE: Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that rhinitis and asthma commonly coexist in the same patients and that a temporary relationship exists between the onset of rhinitis and asthma, with rhinitis frequently preceeding the development of asthma. Despite the compelling evidence that rhinitis has a remarkable impact on asthma, it has been controversial how the presence of rhinitis causes asthma to be worsen. We studied to know the effect of coexistence of allergic rhinitis on lower airway eosinophilic inflammation in mild persistent bronchial asthma. METHODS: A total of 129 mild persistent asthmatics were enrolled and divided into three different groups as follows: 37 cases with asthma only; 40 cases with mild allergic rhinitis; and 52 cases with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Methacholine challage test and sputum induction were performed and sputum ECP, sputum eosinophils and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) were compared in each group. RESULTS: In mild asthmatics with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis, the BHR to methacholine increased compared to those with mild or no allergic rhinitis. Eosinophils and ECP in induced sputum were significantly higher in more severe allergic rhinitis groups. We also found a significant correlation between BR index and sputum eosinophils. (gamma=0.578, P< 0.05) CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that the severity of allergic rhinitis was related to lower airway eosinophilic inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in mild persistent asthmatics with allergic rhinitis.
Asthma* ; Child ; Eosinophils* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Respiratory System ; Rhinitis* ; Sputum

PURPOSE: This study was done to survey health behaviors in people at risk for a Cerebrovascular Accident(CVA). METHOD: From November 21 to December 29, 2005, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 171 people at risk for a Cerebrovascular Accident(LDL of above 130 mg/dl & homocysteine of above 15.0 micromol/L). Their physical composition was measured and blood was collected. RESULTS: 1. Of the subjects, 34.5% were smokers, 61.4% were drinkers, 56.7% did not exercise regularly, 57.3% did not control their weight, 26.9% preferred eating meat, and 32.2% preferred salty food. 2. The gender was different between smoking status(Chi2=10.734, p= .001), and drinking status(Chi2=7.185, p= .007), and the age was different between smoking status(Chi2=6.656, p= .010), and drinking status(Chi2=10.722, p= .001). The HbA1C level was different for regular exercise(Chi2= 4.824, p=.028) and the HDL-cholesterol was different for meat-eating preference(Chi2=7.928, p= .005). The observance of troubling signs was different for a salty food preference(Chi2=4.313, p= .038). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop programs for taking care of people at risk for a Cerebrovascular Accident and test the effects of the programs in order to reduce the risk factors of CVA and enhance health behavior promotion.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol Drinking ; Body Weight ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Exercise ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Stroke/*epidemiology/etiology