The Pill Questionnaire (PillQ) has been proposed as a simple way to evaluate cognitive deficits and their impact on the daily lives of those with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by asking patients or caregivers about whether patients can independently manage their pills. We used the PillQ to investigate the association of ability to manage medication with cognition and activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with PD. Patients were divided into two groups based on PillQ scores. The no-impact group was able to take their antiparkinsonian medication independently, and the impact group exhibited problems describing their treatment or taking their drugs independently. A total of 208 participants (93 men) were included. 111 patients (53.4%) were included in the no-impact group, and 97 (46.6%) were included in the impact group. The impact group showed significantly lower cognitive functioning, difficulties with the performance of ADLs, and severe motor dysfunction. PillQ scores were significantly correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Clinical Dementia Rating scores. Management of medication by PD patients is associated with cognitive function, and the PillQ is an easy and useful test for detecting cognitive impairment and its impact on daily life.

Recent studies have shown that environmental, biochemical, nutritional or genetic factors affect bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gentotype and nutritional status on BMD of elderly women living in a rural area. Three hundred thirty five elderly women over 65 years in Asan participated the study. Data for demographic and nutrient intakes were obtained by survey with a two day 24 hr recall method. BMD was measured by broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) using quantitative ultrasound (QUS). VDR genotypes of the subjects analyzed with Bsm I restriction enzyme were bb (92%), Bb (7%) and BB (1%). No differences were found between genotypes bb and Bb/BB in age, menopausal age, body mass index and body fat. BUA of bb genotype was higher (62.5 +/- 15.6 dB/MHz) than Bb/BB genotype (56.1 +/- 17.6 dB/MHz) by Student's t-tests. Correlation analyses showed strong negative correlation of BMD and age, but positive correlation with BMI, energy and calcium intake. When subgroup analyses were conducted after stratification by the median calcium intake level (412.9 mg/d), the above median calcium intake group showed significant difference in BUA by VDR genotype while the lower median calcium intake group did not show significant difference. The current study confirmed interaction of calcium intake and VDR genotype in association with BMD. Further nutritional intervention will be needed to improve calcium status of the elderly women living in rural areas.
Adipose Tissue ; Aged* ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density* ; Calcium* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Receptors, Calcitriol* ; Ultrasonography ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Purpose: Edible insect extracts have been used as an alternative source for medicinal supplements due to their significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. Recent studies have reported that anti-microbial peptides from insects have neuroprotective effects on dopamine toxins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective functions of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) extract (MWE) on N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)–induced cellular toxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Methods: Cellular toxicity induced by the MPTP toxin and the impact of MWE on cell survival were analyzed using MTT assays. DAPI staining was performed to observe apoptotic phenomena caused by MPTP. Changes in caspase-3 activity and protein expression were observed using enzyme activity assays and western blot assays, respectively. Results: MWE exerted significant antioxidant activity, which was measured by both DPPH and ABTS radical assays, with a dose-dependent relationship. Furthermore, MWE resulted in cellular proliferation in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MWE pretreatment significantly inhibited MPTP-induced cytotoxicity, with a dose-dependent relationship. The morphological characteristics of apoptosis and increased reactive oxygen species induced by MPTP were also significantly reduced by MWE pretreatment. Conclusion MWE treatment significantly attenuated MPTP-induced changes in the levels of proteins associated with apoptosis, such as caspase-3 and PARP. These findings suggest that MWE exerts neuroprotective effects on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells subject to MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared attitudes toward antipsychotic treatment according to awareness of the name of their illness in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Information on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including awareness of the importance of antipsychotic treatment, was obtained through a self-report questionnaire. The Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) was administered. The data were compared according to awareness of the name of their illness. RESULTS: The study analyzed data for 199 patients with schizophrenia. Of these, 115 patients (57.8%) were aware that their illness was called schizophrenia, while 84 patients (42.2%) knew it by their psychotic symptoms or as another mental illness, such as depression. The patients aware of the name of their illness had significantly longer durations of illness and higher scores on the DAI. They were significantly more likely to have stopped taking medication on their own accord and to agree with the importance of antipsychotic treatment. Statistical significance was sustained in a logistic regression analysis after adjusting for the duration of illness and study site, except for the DAI score, which had borderline significance (p=0.055). In subjects with duration of illness > or =5 years, patients aware of the name of their illness had significantly higher scores on the DAI. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the name of their illness was associated with awareness of the importance of, and a positive attitude toward, antipsychotic treatments in patients. Psycho-education, including telling the patient the correct name of his or her illness, might be needed for maintaining antipsychotic treatment in patients with chronic schizophrenia.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Depression ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Schizophrenia

Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis, Mikulicz disease or Kuttner tumor has been recently recognized as a spectrum of IgG4-related sclerosing disease. IgG4-related disease is characterized by a high serum IgG4 level and tissue infiltration of IgG4-positive plasmacytes. We report three cases of chronic sclerosing sialadenitis with variably associated systemic involvement. All patients presented with a submandibular mass or swelling, and all the resected submandibular glands showed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration, lymphoid follicles, and septal fibrosis. Two of the specimens revealed numerous IgG-positive plasma cells, most of which were IgG4-positive on immunohistochemical staining. One of them was associated with dacryoadenitis and hypophysitis. The other patient had ureterorenal lesions. Immunohistochemical study was unavailable in remaining one case, but the histologic features along with elevated IgG level and associated pancreatitis supported the diagnosis. All patients received steroid therapy postoperatively and are doing well. Salivary gland involvement in IgG4-related fibrosclerosis should be recognized in systemic medical pathology.
Dacryocystitis ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mikulicz' Disease ; Pancreatitis ; Plasma Cells ; Salivary Glands ; Sialadenitis ; Submandibular Gland

Epstein's syndrome is a rare disease whish is characterized by the association of thrombocytopenia, macrothrombocytopathia, nephritis and deafness. We experienced a case of Epstein's syndrome in a 12 years old male patient who was presented with a life long history of bleeding, usually as epistaxis, bilateral sensorineural deafness and hematuria with proteinuria starting in late childhood. Hematologic studies showed thrombocytopenia with giant platelets and anemia. A bone marrow aspirate revealed the megakaryocytes to be adequate in number and many giant size platelets. Platelet do not respond to addition of A and epinephrine; collagen and ristocetin induced agglutination response is decreased. It is difficult to be certain the association of thrombocytopenia with giant platelets, nephritis and deafness constitutes a new hereditary disease with a distinct pathogenesis or if it is an expansion of the well recognized Alport's syndrome of hereditary nephritis deafness. We report a case of Epstein's syndrome syndrome with brief review of related literatures.
Agglutination ; Anemia ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Child ; Collagen ; Deafness ; Epinephrine ; Epistaxis ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Megakaryocytes ; Nephritis ; Nephritis, Hereditary ; Proteinuria ; Rare Diseases ; Ristocetin ; Thrombocytopenia

PURPOSE: This study was to identify nursing interventive strategies centering around the meaning structure of elderly women self-esteem. METHOD: This study is based on a phenomenological approach. The participants were 6 women over the age of 65 selected in Mullae Senior Club or Yeongdeungpo Senior Welfare Center. The data was collected by in-depth and open- ended interviews from May to September, 2001. The analysis of the data was used the phenomenological analytic method suggested by Giorgi(1970). RESULT: Two essential themes in the self- esteem of relationships the elderly women emerged: (1) Self-identification through human relations: (2) The ability for self-control. CONCLUSION: There is a variety of programs and social meetings to confirm self and support systems, whether on the governmental level or the personal level, to help the ability for self-control should be expected to live a more qualitative life and successful aging for elderly women. In addition, this study will offer a better understanding of elderly women within the social and cultural context of South Korea.
Aged* ; Aging ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing

Choroideremia is a rare hereditary disease with characteristic fundus that causes night blindness and peripheral visual field loss. The authors encounter choroideremia accompanied by recurrent uveitis. This paper is designed to give a description of the condition, along with an investigation of the literature. Ophthalmological tests and treatments were performed. Characteristic fundus, night blindness, peripheral visual field loss, electroretinography and other manifestations led us to a diagnosis of choroideremia. The anterior uveitis was managed with medication.
Adult ; Choroideremia/*complications/diagnosis ; Electroretinography ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Fundus Oculi ; Human ; Male ; Night Blindness/etiology ; Recurrence ; Uveitis, Anterior/*complications ; Vision Disorders/etiology ; Visual Fields

BACKGROUND: Dopamine is an inotropic agent that is often selected for continuous infusion. For hemodynamic stability, the rate of infusion is controlled in the range of 5-15 µg/kg/min. This study aimed to compare the time intervals from the administration of dopamine to the onset of its hemodynamic effects when dopamine was administered through three different peripheral veins (the cephalic vein [CV], the great saphenous vein [GSV], and the external jugular vein [EJV]). METHODS: Patients in group 1, group 2, and group 3 received dopamine infusions in the CV, GSV, and EJV, respectively. A noninvasive continuous cardiac output monitor (NICCOMO™, Medis, Ilmenau, Germany) was used to assess cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Six minutes after intubation, baseline heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), CO, and SVR values were recorded and dopamine infusion was initiated at a dose of 10 µg/kg/min. Hemodynamic changes at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 15 minutes postinfusion were recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups with respect to the rate of hemodynamic change. In all groups, systolic BP, diastolic BP, MAP, and SVR tended to increase after decreasing for the first 4 minutes; in contrast, HR and CO decreased until 8 minutes, after which they tended to reach a plateau. CONCLUSIONS: For patients under general anesthesia receiving dopamine at 10 µg/kg/min, there were no clinical differences in the effect of dopamine administered through three different peripheral veins.
Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Dopamine* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Jugular Veins ; Saphenous Vein ; Vascular Resistance ; Veins*

Both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and pulmonary involvement of collagen vascular disease(CVD) are well known cause of diffuse interstitial lung disease which lead to fibrosis and honeycombing. We analyzed HRCT findings of 33 patients with IPF and 14 patients with CVD in terms of predominant pattern, site of involvement, mediastinal lymph node enlargement, pleural change and pulmonary volume loss. Criteria of mediastinal lymph node enlargement and pleural thickening were 15mm in long diameter and 3mm, respectively. Volume loss of the lung was measured by using hilar height ratio (apex to hilum/hilum to diaphragmatic dome). Mean age was 61 years for IPF and 46 years for CVD and male: female ratio was 27:6, 4:10, respectively. Predominant HRCT pattern was honeycombing for IPF (63%), and ground-glass opacity for CVD (66%) (p=0.001). Predominantly, subpleural involvement was seen in 90% for IPF and 74% for CVD. Mediastinal lymph node enlargement was seen in 47% of the patient with IPF and 14% with CVD (p=0.004). pleural thickening was seen in 97% of the patients with IPF and 42% with CVD (P=0.002), Pleural effusion was seen in 10% of the patients with IPF and 36% with CVD (P=0.009). Hilar height ratio of more than 1.5 was seen in 84% of the patients with IPF and 29% with CVD. In conclusion, our study shows that patients with IPF are prone to have more progressed stage of pulmonary fibrosis than the patients with CVD on HRCT.
Collagen* ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Pleural Effusion ; Pulmonary Fibrosis