PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the degrees of depression and activities of daily living (ADLs), and to identify factors that predict depression in elderly patients. METHODS: The sample was149 patients (80% female; mean age 79.1) from three geriatric hospitals located in small cities and who agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected by staff nurses involved in direct patient care from October to September 2009. The level of depression was measured on a daily basis for seven days using a 13-item scale. Patients' ADLs was measured using a modified 10-item Bathel ADLs scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 17.0. RESULTS: Mean depression score was 10.05+/-4.77 out of 26 points and about 27% was assessed as depressed with more than 13 points. Multiple regression analysis showed that low educational level, absence of spouse and fewer family visits predict depression. In addition, low ADLs and sleep disturbance predict depression. CONCLUSION: Nursing care providers need to be concerned about ADLs of older patients and should develop nursing activity programs to increase their in-hospital physical activities. It is also important care for older patients' sleep and encourages family visits to decrease their depression.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Depression ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Nursing Care ; Patient Care ; Spouses

No abstract available.
Diaphragmatic Eventration* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetic disorder of the melanin pigment system in which melanin synthesis is reduced or absent in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA is classified into two major types, and tyrosinase-related OCA can be produced by mutations of the structural gene for tyrosinase enzyme (TYR gene). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the segregation of mutant alleles of the TYR gene in tyrosinase-negative and tyrosinase-positive Korean OCA patients and families. METHODS: We amplified exon I, II, and III of the TYR gene of Korean OCA patients and their families by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and analyzed the mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in exon I and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses in exon II and exon III. RESULTS: Two tyrosinase-negative cases showed mutations in exon I. Four tyrosinase-nega-tive cases and one tyrosinase-positive case showed mutations in exon II, and one tyrosinase-neg- ative case showed mutations in exon III. In summary, we found three kinds of mutation in four tyrosinase-negative OCA patients and one tyrsinase-positive OCA patient. CONCLUSIONS: RFLP and SSCP analysis can provide a basis for a rapid and sensitive screening system to detect TYR gene mutations of Korean OCA patients and their families.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous* ; Alleles ; Exons ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Skin

BACKGROUND: There is concem about the rising incidence of skin cancer. However, few articles have reported the change in the clinical and epidemiological aspects of skin cancer. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study in order to clarifiy the recent changes in cutaneous premalignant and malignant lesions. METHODS: A statistical analysis was made using 101 cases of cutaneous premalignant lesions and 205 cases of ma]ignant tumors out of a total number of 20,175 new outpatients that visited the Department of Dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital during a 6 year period(1990-1995). RESULTS: The frequency of premalignant lesions was 0.50% and that of malignant tumors was 1.02%. The frequency showed an increasing tendency compared to previous reports. In the premalignant lesion cases, actinic keratosis was most common and represented a figure of 82.2%. Among the malignant tumors, basal cell carcinoma was most frequent at 24.4%. Age, sex and anatomical site distribution of basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma was no different. The mean age of squamous cell carcinoma was greater than in previous reports and main preceding lesions were actinic keratosis and cheilitis. The frequency of lymphoma was markedly increased but the reason for this remains to be determined. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed the continous increasing incidence of skin cancers and emphasize the need for public eduacation, early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheilitis ; Dermatology ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Lymphoma ; Melanoma ; Outpatients ; Seoul ; Skin Neoplasms ; Statistics as Topic*

OBJECTS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative usefulness of the morphologic scoring system and spectral doppler ultrasonographic analysis in differentiating between benign and malignant adnexal masses. METHODS: All patients scanned between July 1995 and June 1998 with sonographically identified and pathologically confirmed adnexal masses formed the study group. The adnexal masses were scored as benign or malignant on the basis of their sonographic appearance. Specific categories included inner wall structure, wall thickness, septal structure, and echogenicity. Women whose morphologic findings were suspicious for malignancy underwent doppler sonography. A threshold pulsatility index of 1.0 and resistance index of 0.4 were used to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. The findings were correlated with the presence of malignancy. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty one patients formed the study group; 215 patients were benign and 36 patients were malignant pathologically. Using the morphologic scoring system, 31 of the 36 malignant masses were classified as suggestive of malignant tumor, and 147 of the 215 benign masses were classified as not suggestive of malignant tumor (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 68%; positive predictive value, 31%; negative predictive value, 97%). Doppler velocimetry was performed on a total of 62 patients, 19 patients with malignant tumors and 43 patients with benign tumors. A mean PI value of 0.85 and RI value of 0.52 for malignant tumors and mean PI value of 2.00 and RI value of 0.75 for benign tumors was shown. The PI value was significantly lower (p 0.001) in malignant than that of in benign masses, but RI value was not significant (p 0.184). The sensitivity and specificity in the detection of malignancy combined with doppler velocimetry was 86% and 67%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Doppler velocimetry studies did not add substantially to the prediction of malignancy using the morphologic scoring system.
Diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Rheology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ultrasonographic findings of BCG lymphadenitis complicated by BCG vaccination in children MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasonography was performed for 22 cases of BCG lymphadenitis in 21 patients who were diagnosed by clinical (n=10) or pathological (n=11) examinations. Their age ranged from 4 months to 3 years (mean age; 14 months). We retrospectively analyzed the ultrasonographic findings for location, multiplicity, size, shape, margin, echogenecity, posterior enhancement, calcifications, inner anechoic portion and Doppler pattern of the BCG lymphadenitis. RESULTS: The BCG lymphadenitis was found at the axillary area in 15 cases (68%) and at the supraclavicular area in 7 cases (32%). There were ten cases (45%) of solitary lesion and 12 cases (55%) of multiple conglomerated lesions. The maximum diameter ranged from about 0.9 cm to 3.2 cm. The BCG lymphadenitis showed as round (82%), well defined (86%), or heterogeneous hypoechoic (68%) lesions with posterior enhancement (78%). Calcifications were found in 6 cases (27%) and 5 cases (83%) had been vaccinated more than 5 months ago. There were eccentric inner anechoic portions in 16 cases (73%), which were pathologically confirmed as having caseating necrosis. There were increased Doppler flow patterns in 15 cases (68%); 4 cases (18%) were of the central type, 6 cases (27%) were of the peripheral type and 5 cases (23%) were of mixed type. CONCLUSION: BCG lymphadenitis is frequently located at the axillary area adjacent to a vaccination site. The ultrasonographic findings of BCG lymphadenitis are well-defined, round, heterogeneously hypoechoic lesions with posterior enhancement, calcifications and inner eccentric anechoic portion.
Child ; Humans ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphatic System ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet(UV) light is one of the injurious environmental agents which is known to lead to apoptosis of cells. However, studies on UVB-induced apoptosis of melanocytes are still lacking and there are some discrepancies between researchers. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the characteristics of UVB-induced apoptosis of melanocytes and G361 cells. METHODS: Cultured normal human melanocytes and malignant melanoma cell lines (G361 cells) were analyzed by several detection methods including morphological examination of propidium iodide(PI) stained cells under fluorescence microscopy, quantitation of fragmented DNA, and flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS: Both melanocytes and G361 cells showed similar rate of apoptosis with gradual increment of UVB doses by the quantitation of fragmented DNA. However, flow cytometric analysis using scatter properties and PI stainability revealed that the melanocytes were more resistant to UVB than G361 cells. CONCLUSION: We suggest that melanocytes seem to be more resistant to UVB-induced injury than G361 cells. In addition, various methods for the detection of apoptosis might be necessary for its study. (Ann Dermatol 10:(3) 147152, 1998).
Apoptosis* ; Cell Line ; DNA ; Humans* ; Melanocytes* ; Melanoma ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Propidium

The Brunner's gland adenoma is characterized by a nodular proliferation of histologically normal Brunner's gland, accompanied by ducts and scattered stromal elements. First descrived by Salvioli in 1876, the tumor is relatively rare, with 119 cases reported by 1977, The most common benign tumor of the small bowel is the adenoma, 25% of which occur in the duodenum. They make up 30% to 50% of all hyperplastic polyps of the duodenum. Most frequently these tumors are discovered in patients in the fourth to sixed decades of life, though the age in reported caes ranges from l 1 days to 80 years. The benign tumors of the duodenum 30% to 50% contain elements of Brunner's gland and 10.6% of them are adenomas of Brunner's gland. We report a case of Brunner's gland adenoma treated by endoscopic polypectomy in 63 year-old woman, and reviewed the literatues of adenoma of the Brunne'r gland.
Adenoma* ; Duodenum ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polyps

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the effect of music therapy as intervention on peripheral neuropathic pain and anxiety of gynecologic cancer patients who were undergoing paclitaxel chemotherapy. METHODS: Hospitalized 62 patients were assigned to an experimental group (n=30) and a control group (n=33) in this quasi-experimental study. The experimental group participated in music therapy that includes listening, singing and song writing during 1 hour. The peripheral neuropathic pain, anxiety and depression were examined as pre-intervention evaluation by using pain scale, anxiety scale (20 questions) and depression scale (20 questions) in both groups. There were no further treatments for the control group while the experimental group involved in music therapy. The peripheral neuropathic pain and anxiety were evaluated in both groups as post-intervention evaluation. RESULTS: Outcomes were verified through hypothesis testing. The level of peripheral neuropathic pain and anxiety in the experimental group was decreased, compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: According to the study, music therapy is a beneficial intervention that reduces peripheral neuropathic pain and anxiety in gynecologic cancer patients. These findings are encouraging and suggest that music therapy can be applied as an effective intervention for minimizing chemotherapy related symptoms.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Music ; Music Therapy ; Neuralgia ; Paclitaxel ; Singing ; Writing

The objective of this study was to determine how the neonatal mortality rate has changed since surfactant (S) therapy was introduced in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and to evaluate the efficacy of surfactant therapy in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) patients. Incidences of risk babies such as outborns, prematurity, low birth weight infants and RDS, and neonatal mortality rates were compared between 'pre' (control, 1988 to 1991, n=4,861) and 'post' S period (study, 1993 to 1996, n=5,430). In RDS patients of 'post' S period, neonatal mortality rate was compared between S-treated and non-treated patients, and chest X-ray and ventilatory parameters were compared between pre- and post-72 hr of surfactant treatment. Surfactant therapy showed short term effects, judging by the decrease of early neonatal deaths and improvement of chest X-ray and ventilatory parameters in RDS patients. The overall neonatal mortality rate had a tendency to decrease in spite of increased incidences of risk babies in 'post' S period but it was less than expected. The reasons were thought to be that we had a high proportion of risk babies, and there was some bias in patient selection for surfactant therapy and its use. In conclusion, with the active prevention of risk baby delivery and appropriate use of surfactant, better results could be expected.
Female ; Human ; Incidence ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pulmonary Surfactants/therapeutic use* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/mortality* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/epidemiology ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/drug therapy* ; Risk Factors