The purpose of this study was : 1) to develop and test a theoretical model examining relationships among social support( and social network size ), illness demands, marital adjustment, family coping, and an outcome measure of family functioning in response to a mother's breast cancer in the early postdiagnostic phase ; 2) to investigate the sources of functional social support : and 3) to assess characteristics of social support networks for Korean families with breast cancer. This study used a cross-sectional, correlational design with a causal modeling methodology to test the specified relationships in the recursive theoretical model. the convenience sample of this study consisted of 82 married Korean couples with recently diagnosed breast cancer in the child-rearing mother. Six standardized questionnaires were used to measure the theoretical concepts : social support (ISSB), social network(ASSIS), illness demands(DOII), marital adjustment(DAS), family coping(F-COPES), and family functioning(FACESII). The theoretical model was tested on the aggregated couples' data( family data ) and on mothers and fathers data. Path analysis results from the mothers and the fathers revealed different patterns. A core set of predictive variables were identified with three data sets showing consistent effects on family functioning level-marital adjustment and family coping, marital adjustment and family functioning, and family coping and family functioning. Namely, the level of family functioning was directly and positively affected by family coping behavior and the level of marital adjustment ; the level of marital adjustment had a direct positive effect on family coping behavior. In two reduced models from couples' and mothers' data, three sets of predicted relationships were supported, social support and marital adjustment, and s and marital adjustment. The level of social support received had a direct positive effect on both the level of marital adjustment and family coping behavior, and the experienced illness demands had a direct negative effect on the level of marital adjustment. Few significant gender differences were found in terms of 1) actual and perceived network sizes, need for support, and satisfaction with the support received for each type of functional social support, 20 total network size encompassing all types of functional social support, as well as, 3) the amount of functional social support received. These findings may prove useful for health care professionals working with Korean families with breast cancer or other chronic illness.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chronic Disease ; Dataset ; Delivery of Health Care ; Family Characteristics ; Fathers ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Mothers* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was conducted to set up a common mechanism for varying phases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS) by comparing the morphological differences between human FSGS and changes in 5/6 renal ablation animal model, which has been accepted as experimental prototype for hyperfiltration theory as pathogenesis of FSGS. Both the human and the experimental rats showed very similar changes such as segmental glomerulosclerosis, vacuole formations or inclusion of small granules of podocytes, appearance of foamy cells in the capillary lumina, eosinophilic deposits along the mesangial area, and focal atrophy of tubules with associated interstitial fibrosis. The halo, frequently seen in human FSGS, is due to detachment of visceral epithelium from basement membrane, however, did not appear in the experimental rat specimen. On the other hand, the foamy cells and hyalinization were more frequently noted in the rat series and even involved the arterioles. The mesangial proliferation never appeared in the rat series occasionally found in human FSGS. In conclusion, the pathogenesis of FSGS cannot depend solely on the hyperfiltration theory of hemodynamic derangement, but has complex impairment of visceral epithelium and cells forming the constituents of basement membrane.
Animals ; Arterioles ; Atrophy ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Eosinophils ; Epithelium ; Fibrosis ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans* ; Hyalin ; Models, Animal* ; Nephrectomy* ; Podocytes ; Rats* ; Vacuoles

This study was conducted to set up a common mechanism for varying phases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS) by comparing the morphological differences between human FSGS and changes in 5/6 renal ablation animal model, which has been accepted as experimental prototype for hyperfiltration theory as pathogenesis of FSGS. Both the human and the experimental rats showed very similar changes such as segmental glomerulosclerosis, vacuole formations or inclusion of small granules of podocytes, appearance of foamy cells in the capillary lumina, eosinophilic deposits along the mesangial area, and focal atrophy of tubules with associated interstitial fibrosis. The halo, frequently seen in human FSGS, is due to detachment of visceral epithelium from basement membrane, however, did not appear in the experimental rat specimen. On the other hand, the foamy cells and hyalinization were more frequently noted in the rat series and even involved the arterioles. The mesangial proliferation never appeared in the rat series occasionally found in human FSGS. In conclusion, the pathogenesis of FSGS cannot depend solely on the hyperfiltration theory of hemodynamic derangement, but has complex impairment of visceral epithelium and cells forming the constituents of basement membrane.
Animals ; Arterioles ; Atrophy ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Eosinophils ; Epithelium ; Fibrosis ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans* ; Hyalin ; Models, Animal* ; Nephrectomy* ; Podocytes ; Rats* ; Vacuoles

Metformin is widely marketed medication for the treatment of diabetes, but its pharmacological effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy remains unclear. In this study, the effect of metformin on peripheral nerves in diabetic rats was investigated using diverse neuronal parameters of nerve fibers.

No abstract available.
Cholelithiasis* ; Korea*

The authors have made a CD-ROM titled 'Atlas of Pathology (AP)' for medical students to understand histopathologic findings with ease. We used a 35 mm film scanner to convert an existing file into digital images. A pathologist and two professional programmers collaborated to create the program 'AtlasMaster 1.0' based on (IBM) PC for organization of previously captured digital images. Minimum system requirement for the 'AP' was Pentium II 166 MHz, 32 MB RAM, Windows 95 or 98, 800 600 resolution, 16-bit color, 20 speed CD-ROM drive. The 'AP' was composed of a execution file (Pathology_Atlas.exe), a DB file (pathology.mdb), and reference files (*.bmp, *.jpg, *.txt). The DB file contained fields for chapter, section, disease entity, and information for location of reference files. About 1,000 color images for various kinds of gross and microscopic pictures were stored in the CD-ROM and those were classified according to the chapters, sections, and disease entities. The 'AP' was easy to manipulate, and had advantages of self-learning for students. It could be applied to other fields in which many images were dealt with, such as histology, radiology, endoscopy, dermatology, and plastic surgery. The 'AP' was handy and very useful for medical students to study pathology and it would be a powerful self-learning tool.
CD-ROM* ; Dermatology ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Pathology ; Students, Medical* ; Surgery, Plastic

Objective To investigate the specific application of ergonomics for design of operation field in sanitary train. Methods The use of ergonomics theory, the layout of operation field, personnel operating capacity, environmental comfort and operation security were analyzed, surveyed and discussed. Results The principles and guidelines for design of opera- tion field in sanitary train were proposed in order to make full development the efficiency of "operator-equipment-environ- ment" mode. Conclusion The application of ergonomics for design of operation field in sanitary train can be improved the rationality of the layout of field of operation, environmental comfort and work efficiency.

Objective To investigate the value of prostate-bladder angle (PBA) measured by MRI in the diagnosis of benign prostate obstruction (BPO). Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on 87 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients referred for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) between March 2009 and November 2009. PBA was measured by MRI and urodynamic parameter Qmax was measured as well. With the diagnostic criteria of BPO as Qmax＜10 ml/s, the patients were divided into two groups: obstruction group and non-obstruction group. PBA was compared between these two groups. The sensitivity and the specificity of PBA in diagnosing BPO were also analyzed. Results The age range of the patients was 57-90 years with a median age 73 years; Qmax was 2.325.4 ml/s with median Qmax 7.9 ml/s; PBA was 4°-52° with median PBA 27°. There were 25 patients in the non-obstruction group with PBA between 4°- 21°(13°); in the obstruction group,there were 62 patients with PBA between 15°- 52°(34°). PBA was found statistically different between the obstruction and non-obstruction group (P＜0.01). With the cutoff at PBA≥20°for the diagnosis of BPO, the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis were 90. 3 % (56/62)and 96.0% (24/25), respectively. Conclusion PBA measured by MRI is valuable and can be used as a new non-invasive parameter in the diagnosis of BPO.

Background The extraocular muscles (EOMs) Pulley is considered as the functional origins of the recti EOMs,it is determinants of ocular motility.Objective The structure of the connective tissue around EOMs in cat was studied,and the role of EOMs Pulley to ocular movement was investigated.Methods Five adult cats were involved.The gross anatomy of an orbit in each cat was observed.The other orbit was processed with paraffin imbedding and coronal serial sections.A murine monocolonal antibody to α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was used to show smooth muscle,while Masson trichrome stain was used to show muscle and collagen,and Weigert stain to show elastin.Results An encircling ring of collagen circled EOM was thin and connected to the orbital layer of muscle fiber loosely.Less elastin fibers and little smooth muscle cells were embedded in the collagen ring and connective band.Collagen ring around medial rectus and the connective band between medial rectus and inferior rectus was not more significantly developed than other bands.Conclusions The connective tissue around EOMs in cat may be related to its function of ocular movement,which is not developed.

Anthracosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Imipenem ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pseudomonas Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Heart Disease ; complications ; microbiology