PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine effects of a self-help management program at public health centers on self-efficacy, self-esteem, knowledge of stroke and family supports in stroke patients. METHODS: Based on a quasi-experimental design, 44 persons with stroke were assigned to the experimental group (n=21) or the control group (n=23). Data were analyzed through the descriptive statistics, t-test, chi2-test and Mann-Whitney test with the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significant improvement in its members' self-efficacy, self-esteem, knowledge of stroke and family supports. CONCLUSION: The self-help management program can be an effective nursing intervention to help stroke patients improve their self-efficacy, self-esteem, knowledge of stroke and family supports. That program is also meaningful in that it can contribute to more effective implementation of established programs for stroke patients in public health centers.
Humans ; Nursing ; Public Health* ; Self Concept ; Self Efficacy ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aquatic exercise on pain, fatigue, physical fitness, disability in ADL, and psychological variables in women with arthritis. METHODS: With a quasi-experimental design, 46 women who has arthritis were assigned into an experimental group (n=23), or a control group (n=23). Data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN using descriptive statistics, t-test and ANCOVA. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 60.9 years in the experimental group and 59.8 years in the control group. The pretest scores of theoutcome variables were similar between the two groups except fatigue and waist flexibility. After controlling fatigue and waist flexibility, the experimental group showed more improvement than the control group in Rt shoulder flexibility score (F=4.36, p=.04), sit-up score (F=32.34, p=.00), and muscle strength score (F=30.78, p=.00). The score of disability in ADL decreased in the experimental group (F=5.49, p=.02). The depression score decreased in the experimental group (F=12.01, p=.00), and self-efficacy was improved more than the other variables(F=8.88, p=.00). CONCLUSION: Aquatic exercise is likely to be an effective nursing intervention to improve physical fitness, to reduce pain, fatigue, and disability in ADL, and to enhance psychological functions in women with arthritis.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Arthritis* ; Depression ; Fatigue* ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle Strength ; Nursing ; Physical Fitness* ; Pliability ; Shoulder

Leukoplakia is a fixed, predominantly white-lesion of the mucosa. It is most often seen on the oral and anogenital mucosa. Leukoplakia should be biopsied to determine the true histopathologic diagnosis. Verruciform xanthoma is composed of asymptomatic, usually solitary, flat plaques or warty lesions. They may vary in color from gray to pink or yellow. Its pathogenesis is still unknown and usual site is the oral cavity. Histopathologically, it is characterized by verrucous epidermal hyperplasia with aggregates of foam cells in the dermal papillae. A review of literature indicated that verruciform xanthoma presenting as a whitish plaque on the lower lip was very rare. We describe a 70-year-old woman with verruciform xanthoma who presented with a whitish plaque on her lower lip.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Foam Cells ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leukoplakia* ; Lip* ; Mouth ; Mucous Membrane ; Xanthomatosis*

Liver infarction is rare because of dual blood supply of the liver with hepatic artery and portal vein. And its occurrence as a complication of chronic pancreatitis is rarer. We present a case of chronic pancreatitis complicated by liver infarction and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm. A 31-year-old female with alcoholism presented with severe acute epigastric pain. Serum amylase and lipase were 203 IU/L and 78 IU/L, respectively. Initial computed tomography (CT) scan showed peripancreatic infiltration, fluid collection, right portal vein thrombosis, and a large wedge-shaped low attenuation in the right hepatic lobe. The patient has been treated with heparin. Follow-up CT scan done after 4 days of heparin treatment demonstrated a pseudocyst with internal hemorrhage and a pseudoaneurysm. Angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery. Coil embolization of the artery was done. The patient has been discharged without complication. Follow-up CT scan showed resolution of liver infarction, portal vein thrombosis and pseudoaneurysm.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Amylases ; Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Arteries* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Lipase ; Liver* ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic* ; Portal Vein ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis

Liver infarction is rare because of dual blood supply of the liver with hepatic artery and portal vein. And its occurrence as a complication of chronic pancreatitis is rarer. We present a case of chronic pancreatitis complicated by liver infarction and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm. A 31-year-old female with alcoholism presented with severe acute epigastric pain. Serum amylase and lipase were 203 IU/L and 78 IU/L, respectively. Initial computed tomography (CT) scan showed peripancreatic infiltration, fluid collection, right portal vein thrombosis, and a large wedge-shaped low attenuation in the right hepatic lobe. The patient has been treated with heparin. Follow-up CT scan done after 4 days of heparin treatment demonstrated a pseudocyst with internal hemorrhage and a pseudoaneurysm. Angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery. Coil embolization of the artery was done. The patient has been discharged without complication. Follow-up CT scan showed resolution of liver infarction, portal vein thrombosis and pseudoaneurysm.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Amylases ; Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Arteries* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Lipase ; Liver* ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic* ; Portal Vein ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis

Catathrenia is a rare chronic disorder characterized by expiratory groaning during sleep. Neither the origin of this sound nor the pathophysiology underpinning catathrenia is understood. Although the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 2nd edition (ICSD-2) included catathrenia among "other parasomnias," catathrenia was classified as a respiratory disorder in the 2014 ICSD-3. Several case series of this condition have been reported, but the clinical descriptions of the sound duration and intensity, usual stage of sleep at which it occurs, and treatment response differ across cases. The possibility that catathrenia is not a single disorder has also been considered. When typical catathrenia symptoms are present, but overnight polysomnography findings do not meet the typical diagnostic criteria, a diagnosis of atypical nocturnal vocalization is given. We report a case of atypical nocturnal vocalization mimicking catathrenia that accompanied obstructive sleep apnea and improved after continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

Halo dermatitis (Meyerson's nevus) is an inflammatory, eczematous eruption usually encircling a preexisting melanocytic nevus. Spontaneous healing occurs within several weeks or months and is never concurrent with regression of the central nevus, in contrast to halo nevus (Sutton's nevus). Although halo dermatitis is often associated with central melanocytic nevi, pathogenesis leading to the morphological change of this disorder remains obscure. Herein, we report a case of a 23-year-old female who developed an eczematous halo reaction surrounding the junctional nevi.
Dermatitis* ; Eczema ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Halo ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Young Adult

Generalized granuloma annulare (GGA) is benign granulomatous dermatosis of unknown causes characterized by a widespread papular eruption on the trunk and limbs. This differs from the localized form as it is distinguished by later onset, a protracted response to therapy, and concomitant diabetes mellitus in 20% of patients. GGA is a chronic disease with a relapsing course and a poor long term response to treatment, GGA lasted for 5 or more years in 25% of patients. Thus, more safe and effective therapeutic modalities are needed. The effectiveness and safety of hydroxychloroquine (6.5 mg/kg/day) which has a long history of efficacy in systemic lupus erythematosus is identified. We report a case of 48-year-old man presented with GGA lesions successfully treated with a low dose hydroxychloroquine (3 mg/kg/day) without side effect and the clinical improvement observed after 2 weeks. Low doses of hydroxychloroquine might be beneficial in the treatment of GGA, compared with other drugs, with low potency of side effect.
Chronic Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Extremities ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Middle Aged ; Skin Diseases

Nevus comedonicus is an uncommon skin disorder that clinically appears as linear groups of open comedones. A 6-year-old female patient presented with a nevus comedonicus accompanied by an epidermal nevus in her genital area. The histopathologic finding showed an atrophic, cystically dilated hair follicle containing abundant keratinous debris. She was treated with oral antibiotics. We report here on an unusual case of nevus comedonicus that occurred in the genital area.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Keratins ; Nevus ; Skin

Intra-epidermal epithelioma is a rare cutaneous neoplasm and generally used as a histologic description for superficial tumors in which nests are found in well-defined islands within the epidermis. The intra-epidermal nests are composed of keratinocytes, and basaloid or squamoid or pleomorphic cells. Some authors reported that this tumor may be considered an invasion of the epidermis from a malignant tumor and it has the potential of carcinomatous invasion. Herein, we report a case of intra-epidermal epithelioma that showed clonal seborrheic keratosis and intra-epidermal eccrine poroma differentiation on the right thigh areaof a 77-year-old female. Although intra-epidermal epithelioma shows benign features, it may be predisposed to other tumoral changes, such as eccrine poroma, eccrine porocarcinoma, and Bowen's disease. We suggest that individuals with intra-epidermal epithelioma require continuous monitoring of skin changes, including enlargement of size, inflammation, ulceration, and hemorrhages.
Aged ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma ; Eccrine Porocarcinoma ; Epidermis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Islands ; Keratinocytes ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Poroma ; Skin ; Thigh ; Ulcer