PURPOSE: This study is to identify the factors that affect middle-aged workers' health promoting behaviors. METHODS: 214 middle-aged workers participated in surveys, and the data were collected from August to September 2012 and analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis with PASW 18.0 program. RESULTS: It was found that among the factors, the degree of job stress (t=7.69, p<.001) and depression (t=6.23, p<.001) were significantly high for type D individuals, while non type D showed meaningful degree of self-related health status (t=-3.66, p<.001) and health promoting behaviors (t=-4.71, p<.001). The notable variable that affected the health promoting behaviors of the middle-aged workers was depression for both type D (beta=-.357, p= .029) and non type D (beta=-.325, p<.001) individuals, and this variable accounted for 24.1% and 18.2% respectively. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the middle-aged workers showed high degree of job stress and depression that influenced on their health promoting behaviors. Thus, they are recommended to receive health management programs that offer treatment through consulting considering their individual personalities.
Depression ; Health Behavior

We studied the effects of hot water extract of Inonotus obliquos mushroom on the proliferation and apoptosis of the human colon adenocarcinoma, HT-29 and the human stomach adenocarcinoma, SNU-484 cell. Cells were maintained with Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium/Ham's F-12 nutrient mixture supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum at 37 degrees C in a humidified CO2. For the cell proliferation experiments, cells were seeded in 35 mm dishes, and were treated with the various concentrations of the extract for the different time course. Apoptosis was measured by caspase-3 activity. When we incubated HT-29 cells for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after treatments, the cell proliferation was more suppressed with more treatment time. In case of the human stomach cancer cell, SNU484, the extract significantly decreased the cell number. Thus, the treatment of 1.5 mg/ml extract decreased almost half of the cell number. Caspase-3 activity in HT-29 was increased by the treatment of mushroom extracts. In SNU484, caspase-3 activity tended to increase in proportion to the amounts of the extracts and the treatment of Inonotus obliquos affected the activity a lot. Therefore, Inonotus obliquos is suggested for the prevention of gastro-intestinal cancer and strongly recommended for the treatment of stomach cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Agaricales ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3* ; Cell Count ; Cell Line* ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon ; Eagles ; HT29 Cells ; Humans* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Water

BACKGROUND: Repeated 24 hour recall has been considered as a preferred method for obtaining accurate dietary information while time and cost for coding and data processing have been a major barrier for their use in large studies. This burden can be resolved by automating the interview and data processing. However, there has been no report about a computerized interview system for dietary survey in a free-living population in Korea. METHODS: This study attempts to test the feasibility of a newly-developed web-based dietary assessment program, Diet Evaluation System (DES) for subjects in a mixed region of urban and rural areas via wireless internet. We conducted total of 134 interviews, twice for each of 67 subjects of various age. As another aspect of feasibility, the group discussion among interviewers was done. RESULTS: Success rate of total attempted interviews was about 70%. Major reasons for problem with DES were instability of wireless internet and consequent inefficient booting of laptops in some areas. It took 14 minute 56 seconds on average to complete an interview and data processing conducted automatically. Subjects' age and internet environment influenced the DES interview time. The group discussion revealed that one-stop system with DES is fast and convenient assuming good wireless internet environment. CONCLUSIONS: Web-based dietary assessment was feasible in this community nutrition survey. To confirm the feasibility in large scale, studies with more comprehensive area and subjects are needed with various wireless condition.
Automatic Data Processing ; Clinical Coding ; Diet ; Diet Surveys ; Feasibility Studies ; Internet ; Korea* ; Methods ; Nutrition Surveys*

PURPOSE: To investigate risk factors of esotropia, anisometropia and amblyopia and compare the clinical features in hypermetropic children according to the amount of hyperopia. METHODS: This study included 377 patients with cycloplegic refractive error of +1 D or greater at first visit. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the refractive error. Odds ratios were calculated to evaluate the association of clinical risk factors with esotropia, anisometropi and amblyopia. Clinical features were compared between surgical and non-surgical groups. RESULTS: Hyperopia <+6 D showed greater odds of anisometropia. Hyperopia of > or =+6 D showed greater odds of bilateral amblyopia to 14.796 and hyperopia of <+6 D increased odds of unilateral amblyopia. Moderate hyperopia (> or =3 D to <6 D) increased the odds ratio for development of esotropia to 1.862. Patients with anisometropia > or =2 D had a 5.386 times increased odds of esotropia and those younger than 2 years had a 5.578 times increased odds of esotropia. Surgical groups showed lower amount of hyperopia than non-surgical groups. Hyperopia <+3 D had higher prevalence of esotropic surgery (50.72%). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate hyperopia and anisometroia > or =2 D increased the risk for development of esotropia. Greater prevalence of bilateral amblyopia and lower prevalence of esotrpia was found predominantly in groups with higher amount of hyperopia. We recommend optical correction at an early age with higher hyperopia and surgical treatment should be considered for esotropic children with lower hyperopia.
Amblyopia ; Anisometropia ; Child* ; Esotropia ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Refractive Errors* ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify frequency, intensity of urinary dysfunction and daily life distress in women after a radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. METHODS: One hundred and fifty seven women who had undergone a radical hysterectomy and one hundred and sixty five women as healthy controls completed questionnaires on intensity of urinary dysfunction and daily life distress caused by urinary dysfunction. RESULTS: Women with cervical cancer showed higher frequency of urinary dysfunction than healthy controls. Major urinary dysfunction for women with cervical cancer in order of frequency were night-time incontinence (odds ratio=10.39, p<.001), difficulty in starting urination, weak urine stream and sense of incomplete emptying of bladder. The highest score on intensity was difficulty in starting urination, followed by urgency, weak urine stream, daytime frequency and sense of incomplete emptying. Night-time incontinence was the urinary symptom causing the most daily life distress for cervical cancer women followed by difficulty in starting urination, urgency, sense of incomplete emptying, and night-time frequency. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that nurses should address the potential postoperative urinary complications and develop long term interventions to decrease urinary dysfunction and daily life distress for women who have had a radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.
Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Rivers ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urination ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes during phacoemulsification when using recently improved longitudinal (Stellaris(R), Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY, USA) and torsional (Infiniti Ozil(R), Alcon, Fort Worth, TX, USA) ultrasound. METHODS: The present study included 74 eyes of 59 patients undergoing cataract surgery. Operated eyes with mild cataract (nuclear sclerosis grade 1 and 2), moderate cataract (nuclear sclerosis grade 3) and hard cataract (nuclear sclerosis grade 4 and 5) were compared in terms of the total phacoemulsification (phaco) time, average phaco power, total phaco energy and amount of fluid used during cataract surgery between the 2 modalities. Endothelial cell density, corneal edema, central corneal thickness (CCT), surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were also evaluated preoperatively and up to 3 month postoperatively. RESULTS: In mild cataracts, the operative parameters and corneal changes were similar between the 2 modalities. In moderate cataracts, the total phaco time was significantly higher in the torsional group than the longitudinal group, but the average phaco power, total phaco energy, and amount of fluid were not significantly different. In patients with hard cataract, the torsional group showed higher total phaco time (27.50 +/- 17.77 sec vs. 97.08 +/- 12.67 sec), average phaco power, total phaco energy, persistent corneal edema at 1 week postoperatively and more endothelial cell loss at 3 month postoperatively (16.33 +/- 15.50% vs. 38.71 +/- 26.49%). Postoperative CCT, SIA and BCVA were not significantly different in hard cataracts between the 2 modalities. CONCLUSIONS: In mild and moderate cataracts, the efficiency of phaco and corneal changes were similar between the 2 modalities. However, recently improved longitudinal phaco showed superior efficiency for hard cataracts and induced less endothelial cell loss than torsional phaco.
Astigmatism ; Cataract ; Corneal Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification* ; Sclerosis ; Ultrasonography ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes during phacoemulsification when using recently improved longitudinal (Stellaris(R), Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY, USA) and torsional (Infiniti Ozil(R), Alcon, Fort Worth, TX, USA) ultrasound. METHODS: The present study included 74 eyes of 59 patients undergoing cataract surgery. Operated eyes with mild cataract (nuclear sclerosis grade 1 and 2), moderate cataract (nuclear sclerosis grade 3) and hard cataract (nuclear sclerosis grade 4 and 5) were compared in terms of the total phacoemulsification (phaco) time, average phaco power, total phaco energy and amount of fluid used during cataract surgery between the 2 modalities. Endothelial cell density, corneal edema, central corneal thickness (CCT), surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were also evaluated preoperatively and up to 3 month postoperatively. RESULTS: In mild cataracts, the operative parameters and corneal changes were similar between the 2 modalities. In moderate cataracts, the total phaco time was significantly higher in the torsional group than the longitudinal group, but the average phaco power, total phaco energy, and amount of fluid were not significantly different. In patients with hard cataract, the torsional group showed higher total phaco time (27.50 +/- 17.77 sec vs. 97.08 +/- 12.67 sec), average phaco power, total phaco energy, persistent corneal edema at 1 week postoperatively and more endothelial cell loss at 3 month postoperatively (16.33 +/- 15.50% vs. 38.71 +/- 26.49%). Postoperative CCT, SIA and BCVA were not significantly different in hard cataracts between the 2 modalities. CONCLUSIONS: In mild and moderate cataracts, the efficiency of phaco and corneal changes were similar between the 2 modalities. However, recently improved longitudinal phaco showed superior efficiency for hard cataracts and induced less endothelial cell loss than torsional phaco.
Astigmatism ; Cataract ; Corneal Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification* ; Sclerosis ; Ultrasonography ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: To identify the power of tumor markers for predicting ovarian cancer according to menopausal status. METHODS: The medical records of 876 women with ovarian cysts were retrospectively reviewed. Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), and Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) were analyzed. Sensitivity, specificity, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses of these tumor markers were evaluated. RESULTS: The sensitivity of ROMA was 66.7% and the specificity was 86.8% to detect ovarian malignancy. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to menopausal status: premenopause (n=532, 60.7%) and postmenopause (n=344, 39.3%). For diagnostic accuracy, ROMA was lower than HE4 in premenopausal women (82.7% vs. 91.4%) and lower than CA 125 in postmenopausal women (86.9% vs. 88.7%). The ROC curve analysis revealed that the power of ROMA was not significantly better than that of HE4 in premenopausal women (area under the curve [AUC], 0.731 vs. 0.732, p=0.832), and it was also not significantly better than that of CA 125 in postmenopausal women (AUC, 0.871 vs. 0.888, p=0.440). CONCLUSION: The discrimination power of tumor markers for ovarian cancer was different according to menopausal status. In predicting ovarian malignancy, ROMA was neither superior to HE4 in premenopausal women nor superior to CA 125 in postmenopausal women.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; CA-125 Antigen ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Epididymis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Menopause ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Postmenopause ; Premenopause ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Roma ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To report a case of spontaneous separation of idiopathic epiretinal membrane in an elderly patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 61-year-old male presented with decreased visual acuity in the right eye. He was diagnosed with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) in the right eye and posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in both eyes. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy and ERM removal in the right eye. At postoperative 1 year, his vision in the right eye had improved, but idiopathic ERM developed in the left eye and visual acuity in the left eye decreased. Three years later, the ERM in the left eye resolved spontaneously and his vision increased. CONCLUSIONS: Herein we present a rare case of spontaneous separation of idiopathic ERM associated with a pre-existing PVD in an elderly patient and reviewed the available literatures regarding the possible mechanisms for the spontaneous separation of ERM in the presence of a pre-existing PVD.
Aged* ; Epiretinal Membrane* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Detachment

We analyzed the peripheral blood of patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer at different stages to assess the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which we used as an indicator for micrometastatic malignant cells. A total of 35 gastric, 24 colorectal, 4 esophageal and 4 biliary tract cancer patients and nine normal healthy subjects were studied. No CEA mRNA was detected in the nine normal healthy volunteers. CEA mRNA was detected in 100% (10/10) of metastatic, 33.3% (3/9) of early gastric cancer (EGC), and 18.8% (3/16) resectable gastric cancer patients, respectively. In colorectal cancer, 55.6% (5/9) of metastatic cancers were positive for CEA mRNA, and 26.7% (4/15) Duke stage B/C showed positive. One patient with stage III gastric cancer who was negative CEA mRNA initially and turned positive during follow-up, developed multiple bone metastasis one month later. Another stage III patient, who was positive for CEA mRNA, preoperatively revealed early relapse in two months. These results suggest that the identification of circulating tumor cells using RT-PCR for the detection of CEA mRNA is feasible and this analysis may be a promising tool for early detection of micrometastatic circulating malignant cells in patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen/blood* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/blood ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neoplasm Circulating Cells* ; Neoplasm Metastasis/diagnosis ; RNA, Messenger/blood ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology ; Tumor Markers, Biological/blood*