BACKGROUND: Obesity is linked to a wide range of respiratory diseases. Several studies have shown that body weight at baseline and weight change were related to pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between change in body mass index (BMI) and pulmonary function in adults. METHODS: Of those aged 40-64 years at baseline who had initially visited the health promotion center at one university-level hospital from January 2000 to December 2002, 499 (men: 309, women: 190) patients revisited the center over a 5-year period up to December 2009 and were enrolled in the study. Subjects were classified into 4 groups- group 1: normal-normal, group 2: normal-obese, group 3: obese-normal, and group 4: obese-obese, based on their BMI at baseline and follow-up. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured by spirometry. RESULTS: Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly associated with change in BMI for men in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3 and between group 1 and 4. Changes in FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were significantly associated with change in BMI for women in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1 was significantly different between group 3 and 4, and change in FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a change in BMI is negatively associated with change in pulmonary function. Obesity itself can be a risk factor for pulmonary dysfunction, and a decrease in BMI through weight reduction could reduce pulmonary dysfunction or improve pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Vital Capacity ; Weight Loss

Empathy is an essential factor for establishing therapeutic relationship. Especially for pediatric nursing, the nurses need to know how to perceive children's feeling and thought and to express her understanding about them affectively. So, empathy is considered as an important concept in pediatric nursing. This study was attempted to measure the empathic ability of pediatric nurses by pediatric nurse and mothers of hospitalized children. The subject of this study consisted of 83 pediatric nurses and 106 mothers of hospitalized children in 4 hospitals in Seoul and 1 hospital in Kyung-Gi. Data were collected from Jan. 14 to Feb. 6, 1997, by the questionnaire method. The instrument for this study was the Empathic Construct Rating Scale : ECRS(60-item, 5 point scale). Data Were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. Result of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Pediatric nurses perceived their empathic ability to be moderately high(Mn=3.71) The level of perceived empathic ability of the pediatric nurses showed no significance by general characteristics. 2. The mothers of hospitalized children perceived nurses' empathic ability to be moderate(Mn=3.27). The level of perceived nurses' empathic ability of the mothers of hospitalized children showed significant differences by the experience of hospitalization of the children and the age of the mothers. 3. The perceived nurses' empathic ability of the mothers was significantly low than of the pediatric nurses(t=6.50, P<.001). From the above results, it can be concluded. that the empathic ability of the pediatric nurses is not sufficient for caring children and mothers efficiently. So, the pediatric nurses' empathic ability is needed to improve through facilitative relationship training as refreshment in-service education program.
Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Education ; Empathy* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mothers ; Pediatric Nursing ; Seoul ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Gonadal Dysgenesis, Mixed*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations, contact history, and status of tuberculosis contact investigations in school-age children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at two centers. METHODS: This study was conducted with 54 patients in the age ranging from 10 to 18 years, who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB at the Pusan National University Hospital and Pusan National University Children's Hospital, January 2008 to December 2012. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 16 years old; 11 patients were aged 10 to 14 and 43 patients were aged 15 to 18. Among 54 patients, 19 had history of contact with pulmonary TB, 10 had contact with house members (household), and remaining 9 had contact with classmates (non-household). One out of 10 patients who had household contacts and 6 out of 9 patients who had non-household contacts were evaluated with contact investigation after the exposure to pulmonary TB. Among 7 patients who were evaluated with contact investigation, 3 were diagnosed with active pulmonary TB, 1 had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 3 had no evidence of TB or LTBI. The median period of diagnosis after the exposure to active pulmonary TB was 2 years in patients with household contacts and 0.23 years in patients with non-household contacts. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that if the contact investigation conducted properly, it would be helpful for early diagnosis and prevention of pulmonary TB.
Adolescent* ; Busan ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Latent Tuberculosis ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine whether the level of classification for long-term care service under long-term care insurance reflects resource utilization level for residents in nursing homes. METHODS: From 2 long-term care facilities, the researchers selected 95 participants and identified description and time of care services provided by nurses, certified caregivers, physical therapists and social workers during a 24-hr-period. RESULTS: Resource utilization level was: 281.04 for level 1, 301.05 for level 2 and 270.87 for level 3. Resource utilization was not correlated with level. Differences in resource utilization within the same level were similar with the coefficient of variance, 22.7-27.1%. Physical function was the most influential factor on long-term care scores (r=.88, p<.001). The level for long-term care service did not reflect differences in resource utilization level of residents on long-term care insurance. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that present grading for long-term care service needs to be reconsidered. Further study is needed to adjust the long-term care classification system to reflect the level of resource utilization for care recipients on the long-term care insurance.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Health Resources/economics/*utilization ; Humans ; Insurance, Long-Term Care/economics ; Long-Term Care/*classification ; Middle Aged ; *Nursing Homes ; Resource Allocation ; Time Factors

The purposes of this research were to investigate in-patients' perception on foodservice quality and to examine factors influencing their meal consumption at hospitals. Three general hospitals with over 400 beds in Seoul and Chon-An agreed to participate in the research. A total of 516 in-patients of the hospitals were surveyed on their meal consumptions, reasons of plate wastes, perceptions of foodservice quality, and demographic information. A response rate was 76% after excluding responses with significant missing data. On average the regular diet patients consumed 72%, 69%, and 68% of rice, soups, and side dishes served, respectively; the therapeutic diet patients consumed less than 70% of the meals they were served. The consumption rates did not differ significantly by diet type, gender, age, and hospitalization period. Among the therapeutic diet patients, those who had nutrition education consumed significantly more rice than the others (p<0.05). The main reasons why the patients did not eat all food served were 'lack of energy' and 'not tasty'. The patients' perception on foodservice quality was low; the therapeutic diet patients perceived more negatively than the regular diet patients in 'keeping hot food hot, cold food cold(p<0.05)', 'maintaining consistency of taste(p<0.01)', and 'providing nutrition information(p<0.01)'. To achieve the goal of the foodservice at hospitals, the dietitians can use the findings of the research in developing and implementing strategies to improve the patients' meal consumption. Recipe standardization, employee training, and production management will be useful for improving food quality and nutrition education on therapeutic diets for the patients will improve their meal consumption at hospitals.
Cold Temperature ; Diet ; Food Quality ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Meals

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by typically distributed eczematous skin lesions and is classified according to the period of life. Recently, the number of elderly patients newly diagnosed with AD have been increased in industrialized countries. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of late adult-onset elderly AD. Methods: Medical charts and photographs of patients aged 60 years or older (n=36) who visited the Department of Dermatology with chronic and recurrent dermatitis were analyzed retrospectively. The anatomical distribution of AD lesions was evaluated by categorizing them into head and neck, trunk, and upper and lower extremities. The results of laboratory tests related to AD were also analyzed. Results: Thirty-six patients were diagnosed with elderly AD according to the diagnostic criteria established by Hanifin and Rajka, with a male predominance. All patients had late adult-onset AD, with the primary onset of AD occurring after the age of 40 years. Eczematous erythroderma, lichenification, dryness, and pruritic papules were observed on the trunk and extremities. The proportion of patients with extrinsic AD was 54.8%, and that of patients with one or more allergic diseases was 25.0%. Patients with late adult-onset elderly AD had lesions in the sagging areas, such as the back or extensor surface of the extremities. Conclusion Male predominance, reverse sign, and involvement of the extensor areas are characteristic features of AD in the elderly. These results indicate that late adult-onset AD in elderly patients is a distinct subgroup of patients with AD.

Woolf syndrome is characterized by piebaldism and congenital deafness. Facial features of Waardenburg syndrome are absent and the parents and siblings are unaffected. We report herein a case of Woolf syndrome in 21-year-old male patient who has deafness of the righr ear and hypopigmented patches of whole body since birth. This pigmentary disorder may associate with other systemic abnormalities, we suggest this syndrome belongs to the spectrum of developmental abnormalities.
Deafness* ; Ear ; Humans ; Male ; Parents ; Parturition ; Piebaldism* ; Siblings ; Waardenburg Syndrome ; Young Adult

Woolf syndrome is characterized by piebaldism and congenital deafness. Facial features of Waardenburg syndrome are absent and the parents and siblings are unaffected. We report herein a case of Woolf syndrome in 21-year-old male patient who has deafness of the righr ear and hypopigmented patches of whole body since birth. This pigmentary disorder may associate with other systemic abnormalities, we suggest this syndrome belongs to the spectrum of developmental abnormalities.
Deafness* ; Ear ; Humans ; Male ; Parents ; Parturition ; Piebaldism* ; Siblings ; Waardenburg Syndrome ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Dermoid Cyst*