The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of support group intervention on the various adaptations of primary family caregivers caring for Cerebro-Vascular Accident patients. The nonequivalent control group pretest- posttest design within the framework of Lazarus & Folkman's stress-adaptation model was used for this experimental study. The subjects were 86 primary family caregivers caring for Cerebro-Vascular Accident patients at K hospital in Taegu, D herbal hospital in Kyung Ju, H hospital in Pohang from March, 1998 to July, 1998. Among 86 subjects, 43 were placed in an experimental group and 43 in a control group. The experimental group was treated by researcher who administered informational and emotional support group intervention once a week over a five weeks period. The data were collected through interviews. Collected data was analized by means of a chi-square test, t-test, ANCOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results of this research were as follows: 1. Physical, emotional, and social adaptation scores in the experimental group were revealed to be significantly higher than those of the control group. 2. There was significant positive correlation among physical health, subjective burden, depression and objective burden. Accordingly, it is concluded that informational and emotional support group intervention was a useful nursing intervention on the various adaptations of primary family caregivers caring for Cerebro-Vascular Accident patients.
Caregivers* ; Daegu ; Depression ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Nursing ; Self-Help Groups*

PURPOSE:Insulin induced hypoglycemia and L-dopa are potent for growth hormone(GH) secretion in children. We evaluated the effects of GH secretion with insulin and L-dopa in 22 children with height percentile below 3 and 11 children with height percentile between 10 to 25. METHODS:Thirty four children were performed GH secretion study after classified by height percentile and bone age according to their age and sex. Twenty two children are height percentile below 3 and bone age is delayed more than one years compare to chronologic age(group A). As a control group, twelve children took part in this study and their height percentile were between 10 to 25 but, bone age was not concerned(group B). Serum GH concentration and blood glucose level was detected on 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after insulin 0.1U/kg was injected intravenously. And then serum GH concentration was measured on 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after L-dopa 10mg/kg was administered orally. Serum GH was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS:GH level in group A was below 7ng/mL in 13 children(59%) after insulin and L-dopa administration respectively but in 11 children(50%) GH level were all below 7ng/mL after insulin and L-dopa adminstration. GH deficiency(7ng/mL) was detected only one children in group B. In Group A and B, peak GH concentration was noted on 30 minutes after insulin administration, but on 60 minutes after L-dopa, peak GH concentration appeared in group B. GH concentration in zero time to 90 minutes after L-dopa was steady increased in group A. CONCLUSION: Anthropometric data such as height percentile and bone age are good for prediction of GH deficiency and if we use these data and GH secretory effects of insulin induced hypoglycemia and L-dopa, we can predict GH deficiency more accurately.
Blood Glucose ; Child* ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia* ; Insulin* ; Levodopa* ; Radioimmunoassay

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is the renal histopathologic lesion observed in 10% of children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Complications include infection, thrombosis, hypocalcemia and adverse effect of steroid use. The incidence of thrombosis reported ranges from 10~40%. The pathogenesis are changes in coagulation system, decrease of Antithrombin III, increase platelet aggregability and steroid or diuretics use. These changes take place passively as a result of increased protein synthesis and urinary loss of low molecular weight protein. We experienced a case of cerebral infarction due to thrombosis associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome in a 11 year old male patient who had been hospitalized because of convulsion and semicoma. MRI showed an evolving infarct in the occipital lobe, decreased antithrombin III and increased factor VIII on coagulation factor assay. We hereby report a case of cerebral infarction due to thrombosis associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome with a brief review of related literature.
Antithrombin III ; Blood Coagulation Factors ; Blood Platelets ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Child ; Diuretics ; Factor VIII ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental* ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Occipital Lobe ; Seizures ; Thrombosis*

No abstract available.

A recently developed machine learning algorithm referred to as Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) was used to classify machine control commands out of time series of spike trains of ensembles of CA1 hippocampus neurons (n=34) of a rat, which was performing a target-to-goal task on a two-dimensional space through a brain-machine interface system. Performance of ELM was analyzed in terms of training time and classification accuracy. The results showed that some processes such as class code prefix, redundancy code suffix and smoothing effect of the classifiers' outputs could improve the accuracy of classification of robot control commands for a brain-machine interface system.
Aniline Compounds ; Animals ; Brain-Computer Interfaces ; Hippocampus ; Learning ; Neural Prostheses ; Neurons ; Rats ; Machine Learning

To date,measuring the neural activity of speech processing in adults and children after cochlear implantation has been a great challenge because conventional neuroimaging techniques are limited by the magnetic properties of cochlear implants.Functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS)is a non-invasive imaging technique for neuroimaging the brain compatible with implanted devices and unaffected by electrical artifacts.fNIRS is suitable for measuring the neural activity of speech processing in adult and pediatric cochlear implant recipients and can better identify and interpret cortical responses.The purpose of this paper is to summarize the use of fNIRS as a tool to measure the neural activation level of speech processing in cochlear implant recipients for different types of speech stimuli,and thus to provide a clinical and objective basis for the assessment of auditory speech rehabilitation and the development of rehabilitation programs for implant recipients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To investigate the difference between colorectal adenocarcinomas with white spots (foamy cells) and those without white spots, clinically and histopathologically, were examined 37 cases of colorectal adenocarcinomas were classified in this study. METHODS: Two groups: those with white spots and those without. In each case, evidence of lymph node and liver metastasis was sought. Immunoreactive staining for macrophage was performed. RESULTS: Increased incidence of exophytic tumors was found (73%, p=0.028) in the group with white spots. The incidences of lymph node metastasis were 33% vs. 45% between the group with white spots and the group of without, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that foamy cells might have a beneficial role in colorectal cancer, although they were not statistically significant. Therefore, further prospective study be warranted.
Adenocarcinoma ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Dental Caries* ; Incidence ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Macrophages ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed various aspects of life, and the launch of the chatbot “ChatGPT” by OpenAI in November 2022 has garnered significant attention and user appreciation. ChatGPT utilizes natural language processing based on a ”generative pre-trained transfer” (GPT) model, specifically the transformer architecture, to generate human-like responses to a wide range of questions and topics. Equipped with approximately 57 billion words and 175 billion parameters from online data, ChatGPT has potential applications in medicine and orthopedics. One of its key strengths is its personalized, easy-to-understand, and adaptive response, which allows it to learn continuously through user interaction. This article discusses how AI, especially ChatGPT, presents numerous opportunities in orthopedics, ranging from preoperative planning and surgical techniques to patient education and medical support. Although ChatGPT’s user-friendly responses and adaptive capabilities are laudable, its limitations, including biased responses and ethical concerns, necessitate its cautious and responsible use. Surgeons and healthcare providers should leverage the strengths of the ChatGPT while recognizing its current limitations and verifying critical information through independent research and expert opinions. As AI technology continues to evolve, ChatGPT may become a valuable tool in orthopedic education and patient care, leading to improved outcomes and efficiency in healthcare delivery. The integration of AI into orthopedics offers substantial benefits but requires careful consideration and continuous improvement.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the relationship between the apolipoprotein (apo) B-100, or the apo B-100/apo A-I ratio, and coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate this association. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our study was carried out on 194 patients who had undergone elective coronary angiography (CAG), but had received no lipid-lowering medication. Patients with acute myocardial infarction were excluded. Stenosis of >or=50% in 1 or more coronary arteries was classified as CAD (+). RESULTS: HDL-C and apo A-I were significantly higher in females than in males (p=0.009 and 0.036). In our population we found that the apo A-I, HDL-C and the apo B-100/apo A-I ratio were significantly related to CAD (p=0.001, 0.006, and 0.007 respectively). In the male group (n=111), the apo B-100/apo A-I ratio was the only parameter statistically significant to CAD after correcting for age, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Whereas, in the female group (n=83), the apo B/apo A-I ratio, apo B-100/apo A-I ratio, apo B-100, nonHDL-C, triglyceride, apo B, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all significantly related to CAD (p=0.002, 0.003, 0.003, 0.007, 0.007, 0.009, 0.012 and 0.012 respectively). Of these parameters only the apo B-100/apo A-I ratio was significantly related to CAD in both female and male group. CONCLUSION: The apo B-100/apo A-I ratio is an useful indicator for discriminating between CAD (+) and CAD (-).
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Apolipoprotein B-100 ; Apolipoproteins B ; Apolipoproteins* ; Cholesterol ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Triglycerides

Hemifacial spasm is defined as unilateral, involuntary, irregular twitching of all or parts of the muscles innervated by facial nerves. Here, we present a case of recurrent hemifacial spasm after microvascular decompression (MVD) treated with pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment with good results. A 35-year-old woman suffered from recurrent hemifacial spasm after MVD that was refractory to medical treatment and botulinum toxin injections. We attempted a left facial nerve block twice. Then, we applied PRF at a maximum temperature of 42degrees C for 120 sec. Some response was observed, so we applied PRF two additional times. The frequency of twitch decreased from 3-4 Hz to < 0.5 Hz, and subjective severity on a visual analogue scale also decreased from 10/10 to 2-3/10. PRF treatment might be an effective medical treatment for refractory hemifacial spasm and has fewer complications and is less invasive compared with those of surgery.
Botulinum Toxins ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Hemifacial Spasm ; Humans ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Muscles ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment