The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of oral vitamin C supplements on blood sugar and serum lipid level (total cholesterol, triglyceride. high density lipoprotein. low density lipoprotein) in non-insulin independent diabetes mellitus. The study design was a non equivalent control group pre-test post-test design. Data for the study were collected from June 24 to August 31. 2001. The ninty-five research subject were assigned to experimental group(51) and control group(44). Vitamin C(3g/day) was given to 51 subjects for 4 weeks. Following a 12h overnight fasting, blood sample was obstaind at baseline and at the end of 4week - supplementation. Blood samples were taken for plasma vitamin C concentration. fasting blood sugar. HbA1c and serum lipid level. The pre-equivalent test was used by Chi-squre, t-test and two group's pre and post experimental differences were analyzed by t-tset to compare with each other. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The difference between the two groups in plasma vitamin C concentration was significant(t=-12.950. p=.000). 2. The difference between the two groups in fasting blood sugar was significant(t=5.293, p=.000). 3. The difference between the two groups in HbA1c was not significant(t=1.758. p= .082). 4. The difference between the two groups in total cholesterol, HDL, LDL was significant (t=3.786. p=.000 ; t=-5.515. p=.000 . t= 4.169. p = .000). These results suggest that megadose vitamin C supplementation be effective in lowering fasting blood sugar. serum lipids and increasing plasma vitamin C. Thus dietary measures to increase plasma vitamin C may be on important health strategy for reducing the compliance of diabetic patients.
Ascorbic Acid* ; Blood Glucose* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Compliance ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Fasting ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Plasma ; Research Subjects ; Triglycerides ; Vitamins*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of alternative therapy and to describe the characteristics of cancer patients used alternative therapy. The sample of this study were 232 consisted of cancer patients who visited at Pusan National University Hospital, Dong-a, Kosin University Hospital. The data were gathered from August, 1 to October, 30 1999 and analyzed by using SPSSWIN program for frequency, percentile and chi-test. The important results of this study are as follows 1. In population-sociological characteristics, sexual distribution showed female 52.6% and the male 47.4%, age distribution showed that more than 60year old group are most as 31.5%. 2. In the disease characteristics, colon and rectal cancer patients were most as 19.0%. In the type of pain, the most of subjects were dully pain as 25.4%. In the pain level, 134 subjects complained pain, mean maximal pain score was 7.3+/-2.29 in 10 points rating scale. 3. 132 patients(56.9%) among 232 cancer patients had used alternative therapy. The most common type of alternative therapy was dietary and nutritional therapy 44%, the place of use, home 43.2%, duration, less than 3 months, 56.8% The most common motive was a recommendation by friends or family. The degree of satisfaction after the use of alternative therapy was high for 22.0%. 4. In the relation between general characteristic and utilization of alternative therapy, the only living area was showed a significant statistical differance(chi=4.070, P= .044). also in the relation between disease characteristic and utilization of alternative therapy, morbidity periods, the size of higher pain, the type of treatment were showed a significant statistical differance(chi= 7.964, 7.303, 3.565, P=.044, .026,.042) In conclusions, these findings indicate that cancer patients use various complementary and alternative therapy. therefore, suggested that medical doctors or nurses verify the true effects or side-effects from the most common complementary or alternative therapies through experiments.
Age Distribution ; Busan ; Colon ; Complementary Therapies ; Female ; Friends ; Humans ; Male ; Rectal Neoplasms

The several Chinese herbs such as Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang, Seong-Hyang-Jeong-Ki-San, So-Hap-Hyang-Won and O-Yak-Soon-Ki-San were extracted with water and then lyophilized. For identification of the effect of extracted herbs, they were medicated to 103 patients of cerebrovascular accident for 4 week. They were hospitalized in D-Oriental Medical Hospital from April to August in 1999. The herbs were extracted with water and lyophilized and then, used as samples. The medical history of each patient was detected and analyzed from their medical records. The results were as follows: 1) Each sample (Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang, Seong-Hyang-Jeong-Ki-San, and O-Yak-Soon-Ki-San) was statistically significant differences of systolic blood pressure(t=4.22, P=0.0004: t=3.44, P=0.0028: t=2.11. P=0.0463: t=3.23, P=0.0052). The statistically significant difference of diastolic blood pressure showed by medicated with Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyal-Tang, Seong-HyangJeong-Ki-San, and O-Yak-Soon-ki-San(t=2.13, P= 0.0459: t=2.68, P=0.0136: t=3.12, P=0.0066). 2) The statistically significant difference of the arm/leg-ROM showed by medicated with Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O Tang, So-Hap-Hyang-Won(t =4. 74/4. 95, P=0.0002/0.0001: t=2.25/2.44, P=0.0368/0.0248: t=585/6.76, P=0.0001/0.0001). 3) In the verbal disorder, Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang had statistically significant differences(t=4.50, P=0.0002: t=3.32, P=0.0036) 4) In the conscious disorder, Soon-Ki-HwalHyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang, Seong-Hyang =-Jeong-Kj-San, and So-Hap-Hyang-Won had statistical1y significant differences(t =6.32, P = 0,0001: t=8.32, P=0.000l: t=3.74, P=0.0012: t=5.14, P=0.0001). 5) Bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) were cultured in DMEM treating 0.01mg/ml. and 0.1mg/ml of each lyophilized samples for 24 hours, In BAECs were treated by 5 kinds of samples, the effect of So-Hyap-Hyang-Won induced syncytium of adjacent endothelial cells. It may induce the recovering of the damaged blood vessels in cerebrovascular accidental patient by angiogensis of endothelial cells. Therefore, it suggests that the medication of So-Hap-Hyang-Won will help to nursing care for cerebrovascular accidental patients.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Vessels ; Endothelial Cells ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Nursing Care ; Stroke* ; Water

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a health management program on body composition(body weight, body fat mass, body fat ratio, lean body mass, abdominal fat ratio), self-efficacy and health promotion behavior in middle-aged women. This 6-week long program containing exercise and health education was developed by researchers. The study design was one group pretest- posttest design. Data for the study was collected from August 1 to September 15, 2002. The participants consisted of 15 middle - aged women living in the community. The collected data was analyzed using Wilcoxon Matched - Signed - Ranks Test by SPSS/WIN program The results are as follows: 1. There was a significant difference in body composition at week 6 compared to week 1. The body weight, body fat mass and body fat ratio significantly decreased(Z= -2.533, p=. 011 ; Z= -2.023, p= .043; Z= -2.023, p= .043). But the lean body mass significantly increased(Z= -2.226, p= .026). 2.There was a significant improvement in self-efficacy at week 6 compared to week 1(Z= -3.434, p= .001). 3.There was a significant improvement in health promotion behavior at week 6 compared to week 1(Z = -3.305, p= .001). In conclusion, health management program promoting self - efficacy for middle-aged women was effective in improving health promotion behavior. Further study with a longer follow up period is necessary in order to test the long term effect of the program.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition* ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Education ; Health Promotion* ; Humans

Boric acid(H BO) is a weak topical anti infective agent. It can cause acute borism due to the internal absorption. Although the frequency is very rare, boric acid can also induce contact dermat.itis after topical spplication. We present allergic contact dermatitis to boric acid. The patch test results showed a positive reaction to 2% boric acid solution.
Absorption ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Patch Tests

BACKGROUND: Antifungal susceptibility testing methods are relatively expensive and laborious and are not easily applicable for screening purposes in routine laboratories. OBJECTIVE: We have developed a susceptibility screening method by adding fluconazole to Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) plate. In this study, SDA plates screening was compared with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institutes (CLSI) broth microdilution method for determining fluconazole susceptibility of Candida spp. METHODS: A total 186 isolates of Candida spp. (134 C. albicans, 24 C. tropicalis, 15 C. glabrata, 13 C. parapsilosis) were tested with the CLSI document M27-A2 method and fluconazole-containing SDA plate (0, 8, 16 microgram/mL of fluconazole). By this method, colony count and diameter were read after 24 hr of incubation. RESULTS: Fluconazole-susceptible Candida spp. are significantly smaller (> or =50%) on SDA with fluconazole than on fluconazole-free SDA. On SDA with 8 and 16 microgram of fluconazole per mL, 80.7% (150/186) and 87.1% (162/186) of isolates were correctly predicted, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the fluconazole-containing SDA plates can be used as a routine screening procedure for susceptibility of Candida spp. in clinical laboratories.
Academies and Institutes ; Agar ; Candida ; Fluconazole ; Glucose ; Mass Screening

BACKGROUND: Candida dubliniensis is phenotypically similar to Candida albicans that may be underdiagnosed in clinical laboratory. In 2010, C. dubliniensis was first recovered from blood of a candidemia patient in Seoul, Korea. Also, a simple commercial latex agglutination (LA) test is available. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of C. dubliniensis among isolates in our stocks during 2-years period (2010-2011) and to evaluate the ability of LA test (Bichro-Dubli Fumouze®) for the differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis. METHODS: A total 509 isolates including 504 C. albicans and 5 C. dubliniensis were examined for LA test, the presence of “spiking” on blood agar plate, and the germ tube test. Also all isolates were tested using the VITEK 2 ID-YST system. RESULTS: No C. dubliniensis was found in 504 isolates of initially identified as C. albicans. The LA test was positive only in 5 clinical isolates and 2 type strains of C. dubliniensis. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that the prevalence of C. dubliniensis in Korea is still expected to be extremely low and LA test is very rapid, simple, and reliable tool for the differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.
Agar ; Agglutination ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Candidemia ; Humans ; Korea ; Latex Fixation Tests* ; Latex* ; Prevalence ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Fungal-bacterial interactions are ubiquitous. Implanted medical devices, including urinary bladder catheters, are particularly susceptible to colonization by Candida spp. and opportunistic bacterial pathogens. Less is known about the fungal side of fungal-bacterial interactions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of mixed culture on C. albicans and bacteria. METHODS: After C. albicans was incubated either alone or in mixed culture with bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, and E. faecium) in blood agar plate, colony count and diameter were read. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C. albicans to fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole were tested by broth microdilution method of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A3. The expression of target gene (ERG11) was analyzed by RT-PCR using real-time PCR system. RESULTS: When C. albicans and P. aeruginosa were mixed cultured, the colony count of C. albicans significantly decreased (p=0.021). The colony size, MIC, and ERG11 mRNA expression were no significant differences between single and mixed culture. CONCLUSIONS: Further investigations are warranted to understand the fungal-bacterial interaction in order to aid in the design of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of infections.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Agar ; Bacteria ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Catheters ; Colon ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Fluconazole ; Itraconazole ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Methods ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Urinary Bladder

Torsades de pointes, a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with prolonged QT interval, is a well-known life-threatening arrhythmia, which has been found to be induced by various causes such as drugs, electrolyte imbalances, and severe bradycardia. Cisapride is a gastrointestinal prokinetic drug, which is widely used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease or other functional gastrointestinal disorders. Cisapride can cause torsades de pointes and cases of torsedes de pointes induced by cisapride have been reported in other countries. Cases of torsades de pointes associated with antihistamine drugs have been reported in Korea, however, cisapride-induced torsades de pointes case has not been reported. We report a case of 31 year-old female patient who experienced repeated loss of consciousness due to cisapride-induced torsades de pointes.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Bradycardia ; Cisapride* ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Torsades de Pointes* ; Unconsciousness

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the epidemiology of DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD), including information on lifetime and current prevalence, the kinds of traumas most often associated with PTSD, and sociodemographic correlates. METHOD: For this survey, an urban area with total population of 611,921 persons was chosen. Modified version of traumatic event checklist and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale were administrated to a representative sample of 850 persons aged 15 to 65 years above through home visiting. RESULTS: The lifetime and current prevalence of PTSD in survey area was 4.71% and 2.12%. the lifetime and current prevalence in male and female were of no significant statistical differences(p>.05). And the lifetime prevalence by age, and education were of no significant statistical differences. Only the lifetime prevalence by marital status was of significant statistical differences(p<0.001). The lifetime prevalence to any traumatic exposure was 78.79%. Sudden unexpected death of a close person was the most prevalent traumatic event(51.06%). Among the traumas, natural disaster, fire and explosion, motor vehicle accident, serious accident at work or home, physical assault, assault with a weapon, combat, life-threatening illness, and serious injury to death you caused to someone else were more commonly associated with male sex, and sexual assault was more commonly associated with female sex. The traumas commonly associated with PTSD were natural disaster, fire and explosion, motor vehicle accident, serious accident at work or home, physical assault, sexual assault, combat, and life-threatening illness. CONCLUSION: The lifetime and current prevalence in survey area were lower than those of previous studies. This study found differences between men and women on the type of trauma experienced, and the type of trauma associated with PTSD. Future epidemiological studies to assess PTSD from all lifetime traumas rather than from only a small number of retrospectively reported ones will be required, and larger sample size covering the country will be required for better estimation.
Checklist ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Disasters ; Education ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Explosions ; Female ; Fires ; House Calls ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Motor Vehicles ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sample Size ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* ; Weapons