PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of self foot reflexology on depression, sleep, and low back pain in elderly women. METHOD: The study was one group pre-posttest design. Data collection was done from December 2007 to January 2008 in D city. The participants were 47 women (65 years of age and over). After two weeks of reflexology education, the women did foot reflexology themselves for approximately 40 minutes, five times a week for four weeks. To verify the effects of foot reflexology, the scores for depression, sleep, and LBP were measured at baseline, after 4 weeks of self-treatment. Repeated measure ANOVA with the SPSS WIN 14.0 program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There were significant differences in depression, sleep, and LBP between baseline, after 4 weeks of self-treatment. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that self foot reflexology could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention for improving depression, sleep, and LBP in elderly women.
Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Massage

OBJECTIVES: This study was purposed to determine the levels of PCBs and DDE in adipose tissue and serum and to evaluate the relations with factors affecting these levels. METHODS: We analyzed adipose tissues and sera from 52 gynecologic benign disease patients aged 27-78 years, except hormonal diseases such as breast cancer and endometriosis. We also surveyed age, education, occupation, body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking, number of children, and duration of breastfeeding by questionnaires. Tissue and serum levels of PCBs and DDE were measured using gas chromatography. RESULTS: The median and geometric mean levels of PCBs were 48. 29 ng/g, 56. 78 ng/g for adipose tissue and 4. 67 uc/L, 4. 85 m/L for serum, and those of DDE were 142.89 ng/g, 117.06 ng/g for adipose tissue and l. 75 m/L, 2.09 ua/L for serum, respectively. Adipose tissue and serum levels for DDE showed high correlation (r=0. 310, p=0. 0002), but those of PCBs didn' t (r=0.029, p=0.2582). In analyses of the differences of the means of log transformed adipose tissue and serum PCBs and DDE levels for groups of potential covariates, only adipose tissue DDE levels were significantly associated with number of children (p=0.015), age at first birth (p=0.014) and BMI (p=0.035). In multiple regression analysis, adipose tissue DDE levels were significantly increased with decreasing number of children and increasing age at first birth. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that parity and adiposity were associated with levels of DDE in adipose tissue, and adipose tissue is a better biomarker than serum for evaluating the long-term exposure of organochlorines.
Adipose Tissue* ; Adiposity ; Birth Order ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Feeding ; Breast Neoplasms ; Child ; Chromatography, Gas ; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene* ; Drinking ; Education ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Occupations ; Parity ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls* ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking

Despite of the improved water purification system, the decreased use of aluminum based phosphate binding gels and periodic determination of serum aluminum levels, aluminum accumulation cannot be eliminated. We experienced a case of acute encephalopathy in aluminum intoxication with subdural hematoma presenting myoclonic jerk and mental change in a end stage renal failure. She was treated succesfully with low dose DFO treatment for 3 month.
Aluminum* ; Gels ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Myoclonus ; Renal Insufficiency* ; Water Purification

PURPOSE: The usefulness of serum tumor markers for assessing gastric carcinoma is very limited compared to that for neoplasms in other digestive organs. Many reports have shown that serum tumor markers are closely associated with the prognosis and tumor recurrence in gastric cancer patients. However, little is known about the usefulness of serum tumor markers as a predictor of distant metastasis for gastric carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With excluding the non-specific causes of elevated tumor markers, a total of 788 patients with gastric carcinoma and who were seen at our hospitals between 2004 and 2006 were included in this study. The correlation between the preoperative level of tumor makers and the clinicopathological features was analyzed. RESULTS: CEA was significantly correlated with age, gender and nodal metastasis, but not with the depth of tumor. The CEA level was not correlated with distant metastasis, such as peritoneal or hematogenous metastasis. In contrast, the CA 19-9 level was significantly correlated not only with the depth of tumor and nodal metastasis, but also with peritoneal metastasis. Especially, the patients with over 500% elevation of the CA 19-9 level had a significant risk of peritoneal metastasis. CONCLUSION: CA 19-9 is useful for predicting peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer patients. It can be used efficiently in making the diagnostic and the treatment plan, in combination with other diagnostic tools, for gastric cancer patients.
Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Although rare, traumatic injuries to the lower rectum and anal sphincter muscle combined with deep perineal laceration present substantial diagnostic and management challenges for surgeons. Between February 2004 and February 2006, six patients were treated for traumatic injuries to the lower rectum and anal sphincter muscle combined with deep perineal laceration at the Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital. All six patients underwent a diverting colostomy, primary repair, and presacral a drainage, but only three cases underwentva a sphincteroplasty. Three patients who underwent a sphincteroplasty had normal findings on anorectal manometry. Traumatic injuries to the lower rectum and anal sphincter muscle combined with deep perineal laceration have a high morbidity rate and a great influence on the quality of life. Thus, such injuries require aggressive management, and treatment modalities should be tailored to the individual case.
Anal Canal ; Colostomy ; Drainage ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Manometry ; Muscles ; Quality of Life ; Rectum

Most bronchogenic cysts originate in the mediastinum, while 15% to 20% occur in the lung parenchyma. According to the literature, most intrapulmonary cysts occur in the lower lobes. But, they are rarely located in an extrathoracic site, such as subdiaphragmatic retroperitoneal area. We describe a paraesophageal intra-abdominal bronchogenic cyst, first considered as gastric submucosal tumor. Resection was successfully realized by laparoscopy. A 20-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with incidentally detected gastric submucosal tumor. At operation, there was a 2.5x2 cm sized cystic tumor that was isolated from the gastric wall. We performed tumor resection laparoscopically. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the second postoperative day. Histological examination reported a bronchogenic cyst. We, herein, report this case.
Bronchogenic Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of surgically diagnosing early gastric cancer (EGC) and lymph node metastasis, and to determine its role for performing limited surgery for EGC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 369 patients who underwent gastrectomy for primary gastric carcinoma. The surgical diagnosis was evaluated by determining its sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, and this was compared with the preoperative examinations. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the intraoperative diagnosis for EGC were 74.5%, 95.7% and 83.7%, respectively. The predictive value for EGC according to the intraoperative diagnosis was 95.7%. The surgical diagnosis of EGC showed higher specificity and a higher predictive value than preoperative examinations, which significantly reduced the risk of underestimating advanced gastric cancer (AGC) to EGC. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for lymph node metastasis according to the surgical diagnosis were 73.2%, 78.1% and 76.4%, respectively. For 70 patients with a discrepancy in the diagnosis of EGC between the pre- and intra-operative diagnosis, the surgical diagnosis was correct in 63 (90%) patients, but the preoperative examinations were correct in only 7 (10%) patients. CONCLUSION: The surgical diagnosis showed better accuracy than the preoperative examinations for detecting EGC and lymph node metastasis. Our results suggest that the decision for conducting limited surgery based on the surgical diagnosis might reduce the risk of under-treatment of AGC to EGC better than the preoperative examinations.
Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms

Pneumonia and meningitis are the most frequent manifestations of pneumococcal infections. Pneumococcal spinal epidural abscesses have been rarely reported. Spinal epidural abscess by Streptococcus pneumoniae has been diagnosed among the patients with diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, corticosteroid therapy, intravenous drug use, chronic renal failure, AIDS, and history of spinal surgery. Recently, we experienced a case of pneumococcal spinal epidural abscess after spinal trauma. A 36-year-old male patient was admitted with back pain, fever, and paraplegia which occurred 5 days after the trauma. Spine MRI revealed spinal epidural abscess at the level from T2 to T9. He was treated with antimicrobial agents and surgical exploration for spinal epidural abscess. Pus culture grew S. pneumoniae which was susceptible to penicillin. Despite early surgical treatment, neurologic sequelae remained. Considering the high mortality and morbidity of pneumococcal spinal epidural abscess, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment including surgical intervention and antibiotics therapy should be implemented immediately.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Back Pain ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess* ; Fever ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningitis ; Mortality ; Paraplegia ; Penicillins ; Pneumococcal Infections ; Pneumonia* ; Spine ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Suppuration

Pneumonia and meningitis are the most frequent manifestations of pneumococcal infections. Pneumococcal spinal epidural abscesses have been rarely reported. Spinal epidural abscess by Streptococcus pneumoniae has been diagnosed among the patients with diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, corticosteroid therapy, intravenous drug use, chronic renal failure, AIDS, and history of spinal surgery. Recently, we experienced a case of pneumococcal spinal epidural abscess after spinal trauma. A 36-year-old male patient was admitted with back pain, fever, and paraplegia which occurred 5 days after the trauma. Spine MRI revealed spinal epidural abscess at the level from T2 to T9. He was treated with antimicrobial agents and surgical exploration for spinal epidural abscess. Pus culture grew S. pneumoniae which was susceptible to penicillin. Despite early surgical treatment, neurologic sequelae remained. Considering the high mortality and morbidity of pneumococcal spinal epidural abscess, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment including surgical intervention and antibiotics therapy should be implemented immediately.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Back Pain ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess* ; Fever ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningitis ; Mortality ; Paraplegia ; Penicillins ; Pneumococcal Infections ; Pneumonia* ; Spine ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Suppuration

Lymphatic filariasis due to Brugia malayi infection was endemic in several areas of South Korea. The infection was controlled, or disappeared, in most areas, with the exception of the remote southwestern islands of Jeonranam-do, including the Heugsan Islands. To discover its current situation, a small-scale survey was performed on the Heugsan Islands in September 2000. A total of 378 people, 151 male and 227 female, living in 8 villages (6 on Daeheugsan-do, 1 on Daejang-do, and 1 on Yeongsan-do) were subjected to a night blood survey for microfilaremia, and physical examination for elephantiasis on the extremities. There were 6 (1.6%) microfilaria positive cases, all in females aged 57-72 years, and from only two villages of the Daeheugsan-do area. There were 4 patients with lower leg elephantiasis, but they showed no microfilaremia. The results show that a low-grade endemicity of filariasis remains on the Daeheugsan-do.
Aged ; Animals ; Brugia malayi/*isolation & purification ; Elephantiasis, Filarial/*epidemiology ; Female ; Geography ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence