Despite acknowledgment that pain is likely to be a major problem for many older adults, it is difficult to estimate the frequency of pain problems for this population. The main purpose of this study was to identify the various characteristics of chronic pain in the elderly by gender. It examines by gender, pain frequency, pain intensity, number of chronic pain sites, localization of pain, impact on activities, methods of pain management, and effects of chronic pain management. The subjects were 189 elderly people(65 years and older) living in an urban area. They were surveyed at their homes. They were surveyed by interview using a closed-ended questionnaire. The survey was done from Nov. 6th. to Dec. 6th. 1997. Descriptive statistics were used to determine all of the reported pain variables. Chi-square tests were used to determine crude differences between pain intensity and gender. T-test was used to determine differences in number of pain sites between men and women. The findings are as follows ; Of the 189 subjects, 83.6% reported experiencing pain, and men reported a lower prevalence(69.5%) than women(89.2%). Women had significantly more severe pain than did men(p=.001). Lower back pain(20.2%) and leg pain(20.2%) were the most prevalent, followed by knee pain(17.4%), arm pain(13.3%), neck and shoulder pain(11.6%), and headache(9.9%). Women experienced more multiple localizations of pain(p=.0001). The greatest impact was on movement(83.5%), followed by usual activities(60.8%), sleep(49.4%), visiting(29.1%), and hobbies and recreations(50.0%). No differences were observed between men and women in the proportion of subjects reporting a negative impact on each of these activities. The methods of pain management were hospital visit(70.9%), drug store medication(46.7%), oriental medicine clinic(32.9%), endurance(13.3%), self-management(6.3%). Drug therapy was the most effective pain management strategy(94%), followed by physical therapy(63%) and accupuncture byssocausis(55%). The conclusion: Pain is a symptom of great clinical importance that is often associated with disability, loss of independence, and reduced quality of life. In this study chronic pain symptoms were common but unevenly distributed in men and women. The results further advance understanding of the experience and impact of pain by gender. Future studies should incorporate questions that gather systemic and more detailed information on the characteristics of pain, expecially by gender and by age.
Adult ; Aged* ; Arm ; Chronic Pain ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Hobbies ; Humans ; Knee ; Leg ; Male ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Neck ; Pain Management ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: This study was performed to develope a scale of gender role identity in Korean adults based on the Bem's theory of androgyny. Although there were several tools in Korea, they were revealed having some problems of cultural differences, translation biases, and methodological problems. METHODS: A list of 78 items were developed using the existing tools and descriptions from 5 married couples. The items were the typical personality characteristics which were manifested by gender, male or female. And the list contained several items which were the socially desirable personality characteristics. which would be simply used as contextual items. Validity of the 78 items were screened by 18 expert panels with 4 point Likert scale, and 57 items were judged as highly valid from 70% of the experts, which were selected as preliminary items for the tool. Using the preliminary tool which was developed as a 4 point Likert scale, data were collected from 1,127 subjects for item analysis and factor analysis. 53 items were remained, because 4 items whose item-total correlation were lower than 0.2 were excluded by the result of item analysis. Factor analysis was done with the 53 items, and 49 items whose factor loadings were same and higher than 0.4 were remained. 3 factors were identified with eigen value 2.0, and these factors were named as masculinity, femininity, and social desirability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: KGRII(Korean Gender Role Identity Inventory) which contained 45 items was developed, with 15 items for 3 factors. The reliability of the tool was very high. Cronbach alpha of the tool was 0.929, and alpha of the subscales were ranged from 0.841 to 0.922.
Adult ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Femininity ; Gender Identity* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Masculinity ; Social Desirability

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Artery*

The distribution of enkephalin, dynorphin, substance P and neurotensin in the periaqueductal gray[PAG] has been well established by immunohistochemical methods. However, there is little information about the regional distribution of these neuropeptide mRNA-containing neurons in the PAG. The present study was undertaken [1] to elucidate the distribution of these neuropeptide mRNA-containing neurons and to determine of the PAG, [2] to know how peptide expression relates to the proposed functional subdivisions of the PAG and [3] to know how neuropeptide mRNA levels in the PAG change following peripheral neuropathy The results obtained are as follows ; 1. Preproenkephalin[pENK] mRNA-containing neurons are found mostly in the ventrolateral portion at all levels of the PAG. 2. Prodynorphin[pDYN] mRNA-containing neurons are concentrated mostly in the ventrolateral portion at the caudal level of the PAG. 3. Preprotachykinin[pTAK] mRNA-containing neurons are localized mainly in the ventrolateral portion at all levels of the PAG. There is small numbers of pTAK mRNA-containing neurons in the dorsolateral and dorsal portion at all levels of the PAG. 4. Proneurotensin[pNT] mRNA-containing neurons are concentrated mostly in the medial part of ventrolateral portion of the caudal and mid PAG. 5. Peripheral neuropathy induces an increase of pNT mRNA levels in the PAG, while pENK, pDYN and pTAK mRNAs levels show no change. The present results indicate that the pENK, pDYN, pTAK or pNT mRNA-containing neurons are found mainly in the ventrolateral PAG, the area where analgesia is most easily produced and that neurotensin in the PAG may play an important role in modulating chronic neuropathic pain.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Dynorphins ; Enkephalins ; Gene Expression* ; In Situ Hybridization ; Neuralgia* ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptides* ; Neurotensin ; Periaqueductal Gray* ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Substance P

This study was designed to investigate the effects of mulberry leaf powder supplementation on lead (Pb) status and mineral (Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn) content in Pb-administered rats for 4 weeks. Thirty two male rats were divided into 4 groups: a control, Pb, Pb5M (500 ppm Pb + 5% mulberry leaf powder), and Pb10M (500 ppm Pb + 10% mulberry leaf powder). There were no significant differences in food intake and initial body weight among groups. Mulberry leaf powder treatments showed significant decreases in food efficiency ratio and body weight gain. But FER of Pb5M% and Pb10M were significantly increases than that of Pb group. The levels of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and creatinine were decreased by mulberry leaf powder treatment. Minerals content of liver and kidney were significantly decreased in the Pb groups than that of control group. Whereas, fecal minerals content were significantly increased in the Pb5M and Pb10M than those of control group. Pb content of serum, liver and kidney was significantly increased in the Pb group than those of control group. However, by mulberry leaf powder administration (Pb5M and Pb10M), Pb level of serum, liver and kidney were lowered than that of Pb group. And fecal Pb excretion was significantly increased in the Pb5M and Pb10M than that of Pb group. These results showed mulberry leaves were effective for lowing Pb accumulation in serum, organs, which may have potential to prevent Pb toxicity.
Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Eating ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Minerals* ; Morus* ; Rats*

BACKGROUNDS: As the elderly population in-creases the health problem, especially dementia, becomes the clinically important problem. So in the part of primary care medicine it becomes so important that family physician make a focus on the detection, evaluation, and management of demented patient. Until nowadays there is few cohort study about the dementia and few nursing home in Korea. So author performed the MMSE-K in the elderly who are over 65 to get the cognitive function for early diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of psychosocial problem. METHODS: One hundred three persons who included in community society in Seoul and nursing home of Kyunggido were tested. The survey was done twice on september 1997 and September 1998. Author used the MMSE-K to the elderly by same doctors. The analysis was done by SAS 6.12 and t-test, one-way ANOVA and two-way ANOVA with linear trend test. RESULTS: The mean of first MMSE-K score in the community is 26.1 and in the nursing home is 24.4. And the mean of second MMSE-K score in the community is 25.5 and in the nursing home is 22.0. The MMSE-K score is elevated with male and longer duration of education and is decreased with the advanced age in two groups. According to the classification by MMSE-K score the number of people who have normal cognitive function is 45(43.7%), mild impaired cognitive function is 45(43.7%), moderately impaired cognitive function is 13(12.6%) and none has severely impaired cognitive function in both groups. The follow up MMSE-K score shows that the difference of two MMSE-K scores increases as the age increases. CONCLUSION: Until todays there is few study that designed in the form of cohort study about the elderly cognitive function in Korea. So family physicians must perform the prospective cohort study with the consistent concern and effort to get the research data about the dementia for earthy detection, management and rehabilitation for elderly.
Aged* ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Dementia ; Early Diagnosis ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nursing Homes ; Physicians, Family ; Primary Health Care ; Rehabilitation ; Seoul

Bacterial endophthalmitis is an ocular emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and therapeutic decision making. The introdection of intravitreal injection of antibiotics has been a major advancement because it has resulted in a marked improvement in visual outcome. The intravitreal injection of steroids may be potentially useful in the treatment of endophthalmitis and other ocular inflammatory diseases. Forty eyes of pigmented rabbits were used, and divided into two groups. Group I was eyes without vitrectomy. In the right eye, 100 microliter of 1mgvancomycin, 400 microliter amikacin and 400 microliter dexamethasone injected was done. Group II was eyes with vitrectomy and lensectomy. At 2 weeks after lens and vitreous removal, rabbit eyes received an injection of a combination of 1mg vancomycin, 400 microliter amikacin and 400 microliter dexamethasone in right eye and BSS in left eye. The effect of combination injection was examined by light and transmission, scanning electron microscope at 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 6 weeks following injection. The injection of combination without vitrectomy produced no toxicity. After injections of either combination or BSS after vitrectomy, macrophages were observed on the surface of retinal pigment epithelium and disorganized outer segments. This finding seems to be produced by vitrectomy procedure rather than drug toxicity. These results supports the hypothesis that the injection of these combinations is not toxic to aphakic/vitrectomized eyes.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Decision Making ; Dexamethasone* ; Diagnosis ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Emergencies ; Endophthalmitis ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macrophages ; Rabbits ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Steroids ; Vancomycin ; Vitrectomy*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure sexual satisfaction in Korean adults. METHOD: Development of items for the instrument was done by a collecting, reorganizing, reducing and selecting process based on the literature. A total of 19 items were selected in this process. For evaluation of the appropriateness of the 19 items, questionnaires were given to an expert group consisting of 18 professionals (7 men and 11 women). Eighteen items having a response of 70% in 'very good' item or 'good' item were included as items for the instrument. With these 18 items, a 5 point Likert scale was developed, and reliability and validity tests of the scale were done. The subjects for the test were 1,127 Korean adults living in 11 areas in Korea. Data were collected from Dec. 1, 2000 to Feb. 28, 2001 and analyzed with SPSS/PC+ 10.0 program. Item analysis and factor analysis were used to assess the reliability and validity of the scale. Chronbach alpha and corrected item-total correlation were obtained to verify internal consistency, and principal component analysis with the varimax rotation was used to identify structure validity of the developed tool. RESULT: Reliability of the scale was .9503 and corrected item-total correlations of the items were distributed from .5208 to .7899. As a result of the factor analysis, the items were categorized into three factors. The cumulative variance of the three factors was 67.1%, and all of the variances of the factors were above 5%. Because factor 1 (8 items) indicated a special feeling of psychological satisfaction with sexual activity, it was named 'psychological factor'. Factor 2 (8 items) indicated a feeling of satisfaction in the interaction with sexual partner through communication and variation, therefore it was named 'interactional factor'. Factor 3 (2 items) was about the frequency and duration of sexual intercourse and indicated physical dimensions of satisfaction, so it was named 'physical factor'. The average score for sexual satisfaction of the 1,127 subjects was 65.32 (+/-12.71), and histogram of the score showed a normal distribution with skewness -.425. CONCLUSION: Finally, a Korean Sexual Satisfaction Scale(KSSS) was accepted as a 5 point Likert scale with 18 items after the statistical test for reliability and validity. In conclusion, KSSS is a useful instrument which is valid and reliable can be used to understand the sexuality of Korean adults.
Adult ; Coitus ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Principal Component Analysis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Sexuality

Supernumerary tooth, named mesodens, occur between the maxillary central incisors are generally found in pairs, although it is sometimes found singly. An inverted mesiodens may move toward the nasal cavity and erupt in the floor of the nose. Approximately 90% of all supernumerary tooth usually appear in the area of the maxilla, where they disrupt the position and eruption of normal teeth. A supernumerary tooth may closely resemble the teeth of the group to which it belongs, i.e., molars, premolars or anterior teeth.
Bicuspid ; Incisor ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Nasal Cavity* ; Nose ; Tooth ; Tooth, Supernumerary*

Theophylline has been used for more than 50 years to treat bronchial asthma, and theophylline toxicity continues to be an encountered clinical problem. With suicidal intention, a 61-year-old depressive male patient was sent to the hospital after ingestion of overdose theophylline. He had been followed up for bronchial asthma with about 10 microgram/ mL average plasma theophylline level. On arrival, he complained of dyspnea, palpitation and the plasma theophylline level was 252 microgram/mL. After 2 hours of ingestion, hypotension and tachycardia developed (Systolic blood pressure 50 mmHg, heart rate 190/ min). Other symptoms and signs were stuporous mental state and hypoxemia. Patient's peak plasma theophylline level reached 402 microgram/mL after 3 hours. beta-blocker, dopamine and midazolam were used for control of tachycardia, hypotension and prevention of seizure respectively. After Gastric lavage and administration of charchoal, he was treated with hemoperfusion for 3.5 hours, and serum level decreased. The patient was discharged in good health after 17 days.
Anoxia ; Asthma ; Blood Pressure ; Dopamine ; Dyspnea ; Eating ; Gastric Lavage ; Heart Rate ; Hemoperfusion* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intention ; Male ; Midazolam ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; Seizures ; Stupor ; Tachycardia ; Theophylline*