This study was conducted to compare activities of daily living, fatigue and depression between rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy persons. The subjects consisted of 53 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 53 healthy persons at a university hospital in Daegu City. Data were collected by means of structured interviews with questionnaires from July 20, 1999 to August 25, 1999. The instrument used in this study were the activities of daily living scale developed by Katz et al. (1970) and Barthel(1973), Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue by Belza et al.(1995) and CES-D(Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression) scale. Analysis of data was done by use of descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation, Chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, MANCOVA and Duncan with the SPSS program. The major findings are summarized as follows: 1. The first hypothesis that the rheumatoid arthritis patients will have a lower degree of activities of daily living than the healthy persons was supported (F=4.584, p=.035). 2. The second hypothesis that the rheumatoid arthritis patient will have a higher degree of fatigue than the healthy persons was supported (F=7.799, p=.006). 3. The third hypothesis that the rheumatoid arthritis patients will have a higher degree of depression than the healthy persons was supported (F=4.768, p=.031). With the above results, it can be concluded that rheumatoid arthritis patients had a lower degree of activities of daily living and a higher degree of fatigue and depression than the healthy persons. Therefore, by providing appropriate nursing intervention, activities of daily living would be much better and fatigue and depression would be alleviated.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Daegu ; Depression* ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The present study was performed to evaluate the comedogenicity of several cosmetic ingredients, vegetable oils, steroid and sulfur. The test materials were applied to one ear canal of rabbits for 6 weekdays for 2 weeks. The results were as follows: l. Among the 14 cosmetic ingredients, no comedogenicity was shown in propylene glycol and petrolatum, mild comedogencity in squalene, acetylated lanolin, polyethylene glycol, cetyl aIcohol and Tween 80. Propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate and oleic acid showed moderate comedogenicity. Severe comedogenicity was observed in myristyl myristate, isopropyl myristate, butyl stearate and myristyl lactate. 2. Moderate to severe comedogenicity was shown in olive oil, sesame oil and corn oil and moderate comedogenicity in sulfur (8%) and betamethasone dipropionate (0.06%) R. Histopathologic grading were paralleled the findings of the naked eye.
Betamethasone ; Corn Oil ; Ear Canal ; Lactic Acid ; Lanolin ; Myristic Acid ; Olea ; Oleic Acid ; Petrolatum ; Plant Oils ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Polysorbates ; Propylene Glycol ; Rabbits ; Sesame Oil ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate ; Squalene ; Sulfur ; Olive Oil

No abstract available.
Cutaneous Fistula ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans ; Sarcoma, Kaposi*

PURPOSE: This study was to confirm the influence of memory intensive training program on the elderly people's cognitive function, memory performance, and self-esteem. METHOD: Using a quasi-experimental or experimental design, 60 elderly aged over 60 years randomly assigned the experimental and control groups completed pretest-post evaluation. The experimental group participated in the memory intensive training program was offered to the participants in the experimental group for three weeks (2times/week). The t-test and chi2-test using SAS program. RESULTS: 1) The cognitive function was significantly higher in the experimental group compared to that in the control group (t=3.26, p=.002). 2) The memory performance that included immediate word recall tasks, word recognition tasks and delayed word recall tasks was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t=5.30, p<.001). The experimental group showed significantly higher scores for memory performance than the control group (t=5.30, p<.001). 3) The self-esteem was higher in the experimental group than in the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.94, p=.058). CONCLUSION: The Memory Intensive Training Program could be an effective intervention for improving cognitive function, and memory performance of the elderly people.
Aged ; Humans ; Memory ; Phenothiazines ; Research Design

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to consider the clinical experience of surgical outcome of single port access (SPA) laparoscopic myomectomy according to suturing methods. METHODS: The authors operated with 2 suturing method in SPA laparoscopic myomectomy for 246 patients and compared the surgical outcomes. RESULTS: The some significant difference of surgical outcome according to two suturing methods was demonstrated. Operating time was 100.50 minutes (+/- 42.09 minutes) in interrupted suture method group than 121.04 minutes (+/- 61.56 minutes) in continuous interlocking suture method group (P = 0.021). Estimated blood loss was less 222.59 mL (+/- 144.94 mL) in interrupted suture group than 340.11 mL (+/- 380.62 mL) in continuous interlocking suture method group (P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: This experience suggests that interrupted suture method was effective for operating time and estimated blood loss than continuous interlocking method in SPA laparoscopic myomectomy.
Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures ; Treatment Outcome

Priapism is a relatively rare condition of prolonged painful penile erection, unrelated to sexual activity. It is caused by idiopathic, leukemia, sickle cell disease, oral medication, intracavernosal injection therapy, spinal cord injury and malignant cell infiltration. Malignant lymphoma involving the genitourinary system is uncommon and when it occurs the testes is the most common site. However malignant lymphoma involving the penis is even more rare, with only 20 cases reported in literature. To our knowledge, priapism caused by penile lymphoma has not been reported previously in literature. We report a case with a brief review of literature.
Anemia, Sickle Cell ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma* ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; Priapism* ; Sexual Behavior ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Testis ; Urogenital System

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop an evaluation framework for QI activity in medical institutions and to analyze QI activity cases by applying the developed evaluation framework. METHOD: A four-phase process was employed to develop the evaluation framework, and a descriptive survey was used for the QI case study. Data were collected in April, 2010 by examining 157 QI activity cases presented at conferences and published in Journal of Korean Society of Quality Assurance in Health Care over the past three years. Developed QI activity evaluation instruments were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 for Windows program. RESULT: A QI Activity Evaluation Framework was developed. This framework consisted of 45 items. The department with the highest level of QI participation was the nursing department. The most frequent QI activity theme was patient safety. QI activity levels in Korean medical institutions are relatively equalized without significant differences according to institution characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: From the quality aspect of QI activity, more systematic and scientific approaches are required to upgrade QI activity. This study could provide methodological guidelines for QI activity and be useful in setting goals and directions for QI activity in medical institutions in Korea.
Congresses as Topic ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Korea ; Patient Safety ; Qi ; Quality Improvement

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the effect of Tai Chi Qigong exercise program on insulin resistance and blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHOD: This was a quasi-experimental study used a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants included 39 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (ages between 40-70)(experimental group, 19, control group, 20). The Tai Chi Qigong exercise program consisted of 5 minute warming up, 30-minute main exercise, and 5 minute cooling down, and was conducted twice a week for 10 weeks. The outcome variables were insulin resistance (proinsulin, C-peptide, insulin, insulin sensitivity index) and blood glucose (fasting, post prandial 2hr, HbA1c). Data was analyzed using ANCOVA, with pre-test values as covariates, to examine difference between pre and post measures between the two groups. RESULTS: The Tai Chi Qigong was effective in lowering postprandial 2hr blood glucose. CONCLUSION: Twice a week 10 week-Tai Chi Qigong exercise seems to be too short to improve insulin excretion or resistance, and fasting blood sugar and HbA1C in patients with type 2 DM. A Tai Chi Qigong program at least 3 times per week or longer is recommended.
Blood Glucose* ; C-Peptide ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fasting ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Qigong ; Tai Ji

Apoptosis is an unique physiologic process of programmed cell death, playing an important role in the development and homeostasis of both normal and pathologic tissues. In mycobacterial infections, apoptosis of the macrophage is an important defense mechanism, which prevents the spread of the infection. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether apoptosis occurs in leprosy, and whether a positive correlation occurs among caspase-1, 3, 8, IFN-gamma, and iNOS among normal tissue, BT, and LL lesions. TUNEL staining and double immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD8, CD68 antibodies were done in paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 10 cases of paucibacillary leprosy and 8 cases of multibacillary leprosy. The mRNA expression of caspase-1, 3, 8, IFN-gamma, and iNOS was detected by RT-PCR analysis. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The number of apoptotic cells was 3.5+/-1.6 in paucibacillary leprosy and 6.1+/-3.7 in multibacillary leprosy. The difference was statistically insignificant. 2. Caspase-1 mRNA was expressed in order of LL, BT, and normal skin, and the differences were statistically insignificant. 3. Caspase-3 mRNA was expressed in order of LL, BT, and normal skin. Between LL and normal skin, the difference was statistically significant. 4. Caspase-8 mRNA was expressed in order of LL, normal skin, and BT, and differences were statistically significant. Especially, between LL and BT, the difference was statistically significant. 5. IFN-gamma mRNA was expressed in order of LL, BT, and normal skin. Between LL and normal skin, the difference was statistically significant. 6. iNOS mRNA was expressed in order of LL, BT, and normal skin. Between LL and normal skin, the difference was statistically significant. 7. Statistically significant positive correlation between caspase-1 and IFN-gamma, caspase-3 and iNOS, and caspase-8 and iNOS was found in normal tissue, BT, and LL. Statistically significant positive correlation between caspase-1 and IFN-gamma was shown in BT and LL. In conclusion, apoptosis exists in leprosy lesions and apoptotic cells expressing CD8 and CD68 positivity. Number of apoptotic cells in multibacillary leprosy lesions was insignificantly more than that of paucibacillary lesions. Agents inducing apoptosis such as caspase-3, caspase-8, IFN-gamma, and iNOS significantly increased in leprosy lesions, especially in LL lesions comparing to normal tissues. Apoptosis in the LL lesions might rather be an additive result to macrophage activation than play a defense role. Only the mRNA expression of caspase-8 significantly increased in LL lesions more than in BT lesions. So caspase-8 might be a major player of the apoptotic pathway in LL.
Antibodies ; Apoptosis* ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase 8 ; Cell Death ; Homeostasis ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Multibacillary ; Leprosy, Paucibacillary ; Macrophage Activation ; Macrophages ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin