PURPOSE: This study was designed to construct a structural model for explaining mental health status in middle - aged women. METHODS: The data was collected by self - reported questionnaires from 206 middle - aged women in Seoul. Data analysis was done with the SAS pc program for descriptive statistics and a PC - LISREL Program for finding the best fit model which assumes causal relationships among variables. RESULTS: The overall fit of the hypothetical model to the data was good, but paths and variables of the model were modified by considering theoretical implications and statistical significances of parameter estimates. Thus it was modified by excluding 3 paths. The modified model showed was good fit to the data(chi-square=177.55, p=.00), GFI=0.908, AGFI=0.860, RMR=0.013, NFI=0.972, NNFI=0.982). Perceived stress, anger expression method, and self -esteem were found to have direct effects on mental health status in middle - aged women. These predictive variables of mental health status explained 66.6% of the model. CONCLUSION: Programs to enhance mental health status in middle - aged women should include stress management skill, anger expression skill, and self -esteem enhancement skills to be effective.
*Urban Population ; Stress, Psychological/epidemiology ; Self Concept ; Middle Aged ; *Mental Health ; Korea ; Humans ; Female ; Anger ; Adult

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Nocardia*

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relationship between perceived stress, anger expression, and level of depression in cancer patients. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. Data was collected by questionnaires from 185 in- and out-patients who were diagnosed with cancer at 3 university hospitals and the National Cancer Center using Spielberger et al.'s Anger Expression Scale, Cohen, Kamarch & Mermelstein's Perceived Stress, and Derogatise's SCL-90. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression with SAS/PC. RESULT: The perceived stress in cancer patients indicated a significant positive correlation to anger-in(r=.288, p=.000), anger-out(r=.232, p=.001), and depression(r=.68, p=.000), but no significant correlation to anger-control. The anger-in of cancer patients showed a significant positive relationship to anger-out(r=.53, p=.000), and depression(r=.383, p=.000), but no significant correlation to anger-control. Anger-out showed a significantly negative correlation to anger-control(r=-.248, p=.001) and a positive correlation to depression(r=.240, p=.001). The most significant predictor which influenced depression in cancer patients was perceived stress, followed by anger-in and hobby, and these factors explained their depression with a variance of 54%. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that cancer patients with a high degree of perceived stress are likely to be high in anger-out and anger-in. Perceived stress and anger-in are major factors which affect depression in cancer patients.
*Stress, Psychological ; Neoplasms/*psychology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Depression/*etiology/psychology ; *Anger ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult

Sparganum is a plerocercoid of pseudophyllidean tapeworms, Diphyllobothrium or Spirometra spp. Human sparganosis is endemic mainly in East and Southeast Asian countries where the custom of eating raw snake or frog meat, or poulticing with snake's skin exists. From January 1995 to November 1999, an epidemiological survey was undertaken to evaluate the serum levels of anti-sparganum specific IgG antibodies in Whachon-gun residents, Korea. An enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot analysis of the sera from 316 subjects were used. In addition, a stool examination from 416 inhabitants and questionnaires regarding the consumption of raw meat were given. Out of 416 inhabitants examined coprologically, one was infected with Clonorchis sinensis and two were infected with Metagonimus spp. The sera from 36 inhabitants (11.4 %) showed a positive reaction to the sparganum antigen. Out of these 36 inhabitants, the sera from 25 people were examined 7, 19, and 50 months later. The sera were found to still show positive reactions without any remarkable changes of anti-sparganum specific antibody titers except for one. An analysis of the questionnaires suggested that a history of eating of raw snakes or frogs was important risk factor for clinical or covert sparganosis (odd ratio=15.6 and 3.1, respectively).
Adolescence ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animal ; Antibodies, Helminth/*blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Human ; Immunoblotting ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sparganum/*immunology

PURPOSE: The complication after colostomy formation may place undue hardship and emotional trauma on the ostomates. The purpose of this study was to find the effect of preoperative stoma site marking on postoperative stoma related complication. METHODS: We recruited 127 colostomy patients who underwent sigmoid or descending end colostomy, by elective operation. Transverse colostomy, loop colostomy, and emergency operation were excluded in this study. We divided the patients into two groups according to pre-operative stoma site marking by an enterostomal therapist. Postoperative stoma related complications were compared and analysed prospectively using chi-square test and paired t-test. Significance was assigned to a P value of < 0.05. RESULTS: Among 127 patients, 49 were marked preoperatively (marking group) while 78 were not marked (non- marking group). Overall stoma related complications were developed in 32 (25%) cases. Major complications including prolapse, parastomal hernia, stenosis were developed in 10 (8%) cases and minor complications including peristomal dermatitis and wound infection were developed in 22 (17%) cases. Stoma related complications were developed in 7 (14%) cases in the marking group and 25 (32%) cases in the non-marking group (P<0.05). Major complications were developed in 2 (4%) cases in the marking group and 8 (10%) cases in the non-marking group. Minor complications were developed in 5 (10%) cases in the marking group and 17 (22%) cases in the non-marking group. However, the difference in major and minor complications between the groups was not statistically significant. Of minor complications in the non-marking group, 9 (53%) cases due solely to postoperative frequent stool leakage caused by inappropriate location of the stoma. However, in the marking group, postoperative stool leakage was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative stoma site marking by an enterostomal therapist may reduce postoperative stoma related complication. All elective procedure that result in stoma formation should be assessed and marked preoperatively.
Colon, Sigmoid ; Colostomy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dermatitis ; Emergencies ; Hernia ; Humans ; Prolapse ; Prospective Studies ; Wound Infection