PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among family support, stress and quality of life according to the phases of illness in breast cancer patients. METHODS: A descriptive correlational study was employed with 121 breast cancer patients. The data was collected by using self reported questionnaire. Self reported data was collected by using the Family support scale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and EORTC QLQ-BR23. Phases of illness consisted 1st phase, 2nd phase, 3rd phase. RESULTS: The score of family supporting, stress and quality of life showed a statically differences according to the phase of illness. Family supporting and stress had negative relation in the first, second and third phase. Family supporting and quality of life in function area had positive relation in the first, second phase. There was no relation between family supporting and quality of life in symptom area. Stress, quality of life in symptom area and quality of life in function area had correlation in the first, third phase. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that the new nursing implementation should be considered according to the phase of illness in order to improve the family supporting and quality of life and reduce the stress in breast cancer patients through this study results.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Report

BACKGROUND: Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) is a type of human transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that is determined genetically. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old woman presented with a slowly progressive ataxic gait and cognitive decline. She was alert but did not cooperate well due to severe dementia and dysarthria. High signal intensities in the cerebral cortices were evident in MRI, especially in diffusion-weighted images (DWI). A prion protein gene (PRNP) analysis revealed a P102L (proline-to-leucine) mutation in codon 102. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of GSS (confirmed by PRNP analysis) in Korea. Distinctive MRI findings are also presented.
Cerebral Cortex ; Codon ; Dementia ; Dysarthria ; Female ; Gait ; Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Disease ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Prion Diseases

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the imaging characteristics of oligodendroglioma in childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight CT scans and 12 MR images were retrospectively reviewed in 12 children (mean age, 9.5 years) with pathologically-proven oligodendroglioma. The most frequent symptoms were seizure and headache, with a mean duration before diagnosis of 21 months. Location, MR signal intensity, calcification,intratumoral hemorrhage, cystic change, peritumoral edema and contrast enhancement were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The supratentorial location was most frequent (9/12, 75%) and the majority of tumors were located peripherally or subcortically (7/9, 78%). On MR, most tumors demonstrated low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI ; cystic change was frequent (10/12, 83%). Tumor enhancement was seen in 60% of cases (6/10), with various enhancement patterns. Intratumoral hemorrhage was seen in two cases. On CT, the tumors were usually hypodense and calcification was noted in two cases (2/8, 25%). Peritumoral edema and mass effect of the tumor were seen in five (5/12,42%). Hydrocephalus was associated in two cases. CONCLUSION: In childhood, most oligodendrogliomas demonstrate a peripherally located supratentorial mass, with frequent cystic change. Calcification or intratumoral hemorrhage were less frequent than in previously reported adult series.
Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Oligodendroglioma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To investigate the factors associated with surgical success in cases of unilateral medial rectus resection and lateral rectus recession in the intermittent exotropia. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with basic-type intermittent exotropia were included in this study. They underwent unilateral recession of the lateral rectus and resection of the medial rectus muscle and were followed postoperatively for at least one year. Surgical results were analyzed to assess the association with preoperative factors, including the angle of deviation, difference of deviation between near and far, stereoacuity at far using B-VAT(R), and Worth 4 dot test (W4DT) at near, and postoperative factors, including the position at near and far at one week, stereoacuity at far using B-VAT(R) at one year, and W4DT at near and far. Surgical success was defined as esotropia within 5 prism diopters (PD) at near and far or within 10PD at near and far at one year postoperatively. RESULTS: Patients with a preoperative difference of deviation between near and far within 5PD had a better surgical outcome than patients with 6~10PD (p=0.03). There was a statistically significant relationship between position at one week postoperatively (especially esotropia or orthotropia at near and far) and success ratio (p<0.05). Other factors were not statistically related to surgical success (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The difference of preoperative deviation between near and far within 5PD and within 5PD esotropia and orthotropia at near and far at one week postoperatively were significantly associated with a good surgical outcome and could be good prognostic indicators.
Esotropia ; Exotropia* ; Humans

PURPOSE: Sporadic colorectal cancer with micosatellite instability (MSI) is supposed to have a distinct molecular profile, distinct clinocopathologic feature, and a distinct prognosis. However, the test for MSI is still expensive, and a big machine is needed for routine screening. This study was performed to examine the clinicopathologic of characteristics of MSI sporadic colorectal cancer and the efficacy of immunohistochemical staining for hMLH1 and hMSH2. METHODS: Five hundred sixty nine colorectal adenocarinomas resected from September 2003 to August 2004 at Asan Medical Center were prospectively collected. FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis), HNPCC (hereditary non-polyposis colo-rectal cancer), and incomplete tests of immunohistochemical staining or MSI were excluded. The MSI status was determined by using PCR (polymerase chain reaction). A first round of immunohistochemical staining for hMLH1/hMSH2 was performed, and a second round was performed for cases showing a disparity between the two exams. The clinicopathologic variables regarding the MSI status were analyzed, and the sensitivity and the specificity of immunohistochemical staining were evaluated. RESULTS: Sporadic colorectal cancers with MSI-H were 8.4% (n=48) and were associated with age (< or = 60 years), colorectal cancer familial history, synchronous colorectal cancer, right side tumor location, and poorly differentiated or mucinous cell type. However, age, synchronous colorectal cancer, and right side tumor location were associated an the multivariate analysis. In the first round of immunohistochemical staining, no expression of hMLH1 and/or hMSH2 was obserred in 71 cases (12.5%), and the sensitivity and the specificity were 50.0% and 91.9%, respectively. After repetitive immunohistochemical staining for the 71 cases showing disagreement with the to MSI status, the sensitivity and the specificity of the second round of immunohistochemical staining were 53.3% and 97.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sporadic colorectal cancer with MSI appears to have distinct characteristics. However, immunohistochemical staining for hMLH1 and hMSH2 is not accurate enough to be used instead of MSI.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Mass Screening ; Microsatellite Instability* ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Mucins ; Multivariate Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Conservative management of multicystic dysplastic kidney(MCDK) without nephrectomy has recently been advocated. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical course of conservatively managed MCDK and to find out possible predictive factors for involution of MCDK by ultrasonography(US). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made on 46 patients(26 boys and 20 girls) in whom MCDK was detected and had been traced by US between Dec. 1993 and Aug. 2005 at Severance Hospital. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 30 months(range 2-102 months). All patients underwent radionuclide scans and voiding cystourethrograms. The serial follow-up US showed complete involution in 11(24%), partial involution in 19(41%), and no interval change or increased in cyst size in 13(28%) patients. Nephrectomy was done in 3 patients(7%) due to relapsing urinary tract infection(UTI) and severe abdominal distension. The mean age of complete involution of MCDK was 37 months(range 12-84 months). Episodes of UTI were present in 17 patients(37%) and additional genitourinary(GU) abnormalities were found in 22 patients(44%). Hypertension and renal insufficiency was complicated in one patient. No child developed malignant tumor. Univariate analysis showed that five variables were associated with complete involution of the MCDK; gender, site, UTI episode, additional GU abnormalities, and renal length on initial US. After adjusting using the Pearson model, the presence of additional GU abnormalities was exclusively associated with complete involution among the 5 variables(P=0.034). CONCLUSION: In our review of 46 cases of MCDK, non-surgical approach for patients with MCDK was advisable and we could predict poor prognosis when MCDK is associated with other GU anomalies.
Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney* ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract

Background: Integrated management of general, mental, and oral health is necessary to improve an individual’s quality of life. This study aimed to identify the effects of mental and oral health behaviors on metabolic syndrome. Methods: A total of 4,227 Korean adults aged 20 years or older were selected as study subjects using raw data from the first year (2019) of the 8th period of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A complex sample chi-square test and a complex sample logistic regression analysis were performed using the PASW Statistics ver. 18.0 program. Results: The effect on metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in male than in 1.833 times in male, 2.914 times in 30∼49 years old, and 3.855 times in 50∼64 years old, and 3.929 times in people over 65 years old compared to 20∼29 years old, and compared to those with a college degree or higher, those with a middle school degree or lower are 2.116 times, those with lower income levels are 1.507 times higher, those with middle-lower are 1.359 times higher, those with middle-high are 1.401 times. Compared to non-smokers, smokers were 1.570 times higher than non-smokers and compared to those without speech problem and chewing difficulty, they were 1.717 times and 1.397 times higher, respectively and 1.973 times higher in those with 0∼1 brushing times per day. Mental health did not affect prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusion It is necessary to improve maintain a healthy lifestyle to lower the risk of metabolic syndrome. It is necessary to establish effective dental hygiene customized education and an efficient health management system at the national level that can induce improvement of oral health behavior for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome.

We have previously demonstrated that transferrin binding protein (TfBP) is a reliable marker for mature oligoden-drocytes (OLGs) in the avian central nervous system (CNS). Unlike mammalian CNS in which OLGs are generated largely postnatally, avian OLGs are differentiated during embryonic development of CNS. In this study, several aspects of TfBP(+/-) OLG development were immunohistochemically examined in the embryonic chick cerebellum : (1) change in shapes of immature cells with respect to time and to location within the cerebellum, (2) possible sites of origin, and (3) pathways of precursor cell migration. Our results indicate that TfBP expression gradually increases and extends from the deep portion of the white matter to gray matter with proportion to progress of cerebellar development. A few TfBP? cells were first observed in the deep portion of the cerebellum at E9. At E13, TfBP(+/-) cells were distributed evenly within the white matter. At E17, many TfBP(+/-) OLGs were located at granular layer and at the near place of Purkinje cell layer. At E20, a large number of TfBP cells appeared at the granular layer with a few in the molecular layer. Our data demonstrated distinct patterns of morphology and location of TfBP(+/-) OLGs in the cerebellum during development and suggest a role of TfBP in OLG development.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Movement ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebellum* ; Chick Embryo ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Oligodendroglia ; Pregnancy ; Transferrin

Guanine aminohydrolase (GAH; Guanine deaminase, EC 3.5.4.3) is an enzyme that has a role in purine catabolism. This enzyme produces xanthine and ammonia by hydrolysis of guanine, and xanthine is further degraded to uric acid and hydrogen peroxide by another enzyme, xanthine oxidase. Most of the enzymes involved in purine catabolism have been studied for their biological functions, physiological roles and amino acid sequences, and biochemical activity of GAH is known to be detected in various organs such as liver, kidney, small intestine and brain. Its activity is also known to be changed during brain development. In this study, we hoped to reveal expression pattern of GAH in developing rat brain by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. In western blotting, GAH immunoreactivity was not detected on 14-, 16- and 18-days-old fetal rat brains. Its reactivity was first detected from 20-days-old fetal rat brain and highly increased after birth. And it was maintained at steady level from 2 weeks after birth. In immunohistochemistry, no positive cells were found on 14- and 16-days-old fetal rat brain sections. A few GAH-immunoreactive cells appeared from 18-days-old fetal rat brain and they were localized at olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, midbrain, pons and medulla. The 20-days-old fetal rat brain also showed immunoreactive cells at hippocampus and the staining intensity was still weak. Postnatal 2-days-old rat brain also showed immunoreactive cells at basal ganglia and the number of positive cells and staining intensity were increased. Thereafter, immunoreactivity appeared on many neuronal cells around various areas in the brain and nerve fibers also showed reactivity on postnatal brains. The number of positive cells decreased from 1 week after birth and a few positive cells were observed on olfactory bulb and cerebellum from 2 weeks after birth. In mature brain most of GAH were localized on nerve fibers and few positive cells could be found on olfatory bulb only. From these, we can suspect that GAH may have some functional relationship with nerve fibers.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Ammonia ; Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Blotting, Western ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Cortex ; Guanine Deaminase* ; Guanine* ; Hippocampus ; Hope ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Hydrolysis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestine, Small ; Kidney ; Liver ; Mesencephalon ; Metabolism ; Nerve Fibers ; Neurons ; Olfactory Bulb ; Parturition ; Pons ; Rats* ; Uric Acid ; Xanthine ; Xanthine Oxidase

BACKGROUND: This is the studies about "If the soldiers expose in the paraquat, how much have it influenced on themselves who participated in the Vietnam War and their second generation?" and this is also researched about the factors that "How differents do the symptoms according to their health conditions and a class of diseases?". First of all, We divided them into 3 groups as exposure duration and exposure degree of the paraquat and We gave marks against each steps, too. (< point 10: low group, point 11-19: middle group, > point 20: high group). We've focused in "Does the high score really involves with their descendants who suffers from paraquat?" as direct damages men during from June 1965 to February 1971 (72 persons) and their descendants (266 persons) who are in the Pusan veterans hospital and outpatients. METHODS: It is completed by direct interview, telephone interview, army records, army history, and medical records with them. We've tried to minify sample bias as analyzing their information. We could contact only a few people among living in Pusan or Kyongnam province. Generally, someone including persons who couldn't get a damaging proofs from paraquat hardly joined us and the others strongly rejected the interview for this research. RESULTS: Among the 72 participating soldiers in the Vietnam war, average age of patient is 53 years old (the youngest: 46 years old, the oldest: 64 years old), average of exposure score is 16 point (minimum: 1.9 point, maximum: 31.9 point), average of pregnant frequency is 5.2 persons, and average degree of smoking is 14.382 single cigarette (minimum: 4 single cigarette, maximum: 60 single cigarette). The second generation is suffering from abortion, skin disorder, still birth, congenital anomalies, weakness, visual disturbance, peripheral neuropathy in frequency. CONCLUSION: There's no relation between exposure score of paraquat and diseases of the descendants.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Busan ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Medical Records ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; Outpatients ; Paraquat* ; Parturition ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products ; Vietnam*