PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of foot reflexology on sleep, depression and skin temperature of the female elderly at home. METHODS: This research used the non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 45 elders residing at home: 23 in the experimental group and 22 in the control group. The experimental group received 30-minute foot reflexology 8 times for 2 weeks. The results were analyzed using chi2 test, t-test with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The results showed that foot reflexology was significantly effective in improving the quality of sleep, reducing depression, and raising the temperature of both feet. However, the temperature of both palms was not statistically significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that foot reflexology is an effective nursing intervention in improving the quality of sleep, reducing depression, and raising the temperature of both feet. Therefore, it is recommended to use foot reflexology as a complementary nursing intervention for elderly women at home in community.
Aged* ; Depression* ; Female* ; Foot* ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Skin Temperature* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of foot reflexology on sleep, depression and skin temperature of the female elderly at home. METHODS: This research used the non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 45 elders residing at home: 23 in the experimental group and 22 in the control group. The experimental group received 30-minute foot reflexology 8 times for 2 weeks. The results were analyzed using chi2 test, t-test with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The results showed that foot reflexology was significantly effective in improving the quality of sleep, reducing depression, and raising the temperature of both feet. However, the temperature of both palms was not statistically significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that foot reflexology is an effective nursing intervention in improving the quality of sleep, reducing depression, and raising the temperature of both feet. Therefore, it is recommended to use foot reflexology as a complementary nursing intervention for elderly women at home in community.
Aged* ; Depression* ; Female* ; Foot* ; Humans ; Massage* ; Nursing ; Skin Temperature* ; Skin*

The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of occupationally related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among workers employed in services and manufacturing industries analysing the sensitivity and specificity of clinical symptoms and signs. Three surveys were made for this study. The first survey was done for 1,447 workers employed by 25 companies. The jobs of the employees were repetitive works at VDT and assembly lines. Therefore, employees could be divided to two groups, doing repetitive works and non repetitive works. The second survey was made for 189 workers who were randomly selected from 517 workers complained some symptoms at their hands and wrists. We examined their symptoms and carried out neurological examinations for CTS (Tinel's sign, Phalen's sign, pin prick test, carpal compressive test, toniquet compression test). The third survey was made for nerve conduction study (NCS) for 57 workers who had shown positive signs for CTS. The main results of this study were as follows: 1. From the first survey, we have found that there were significant statistical differences in getting uncomfortable neuromuscular symptoms by sex, job type, total working hours during a week, duration of current work, and kinds of work. Odds ratio in male vs female, repetitive vs non repetitive, service vs manufacturing companies, total working hours during a week, and duration of current work were 1.867(95% CI=1.467-2.377), 1.680 (95% CI=1.121-2.279), 1.663(95% CI=1.213-2.279), 1.016(95% CI=1.006-1.027) and 1.283 (95% CI=1.097-1.501) respectively. 2. From the second survey, we have found that 46 peoples (25.0%) were positive for one or more than one signs in neurological examinations of NIOSH criteria. Positive findings from neurological examinations were high among workers of low level of education (p-value=0.008), manufacturing jobs (p-value=0.00), long hours a week (p-value=0.028), and long duration of current work (p-value=0.00). 3. From the third survey, we diagnosed 35 peoples (61.4%) had CTS by NCS. They had abnormally delayed latent period or velocity in median nerve conduction velocity.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Education ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Median Nerve ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Neural Conduction ; Neurologic Examination ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: To understand the crucial requirement for the normal early folliculogenesis, we evaluated molecular as well as physiological differences during in vitro ovarian culture. Among the important regulators for follicle development, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and FSH Receptor (FSHR) have been known to be expressed in the cuboidal granulosa cells. Meanwhile, it is known that c-kit is germ cell-specific and GDF-9 is also oocyte-specific regulator. To evaluate the functional requirement for the competence of normal follicular development, we investigated the differential mRNA expression of several factors secreted from granulosa cells and oocytes between in vivo and in vitro developed ovaries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ovaries from ICR neonates (the day of birth) were cultured for 4 days (for primordial to primary transition) or 8 days (for secondary follicle formation) in alpha-MEM glutamax supplemented with 3 mg/ml BSA without serum or growth factors. The mRNA levels of the several factors were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Freshly isolated 0-, 4-, and 8-day-old ovaries were used as control. RESULTS: The mRNA of AMH and FSHR as granulosa cell factors was highly increased according to the ovarian development in both of 4- and 8-day-old control. However, the mRNA expression was not induced in both of 4- and 8-day in vitro cultured ovaries. The mRNA expression of GDF-9 known to regulate follicle growth as an oocyte factor was different between in vivo and in vitro developed ovaries. In addition, the transcript of GDF-9 was expressed in the primordial follicles of mouse ovaries. The mRNA expression of c-kit was not significantly different during the early folliculogenesis in vitro. CONCLUSION: This is the first report regarding endogenous AMH and FSHR expression during the early folliculogenesis in vitro. In conclusion, it will be very valuable to evaluate cuboidal granulosa cell factors as functional marker(s) for normal early folliculogenesis in vitro.
Animals ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; Female ; Granulosa Cells ; Growth Differentiation Factor 9 ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mental Competency ; Mice ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, FSH ; RNA, Messenger*

Coronary stent dislodgement during percutaneous coronary intervention, which occurs when the stent is passed through tortuous and calcified lesions, is not a rare complication. Without proper treatment, such as fixing with another stent in the coronary artery or removing the undeployed stent from the coronary artery or systemic artery system, this complication can cause serious problems. We experienced the unusual situation of a dismounted and dislodged coronary stent, in which retrograde retrieval to the radial artery was impossible during transradial coronary intervention. We report on use of a rendezvous and snare technique at the brachial artery level via femoral puncture, which resulted in resolution without surgery.
Arteries ; Brachial Artery* ; Coronary Vessels ; Endovascular Procedures ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Punctures ; Radial Artery ; SNARE Proteins* ; Stents*

Even though colonoscopy is a common and widely performed procedure, it can cause many complications. If any sign of inflammation is observed, a perforation or postpolypectomy coagulation syndrome should be considered. Diverticulitis, a very rare complication with an incidence of 0.04% to 0.08%, also can occur after the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. We report a case of acute diverticulitis after colonoscopy, diagnosed with typical computed tomography findings after excluding other complications. The patient was treated in the same manner as for complicated diverticulitis, with bowel rest, hydration, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Acute diverticulitis as a rare complication can occur following prolonged colonoscopy or colonoscopic polypectomy, especially in those with additional risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colonoscopy ; Diverticulitis* ; Diverticulum ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic factors, survival rate and local recurrence rate of the patients with rectal cancer who received postoperative radiation therapy. METHODS & MATERIALS: Seventy patients with rectal cancer received postoperative radiation therapy after curative surgery at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medial College between May 1984 and April 1993. Of the seventy patients, sixty-four evaluable patients were analysed retrospectively. There were 34 men and 28 women. Age at diagnosis ranged from 23 to 74 years. The distribution of stage according to the modified Astler-Coller (MAC) system was as follow: 12 in B2+3, 2 in C1, and 50 in C2+3. Postoperative adjuvant therapy included pelvic radiotherapy in all cases and chemotherapy in addition in 55 cases. A total dose of 45 to 60 Gy (median dose: 55.8Gy) was delivered in a period of 5 to 6 weeks and the follow-up period ranged from 26 to 133 months with a median of 55 months. RESULTS: Overall two-year and five-year actuarial survival rate were 70.3% and 51.4%, 90.9% and 90.9% in stage B2+3, and 68.2% and 53.6% in stage C. Local failure occurred in 13 (20.3%) of the 64 patients and distant failure rate was 18.8% (12/64). Severe late complication was small bowel obstruction in 4 patients and surgery was required in 3 patients (5%). The significant prognostic factors were stage (p=0.0019) and histologic differentiation (p=0.0046). CONCLUSION: This study suggested a potential adjuvant role for radiation. However, the possible reduction in local failure rates in this study compared with historic control groups must be verified in randomized trial.
Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of the biliary stone, occurring in 0.3-0.5% of patients with cholelithiasis. The mortality rate is high at 12-27% and early diagnosis and prompt management can improve its prognosis. An 83-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain. The patient previously had a hysterectomy and had received radiation therapy for uterine cancer. Plain abdominal x-ray showed typical findings of small bowel ileus with step ladder patterns. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed biliary-enteric fistula with a 3-cm-sized gallstone in the jejunal loop. Surgical treatment was planned but due to the patient's wish, conservative treatment was provided for 10 days. In the follow-up CT scan, the stone had moved to the distal ileum but intestinal perforation was suspected. Ileocecectomy and adhesiolysis were performed and the patient recovered fully. Here we report a case of gallstone ileus that was treated by surgical removal after 10 days of conservative treatment.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged, 80 and over* ; Cholelithiasis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallstones* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ileum ; Ileus* ; Intestinal Perforation ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Uterine Neoplasms

A permanent inferior vena cava (IVC) filter with anti-coagulation therapy may be considered in patients with recurrent pulmonary embolism. IVC filter thrombosis is a challenging clinical problem. Here, we report our experience in treating one such patient using mechanical thrombectomy via the rolling technique with a 0.014-inch coronary wire.
Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thrombectomy* ; Thrombosis* ; Vena Cava Filters* ; Vena Cava, Inferior

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the prognostic impact of the lymph node ratio (LNR; i.e., the ratio of positive to dissected lymph nodes) on recurrence and survival in breast cancer patients with positive axillary lymph nodes (LNs). METHODS: The study cohort was comprised of 330 breast cancer patients with positive axillary nodes who received postoperative radiotherapy between 1987 and 2004. Ten-year Kaplan-Meier locoregional failure, distant metastasis, disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves. The prognostic significance of the LNR was evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 7.5 years. By minimum p-value approach, 0.25 and 0.55 were the cutoff values of LNR at which most significant difference in DFS and DSS was observed. The DFS and DSS rates correlated significantly with tumor size, pN classification, LNR, histologic grade, lymphovascular invasion, the status of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. The LNR based classification yielded a statistically larger separation of the DFS curves than pN classification. In multivariate analysis, histologic grade and pN classification were significant prognostic factors for DFS and DSS. However, when the LNR was included as a covariate in the model, the LNR was highly significant (p<0.0001), and pN classification was not statistically significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The LNR predicts recurrence and survival more accurately than pN classification in our study. The pN classification and LNR should be considered together in risk estimates for axillary LNs positive breast cancer patients.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Estrogens ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Recurrence