This study was attempted to explore the effect of laughter therapy on Hansen people's Interpersonal Relations, certify the effect, and use that as a useful means to improve Hansen people's interpersonal ability. The research method, Hansen people receiving outpatient and admission medical examination and treatment at the research institute of Korea Hansen Welfare Association located in Euiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, and Hansen People residing at Razaro Village, and divided 60 people approving participation at research into 30 as an experimental group and 30 as a control group, and conducted a questionnaire survey. The sex was distributed to 30 males, and 30 females, and this study conducted a laughter therapy to 30 of the experimental group over 8 times in total by 60 minutes for 2 weeks, and for the collected data, analyzed changes to interpersonal relations revealed before and after conducting the laughter therapy program using IBM/SPSS 20.0 program. The major findings of this study are as follows. Verification of effects of a laughter therapy on Hansen people' interpersonal relations indicated that the interpersonal scores of the experimental group statistically came out high, so the laughter therapy is effective in improving Hansen people' interpersonal relations. {Pre-test (M = 3.21) and post-test (M = 3.79) of the results showed a statistically significant difference (p<.001)}. It clarified that the laughter therapy is effective improving males' and females' interpersonal relations, where it has a higher effect on female Hansen people than male people. {(males : pretest (M = 2.93) and post-test (M = 3.48), females : pre-test (M = 3.45) and post-test (M = 4.07}
Academies and Institutes ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations* ; Korea ; Laughter Therapy* ; Laughter* ; Leprosy* ; Male ; Outpatients ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Although adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of gastric cancer is a popular practice in Korea, there are still controversies about the effectiveness of the treatment. The fact that the relatively less effective drugs have been used and the rarity of large-scaled controlled studies may be partially responsible for the controversies. FP(5-FU, Cisplatin) combination is one of the most active regimen against advanced gastric cancer, consistently showing a response rate of 50~60%. We tried the FP chemotherapy as an adjuvant treatment for high-risk patients after curative resection of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1992 and June 1996, 35 patients with completely resected high-risk gastric cancer(postoperative stage III or IV except thase with M1) received six courses of FP chemotherapy. Endpoints were toxicities of treatment, relapse free survival, and overall survival. RESULTS: With a median follow-up time of 17.1 months, Kaplan-Meier estimates of 2-year overall survival was 63.3% and relapse free survival estimates was 49%. There were no differences between stage III and IV patients in terms of overall survival or relapse free survival. Hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities were tolerable for most of the patients. CONCLUSION: Postoperative FP combination chemotherapy was tolerable for patients with high-risk(stage III and IV) gastric cancer. It is too early to determine the long term survival rates for this patients, but 2-year overall and relapse free survival were comparable to that of historical non-cisplatin containing regimens. Randomized phase III studies are warranted.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fluorouracil* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

Recent study on the enamel matrix derivatives explained on the effects of new bone and new attachment formation in infrabony pocket of periodontal defects. The purpose of this study was to investigate on the biological effects of enamel matrix derivatives to attachment, proliferation and activation of periodontal ligament and osteoblast cells. After treatment of osteoblast and PDL cells with various Emdogain concentration level(0.03microgram/ml, 3microgram/ml, 300 microgram/ml), activation of osteogenetic factor, calcified nodule formation and measuring alkaline phosphatase activity(ALP) were performed. 1. Both osteoblast and PDL cell showed increasing initial cell attachment with 300microgram/ml Emdogain concentration. 2. At the level of 300microgram/ml, accelerated proliferation of oseoblast and PDL cell was appeared. 3. As Emdogain's concentration increased, increased ALP activation of osteoblast was shown. In case of PDL cell, Emdogain increased ALP activation prominently at the level of 300microgram/ml. 4. No statistically significant activating change were founded at all of the concentrations of Emdogain on the activating of transcript factor Runx2 for differentiating osteoblast. 5. At the level of 300microgram/ml, calcified nodule formation was increased prominently to compare with other concentration. These results indicated that Emdogain should activate initial attachment, proliferation and activation, but not on Runx2 activation and can be used for useful tool of the treatment of periodontal tissue regeneration.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Dental Enamel* ; Fibroblasts* ; Osteoblasts* ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Regeneration

PURPOSE: FP(5-FU, Cisplatin) combination is one of the most active regimen for the advanced gastric cancer with a response rate of 50~60%. In spite of this high response rate, there is little evidence that FP regimen results in survival benefit for patients with advanced gastric cancer. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of this regimen with the addition of levamisole, an immunomodulatory agent, known as enhancing the antitumor effects of 5-FU in other cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Previously untreated patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer were treated with 5-FU(1000 mg/M2 civ, D1~5), cisplatin(60 mg/M2 iv, Dl) every 3 weeks, and levamisole(150 mg/day, Dl~3) every 2 weeks. The major endpoints were response rate, response duration, and toxicities. RESULTS: Between June 1992 and Aug. 1996, thirty three patients were included in this study. Patients received 2~18 cycles of chemotherapy(median 5). Among the evaluable 31 patients, 18 patients(58%, 95% C.I. 40.4~75.7) showed objective responses including one(3.2%) clinical complete response. The median response duration was 7.7 months(95% C.I. 3.6~11.8). During total of 189 cycles of chemotherapy, 79 episodes(41.7%) of leucopenia were observed. There was no death from concurrent infection. CONCLUSION: FPL combination therapy is at least as effective as conventional FP chemotherapy, but resulted in somewhat more myelosuppression.
Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Fluorouracil* ; Humans ; Levamisole* ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty in cases of painful and medically intractable osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-eight patients (20 men and 78 women; mean age, 69 years) underwent 122 per-cutaneous vertebroplasty procedures for the treatment of osteoporotic vertical compression fracture. For the evaluation of bone mass, bone densitometry was performed in 45 patients, and to assess the recent evolution of the fracture, all 98 underwent MRI. Percutaneous vertebroplasty involves percutaneous transpedicular puncture of the involved vertebrae followed by the injection of a Polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA)-Barium mixture into the vertebral body. To assess leakage of the mixture into the epidural tissue, neural foramina, venous plexus and paravertebral tissue, we then immediately obtained a computerized tomographic (CT) scan, assessing the clinical efficacy of the procedure on the basis of time required for pain relief (defined as more than 60% reduction of initial pain), and time required for ambulation without significant pain. RESULTS: Percutaneous vertebroplasty was successful in all patients. Pain relief was accomplished within 1-5(mean, 1.8) days and early ambulation without significant pain was possible within 2 -15 (mean, 3.3) days. Post-procedural CT scanning revealed leakage of the PMMA-barium mixture into Paravertebral tissue(n=41), the paravertebral venous plexus (n=34) and epidural tissue (n=4). No neural foraminal leakage was identified, and no procedure-related complication requiring surgical treatment occurred. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective new interventional procedure for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. It relieves pain, provides early mobilization, and strengthens involved vertebral bodies.
Densitometry ; Early Ambulation ; Female ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Punctures ; Spine ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebroplasty* ; Walking

PURPOSE: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is associated with localized aggressive periodontitis. It produces cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), which induces cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. The CDT holotoxin is composed of CdtA, CdtB, and CdtC. CdtB has structural homology to human DNase I and is an active component of the CDT complex acting as a DNase. In particular, the pattern homology seen in the CdtB subunit has been associated with specific DNase I residues involved in enzyme catalysis, DNA binding, and metal ion binding. So, to study the functions and regulation of recombinant CdtB, we made up a quantity of functional recombinant CdtB and tested it in relation to the metal ion effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We constructed the pET28a-cdtB plasmid from A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 by genomic DNA PCR and expressed it in the BL21 (DE3) Escherichia coli system. We obtained the functional recombinant CdtB by the refolding system using the dialysis method and then analyzed the DNase activity and investigated the metal ion effect from plasmid digestion. RESULTS: The recombinant CdtB subunit was expressed as the inclusion bodies. We were able to obtain functional recombinant CdtB subunit using refolding system. We confirmed that our refolded recombinant CdtB had DNase activity and was influenced by the metal ions Mg2+ and Ca2+. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the factors influencing recombinant CdtB may contribute to CDT associated diseases, such as periodontitis, endocarditic, meningitis, and osteomyelitis.
Aggressive Periodontitis ; Bacterial Toxins ; Catalysis ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Deoxyribonuclease I ; Deoxyribonucleases ; Dialysis ; DNA ; Edetic Acid ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; Ions ; Meningitis ; Osteomyelitis ; Periodontitis ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

PURPOSE: Renal cystic diseases comprise a mixed group of heritable, developmental and acquired disorders. Recently the use of imaging modalities such as ultrasonography and radionuclide scanning has increased the detection rate of renal cystic diseases. We studied to review the clinical features and treatment of renal cystic diseases in children. METHODS: This study was performed in 95 children with renal cystic diseases in the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center from October 1989 to June 2001. RESULTS: In 95 patients, there were 55 cases(58.0%) with multicystic dysplastic kidney(MCDK), 19 cases(20.0%) with simple renal cysts, 13 cases(13.7%) with hereditary polycystic kidney diseases(7 with autosomal recessive type, 5 with autosomal dominant type, 1 with undetermined), 6 cases(6.3%) with renal cysts in tuberous sclerosis and 1 case(1.0%) with medullary cystic disease. All MCDK patients had no renal dysfunction and hypertension during the follow-up period. Three out of 13 with polycystic kidney diseases had progressed to end-stage renal disease during the follow-up period. One case with a simple cyst underwent laparoscopic malsupialization for decompression. CONCLUSION: Renal cystic diseases have diverse clinicopathologic features and variable prognosis. We emphasize that routine follow-up should be performed to prevent and to detect early treatable complication in renal cystic diseases. Therefore, their natural history and treatment need further investigation and long term follow-up is required.
Child* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Natural History ; Pediatrics ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases ; Prognosis ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: A rapid increase in the desflurane concentration induces tachycardia and hypertension and increases the plasma catecholamine concentration. This study compared the desflurane-induced hemodynamic responses in hypertensive patients with those of normotensive patients. METHODS: Sixty patients, 30 normotensive patient (group 1) and 30 hypertensive patients (group 2), were scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia. The hypertensive patients have been taking regular antihypertensive drugs and their blood pressure and heart rate was well controlled. Thirty normotensive patients were not premedicated. The inspired concentration of desflurane through the mask was increased abruptly to 12.0 vol%. The target was to produce an end-tidal concentration of desflurane (ETdesf) of 10.0 vol% which was maintained until the end of the study by adjusting the vaporizer dial setting. The heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), ETdesf, end-tidal concentration of carbon dioxide, and peripheral oxygen saturation were measured at the baseline and every 30 seconds for 5 minutes after inhaling of desflurane and for 2 minutes after intubation. RESULTS: The HR, BP, and CI increased significantly in the two groups compared with the baseline. However, the HR, blood pressure, CI, SVR, and ETdesf were similar in both groups. In addition, there were no significant differences of hemodynamic changes between the beta-blocker and the calcium channel blocker in the hypertensive patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with well-controlled hypertension, the hemodynamic responses to desflurane are similar to those in normotensive patients.
Anesthesia, General ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channels ; Carbon Dioxide ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Masks ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Oxygen ; Plasma ; Tachycardia ; Vascular Resistance

An endotracheal tube obstruction causes serious complications, including cardiovascular instability, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema and brain death. A 74 year old woman was scheduled to undergo a laminectomy and instrument fixation due to tuberculosis spondylitis. The patient was intubated with a 7.0 mm reinforced endotracheal tube, and moved into the prone position. At 100 min after the initiation of anesthesia, signs of partial endotracheal obstruction were observed, including high airway pressure and low tidal volume. The signs of an airway obstruction were aggravated as the operation proceeded. Thirty minutes after the sign of a partial obstruction, those of a total endotracheal obstruction were observed. A mucoid impaction in the endotracheal tube was detected using flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. After removing this plug, the ventilation of the patient was maintained within normal limits.
Aged ; Airway Obstruction ; Anesthesia ; Brain Death ; Bronchoscopy* ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation ; Laminectomy ; Pneumothorax ; Prone Position ; Pulmonary Edema ; Spondylitis ; Tidal Volume ; Tuberculosis ; Ventilation

There were few studies about anatomic characteristics in Korean humerus recently. In addition, there was no comparison between Westerner (European and American) and Korean in anatomic characteristics of humerus. The aims of this paper are therefore to investigate anatomic characteristics in Korean humerus and to compare them with those of Westerner humerus. The seventy-two humerus (male : 66, female : 6) were scanned by computed tomography and three dimensional (3D) models of humerus were then reconstructed from acquired cross-section images. The twenty-one anatomic characteristics of the humerus were analyzed and were measured for each humerus. From the results, humeral head vertical diameter in the present study was generally bigger than that in the previous study (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the anatomic characteristics of the right and left humerus in the present Korean (p>0.05). Humeral head inclination angle, greater tuberosity lateral offset distance, humeral head height in Korean were generally bigger than those in Westerner (p<0.05). This study may contribute to develop an optimal implants and prostheses for the treatment of humerus fractures of Koran.
Female ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Humerus ; Prostheses and Implants