This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and educational need of pregnant women relating to antepartum, delivery, puerperium period and to identify the variables which influenced their knowledge and educational need. The study subjects were 77 antepartum women who had antenatal educations and 106 antepartum women who did not have antenatal education. Number of total antepartum women were 183. Data were collected from women who visited for antenatal care at general hospitals and public health centers in Pusan and Kyungnam area using qestionnaires from Feb. 1. 1998 to Apr. 20. 1998. SAS/PC program was used for data analysis. ; Chi-square test, t-test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, ANOVA(Duncan procedure) and MANOVA. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Relating to the antepartum period between two groups, the knowledge about the number of antenatal care was low, relating to labor the knowledge about the time fix the fetal position and relating to postpartum, the knowledge about the change of blood pressure and body temperature was low. 2. The comparision means of knowledge were adjusted by social demographic characteristics related to knowledge. There were statistically significant differences in total mean score of knowledge about pregnancy, delivery and postpartum between two groups. In full marks 19, the mean scores of the educational group and non-educational group were 13.08 and 11.74 respectively (P=.000). In resultly, there are statistically significant differences between two groups. The effectiveness of antenatal education group was very high and showed its importance. 3. The comparision means of educational need were adjusted by social demographic characteristics related to educational need. The mean scores of educational need were statistically significantly different in pregnancy, delivery and puerperium period. 4. There were positive correlations between the knowledge and educational level, duration of marriage and total numbers of pregnancy. There were negative correlation between the educational need and age, educational level, duration of marriage and total number of pregnancy. The above results showed the effects of antenatal education.
Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Busan ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Marriage ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prenatal Education* ; Public Health ; Statistics as Topic

For the purpose of preparing the basic data for further cancer epidemiologic study and cancer patients control, we conducted the analysis on the degree and structure of deaths from cancer in metropolitan areas of Korea with 7,934 certified cancer deaths records of Seoul, Pusan, Taegu and Incheon in 1982. The analyzed results were as follows : 1) The total number of cancer deaths in metropolitan areas were 7,934 (male: 4,749, female: 3,185) as 14.1% of deaths from all causes in the same area. 2) The rate of physician's certification on cancer deaths was 77.4% and most of cancer deaths (84.4%) occurred at their home. 3) Cancer specific death rate was 51.7 per 100,000 population (male: 62.9, female: 41.9) and age-adjusted cancer death rate was 82.4 in male and 51.6 in female per 100,000 population. And the difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). 4) Age-specific cancer death rate was generally increased with age and most of cancer deaths (male: 75%, female: 65%) occurred from 45 to 74 years old. 5) The first three orders of cancer site were stomach (32.7%), liver (28.8%), lung (11.7%) in male and stomach (30.6%), uterus (18.4%), liver (13.8%) in female. And the relative frequency of these three cancer sites among total cancer deaths was corresponded to 73.2% in male and 62.8% in female. 6) The ratio of male to female cancer death rate was 1.5:1. And the ratio was above 3.0 in esophagus, liver, larynx, bladder cancer and the ratio was similar to 1.0 in stomach, pancreas, leukemia, brain, colon cancer, but the ratio was reversed in gall bladder and bile duct, and thyroid cancer.
Aged ; Bile Ducts ; Brain ; Busan* ; Certification ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Daegu* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Korea* ; Larynx ; Leukemia ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Mortality ; Pancreas ; Seoul* ; Stomach ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Uterus

Cyclosporine(CsA) has been known to cause an endothelial dysfunction following its use as an immunosuppressive agent. On the other hand, the vascular endothelium has been recognized as an endocrine organ in its own right, i.e., it releases vasoactive factors such as nitric oxide(NO) and hyperpolarizing factor(EDHF). NO is synthesized by at least three isoforms of NO synthases(NOS), among which ecNOS is constitutively expressed in the endothelium. The principle of EDHF has not been determined. The present study was aimed at further investigating the mechanisms underlying the CsA-induced vasculopathy. Rats were treated with CsA (25mg/kg/day, subcutaneous) for one week and their thoracic aortae were isolated. Their changes of iso-metric tension in responses to acetylcholine, diazoxide, and high concentrations of calcium were recorded. The expression of ecNOS mRNA and protein was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively. The acetylcholine-induced relaxation of the aortic rings was significantly diminished follawing the CsA-treatment, which was prevented by L-arginine supplemented along with the CsA-treatment. The relaxation of the thoracic aorta in response to either diazoxide or high concentrations of extracellular calcium was not affected by CsA-treatrnent. The vascular tissue contents of NO metabolites were significantly decreased following the CsA-treatment, which was also prevented by L-arginine-supple-mentation. Neither ecNOS mRNA nor protein expression was significantly altered following the CsA-treatment. It is suggested that CsA induces an endothelial dysfunction, which cannot be attributed to an altered role of EDHF, but to an impairment in L-arginine/NO pathway at the steps beyond NOS protein expression.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arginine ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; Diazoxide ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Hand ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats* ; Relaxation ; RNA, Messenger

Sleep-related behaviors observed in parasomnias can result in serious injuries of patients and/or spouses. Parasomnia is defined as undesirable physical or behavioral phenomenon occurring during sleep. If these disorders are accurately diagnosed, effective treatments are available. Often, these disorders can be even cured. Environmental management for patient and/or spouse safety and good sleep hygiene are the most recommended for individuals behaving abnormally during sleep. The aim of this article is to review the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of several sleep-related behavior disorders.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Mental Disorders ; Parasomnias ; Spouses

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) not only causes respiratory disturbances during sleep but also decreases the quality of nocturnal sleep through sleep fragmentation and sleep structure change. We aimed at comparing the changes in sleep fragmentation and structure between baseline (diagnostic) nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) and nCPAP (nasal continuous positive airway pressure) titration trial. METHODS: One hundred and three patients with a baseline night of respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of 5 or greater and reduced RDI score during nCPAP titration night were retrospectively selected for the study. Sleep fragementation and sleep structure between baseline NPSG and the NPSG during nCPAP titration were compared. Sleep fragmentation index (SFI) was defined as the total number of awakenings and shifts to stage 1 sleep divided by the total sleep time in hour. SFI and other polysomnographic parameters were statistically compared between the two nights. RESULTS: SFI during baseline NPSG and nCPAP titration nights were 29.0+/-13.8 and 15.2+/-8.8, respectively, indicating a significant SFI decrease during nCPAP titration (t=9.7, p<0.01). SFI showed significant negative correlations with sleep efficiency (r=-0.60, p<0.01) and total sleep time (r=-0.45, p<0.01) and a positive correlation with RDI (r=0.28, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Use of nCPAP, even during the titration, significantly decreases sleep fragmentation and improves sleep structure in OSAS patients. We suggest that SFI may be utilized as a measure of assessing OSAS severity and nCPAP efficacy.
Humans ; Polysomnography ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep Deprivation

No abstract available.
Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Renal Dialysis*

In 1932, Harris, et al., reported that vitamin A had an anti-keratinizing effect on acne vulgaris, and in 1948, Straumfjord, somewhat over-enthusiastically reported that oral use of vitamin A also had a beneficial effect on acne. In spite of studies by Lynch and Cook (1947), and Andrew and Stokoe (1963), which questioned its effectiveness, the original enthusiasm for this regimen has not been completely dampened. Kligman (1969) reported that vitamin A acid (VAA), a metabolic end-product of vitamin A metabolism, produced a peeling effect and when applied topical was effective in tbe treatment of acne. The mechanism of action of VAA is incompletely understood, however, it is observed to cause, arnong other things, an increase in the speed of proliferation of the cells of the epidermis; dissolution of the intracellular lysosomes; increase in the rate of keratin formation and the conversion of hard keratin to soft keratin; and an increase in the secretion of the sebaceous glands. The effect of VAA in acne treatment is due to the increase in the secretion of the sebaceous glands which prevents the formation of comedones. It is believed that the increased spced of cell division, increased keratinization and softening of the keratin cause a weakening of the intercellular adhesion. These processes cause an acceleration of the flow of cells out of the sebaceoua glands which prevents the formation of comed.ones and forces existing comedones to the surface of the skin. For this study, thirty eight patients with acne vulgaris were selected from among the outpatients of Severance Hospital. They were divided into two groups. The first group was treated with application of vitamin A acid alone. The second group was treated concurrently with topical vitamin A acid and oral tetracycline. The results were a.s folIows: l. The group treated for three weeks with VAA alone showed significant improvement in up to 70 of the cases. 2. The group treated with VAA and oral tetracycline showed results which were sirnilar to the group on VAA alone. 3. In both groups. closed cornedones and papules gradually disappeared, however, the number of open com.dones increased in the first week, but decreased threafter, In combined therapy, pustules disappeared grad.ually just like the papules, but in therapy with VAA alone, the number of pustules increased during tbe first week and decreasd. thereafter. 4. In the group which was treated with VAA alone, undesirable side effects such as scaling, erythema, tightness, itching and burning sensation were seen, and also occasionally fissures, edema, pain and oozing were noted. In the group treated with combined therapy, similar findings were recorded.
Acceleration ; Acne Vulgaris* ; Burns ; Cell Division ; Edema ; Epidermis ; Erythema ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; Metabolism ; Outpatients ; Pruritus ; Sebaceous Glands ; Sensation ; Skin ; Tetracycline ; Tretinoin* ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamins*

The reciprocal interaction between sleep and pain has been reported by numerous studies. Patients with acute or chronic pain often complain of difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, shorter sleep duration, unrefreshing sleep, and poor sleep quality in general. According to the majority of the experimental human studies, sleep deprivation may produce hyperalgesic changes. The selective disruption of slow wave sleep has shown this effect more consistently, while results after selective REM sleep deprivation remain unclear. Patients with chronic pain have a marked alteration of sleep structure and continuity, such as frequent sleep-stage shifts, increased nocturnal awakenings, decreased slow wave sleep (SWS), decreased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and alpha-delta sleep. Many analgesic medications can alter sleep architecture in a manner similar to the effects of acute and chronic pain, suppressing SWS and REM sleep.
Chronic Pain ; Humans ; Sleep Deprivation ; Sleep, REM

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Pancytopenia*