Pleural involvement in paragonimiasis is relatively common, either unilateral or bilateral, and may occur without pulmonary parenchymal infiltrates. Common radiologic findings of pleural paragonimiasis are pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hydropneumothorax, empyema and pleural thickening. However, pleural calcification as a manifestation of paragonimiasis is a rare condition. We report two cases of paragonimiasis manifested only as pleural calcifications which were confirmed pathologically.
Empyema ; Hydropneumothorax ; Paragonimiasis* ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to identify effects of oral care protocol on bacterial floras of the oral cavity and oral health status of intubated patients in an intensive care unit. METHODS: The participants were 60 intubated patients who were recruited from an intensive care unit of a university hospital from Dec. 28, 2010 to Mar. 25, 2011. The participants were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 20 patients according to the application time of oral care (1-minute oral care, 2-minute oral care, and 3-minute oral care groups). The numbers of bacterial flora colonies in the oral cavity was assessed before and after the oral care. Oral health status was assessed using a Korean version of the Oral Assessment Guide developed by Elier et al. originally. RESULTS: The numbers of bacterial flora colonies were less after oral care than those before the care, but there was no significant differences among the 3 groups after the care. Oral health status was better after the oral care than it was before the care, but there was also no significant differences among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: If well-trained nurses perform oral care for 1 minute using a chlorhexidine swab on intubated patients, the numbers of bacterial flora colonies will be reduced and healthy oral status will be maintained.
Chlorhexidine ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Mouth ; Oral Health* ; Oral Hygiene

The purpose of this study was to develop a Quality of Life(QOL) scale for breast cancer patients in Korea and to test the validity and reliability of the instrument. To achieve the purpose of the study, a questionnaire was developed to interview 10 breast cancer patients and distributed to 155 patients with breast cancer in Korea. For data analysis, SPSS WIN 8.0/PC were used. Item analysis and factor analysis were carried out to test validity of the QOL scale. Cronbach's alpha and Guttman split half coefficient were used to test reliability of the scale. The results were as follows; As a result of the item analysis, 27 items were selected from the total of 34 items. 6 factors were selected by factor analysis. Six factors were labeled as 'response to cancer diagnosis and treatment', 'family well-being', 'physical concerns', 'psychological well-being', 'spiritual well-being', and 'economic concerns'. Six factors were explained by 72.236% out of the total variance. The first factor explained 20.738% and the second factor explained 16.593%, which were major factors for Korean breast cancer patients. Chronbach's alpha coefficient of the tool was .9120, and Guttman split-half coefficient was .8148. The scale was identified to be a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity. Therefore, this scale can be effectively utilized for assessment of Quality of Life of patients with breast cancer in Korea.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea* ; Quality of Life* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Statistics as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the relationships between the factors affecting health levels of the elderly in rural areas. METHODS: Subjects were 257 elderly people residing in rural areas of six cities and Gangwon Province. Data was collected through questionnaires (demographic and socioeconomic status, social resources, health behaviors, physical environment, psychological tendency and general health levels) and was analyzed by using multiple regression and Sobel test. RESULTS: The demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the subjects exerted statistically significant influence on their social resources, health behaviors, physical environment, and psychological tendencies. The demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, social resources, health behaviors, physical environment, and psychological tendencies, in turn, exerted a statistically significant influence on the health level. The social resources had mediating effects on the relationship between income, one of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and health level. The residential environments had mediating effects on the relationship between income and health level. The psychological tendency had mediating effects on the relationship between income and health level. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that income is an important factor affecting health level among rural elderly people. In addition, social resources, health behaviors, physical environment, and psychological tendencies among them also affect health level, so it is necessary to make strategies to improve these factors.
Aged* ; Gangwon-do ; Health Resources ; Health Status* ; Humans ; Negotiating ; Social Class ; Socioeconomic Factors* ; Sociological Factors

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify practical exercise performance and to define the factors related to exercise performance in middle-aged women. METHODS: The researchers collected data from 206 middle-aged women, ages 40 to 59. The measurements used were a scale for degree of exercise performance, and self-efficacy scale, affect, perceived barriers and benefits related exercise, body-shape perception, and the youngest child's education stage. The data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 17.0 and SAS program using t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Exercise performance showed significant differences according to body-shape perception (F=5.45, p<.01), the youngest child's education stage (F=4.44, p<.05). Exercise performance had a significant strong positive relation with self-efficacy (r=.616), a moderate relation with self-rated health (r=.428) and with affect related exercise (r=.519), a mild relation with perceived benefits (r=.339) and with social support (r=.239), and a negative mild relation with perceived barriers (r=-.330) with 99% significance. Self-efficacy, affect, perceived barriers, and the youngest child's education stage explained 46.4% of a variance in exercise performance in middle-aged women. The factor most influencing was self-efficacy related exercise at 37.9% of the variance. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that self-efficacy, affect, perceived barriers, and the youngest child's education stage should be considered as important factors for developing program of middle-aged women.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Phenothiazines

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular outcomes in the Korean elderly. METHODS: Experimental studies were located using PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, RISS, KISS, and KoreaMed. The selected studies for analysis were 20 articles of cardiovascular outcomes (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), blood pressure, and pulse rate) from 515 articles. RESULTS: One-group pretest-posttest design was the most common. The main physical activity was an aerobic exercise. Five of 14 studies reported a significant improvement of total cholesterol. Four of 14 studies found relationship between exercise and triglyceride. Eight of 12 studies reported a significant improvement of HDL, whereas 3 of 9 studies reported a significant improvement of LDL. In over 60% of selected studies, reported significant improvement of blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Based on the review, it suggests that regular physical activity of the elderly may improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Aged* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiology ; Cholesterol ; Exercise ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Motor Activity* ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review the effects of physical activity on musculoskeletal outcomes in older Koreans. METHODS: Experimental studies were retrieved from the search engines (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, RISS, KISS, and KoreaMed). The selected studies for analysis were 27 articles of musculoskeletal outcomes (gait, muscle strength, flexibility, balance, grip strength, endurance, body fat, and weight) from 515 articles. RESULTS: The most common type of physical activity was a resistance exercise. There were significant improvements in gait (71.4%), muscle strength (86.7%), flexibility (63.6%), balance (72.2%), grip strength (71.4%), endurance (71.4%), body fat (57.1%), and weight (28.6%). The activity programs that apply over 150 minutes a week showed greater improvement of 69.5% than 65.0% from those did not meet the guidelines totally. CONCLUSION: Based on the review, we conclude that regular physical activity in the elderly may improve the musculoskeletal outcomes. To be more effective programs, it is necessary to meet the guidelines of 150 minutes a week or 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activities on 5 days per week for the elderly.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult* ; Aged ; Gait ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Motor Activity* ; Muscle Strength ; Musculoskeletal System ; Pliability ; Search Engine

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify levels of anxiety, stress hormone, lymphocytes, and neutrophils of the nursing students before an examination and to examine effects of social support on those variables related to taking examinations. METHODS: Thirty eight healthy nursing students participated. They completed the questionnaire including state anxiety, test anxiety (VAS scale) and social support two weeks before the exam and again just before the exam. Simultaneously, a venous sample for ACTH, cortisol, lymphocytes & neutrophils count was drawn by a trained nurse. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, student t-test, and Pearson's correlation with SPSS/WIN 14.0 were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Test anxiety scores and cortisol level on the exam day showed a significant increment compared with those on the non-exam day. The participants with higher levels of total social support scores showed significantly lower state anxiety on the exam day than those with lower levels of total social support scores. CONCLUSION: These data indicate a possible alteration in cortisol responsiveness to academic stress in nursing students. Social support would play an important role in modulation of academic stress.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Anxiety ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Lymphocytes ; Neutrophils ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the degree of perceived health status, depression and quality of life(QOL) and to examine the relationships among these factors in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: The subjects were 105 women with mastectomy after breast cancer diagnosis who were in the out-patient department of surgery at SNUH in Seoul. Data was collected using self-report instruments. The instruments included 1-item for perceived health status, Chae and Choe's QOL scale for Korean breast cancer survivors, and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) as well as socio-demographic and medical information. Data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 program. RESULTS: The levels of perceived health status and QOL were moderate. Mild depression was found on the BDI. QOL and depression showed a negative correlation(r= -.598), whereas QOL and perceived health status was correlated positively(r=.370). Depression, perceived health status, and time since diagnosis accounted for 47.4% of variance of the QOL. Depression was the most significant predictor of QOL in breast cancer survivors. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer survivors may experience depression and alteration in QOL. Future nursing research should be directed toward the implementation and evaluation of interventions that promote QOL and decrease depression in breast cancer survivors.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Depression* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Nursing Research ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life* ; Seoul ; Survivors*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of exercise program on cardiopulmonary functions and shoulder joint functioning in breast cancer patients who under- went radiation therapy after surgery. METHOD: Subjects in the experimental group(N=12) participated in an exercise program for eight weeks. The Exercise program consisted of shoulder stretching, arm weight training, and walking on treadmill. Maximal oxygen uptake(o2max), maximal running time, shoulder joint range of motion, and shoulder functional assessment were determined before and after the exercise program. Baseline sociodemographic and medical data were compared between experimental group and control group using the Fisher's exact test and Mann- Whitney U test. For effects of the exercise program, repeated measures ANOVA were used. RESULT: 1) Following the exercise program for eight weeks, both o2 max and maximal running time tended to increase in experimental group comparing with the control group. 2) Shoulder abduction, extension and flexion of the operated upper extremity in the experimental group comparing with control significantly increased after the exercise program(p<0.05). 3) Shoulder flexion of the normal upper extremity in the experimental group comparing with control significantly increased after the exercise program(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the exercise program for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy after breast surgery can improve shoulder functions and increase cardiopulmonary functions, which are maximal oxygen uptake and maximal running time.
Arm ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Running ; Shoulder Joint* ; Shoulder* ; Upper Extremity ; Walking