PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among older Korean Chinese with hypertensiondone of the most underserved and understudied ethnic minority groups in China. In addition, factors underlying the risk of CVD were examined. METHODS: A total of 334 participants were recruited at the Community Health Service Center in Yanji, China. Data regarding socioeconomic, health-related, psychosocial, and other CVD risk factors were collected between June and October 2009. In this cross-sectional study, factors related to the risk of CVD were assessed by multivariate logistic regression; the Framingham Risk Score was used to measure the risk of CVD. RESULTS: The prevalence of dyslipidemia, diabetes, and current smoking were 75.4%, 6.6%, and 23.1% respectively. Participants who lived alone were twice as likely to have a high risk of CVD (10-year risk of CVD > or =15%; odds ratio [OR], 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13e3.54). Those with a higher education level and greater knowledge about hypertension were at 57% and 62% reduced risk for CVD (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.21e0.92 and OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15-0.95, respectively). CONCLUSION: Future intervention should include strategies to addressing social isolation and also focus on older Korean Chinese with low education. Knowledge enhancement program is warranted for the prevention of CVD in this population.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; China ; Community Health Services ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Minority Groups ; Minority Health ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Isolation

PURPOSE: To compare the surgically induced posterior astigmatism of microcoaxial cataract surgery using a 2.2 mm incision and conventional cataract surgery using a 2.85 mm incision. METHODS: This study included 56 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens insertion. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: 26 eyes receiving a microcoaxial cataract surgery using a 2.2 mm incision (MCCS group) and 30 eyes receiving a conventional cataract surgery using a 2.85 mm incision (CCS group). Anterior, posterior and total corneal astigmatism was measured. The surgically induced anterior astigmatism, surgically induced posterior astigmatism and surgically induced total astigmatism were compared between MCCS and CCS groups. Corneal astigmatism was measured using a Pentacam(R) device (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany), uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity and corneal aberrations of front and rear side was measured preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 month and 2 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no difference in surgically induced posterior astigmatism between CCS and MCCS groups, however, surgically induced anterior astigmatism and surgically induced total astigmatism were significantly lower in the MCCS group than in the CCS group (p = 0.005 and, p = 0.036, respectively). There was a significant positive linear correlation between surgically induced posterior astigmatism and surgically induced total astigmatism in the CCS group (p = 0.01, r = 0.563). There was also a significant positive linear correlation between surgically induced anterior astigmatism and surgically induced total astigmatism in both CCS and MCCS groups (CCS group: p = 0.00, r = 0.855; MCCS group: p = 0.039, r = 0.407). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the surgically induced posterior astigmatism between the MCCS and CCS groups. However, surgically induced posterior astigmatism significantly affected surgically induced total astigmatism in the CCS group but not in the MCCS group. Considering both anterior and posterior astigmatism of the cornea, microcoaxial cataract surgery using a 2.2 mm incision affects surgically induced total astigmatism less than conventional cataract surgery.
Astigmatism* ; Cataract* ; Cornea ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe technological development, caring attributes and professional self-concept as perceived by nurses in YanBian. METHOD: Data were collected using an instrument containing 137 Likert items was administered to 477 RN's working in general hospitals in YanBian. The instrument contained sections which examined technological influences questionnaire(TIQ), caring attributes questionnaire(CAQ), and professional self-concept nursing inventory(PSCNI). RESULT: Descriptive and inferential statistics revealed by marital status and position. Married, working special ward nurses reported a higher TIQ score than that of unmarried and working general ward and OPD. PSCNI and CAQ score of head or supervisor nurses were higher than that of staff nurses. Subjects revealed very low score of CAQ, while PSCNI score was higher than that of other Asian countries such as Korea, Beijing China, HongKong China and Japan as proved in former study. CONCLUSION: Useful information for educators and nurse administrators is provided from this results. Further study needs to be done to discuss in the light of cultural and environmental differences between YanBian(Korean-Chinese) and Korean nurses.

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between ocular surface disease index and tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT) using a LipiView II® (LipiView® Ocular Surface Interferometer, TearScience®, Morrisville, NC, USA) interferometer. METHODS: Forty-nine patients diagnosed with dry eye syndrome were recruited for this prospective study. Patients completed ocular surface disease index questionnaires. We performed slit lamp examination, Schirmer test, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining, measured tear film break-up time, and graded meibomian gland dysfunction. Tear LLT, blinking time, and dynamic meibomian imaging were analyzed using a LipiView II® ocular interferometer. To control for missing data, we analyzed four sets of imputated data via the multiple imputation method and performed Pearson correlation analysis. Patients were assigned to one of two LLT categories (LLT < 60 or LLT ≥ 60) and Chi-square test was performed. RESULTS: Among ocular surface disease parameters, tear film break-up time (tBUT) had a statistically significant correlation with average and maximum LLT (average LLT; p = 0.008, 0.035, 0.006, 0.049, maximum LLT; p = 0.006, 0.042, 0.020, 0.049, Pearson correlation analysis with multiple imputation) but there was no significant correlation with minimum LLT (minimum LLT; p = 0.048, 0.090, 0.079, 0.039). Of the patients with a relatively thick average LLT or maximum LLT (LLT ≥ 60 nm), 80% and 88% had a tBUT < 10, respectively. Conversely, 39% and 47% of patients with relatively thin average LLT (LLT < 60 nm) had a tBUT < 10 (average LLT; p = 0.013, maximum LLT; p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Average LLT and maximum LLT were significantly correlated with tBUT. Patients with a relatively thin average or maximum LLT tended to have a shorter tBUT. Based on these results, measuring tear film LLT using a LipiView II® interferometer may be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with evaporative dry eye.
Blinking ; Diagnosis ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Fluorescein ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interferometry ; Meibomian Glands ; Methods ; Prospective Studies ; Slit Lamp ; Tears*

The reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes (RCVS) is a group of conditions, which is characterized by a reversible segmental constriction, typically associated with recurrent thunderclap headaches, and is often complicated by ischemia or hemorrhagic stroke. Clinical situations, associated with the development of RCVS, include pregnancy or the postpartum period, as well as various medications and illicit drugs. However, vasoconstriction syndromes remain poorly characterized, under-recognized, and difficult to diagnose, because of the lack of specific diagnostic tests or diagnostic criteria. Therefore, we present a first case of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome of pregnancy complicated with preeclampsia, diagnosed by a magnetic resonance image and angiography, which results in chronic cerebral infarction, with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Angiography ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Headache ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Postpartum Period ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Street Drugs ; Stroke ; Vasoconstriction

PURPOSE: To introduce the history and principle mechanism of electrochemical treatment (EChT) with animal study and report two cases successfully treated breast cancer and hemangioma by EChT. METHODS: In animal study, the breast cancer tumor in nude mouse treated with EChT (100 Coulomb/cm3) were reviewed for histologic changes. In the case studies, we reported method of EChT and clinical results after EChT. Case 1: 74 yr old female with locally advanced breast cancer received 3 times EChT with 1,000 Coulomb/time, 8 Volt. Case 2: 51 yr old female with breast hemagioma received one time EChT with 80 Coulomb, 8 Volt. RESULTS: In animal study, There were destructive change including vaculated cell fragment and extensive coagulative necrosis. Case 1 showed no local recurrence during 18 monthes after EChT. Case 2 also showed no evidence of recurrence of hemangioma. CONCLUSION: The EChT is easy to use. It is effective, safe, less traumatic and makes patients recover quickly. This is a new and effective method to treat patients with tumours that are inoperable and can not receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Necrosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To identify nursing interventions performed by Chosunjok nurses in Yanbian using NIC. METHODS: The sample consisted of 36 nurses working in 2 hospitals. The Nursing Interventions Use Questionnaire developed by the Iowa Intervention Project team was used for data collection. The instrument was translated to Korean using the method of back-translation. RESULTS: Twenty-eight interventions were performed at least daily. Interventions in the Physiological: Basic domain were most frequently used at least daily. The most frequently used interventions was Positioning, followed by the interventions Pressure Ulcer Prevention, Intravenous (IV) Therapy, Hypothermia Treatment and Intravenous (IV) Insertion. The least frequently used interventions was Electronic Fetal Monitoring: Antepartum. Nurses working in special medical care units performed interventions most often, while nurses working in general surgical units performed them least. Nurses working in general medical, special medical and other care units performed interventions in the Physiological domain more often than the nurses working in general surgical units. CONCLUSION: Chosunjok nurses in Yanbian performed physiological interventions frequently. Further studies will be needed to compare interventions performed by nurses in two countries.
Data Collection ; Fetal Monitoring ; Hypothermia ; Iowa ; Nursing* ; Pressure Ulcer ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To evaluate posterior capsular opacity (PCO) using straylight and glare sensitivity meter and to compare availability of straylight and glare sensitivity with known methods for PCO evaluation. METHODS: Thirty-six pseudophakic eyes with PCO were selected for this study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), straylight (C-quant, Oculus GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) and glare sensitivity (Binoptometer, Oculus GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) were measured before mydriasis. After mydriasis, PCO images were captured with a slit-lamp and analyzed using the Evaluation of Posterior Capsular Opacification (EPCO) program (EPCO software, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany). The same measurements were taken after capsulotomy and compared with pre-capsulotomy data. RESULTS: After capsulotomy, BCVA, EPCO score and straylight were improved with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Cases of PCO with mildly decreased visual acuity showed statistically significantly improved EPCO score and straylight (p < 0.05). Glare sensitivity did not show significant improvement but was statistically significantly correlated with straylight (p = 0.023, Rho = 0.732). CONCLUSIONS: Straylight is an available measurement for evaluation of PCO. Glare sensitivity meter which correlates with straylight can be used as a supportive measurement.
Glare* ; Mydriasis ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate posterior capsular opacity (PCO) using straylight and glare sensitivity meter and to compare availability of straylight and glare sensitivity with known methods for PCO evaluation. METHODS: Thirty-six pseudophakic eyes with PCO were selected for this study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), straylight (C-quant, Oculus GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) and glare sensitivity (Binoptometer, Oculus GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) were measured before mydriasis. After mydriasis, PCO images were captured with a slit-lamp and analyzed using the Evaluation of Posterior Capsular Opacification (EPCO) program (EPCO software, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany). The same measurements were taken after capsulotomy and compared with pre-capsulotomy data. RESULTS: After capsulotomy, BCVA, EPCO score and straylight were improved with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Cases of PCO with mildly decreased visual acuity showed statistically significantly improved EPCO score and straylight (p < 0.05). Glare sensitivity did not show significant improvement but was statistically significantly correlated with straylight (p = 0.023, Rho = 0.732). CONCLUSIONS: Straylight is an available measurement for evaluation of PCO. Glare sensitivity meter which correlates with straylight can be used as a supportive measurement.
Glare* ; Mydriasis ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To analyze the change in posterior corneal astigmatism and total corneal astigmatism in patients with anterior corneal astigmatism less than 1.0 diopter (D). METHODS: In the present study we evaluated 52 eyes with anterior corneal astigmatism less than 1.0 D. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to steep axis: Group 1 included 33 eyes with within-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism and Group 2 included 19 eyes with against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism. Anterior, posterior and total corneal astigmatism were measured using Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam(R)). RESULTS: In Group 1, preoperative anterior astigmatism, posterior astigmatism and total astigmatism were 0.55 +/- 0.44 D, 0.31 +/- 0.14 D and 0.30 +/- 0.72 D, respectively. At postoperative 2 months, anterior astigmatism, posterior astigmatism and total astigmatism were 0.51 +/- 0.67 D, 0.31 +/- 0.15 D and 0.35 +/- 0.81 D, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative anterior, posterior and total corneal astigmatism in Group 1. In Group 2, preoperative anterior astigmatism, posterior astigmatism and total astigmatism were -0.48 +/- 0.46 D, 0.26 +/- 0.09 D and -0.51 +/- 0.65 D, respectively. At postoperative 2 months, anterior astigmatism, posterior astigmatism and total astigmatism were -0.17 +/- 0.68 D, 0.25 +/- 0.13 D and -0.30 +/- 0.55 D, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative anterior, posterior and total corneal astigmatism in the 2 groups. There was no statistical correlation between preoperative posterior corneal astigmatism and postoperative 2 months total corneal astigmatism. After vector analysis, surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) of the anterior and total astigmatism in Group 1 were 0.03 D @ 30degrees and 0.07 D @ 74degrees, respectively, and in Group 2 were 0.27 D @ 100degrees and 0.36 D @ 86degrees, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with preoperative total corneal astigmatism less than 1.0 D, posterior corneal astigmatism had a small effect on postoperative total corneal astigmatism.
Astigmatism* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cataract* ; Humans