PURPOSE: Purpose of this study was to identify the effects on maternal role strain, maternal role confidence and maternal identity of a maternal role promotion program for mothers of premature infants. METHOD: A quasi-experimental non-equivalent pre-and-post test was used to compare the two groups. The data were collected from 62 mothers from September 10. 2003 to August 30, 2004 at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU) located in S. city and K. city. The maternal role promotion program was provided three times during the period from two-three days after the baby's admission to 1 month after the baby's discharge. The instruments for measurement were the Perceived Role Difficulty & Steffensmeier Scale, Self Confidence Scale and Semantic Differential Scale. Data were analyzed by means of frequency, mean and SD, x2-test and t-test. RESULTS: There were significant differences in maternal role strain level between the experimental and control group (t=2.163, p=.035), in the maternal role confidence between the two groups(t=-5.645, p=.000) and in maternal identity between the two groups(t=-4.923, p=.000). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the maternal role promotion program had positive effects in decreasing maternal role strain levels and increasing maternal role confidence and maternal identity.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Mothers* ; Premature Birth ; Semantic Differential ; Child Health

No abstract available.
Denture Cleansers* ; Dentures*

Four clinical patterns of generalized pustular phase were apparent and have been named the Zumbusch, annular, localized and exanthematic types. Other reported 10 types of pustular psoriasis including the poriasis with generalized pustules. We report a case of psoriasis with generalized pustules in a 18-year-old women, who has numerous scattered pustules with mild fever and leukocytosis. She was treated sucessfully with tetracycline 2.0 gm a day for 4 wks.
Adolescent ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Psoriasis* ; Tetracycline*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a workbook program on percieved stress levels, maternal role confidence and breastfeeding practices of mothers of premature infants. METHOD: This study employed a quasi-experimental non-equivalent pre-and-post test to compare the two groups. Data was collected from 32 subjects from March 10. to September 5, 2003 at an NICU located in S. city. In the sample, fifteen mothers were in the experimental group and seventeen were in the control group. A workbook program was provided twice during a period from two-three days after the baby's admission to one week after the first intervention. The instruments used were the PSS and self confidence scale. Data was analyzed by means of frequency, SD, x2-test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney test, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULT: There was a significant difference in perceived stress levels between the experimental and control group (U=2.366, p=.018). There was not a significant difference in maternal role confidence between the two groups (U=1.002, p=.316). There was a significant difference in breastfeeding practice between the two groups (X2= 4.910, p=.035). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that a program using a workbook has a positive effect on decreasing the perceived stress level and increasing breastfeeding practice.
Stress, Psychological/*prevention & control ; Mothers/*education ; *Maternal Behavior ; *Manuals ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; *Infant, Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Female ; Breast Feeding/*psychology ; Adult

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: As life span is increasing, so is interest about adult disease. Especially the number of postmenopausal women has increased, and postmenopausal symptoms have become a important problem causing low quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy was introduced to overcome these problems. Authors investigated to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy on the quality of life of postmenopausal women. METHODS: From April to June 1997, we surveyed 188 postmenopausal women (91 women were on hormone replacement therapy, and 97 women were in the controlled group in Sungnam Central Hospital) with COOP/WONCA chart Korean version. RESULTS: COOP/WONCA chart (Korean version) is composed of seven dimensions, among these four dimensions (change in health, overall health, daily activity and pain) were shown statistically significant difference between two groups. But three dimensions (social activity, physical fitness and feelings) were not shown to be statistically different. Total mean score of COOP/WONCA chart showed statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the quality of life of postmenopausal women, primary care physician should consider hormone replacement therapy along with proper patient selection and periodic follow up.
Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Motor Activity ; Patient Selection ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Quality of Life*

Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor, but ventricular myxoma accounts for only 5% of the cases. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman with a left ventricular myxoma emerging from the ventricular side of the mitral valve that led to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The patient complained of chest discomfort and dyspnea. A mobile intracardiac mass was seen on echocardiography. The mass was excised and confirmed to be a myxoma by histopathological examination. She was discharged from the hospital without complications and remains asymptomatic.
Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Myxoma ; Thorax ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction

KIOM-79, a mixture of ethanol extracts from four herbs (parched Puerariae radix, gingered Magnoliae cortex, Glycyrrhizae radix and Euphorbiae radix), has been developed for the potential therapeutic application to diabetic symptoms. Because screening of unexpected cardiac arrhythmia is compulsory for the new drug development, we investigated the effects of KIOM-79 on the action potential (AP) and various ion channel currents in cardiac myocytes. KIOM-79 decreased the upstroke velocity (Vmax) and plateau potential while slightly increased the duration of action potential (APD). Consistent with the decreased Vmax and plateau potential, the peak amplitude of Na+ current (INa) and Ca2+ current (ICa,L) were decreased by KIOM-79. KIOM-79 showed dual effects on hERG K+ current; increase of depolarization phase current (Idepol) and decreased tail current at repolarization phase (Itail). The increase of APD was suspected due to the decreased Itail. In computer simulation, the change of cardiac action potential could be well simulated based on the effects of KIOM-79 on various membrane currents. As a whole, the influence of KIOM-79 on cardiac ion channels are minor at concentrations effective for the diabetic models (0.1-10 microg/mL). The results suggest safety in terms of the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Also, our study demonstrates the usefulness of the cardiac computer simulation in screening drug-induced long-QT syndrome.
Action Potentials/*drug effects ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Ginger/chemistry ; Humans ; Ion Channels/*physiology ; Long QT Syndrome/diagnosis ; Male ; Membrane Potentials/drug effects/physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac/*drug effects/physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Pueraria/chemistry ; Purkinje Fibers/drug effects/physiology ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

KIOM-79, a mixture of ethanol extracts from four herbs (parched Puerariae radix, gingered Magnoliae cortex, Glycyrrhizae radix and Euphorbiae radix), has been developed for the potential therapeutic application to diabetic symptoms. Because screening of unexpected cardiac arrhythmia is compulsory for the new drug development, we investigated the effects of KIOM-79 on the action potential (AP) and various ion channel currents in cardiac myocytes. KIOM-79 decreased the upstroke velocity (Vmax) and plateau potential while slightly increased the duration of action potential (APD). Consistent with the decreased Vmax and plateau potential, the peak amplitude of Na+ current (INa) and Ca2+ current (ICa,L) were decreased by KIOM-79. KIOM-79 showed dual effects on hERG K+ current; increase of depolarization phase current (Idepol) and decreased tail current at repolarization phase (Itail). The increase of APD was suspected due to the decreased Itail. In computer simulation, the change of cardiac action potential could be well simulated based on the effects of KIOM-79 on various membrane currents. As a whole, the influence of KIOM-79 on cardiac ion channels are minor at concentrations effective for the diabetic models (0.1-10 microg/mL). The results suggest safety in terms of the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Also, our study demonstrates the usefulness of the cardiac computer simulation in screening drug-induced long-QT syndrome.
Action Potentials/*drug effects ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Ginger/chemistry ; Humans ; Ion Channels/*physiology ; Long QT Syndrome/diagnosis ; Male ; Membrane Potentials/drug effects/physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac/*drug effects/physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Pueraria/chemistry ; Purkinje Fibers/drug effects/physiology ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: Although hepatic resection (HR) is the mainstay for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), high recurrence rate (>60%) is major serious problem. Thus preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been proposed as a neoadjuvant treatment before HR. However, the effect of preoperative TACE in preventing recurrence for initially resectable HCC remains controversial. This study aims at assessing the role of preoperative TACE on the early and long-term outcome following resection of HCC. METHODS: Retrospective randomized analysis was performed. A total of 366 patients who had HR for HCC between January 1995 and December 2000, were included, 132 patients underwent preoperative TACE (TACE plus HR) and 234 patients did not (HR). Statistically no baseline characteristic difference in two groups. RESULTS: HR group was significantly higher than TACE plus HR group in disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate (p<0.001, p<0.01). In subgroup analysis, the disease-free survival rate of HR group was higher than TACE plus HR group in UICC T1-2 and UICC T3 (p<0.01 for both), whereas the difference in overall survival rate was significant only in UICC T3 (p<0.01). Those who achieved tumor necrosis of more than 95% by preoperative TACE showed comparable overall survival rate with HR group, while it was significantly lower in patients who demonstrated tumor necrosis of less than 95% (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative TACE for initially resectable HCC may promote early and late tumor recurrence and reduces overall survival rate after surgery particularly in patients with advanced- stage tumors.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate