PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate whether there are prognostically different subgroups among patients with pathologic N3 (pN3) breast cancer. METHODS: The records of 220 patients who underwent surgery for pN3 breast cancer from January 2006 to September 2012 were reviewed. All patients received adjuvant therapy according to standard protocols. The primary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Patients were followed for a median time of 68.3 months after their primary surgery (range, 10-122 months), during which time 75 patients (34.1%) had developed disease recurrence and 48 patients (21.8%) had died. The DFS and overall survival were 67.8% and 86.1%, respectively, at 5 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that young age (<35 years, p=0.009), high serum neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (>3.0) (p=0.020), high nodal ratio (number of metastatic lymph nodes divided by number of removed nodes) (>0.65) (p=0.062), and molecular phenotype (p=0.012) were significantly associated with tumor recurrence. Tumor biological subtype was the most significant predictor of recurrence. The 5-year DFS rates in patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative, HR+HER2+, HR-HER2+, and triple negative subtypes were 82%, 63%, 58%, and 37%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Clinical outcomes of patients with extensive nodal metastasis were heterogeneous in terms of prognosis. Tumor biological subtype was the most important prognostic factor for pN3 disease. The prognosis of patients with HR+HER2- subtype in pN3 breast cancer was similar to that of patients with stage II breast cancer.
Biology ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Phenotype ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate perception of good death among the community-dwelling elderly and identify factors related to the perception. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was carried out using a convenient sampling method (N=317). Data were analyzed by applying descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Participants scored an average of 3.35 on a 4-point scale for the perception level of good death. They scored higher on the factor of personal control that other factors affecting the perception. Good death was positively correlated with family support (r=0.252). Family support (beta=0.287) and gender (beta=0.197) significantly influenced the elderly's perception of good death. These variables accounted for 10.2% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: The results show that family support is an important factor for the perception of good death among the elderly. Therefore, family support should be carefully considered to ensure good death for more senior citizens. Our findings can be utilized to support programs such as death education for the elderly.
Aged* ; Attitude to Death ; Education ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Meralgia paresthetica is commonly caused by a focal entrapment of lateral femoral cuteneous nerve while it passes the inguinal ligament. Common symptoms are paresthesias and numbness of the upper lateral thigh area. Pregnancy, tight cloths, obesity, position of surgery and the tumor in the retroperitoneal space could be causes of meralgia paresthetica. A 29-year-old female patient underwent an emergency cesarean section under spinal anesthesia without any problems. But two days after surgery, the patient complained numbness and paresthesia in anterolateral thigh area. Various neurological examinations and L-spine MRI images were all normal, but the symptoms persisted for a few days. Then, electromyogram and nerve conduction velocity test of the trunk and both legs were performed. Test results showed left lateral cutaneous nerve injury and meralgia paresthetica was diagnosed. Conservative treatment was implemented and the patient was free of symptoms after 1 month follow-up.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Cesarean Section ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Leg ; Ligaments ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Neural Conduction ; Neurologic Examination ; Obesity ; Paresthesia ; Pregnancy ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Thigh

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of depression, stress, and self-efficacy on the addiction to cell phone use among university students. METHODS: Data were collected through questionnaires from 563 students and analyzed by applying descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 16.0. RESULTS: The proportion of depressed subjects was 52.6%. The addictive group scored higher than the non-addictive group in depression rate and stress, but scored lower in self-efficacy. Out of the subjects, 32.9% were found to be addictive users, 31.3% at potential risk, and 1.6% at high risk. Significant variables influencing addictive users were stress, self-efficacy, and the user's general characteristics including monthly spending money, sex, the hours of daily use, and the main method of use. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that such variables should be carefully considered in interventions for university students addicted to cell phone use.
Cellular Phone ; Depression ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of nurses' caring behaviors and to identify the factors influencing of nurses' caring behaviors. METHODS: The participants were 404 nurses who were caring the chronically sick elderly in five H university hospitals. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires on the importance of caring behaviors, nursing professional value and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 16.0. RESULTS: The average score for importance of nurses' caring behaviors was 3.38 and the 'professional knowledge and skill' factor was the highest level. The mean score of nursing professional value was 7.53 and job satisfaction, 3.18. Importance of nurses' caring behaviors had a significant positive correlation with nursing professional value, job satisfaction, nurse's age and work experience among demographic variables. Two significant variables influencing importance of nurses' caring behaviors were nursing professional value and job satisfaction. But characteristics of nurses did not influence. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that importance of nurses' caring behaviors can be improved by intervening factors affecting this importance. Based on the findings of this study, further nursing practice and nursing research for nurses caring the sick elderly should be focused on their nursing professional value and job satisfaction.
Aged ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Research ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of Seogeum therapy for middle-aged abdominal obese women. METHODS: Seogeum therapy combined cupping, stepping on ion aluminum board, adhering to Seoam moxibustion and Seoam pellet. The subjects consisted of 30 middle-aged abdominal obese women between 40 and 59 years of age: fifteen were assigned to experimental group, fifteen to control group. The data collection and treatments were performed from June to October, 2007. The subjects of experimental group participated in Seogeum therapy for 5 times per week during 8 weeks. The data were analyzed with Chi-square test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test with SPSS/Window 12.0 program. RESULTS: Seogeum therapy experimental group showed significant difference in change of general obesity indexes(body weight, body fat amount, body fat ratio, BMI) than control group supporting hypothesis 1. Experimental group showed significant difference in change of abdominal obesity indexes(abdominal fat ratio, waist circumference, hip circumference) than control group supporting hypothesis 2. CONCLUSION: Obesity management of Seogeum therapy had a positive effect for middle-aged obese women. Therefore, it is concluded that the obesity management of Seogeum therapy can be applied as a nursing intervention to decrease the obesity for middle-aged women.
Adipose Tissue ; Aluminum ; Body Weight ; Complementary Therapies ; Data Collection ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that kidney transplant recipients' quality of life depend on compliance of treatment, family support, socioeconomic status. The purpose of this study was to determine whether estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study as a index of graft function influence recipients' quality of life including above mentioned factors. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients who visited out-patient department at least 3 months after kidney transplantation were included in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. This tool included; quality of life, compliance and family support scale as well as medical record review. The analysing of data was performed with SPSS version 11.5 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The mean score of the recipients' quality of life (3.59/5), compliance (3.81/5), the support of family (4.02/5) and GFR (63 ml/min/1.73 m2) were revealed respectively. The quality of life was correlated with compliance (r=.260, P<.001) and family support (r=.377, P<.001) statistically. and compliance and family support also revealed correlation (r=.452, P<.001). Family support was the most explainable factor for the quality of life (R2=.142). however, the quality of life was not correlated with recipients' GFR (r=.013 P=0.819). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study showed that kidney transplant recipients had a moderate quality of life. These findings suggest that emotional aspect like family support is as important as clinical factors such as GFR or compliance for recipients' quality of life. To optimize post-transplant quality of life, implication for interventional programming should be focused on family support.
Chicago ; Compliance ; Diet ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Medical Records ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Social Class ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Ego-integrity in older adults is the central concept related to quality of life in later life. Therefore, for effective interventions to enhance the quality of later life, a scale to measure ego-integrity in older adults is necessary. This study was carried out to develop a scale to measure ego-integrity in older adults. METHODS: This study utilized cronbach's alpha in analyzing the reliability of the collected data and expert group, and factor analysis and item analysis to analyze validity. RESULTS: Seventeen items were selected from a total of 21 items. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was .88 for the 17 items of ego-integrity in the older adults scale. Three factors evolved by factor analysis, which explained 50.71% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: The scale for measuring ego-integrity in Korean older adults in this study was evaluated as a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Ego ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Self Concept

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate life satisfaction(LS) and to assess the factors that influence LS in senior center elderly people. METHODS: The subjects were 253 elders who visited the Y city Senior Welfare Center between July 2006 and August 2006. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. The instruments were composed of Kang's Family Support Scale, Depression Scale by Sheikh & Yesavage, Laffery's Health Concept Scale, and LS scale by Choi. T-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, Pearson coefficients correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data using the SPSS Win 12.0 program. RESULTS: The LS level showed a maximum score of 38 with a mean score of 23.23. The mean scores for depression, health perception and family support were 5.52(maximum score, 15), 77.46(maximum score, 112), 43.45(maximum score, 55) respectively. The LS were significantly correlated with health perception, depression and family support. Depression was the most powerful predictor of and it accounted for 42.0% of the total variance in LS. A combination of significance of eudaimonistic health perception and satisfaction with pocket money accounted for 47.2% in LS. CONCLUSION: Depression and health perception were identified as affecting variables for the LS. Based upon these results, nurses should help the aged to enhance their LS.
Aged* ; Depression ; Humans ; Senior Centers ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare obesity-related quality of life according to obesity classification by BMI (body mass index) and self-assessment. METHODS: The participants were 286 female college students in J City. Data were obtained by measuring height, weight and BMI, and using a questionnaire for self-assessment of obesity, weight control, and quality of life. The quality of life was measured using 14 items of the Korean version of obesity-related quality of life (KOQOL). RESULTS: Thirty five percent of the students assessed themselves as overweight and obese despite their BMI <23m2/kg(false overweight). True overweight students with BMI > or =23m2/kg who perceived themselves as overweight and obese were 23%. The total KOQOL score between true and false overweight students showed no significant difference. True overweight students had a lower total KOQOL score including psychosocial, physical, daily living, sex related, and food-related domains than true normal weight students. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life was not different between true and false overweight students. These results indicate that self-assessment about obesity affects the quality of life like as actual BMI in female college students. Therefore, it is necessary to care students who distort themselves as obese.
Body Mass Index ; Classification ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Quality of Life* ; Self-Assessment ; Surveys and Questionnaires