Factors Associated with Marital Satisfaction of Women Under Infertility Treatments

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the infertility stress, marital intimacy, and marital satisfaction of women under infertility treatment, and to reveal associated factors of marital satisfaction. METHODS: As a descriptive correlation study, data was collected from 174 women under infertility treatment. Data was analysed using χ2-test, t-test, ANOVA, pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Infertility stress, marital intimacy, and marital satisfaction averaged 3.20±.3 (range of scale 1~5), 3.53±.5, and 3.74±.6, respectively. The marital satisfaction varied with a statistical significance by the spouse's attitude about infertility treatment and financial burden on infertility treatments. Marital satisfaction had a positive correlation with infertility stress (r=.526, p<.001) and marital intimacy (r=.637, p<.001). We also identified the marital intimacy as the most influencing factor and the infertility stress as the second most influencing factor on the infertile women's marital satisfaction. CONCLUSION: This research provided a valuable opportunity to recognize infertility as a marital, family, and societal problem, which calls for relational support as well as personal support. The infertility experts need to recognize both the personal and relational aspects of the infertility problem, and make various efforts to promote the reproductive health of the infertile patients.

Comparative assessment of physicochemical properties of unripe peach (Prunus persica) and Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the physicochemical properties of unripe peach-Prunus persica cv. Mibaekdo (Mibaekdo) and Prunus persica cv. Nagasawa Hakuho (Nagasawa Hakuho) as an alternative to food supplement while Japanese apricot (Prunus mume cv. Backaha) (Backaha) was used as a control sample.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The unripe fruits were analyzed for soluble solid ( ˚Brix), titratable acidity, pH, total polyphenol content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, amygdalin content, free amino acid content, organic acid content, free sugar content, and α-amylase activities.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total polyphenol content of unripe peach ranged between 137.27-151.64 µg/g whereas that of apricot was 160.73 µg/g. DPPH radical scavenging activities of Backaha was the highest (89.16%) followed by Mibaekdo (85.05%) and Nagasawa Hakuho (41.50%). The highest amount of oxalic acid (612.8 mg/100 g) was observed in Mibaekdo while that of Nagasawa Hakuho and Backaha were (184.6±18.1) and (334.8±16.1) mg/100 g, respectively. Amygdalin contents of Mibaekdo, Nagasawa Hakuho and Backaha were 486.61, 548.60 and 174.28 µg/g, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results suggest that the unripe fruit of peach has a significant biochemical potential of using as a food supplement with potential health benefit for human health.</p>

Effects of Glycemic Index for Boiled White Rice and Boiled White Rice Mixed with Grains on Food Consumption and Satiety Rate

In this study, we examined whether the glycemic index (GI) values of boiled white rice (GI=86) and boiled white rice mixed with grains (GI=58) could influence the total energy intake and satiety rate of a rice-based diet. Thirty adult females participated in this study, in which they ate boiled white rice, or boiled white rice mixed with grains, along with side dishes for lunch, and then ate the same white rice diet for dinner in the lab once a week for 2 weeks. There was no significant difference in the visual analogue scales for taste between the two diets. Although there were no differences between the subjects' energy intakes for side dishes, the total energy consumed from the boiled white rice mixed with grains diet (520.5 kcal) was significantly (p <0.001) lower than that consumed from the boiled white rice diet (560.2 kcal). For dinner, the subjects consumed significantly (p <0.001) lower calories when they had eaten the boiled white rice mixed with grains diet for lunch as compared to the boiled white rice diet. In addition, the subjects reported significantly (p <0.01, p <0.001) higher satiety rates after consuming the boiled white rice mixed with grains diet compared to the boiled white rice diet, despite consuming lower calories. In conclusion, these results indicate that consuming low GI rice such as boiled white rice mixed with grains substituted for boiled white rice, may be a useful strategy for weight loss and weight management since individuals will consume less energy without experiencing a reduction in satiety.

Belief, Knowledge, and Practice about Oral Health Care of Middle-aged Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify the relationship between belief, knowledge, and practice about oral health care of middle-aged women, and to prepare baseline data for developing a dental health education and promotion program. METHOD: For the survey, 120 individuals(middle-aged women) were chosen by convenience sampling and agreed to participate in the study. Their belief, knowledge, and practice about oral health care were measured. For descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Tukey and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used with SPSS Win 14.0. RESULT: The level of belief and practice about oral health care was middle for the subjects. However, the level of knowledge about oral health care was relatively high. The level of practice about oral health care related to characteristics of subjects showed significant differences according to level of education and oral health status. There was no significant correlation between the level of practice and the belief about oral health care. The practice about oral health care showed a significant positive correlation with knowledge. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a need for the development of oral health care programs that is effective in improving belief, knowledge, and practice about oral health care reported by middle-aged women.

Knowledge and Attitude Regard to Cord Blood of Early Postpartum Women after Donating Cord Blood or Storing Cord Blood / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: There is increasing necessity of using cord blood cell worldwide. In order to improve the effectiveness of cord blood's usage in Korea, the study of knowledge and attitude regarding cord blood is needed. METHODS: As descriptive correlation study, data was collected from 212 early postpartum women who stored or donated cord blood from 2007 April to July. Data was analyzed using chi-square-test, t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Total score of knowledge and attitude of early postpartum women who donated cord blood was higher than who stored. According to the source of education and the source of influence toward decision of using cord blood, early postpartum women who educated or influenced by mass media showed difference in attitude. Job status and income, and attitude of cord blood were the predictor of cord blood donation. CONCLUSION: Attitude regard to cord blood affect to usage of cord blood, and the attitude and knowledge of cord blood in early postpartum women who donated it higher than who stored.

Nitric Oxide Increases Insulin Sensitivity in Skeletal Muscle by Improving Mitochondrial Function and Insulin Signaling / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence has suggested that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. Recent studies also suggested NO as an important molecule regulating mitochondrial biogenesis. This study examined the effect of the NO donor, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), on glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle and tested the hypothesis that NO's effect on glucose metabolism is mediated by its effect on mitochondrial function. METHODS: In Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with SIN-1 for 4 weeks, insulin sensitivity was measured by a glucose clamp study. Triglyceride content and fatty acid oxidation were measured in the skeletal muscle. In addition, mitochondrial DNA content and mRNA expression of mitochondrial biogenesis markers were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and Akt were examined by Western blot analysis in skeletal muscle. In C2C12 cells, insulin sensitivity was measured by 2-deoxyglucose uptake and Western blot analysis was used to examine the expression of IRS-1 and Akt. RESULTS: SIN-1 improved insulin sensitivity in C2C12 cells and skeletal muscles of SD rats. In addition, SIN-1 decreased triglyceride content and increased fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle. Mitochondrial DNA contents and biogenesis in the skeletal muscle were increased by SIN-1 treatment. Moreover, SIN-1 increased the expression of phosphor-IRS-1 and phosphor-Akt in the skeletal muscle and muscle cells. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that NO mediates glucose uptake in skeletal muscle both in vitro and in vivo by improving mitochondrial function and stimulating insulin signaling pathways.

Effect of dihydrotestosterone on mouse embryonic stem cells exposed to H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress

Oxidative stresses induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to be involved in several physiological and pathophysiological processes, such as cell proliferation and differentiation. Steroid hormones can protect cells against apoptosis or induce cell proliferation by several mechanisms. Among androgenic hormones, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is generated by a 5alpha- reduction of testosterone. Unlike testosterone, DHT cannot be aromatized to estradiol, therefore DHT is considered a pure androgenic steroid. This study was conducted to examine the effect of DHT (10(-7) M) on H(2)O(2) (10(-3) M) -induced injuries in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. H(2)O(2) induced ROS generation and increased lipid peroxide formation and DNA fragmentation. These effects of H(2)O(2) were inhibited by pretreatment with DHT. H(2)O(2) also increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, SAPK/JNK and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), but DHT blocked these effects. Moreover, H(2)O(2) decreased DNA synthesis and the levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins [cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, and CDK 4]. These effects of H(2)O(2) were inhibited by pretreatment with DHT. In conclusion, DHT may partially prevent H(2)O(2)-induced cell injury through inhibition of ROS and ROS-induced activation of p38 MAPK, SAPK/JNK and NF-kappaB in mouse ES cells.

Effect of a Breastfeeding Management Program on Breastfeeding Duration / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of a breastfeeding management program for promotion of breastfeeding. METHOD: The study design was a non-equivalent control group pre-post test. The study subjects were pregnant women receiving a breastfeeding education class in one hospital in Ilsan. The total number of study subjects was 153 pregnant women, namely 75 mothers in the experimental group and 78 in the control group. Data was collected between June and November, 2006. A breastfeeding management program was provided to the experimental group while admitted for delivery, and in weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 of the postpartum period. The rates of breastfeeding were measured in weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 of the postpartum period. RESULT: There were significant differences in the scores of rate of breastfeeding between the two groups(all cases), which were 93.1 in the experimental group and 85.8 in the control group at week 4; 88.1 vs 71.8 at week 8; 83.4 vs 56.7 at week 12; 71.4 vs 53.9 at week 16; and 65.7 vs 48.4 at week 20 respectively. However, there were not significant differences in the scores of rate of breast-feeding between the two groups, which were 97.7 in the experimental group and 96.0 in the control group in the early postpartum period at week 2, and 59.6 vs 45.3 at week 24. Add to this, the study analyzed only people who had jobs. As a result, the scores of rate of breastfeeding were 94.8 in the experimental group which were significantly higher than 88.5 in the control group at week 4; 93.2 vs 73.3 at week 8; 89.6 vs 57.2 at week 12; and 75.0 vs 46.0 at week 20 respectively. However, there were not significant differences at week 2, week 16 and week 24. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that a breastfeeding management program during the last trimester of the perinatal period and postpartum period may increase the duration of breastfeeding in postpartum clients who intend to breastfeed. This study supports the literature which found that prenatal education and postpartum support are important to the outcome of breastfeeding.

Effects of an Abdominal Obesity Management Program on Body Composition and Physiological Indicators in Women with Abdominal Obesity / 여성건강간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an abdominal obesity management program on a woman's body composition and physiological indicators. A sample of 20 women who were 33 to 62 years old with abdominal obesity (greater than 80cm of waist circumference) participated in the program for 12 weeks. The program consisted of aerobic dance and yoga for one hour, twice a week. Their body composition was measured with BMI, body fat %, waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio. The physiological indicators were measured by systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides before and after the program. The results showed that waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, and fasting blood glucose decreased significantly after the program. However, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and blood lipids did not change. An abdominal obesity management program with aerobic dance and yoga is partially effective in decreasing abdominal obesity. Further studies are required to replicate the study with a control group using an experimental design.

The comparative assessment of nuclear run on of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactant protein by administration of steroid / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Surfactant proteins are important in the regulation of the surfactant secretion, synthesis and recycling. Glucocorticoids are known to have primary or secondary effects on gene expression and can alter the rate of gene transcription. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactant protein have been shown to be upregulated by glucocorticoids in vitro but its regulation in vivo, however, is not well established. The authors carried out nuclear run on assays to determine wheather glucocorticoids altered the transcription rate of SP-A, SP-B and SP-C genes. METHODS: Adult rats were given the 2 mg/kg dose of subcutaneous dexamethasone for 2 days and sacrified at 2 days. The transcription rate of SP-A, SP-B and SP-C genes were measured by nuclear run on assays. RESULTS: Treatment with 2 mg/kg dexamethasone increased transcription of SP-A gene (1.6-fold) and SP-C gene (1.3-fold) compared to the control for SP-A and SP-C after 2 days, which were not statistically significant. The rate of gene transcription for SP-B at 2 days after 2 mg/kg dexamethasone administration was significantly increased by 5.3-fold compared to the control for SP-B (p<0.005). The rates of gene transcription for hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactant proteins, even in the hydrophobic surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C were different. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that the difference in dexamethasone sensitivity may indicate that the three surfactant protein genes contain glucocorticoid response elements with different affinities for receptor in vivo.

The effect of rhinovirus and cigarette smoke extract on the production of interleukin-8 in human bronchial epithelial cells / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Rhinovirus (RV) or smoking are one of the most important precipitating factors in acute exacerbation of COPD and bronchial asthma. We hypothesized that alterations in interleukin (IL)-8 elaboration are present at sites of RV infection and cigarette smoke stimulation and also there is an additive effect if both agents are present in bronchial epithelial cells. To test this hypothesis, we characterized time-sequenced alterations in IL-8 elaboration from human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro under the stimuli of RV and cigarette smoke extract (CSE). METHODS: We compared the ability of RV-infected and/or CSE-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells, BEAS-2B (from American Type Culture Collection) cells to produce the IL-8 with controls. We stimulated BEAS-2B cells with RV 14 and/or CSE. We harvest the supernatants from RV and/or CSE- stimulated BEAS-2B cells and the controls at 2 hr, 4 hr, 6 hr, 12 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr from inoculation time. We measured the concentration of IL-8 by ELISA kits from supernatants and analysed IL-8 mRNA transcript semiquantitatively by RT-PCR. RESULTS: RV-infected and/or CSE-stimulated BEAS-2B cells increased the production of IL-8 from 24hr and produced outstandingly compared with the controls at 48 hr and there were an additive effects when both agents were present, especially in the combinations of RV and CSE stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that RV infection and components of cigarette smoke elicit inflammatory responses in bronchial epithelial cells and RV and CSE could be more harmful to respiratory tract in combination.

Rhinovirus stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines in human bronchial epithelial cells / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Rhinovirus is an important precipitating factor in acute exacerbation of asthma and COPD. Rhinovirus has short incubation period, causing transient inflammatory process and then has spontaneous resolution. We hypothesized that alterations in anti-inflammatory cytokines are present at sites of rhinoviral infection and these alterations contribute to the transient nature of rhinovirus-induced inflammation and symptomatology. To test this hypothesis, we characterized time-sequenced alterations in anti-inflammatory cytokines elaboration from human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC). METHODS: We compared the ability of rhinovirus-infected HBEC to produce anti-inflammatory cytokines with controls. We infected HBEC, BEAS-2B with rhinovirus 14 obtained from American Type Culture Collection. We harvested the supernatants from rhinovirus infected BEAS-2B cells and the controls at 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, 12hr, 24hr, 48hr from inoculation time. We measured the concentration of interleukin(IL)-1 Ra(receptor antagonist), IL-1 sRII(soluble receptor type II), IL-4, transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta by ELISA kits. RESULTS: Rhinovirus-infected BEAS-2B cells increased the production of IL-1 Ra, IL-1 sRII from 24hr and produced outstandingly compared with the controls at 48hrs. However, the production of IL-4 and TGF-beta was so minimal that there was no significant difference between the rhinovirus-infected BEAS-2B cells and the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that rhinovirus elaborates the IL-1 Ra and IL-1 sRII but not TGF-beta, IL-4. At the beginning of rhinoviral infection, the elaboration of IL-1 Ra, IL-1 sRII was so minimal but notably increased at 48hrs. with slower kinetics. These results suggest the possibility of rhinovirus- induced IL-1 Ra, IL-1 sRII to contribute to the spontaneous resolution.

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Drug Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis Investigated at One University Hospital in Seoul / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of tuberculosis is slowly decreasing in Korea. However, the drug-resistance of pulmonary tuberculosis is a major risk factor of treatment failure. Moreover, the National Surveillance System has recently been discontinued. Therefore, a continuous survey is necessary for the exact detection of the rate of drug resistance. We studied the recent 4-year drug resistance rate of tuberculosis at a single University hospital in Seoul. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 239 pulmonary tuberculosis patients performed with a tuberculosis culture and a drug-sensitivity test at Hanyang University Medical Center from March 1999 to March 2003. RESULTS: Of the 239 patients included in the study during the 4-year period, 52 patients showed resistance to one or more anti-tuberculosis drug (21.8%). The rate of multi-drug resistance was 12.6%. The resistance rates to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, streptomycin and pyrazinamide were 18.4%, 13.8%, 11.7%, 6.7% and 8.4%, respectively. Ninety patients had a history of previous anti-tuberculosis treatment, and the rates of the overall drug resistance and multi-drug resistance of these patients were 36.7% and 25.6%, respectively. The patients with drug-resistance showed a higher rate of a previous tuberculosis treatment history (63.5%) than the drug-sensitive group patients (30.5%). CONCLUSION: The rate of drug resistant tuberculosis is 21.8%, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is 12.6%. The rate of drug resistance is higher in those previously treated for tuberculosis.

A Study on Women's Fatigue and Sleeping Disturbance / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relationship between fatigue and sleep disturbance in adult women so as to provide basic data for developing a women's health promotion program and nursing intervention. METHOD: A convenience sample of 184 women who visited a Well-baby clinic at P city Maternal child center during October in 2004 was obtained. Data was collected by self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: The Subjects' mean age was 36.87 years and 70% were employed and had more education than high school. The mean level of fatigue was 56.65, mean sleeping hours were 6.54, and time until falling asleep was 17.58 minutes. Scores of fatigue differed by subject's age, level of education, and menstruation status. In addition, sleeping hours differed by age, occupation status, and income level. There were significant low levels of correlation between fatigue and sleeping hours (r=-.16) and getting up too early (r=-.15). CONCLUSION: This study concludes that fatigue and sleeping patterns have a significant relationship.

A Study on Use of Complementary-Alternative Therapy in Middle-aged Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the use pattern of alternative therapies in middle aged women. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 530 women from 40 to 64 years of age. The data of this study was patients' records. The data was gathered from April 1st, 2004 to June 30th, 2004. Data was analyzed statistically by using the SPSS/WIN 10.0 program. RESULT: It was shown that 63.5% of the subjects have utilized one or more types of alternative therapy. The most common type of alternative therapy was dietary and nutritional therapy 38.3%, and the place of use was the home 64.1%. The most common reason was a recommendation by friends. The degree of satisfaction after the use of alternative therapy was 95.2%. Among users of alternative therapies, the most frequent responses to each question were as follows; Motive of Use- "for health maintenance and promotion." (62.7%) In the relation ship between general characteristics and utilization of alternative therapy, religion (x2=12.33, p=.02), exercise (x2=8.21, p=004), and health status (x2=14.95, p=.005) showed a significant statistical difference. CONCLUSION: We found that middle aged women used alternative therapies more frequently than other populations. Therefore, it is suggested that medical doctors or nurses verify the true effects or side-effects from the most therapies or nurses verify the true effects or side-effects from the most common complementary or alternative therapies through experiments.

A Comparison of Tiotropium 18microgram, Once Daily and Ipratropium 40microgram, 4 Times Daily in a Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Efficacy and Safety Study in Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: This study compared the bronchodilator efficacy and safety of tiotropium inhalation capsules (18microgram once daily) with a ipratropium metered dose inhaler (2 puffs of 20microgram q.i.d.) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHOD: After the initial screening assessment and a two-week run-in period, patients received either tiotropium 18microgram once daily or ipratropium 40microgram four times daily over a period of 4 weeks in a double blind, double dummy, parallel group study. The outcome measures were the lung function, the daily records of the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), the patients' questionnaire, and the use of concomitant salbutamol. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured 5 minutes before inhalation, and 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hours after inhaling the study drug on days 0, 14 and 28. RESULT: In 16 centers, 134 patients with a mean (SD) age of 66 (7) years and a predicted FEV1 of 42 (12)% were analyzed. The trough FEV1 response was significantly higher in the tiotropium group than in the ipratropium group after a four-week treatment period. The weekly mean morning PEFR of the tiotropium group was consistently higher than that of the ipratropium group during the 4-week treatment period with differences ranging from 12.52 to 13.88 l/min, which were statistically significant. Tiotropium was well tolerated by the COPD patients during the 4-week treatment period and had a similar safety profile to ipratropium. CONCLUSION: This study shows that tiotropium administrated once daily has a superior bronchodilator effect with a similar safety profile in treating COPD patients compared with ipratropium, inhaled four times daily.

Effects of Postpartum Exercise on Mental Health / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effect of postpartum exercise on mental health. Mental health comprises a 9 symptom dimension of Somatization, Obsessive-Compulsive, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, Anxiety, Hostility, Phobic anxiety, Paranoid Ideation, and Psychoticism. METHOD: A non-equivalent pre-test, post-test control group study was conducted. Fifty-two puerperal women who were admitted to a postpartum ward of a mother-baby clinic in Pusan were recruited; 26 women were assigned to the experimental group and 26 women to the control group. Postpartum exercise was applied to the experimental group from postpartum day 3 for a period of 8 weeks while no exercise program was applied to the control group. Mental health with SCL-90-R was measured before and after exercise. Data was analyzed using mean, x2-test, t-test, and ANOVA by SPSS 10.0. RESULT: The mental health status in the exercise group did not show a statistically significant decrease when compared to that of the control group. CONCLUSION: There is no effect of postpartum exercise on women's mental health during the first 8 weeks of the postpartum period. Further studies are needed for randomized clinical trials with a larger sample size.

Perception of Non-pharmacological Therapy for Pain Control and Pattern of Postoperative Pain in Gynecological Surgery Patients / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: Women who undergo gynecological surgery have moderate and severe sensation and distress of pain despite the advent of patient controlled analgesia (PCA). The purposes of this study were to describe perception of non-pharmacological therapy for postoperative pain control and examine changes of pain sensation and distress in women who had gynecological surgery. METHOD: The sample consisted of 52 women who were having gynecological surgery. Subjects who agreed to participate in the study were asked for their opinion about non-pharmacological approaches for postoperative pain control using a structured study questionnaire. Pain sensation and distress were assessed by VAS in the morning and afternoon for 2 days following the surgery. RESULT: About 50% of the subjects thought that non-pharmacological methods such as relaxation, music, massage, or meditation would be helpful for their postoperative pain control. If both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy were given for pain control, 96% of subjects reported it would be effective. Nurses can apply techniques of relaxation, deep breathing, meditation, and music therapy to surgical patients along with PCA. Expected sensation and distress of pain was high, but pain levels gradually decreased over time. However, subjects experienced moderate levels of pain postoperatively although they used PCA. CONCLUSION: The effect of a combined method of pharmacological and non-pharmacological approach needs to be tested if postoperative pain is to be decreased more.

The Experiences of Perioperative Patients with Cancer / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to explore the experiences of perioperative patients with cancer. The purpose of this inquiry was to describe the essence of such experiences, and to understand them from the patients'point of view. METHOD: Participants in this study were 9 cancer patients with ages ranging from 31 to 70 years old, living in B city, who experienced cancer operations. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews and an observation method done from October to December in 2003. In analysing data, Colaizzi's(1978) phenomenological research method was adopted. RESULTS: Five categories emerged from ten theme clusters. The five categories were: 'shock', 'expectations & wishes', 'despair', 'feelings of burden', 'continual pain'. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showthat oncology nurses need to pay more attention to the psychosocial aspect of nursing to empathize and support the cancer patients who suffer and its treatment, and operations.

A case of lung metastasis of malignant eccrine poroma / 대한내과학회지

Malignant eccrine poroma is a rare skin appendage tumor, originating from the intraepidermal and upper dermal eccrine ducts. It is a locally aggressive neoplasm with a high propensity to metastasize. A 47-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of dyspnea. One and half years before admission, she had been diagnosed porocarcinoma of left sole and treated with wide local excision. One months after excision, examination had revealed an inguinal lymph node metastasis and she had been treated with lymph node resection and radiotherapy. During the two weeks before admission, the patient had increasing exertional dyspnea, which was accompanied by Rt-sided chest wall pain. On admission right pleural effusion and multiple nodular densities were noted at initial chest radiograph. A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest showed lymphatic and hematogenous lung metastasis with pleural seeding of unknown primary tumor. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the pleura revealed typical cytologic findings of porocarcinoma. She was treated with therapeutic thoracentesis and pleurodesis with bleomycin. Because porocarcinoma is resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she has been treated with conservative treatment.