ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The study of the correlation of menopausal symptoms with heart rate variability (HRV) has not been adequate. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between postmenopausal symptoms measured by the menopause rating scale (MRS) and HRV. METHODS: We assessed postmenopausal symptoms (using MRS) with age, BMI, educational status, occupation, marital status, alcohol and caffeine consumption, smoking history, exercise, duration of sleep and amenorrhea, degree of anxiety and depression, menarcheal age, and heart rate variability. For evaluation of HRV, the record of electrocardiogram for 5 minutes in the resting state was divided into temporal categories and frequency categories, and analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences in age, BMI, duration of amenorrhea, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein were observed between two groups, which were divided according to menopausal symptoms. Low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio was significantly higher in symptomatic women, compared with asymptomatic women (P < 0.05). No significant differences of HRV index by the severity of postmenopausal symptoms were observed. LF/HF ratio of HRV parameters showed a significant increase in moderate or severe degree of "hot flashes" and "sleep problem" score (P < 0.05). Anxiety scale in symptomatic women was significantly higher than in asymptomatic women (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The above data suggest that postmenopausal symptoms are associated with altered autonomic control of heart rate. In particular, hot flashes and sleep problems in moderate or severe degree are related to increase of sympathetic nerve activity.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Amenorrhea , Anxiety , Blood Glucose , Blood Pressure , Caffeine , Depression , Educational Status , Electrocardiography , Fasting , Heart , Heart Rate , Hot Flashes , Lipoproteins , Marital Status , Menopause , Occupations , Smoke , SmokingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Body weight is an important indicator of a person's health status. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the body weight management system, HIMS (Health Improvement and Management System)-Diet, which instantly provides users with feedback on their measured weight using the database that stores the user.customized information. METHODS: The participants of this experimental study used the system two or three times a week for 10 weeks. We analyzed the changes in their body weight and body mass index (BMI) according to their respective usage of the system. RESULTS: Participants' body weight and BMI decreased with respect to their individual usage of the system. Participants that used the system frequently for a longer time period improved significantly in their body weight and BMI. CONCLUSION: The experimental study showed that the body weight management system, HIMS-Diet, was effective in controlling people's body weight.
Subject(s)
Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Body Weight ChangesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is now being increasingly used among cancer patients. The objectives of our study were to assess the prevalence, types, cost, subjective effects, and side effects of CAM use, reasons for CAM use, characteristics of CAM users compared to those of nonusers, and patients' expectations of doctors regarding their CAM use among Korean cancer patients at a single cancer center. METHODS: From April to August, 2003, we interviewed 186 cancer patients hospitalized in the Korea Cancer Center Hospital using a structured questionnaire, and analyzed the data. RESULTS: 78.5% of experimental subjects (146 patients) had been treated with at least one type of CAM, in addition to conventional Western treatment, with a mean monthly cost of 1, 380, 000 Won/person (approximately, 1, 100 U.S. dollars on July, 2004). The most prevalent types of CAM used by these patients included medicinal mushrooms (67.1%), herbs (54.1%), vegetable diets (50.6%), and ginseng (46.5%). The main reported reasons for the use of CAM in addition to conventional medicine were nutritional support (19.1%) and physical strengthening (17.8%). 5% of CAM users experienced side effects. The younger and more educated the patients were, the more likely they were to employ CAM. 66% of CAM users wanted to discuss CAM techniques with their doctors. CONCLUSION: More than two-thirds of cancer patients used various kinds of CAM, incurring considerable costs. Therefore, in order to help patients make informed decisions, medical society should be open to communication with patients. Not only the scientific aspects, but also the economic aspects of CAM usage should be examined more thoroughly, in order to ensure proper distribution of medical resources.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Complementary Therapies/economics , Korea , Neoplasms/therapy , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary hepatic carcinoma and is considered to be a highly malignant tumor with poor prognosis. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicities of AP (doxorubicin, cisplatin) comnination chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1989 and February 1991, 21 previously untreated patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were entered and treated with AP combination chemotherapy (adriamycin 60 mg/m2, D1 and cisplatin 60 mg/m2, D1, repeated every 3 weeks). RESULTS: Among 14 evaluable patients, there was no complete response and 5 patients (36%; 95% C.I=10~62%) achieved partial response. The median survival time of all 21 patients was 17 weeks, and 63 weeks in responders (n=5) and 14 weeks in nonresponders (n=16), and the difference in two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). The median time to progression of 14 evaluable patients was 13 weeks, and 49 weeks in the responders (n=5) and 6 weeks in the nonresponders (n=9), and the difference in two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Myelosuppression was minimal and non-hematologic toxicities were gererally mild and well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the combination chemotherpy of AP seems to be an effective regimen for hepatocellular carcinoma. Further trials are recommended for its true efficacy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Cisplatin , Doxorubicin , Drug Therapy , Drug Therapy, Combination , PrognosisABSTRACT
A synophthalmia, another form of cyclopia, in which the element of the two eyes are partially fused to form an apparently single eye in the middle of the forehead. The synophthalmia is a result of complex, neural plate misdevelopment syndrome involving the eye, brain, skull and face. It is well known that synophthalmia is due to heterogenous causes, most of which chromosomal imbalances. We experienced a case of synophthalmia associated with proboscis, alobar holoprosencephaly and chromosomal anomaly 46, XX, -15,t (15 q, 21 q). Diagnosis was confirmed by brain MRI and autopsy, The patient died about 20 hours of age and autopsy was done. A brief review of the literatures was also presented.
Subject(s)
Humans , Autopsy , Brain , Diagnosis , Forehead , Holoprosencephaly , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neural Plate , SkullABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Buthionine Sulfoximine , Cell Line , Cisplatin , Lung Neoplasms , Lung , StomachABSTRACT
One hundred eighty infants with oxygen therapy who were under 2,500gm birth weight or under 37 weeks of gestational age, were examined between January 1990 and November 1992. We performed clnical analysis and results were as follows. 1) Fifty six infants (31.1%) were diagnosed as retinopathy of prematurity. 2) The first examination was performed at 2.5 weeks of life on average, and the retinopathy of prematurity was diagnosed at 3.8 weeks on average. 3) The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity was highly associated with low birth weight ( or =0.4 over 1 week)(P<0.005). 4) Other associated risk factors were idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome, anemia, neonatal hypoxia and sepsis.