The Effect of Aroma Therapy on Lower Extremity Edema of Terminal Cancer Patients: A Controlled Trial / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the effect of aroma massage therapy on lower extremity edema of terminal cancer patients. METHODS: A total of thirty-six terminal cancer patients with lower extremity edema were divided into two groups: the aroma massage group received massage with blending oil which was applied from toes to 10 cm above the knee of the subject for 15 to 20 minutes in each turn, while the control group received sham aroma massage (applied with carrier oil only). The circumferences of the fore-foot, ankle and calf were measured before massage and 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 12 hours after massage. The blood pressure, pulse and body temperature were also measured to find the change of subject's physiologic conditions. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and lower extremity circumferences between two groups. However, edema at each site was slightly improved in the treatment group after the aroma massage therapy, compared to baseline data (P<0.05). In addition, the reduction of lower extremity circumference was maximal at 2 hours in foot, 30 min in right ankle and 12 hours in right calf after aroma massage therapy (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that aroma massage therapy is not effective on the lower extremity edema of terminal cancer patients.

Comparison of bone mineral density in premature ovarian failure patients and spontaneous menopausal women / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: It is widely accepted that the estrogen plays an important role in the maintenance of bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of this study is to compare the BMD between premature ovarian failure (POF) patients and spontaneous menopausal women, both of which are characterized by estrogen deficiency. METHOD: We compared the BMD of Lumbar 2-4 and Femur neck(right) measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in 17 premature ovarian failure patients and 21 spontaneous menopausal women. RESULTS: POF patients and spontaneous menopausal women showed the BMD of 1.000+/-0.165g/cm2, 1.167+/-0.279g/cm2 at Lumbar 2-4 and 0.793+/-0.132g/cm2, 0.885+/-0.128g/cm2 at Femur neck, respectively. POF patients had lower BMD of Lumbar 2-4 and Femur neck significantly(p<0.05). FSH and estradiol level were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the BMD in POF patients was decreased more severely than that of spontaneous menopausal women. Therefore, more preventive measures against bone loss is required in POF patients than spontaneous menopausal women.