Effect of Abdominal Massage before In Vitro Fertilization Injection on Alleviating Pain among Infertile Women

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on alleviating pain caused by the injection of recombinant gonadotropin for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) among infertile women. METHODS: This study employed a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. A total sample of 149 infertile women who never experienced in vitro fertilization was recruited at C fertility center. Seventy women were assigned into experimental group and 79 into controls. The experimental group had been informed to do abdominal massage prior to the injection and to record their subjective pain using visual analogue scale. The control group had been informed to record their subjective pain in the same way just after the injection. RESULTS: Compared to the pre-tested pain scores, the pain scores in experimental group were significantly reduced by 0.7 points, whereas the control group increased by 0.9 points (t=-4.55, p=.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the use of abdominal massage prior to the injection is an effective way to alleviate pain on injection site. This massage may be a useful intervention for infertile women about pain alleviation.

Effects of a safflower tea supplement on antioxidative status and bone markers in postmenopausal women

We conducted this study to examine the effects of safflower seed granular tea containing physiologically active polyphenols on antioxidative activities and bone metabolism. Forty postmenopausal women ages 49 to 64-years were recruited from Daegu and Gyeongbuk and were randomly assigned to either a safflower tea supplement (Saf-tea) group (n = 27) or a placebo group (n = 13). The Saf-tea group received 20 g of safflower seed granule tea per day containing a 13% ethanol extract of defatted safflower seeds, whereas the placebo group received a similar type of tea that lacked the ethanol extract. No significant changes in nutrient intake for either the placebo or Saf-tea groups were observed before or after the study period, except vitamin A intake increased after 6 months in the Saf-tea group. Dietary phytoestrogen intakes were similar in the Saf-tea group (60.3 mg) and placebo group (52.5 mg). Significant increases in plasma genistein and enterolactone were observed in the Saf-tea group. After 6 months of supplementation, serum levels of antioxidant vitamins such as alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid increased significantly, and TBARS levels decreased in the Saf-tea group compared to the placebo group. Serum osteocalcin levels were reduced (P < 0.05) in the Saf-tea group after 6 months, whereas serum osteocalcin did not change in the placebo group. Urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine excretion was not different between the two groups at baseline, and did not change in either group after 6 months. Bone mineral density decreased significantly in the placebo group (P < 0.01) but not in the supplemented group. It was concluded that polyphenols (72 mg/day), including serotonin derivatives, in the Saf-tea had both antioxidant and potential bone protecting effects in postmenopausal women without liver toxicity.

Intake of dietary phytoestrogen and indices of antioxidant and bone metabolism of pre- and post-menopausal Korean women

A group of 101 women, aged 40-65 years consisted of 48 premenopausal subjects and 53 postmenopausal ones living in Daegu and Gyeongbuk area in Korea were evaluated with their general characteristics, lifestyle factors, nutrient and phytoestrogen intakes, blood and urinary indices concerning antioxidant status and bone metabolism. Body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the postmenopausal women were significantly higher (23.8, 0.86, and 126.9 mmHg, respectively) than those of the premenopausal women (22.6, 0.82, and 115.9 mmHg; respectively). Nutrient intakes of the postmenopausal and premenopausal groups were not different except lower fat intake and higher dietary fiber and iron intakes in the postmenopausal group. Daily total phytoestrogen intake was significantly higher in the postmenopausal group (48.54 mg) than the premenopausal (31.41 mg) and was resulted mostly from higher intakes of daidzein and genistein from soy and soy products (45.42 mg vs 28.91 mg). Serum genistein level and excretion of enterolactone, major lignan metabolite, were not very different between the two groups. Serum retinal and alpha- tocopherol levels were higher in the postmenopausal group but TBARS levels were not different between the two groups. Serum osteocalcin (7.18 ng/mL) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (7.15 nmol/mmol creatinine), in the postmenopausal group were significantly higher than those in the premenopausal group (4.80 ng/mL, 5.95 nmol/mmol creatinine). Urinary excretion of enterolactone was positively correlated with serum osetocalcin in premenopausal women and serum genistein negatively correlated with the urinary DPD in postmenopausal women. Dietary phytoestrogen intake was negatively correlated with serum level of TBARS in all subjects. It is concluded that the effect of total phytoestrogen intake is beneficial on body antioxidant status in all middle-aged women regardless of menopause but the effect on bone metabolism appears different by the type of the phytoestrogen and the menopausal state.

A Survey on Breakfast of Workers in Daegu Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Breakfast is an important factor for health status of people. This study was carried out to investigate the dietary life related to breakfast of workers and to develope some nutritional convenient diets for the workers. The collected data were consisted of items about general characteristics of the subjects, breakfast pattern, factors affecting on breakfast and opinions on convenient foods. The subjects were classified into labor workers (n = 202) and office workers (n = 227) aged from twenties to fifties. The rate of skipping breakfast in workers was 31.5% and higher according to the increase of age. Their favorite style of breakfast was mostly Korean traditional diets, but only 38.1% of the subjects had cooked rice as breakfast. The main reason for skipping breakfast was that they had no time for it. But 65.4% of total workers had experiences of using convenience diets. They had these kinds of diets because of convenience. These results suggest that recipe development of convenient breakfast is very important for the good dietary life of the workers.

Nutrient Intakes and Cholesterol-Saturated Fat Indices of Foods Accompanied by Drinking Alcohol in Industrial Workers

The present study was conducted to evaluate nutrient intakes of industrial workers with hyperlipidemia and cholesterol-saturated fat indices(CSI) of their daily meals and various side dishes accompanied with alcohol. Thirty eight male subjects of 41.0+/-6.5 years whose average serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were 222.9+/-37.7 and 282.3+/-139.3mg/dl were interviewed on daily intakes of foods and drinking habits including types and amounts of side dishes using 24-hour recall and questionnaire methods. Average energy habits including twenty six non-drinkers and twelve drinkers were 2365+/-416 and 2822+/-417kcal, respectively but intakes of other nutrients were not very different between two groups. Carotene intakes was, however, low in drinkers. Intakes of saturated fat, cholesterol and CSI of subjects' daily meals were 15.4+/-5.4g, 229+/-114mg and 27.1+/-10.4 for non-drinkers and 18.7+/-7.8g, 238+/-69mg and 30.8+/-9.8 for drinkers. CSI of their daily meals varied from 10 to 60 without much differences in energy values and were positively correlated with serum cholesterol levels(r=0.2606, p<0.05). Average alcohol intakes obtained from subjects' drinking habit was 89.5+/-46.8g per day and major side dish was roasted beef giving 660+/-234kcal of energy and 24.3+/-8.0 of CSI. From the present study, it is concluded that industrial workers are more prone to have hyperlipidemic diets due to alcohol. To improve their diet and health, an appropriate nutrition education should be necessary and CSI of various Korean foods and meals can be used as handy self-control education tool.

Effectiveness of Worksite Nutrition Counseling for Hyperlipidemic Employees in Kyung-buk Area

This study was aimed to implement and evaluate worksite nutrition counseling for industrial workers with hyperlipidemia in Kyung-buk area. Forty-six subjects consisted of 41 men and 5 women who were diagnosed hyperlipidemia though health examination had their average age, 40.3+/-.0 and half of them were office workers and one third labor workers. Twenty-eight subjects had fatty liver with or without other complications and six had gastric problems. The subjects were interviewed using questionnaires on food habit, food frequency, smoking, drinking and exercise, and they were given nutrition counseling which was continued for 7 months. Desirable food selections were practiced using foods or food models and various written materials individually or as group during lunch times and breaks. After counseling, smoking and drinking were reduced and exercise and food habits were improved. Average levels of initial serum total cholesterol(T-Chol), HDL-cholesterol(HDL-Chol) and triglyceride(TG) were 214+/-4, 45.07+/-.14 and 281+/-3mg/dl respectively and were not changed significantly except 2.30+/-.04mg/dl increase of HDL-Chol(p<0.1) after nutrition counseling. However, subjects who improved their food habits and smoking, drinking and exercise habits had higher tendency to have reduced serum T-Chol and TG levels compared with those who drank less. Food habit score was negatively correlated with serum TG levels(r=-0.378, p<0.01). It is concluded that an efficient and regular nutrition counseling by dietitian at worksite is beneficial for health of industrial workers.

Effects of Psychiatric Rehabilitation on the Number of Relapse, Number of Admission, Days of Hospitalization, and Direct Treatment Costs of Schizophrenic Patients: Two-Year Follow-up Study / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the clinical efficacy of a comprehensive psychiatric rebabiliation of schizophrenia, including family psychoeducation,patient education,socail skills tranining,group psychotherapy,art therapy,and ocupational therapy. METHOD: From September 1993 to february 1995,173 chronic schizophrenics who met DSM-lV criteria and were discharged from a locked ward were assigned into the psychiatric rehabilitation service group(psychiatric rehabilitation group,n=46) or the customary out patient service group(out-patient group,n=127)prospectively,but not randomly. Assignment was based on preferences of patients and their relatives. Each subject included in the psychiatric rehabilitation group received twice weekly patient education,social skills training, family psychoeducation, group psychotherapy, art therapy, occupational therapy and maintenance chemotherapy during a 6-month period. Those in the out-patient group received individual supportive psychotherapy and maintenance chemotherapy according to their clinical needs for 10-20 minutes once per week. After entry into the study,all subjects were assessed for the number of readmission,days of hospitalization,and the direct treatment costs through the first and second year of follow-ups. These outcome variables were also compared pre-and post-2 years at the time point of entry into the study. Aftercare chemotherapy on a weekly to monthly basis continued for the remailder of the two year follow-up period. RESULTS: With regard to the mean number of hospital admissions per vear,the mean days of hospitalization per year, and the direct treatment costs per year, psychiatric rehabilitation broup had significantly decreased all clinical outcomes 2 years after compared with before receiving psychiatric rehabilitation. But there were no significant differences in the all clinical outcomes between between before and after study intake in the out-patient group. For the number of relapse regardless of drug compliance, 4 patients(9%) during first year and 14 patients(30%) during second year were relapsed in the 46 subjects of the psychiatric rehabiliation group. In contrast, 75 patients(59%) during first year and 90 patients(71%) during second year relapsed in the out-patient group. When considering the effect of drug noncompliance to relapse,4(9%) and 14 patients(30%) were relapsed while on medication respectively during the first and second year in the 46 of the psychiatric rehabilitation group, vs. 27(34%) of 79 patients on medication during the first year and 31(46%) of 68 patients on medication during the second year were relapsed in the out-patient group. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the comprehensive psychiatric rehabiliation can be useful therapeutic intervention both to improve the clinical outcomes of schizophrenic patients and to reduce the economical burden of their relatives.

Performance of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in the Offspring of Schizophrenic Patients / 신경정신의학

In order to evaluate whether Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST) could be used to detect the vulnerability markers of schizophrenia, three groups such as offsprings of schizophrenic patients(n=28), offsprings of alcoholic patients(n=18), and offsprings of psychiatrically normal persons(n=41) were examined for their concept formation and abstract thinking by means of WCST.The results were as follows; 1) No significant differences were noted in all variables of the WCST such as number of totol administered trials, total correct response %,total error response $,perseverative response %,perseverative error response %,nonperseverative error response %,conceptual level response %,number of completed category,number of trials to complete 1st category,number of failure to maintain a set,and learning to learn among three groups. 2) There was no difference in the number of cases with extreme low WCST total correct % of lower 10% of the normal controls among three groups. These results suggest that Wcst could be an ineffective instrument for using to detect the vulnerability markers of schizophrenia.

Disturbances of Attention in the Offspring of Schizophrenic Parents / 신경정신의학

In order to study the possible vulnerability in the markers of schizophrenia, offsprings of the schizophrenic parents(n=28), offsprings of the alcohol dependent parents(n=18), and offsprings of the psychiatrically normal persons(n=41) were examined for their sustained attention and sensory register by means of Continuous performance test(CPT) and Span apprehension task(SPAN) respectively. The results were as follows: 1) The offsprings of the schizophrenic parents showed a significant deficit in the sustained attention as manifested in the data of CPT by significantly lower hit rate and sensitivity, compared with the offspring of the alcohol dependent parents and those of the psychiatrically normal persons. No difference was evident in the false alarm rate and response bias among three groups. There was no difference in all variables of the CPT between the offsprings of the alcohol dependent parents and those of the psychiatrically normal persons. 2) The deficit in the sustained attention as revealed by lower hit rate and sensitivity was not apparent in the first part of the CPT. However it emerged and aggravated itself as the test continued in the offsprings of the schizophrenic parents only. 3) Proportion of subjects falling in the extreme low sensitivity of lower 10% of the normal controls was significantly higher in the offsprings of the schizophrenic parent group as compared with the offsprings of the alcohol dependent parents and those of the psychiatrically normal persons with a rate of 29%, 17%, and 10% respectively. 4) No significant difference was noted in all variables of MMPI among normal controls, index group, and the extreme low CPT sensitivity subgroup of index group. 5) The offsprings of the schizophrenic parents showed a significantly delayed response in the time to correct and incorrect response in SPAN compared to offsprings of the alcohol dependent parents and those of the psychiatrically normal persons. No difference was evident in the number of correct response, number of incorrect response, and number of no response among three groups. There was no difference in all variables of the SPAN between the offsprings of the alcohol dependent parents and those of the psychiatrically normal persons. These results suggest that a subgroup of the offsprings of schizophrenic parents may suffer from the deficit in the sustained attention which may be a vulnerability marker of schizophrenia.