The Process of Accepting Patient Deaths among Korean Nurses: Grieving over Dying / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

Purpose@#Nurses’ acceptance of patient deaths enables them to practice holistic end-of-life care and pursue positive living. The place where most deaths occur in Korea has changed from home to medical institutions, making it necessary to understand the process through which nurses who practice end-of-life care accept patient deaths. This study aimed to obtain insight into nurses’ experiences of accepting patient deaths and to develop a practical theory regarding the context of this process. @*Methods@#This qualitative study investigated nurses’ process of acceptance of patient deaths based on grounded theory. @*Results@#A core category of this process was found to be “grieving over dying”, which consisted of the following steps: “being close by”, “being attentive”, “acknowledging together”, and “accompanying.” @*Conclusion@#This study established that nurses’ attentiveness toward dying people is due to their grief over patient deaths, and clarified Korean nurses’ process of accepting patient deaths and its related factors.

Influence of Alcohol Consumption on the Serum hs-CRP Level and Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome: Based on the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Elevated high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and metabolic syndrome are considered important predictors of cardiovascular mortality. This study examined the influence of the alcohol consumption level on the hs-CRP level and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in South Koreans. The study subjects were 3,884 participants (≥19 years) from the KNHANES in 2015. The subjects were divided into four groups according to their alcohol consumption; None (none-alcohol consumption), Low (less than 15 g/day), Medium (15~29.9 g/day), and High (over than 30 g/day). The odds ratio for high-risk hs-CRP of men was significantly lower in the Low or Medium groups compared to the None group. In women, the odds ratio for high-risk hs-CRP was not decreased in the Low or Medium groups but was significantly higher in the High group than in the None group. Compared to nondrinkers, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was lower in the Low group and Medium group in both men and women, whereas it was significantly higher in the High group in men only. In particular, the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol was lower in all drinking groups. When the confounding factors were adjusted, the odds ratio for low HDL-cholesterol appeared to decline in the Low groups in both men and women. On the other hand, in the Medium group, women showed an elevated odds ratios of high blood pressure (HBP) and high fasting plasma glucose but men showed an elevated odds ratios of HBP and high triglyceride levels. The overall results suggest that low alcohol consumption is more appropriate than medium alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, more study will be needed to evaluate the appropriate alcohol consumption level.

Survival and Functional Outcomes after Hip Fracture among Nursing Home Residents

Following the implementation of a long-term care insurance system for the elderly in Korea, many nursing homes have been established and many more patients than ever before have been living at nursing homes. Despite the fact that this is a high-risk group vulnerable to hip fractures, no study has yet been conducted in Korea on hip fracture incidence rates and prognoses among patients residing at nursing homes. We recently studied 46 cases of hip fracture in nursing homes; more specifically, we investigated the most common conditions under which fractures occur, and examined the degree of recovery of ambulatory ability and the mortality within 1 yr. Among those who had survived after 1 yr, the number of non-functional ambulators increased from 8 hips before hip fracture to 19 hips at final post-fracture follow-up. These individuals showed poor recovery of ambulatory ability, and the number who died within one year was 11 (23.9%), a rate not significantly different from that among community-dwelling individuals. It was evident that hip-joint-fracture nursing home residents survived for similar periods of time as did those dwelling in the community, though under much more uncomfortable conditions. The main highlight of this report is that it is the first from Korea on nursing home residents' ambulatory recovery and one-year mortality after hip fracture. The authors believe that, beginning with the present study, the government should collect and evaluate the number of hips fractured at nursing facilities in order to formulate criteria that will help to enable all patients to select safer and better-quality nursing facilities for themselves or their family members.

Concept Analysis of Nurses' Acceptance of Patient Deaths / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to identify a theoretical basis of end-of-life care by examining attributes of the concept of the nurses' acceptance of patient deaths. METHODS: Walker and Avant's approach to concept analysis was used. A literature study was performed to check the usage of the concept. To identify the attributes of the concept and come up with an operational definition, we analyzed 16 qualitative studies on nurses' experiences of death of patients, published in a national science magazine from 1999 to 2015. RESULTS: The nurses' acceptance of death of patients was identified as having four attributes: acceptance through mourning, attaining insight on life and death while ruminating life, facing with fortitude and practicing human dignity. Antecedents of the concept were experiences of patient's death, confusion and conflict, negative emotions, passive responses, denial of patients' death. The consequences of the concept were found as the holistic end-of-life care and active pursuit of life. CONCLUSION: This study on the attributes of the concept of the nurses' acceptance of death of patients and it's operational definition will likely lay the foundation for applicable end-of-life care mediations and theoretical development.

The Relationships among Quality of Life and Stress, Health-related Habits and Food Intake in Korean Healthy Adults Based on 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the socioeconomic factors that affect quality of life (QL) in healthy adults and to study the relationship between QL and health-related habits and food intake. METHODS: Subjects consisted of 1,154 healthy adults without any known disease, aged 19 to 65 years from the 2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. We used SPSS statistical program version 20.0 for data analysis. RESULTS: The average age and QL score of the study population were 36.7 years and 0.99 points, respectively. Males had a significantly higher QL score than the females (p < 0.001), and employed subjects and those employed in permanent positions had significantly higher scores as compared respectively with unemployed subjects and those employed in temporary positions (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). The group that responded "almost every day" to the "frequency of binge drinking" and "frequency of disruption of daily life due to drinking" had significantly lower QL scores as compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Further, the scores were significantly higher for individuals who practiced "intense physical activities" and "walking" (p < 0.001). The groups that responded that they were "very stressed" showed significantly lower QL scores in comparison to the other groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in QL scores according to anthropometric or biochemical indices. When subjects were divided into two groups based on average QL scores, the frequency of intake of "barbecued beef" was significantly higher while the frequency of intake of "fried eggs or rolled omelet," and "soy milk" was significantly lower in the high QL group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, it is evident that in healthy adults without any known underlying illnesses, psychological factors such as economic activity, occupational environment, and stress are considered to have a greater impact on their QL than are nutrient intake, blood biochemical indices, and anthropometric status.

Anti-obesity effect of Korean Hamcho (Salicornia herbacea L.) powder on high-fat diet-induced obese rats / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine whether Hamcho freeze-dried powder and Hamcho freeze-dried nano powder have an anti-obese effect on high fat diet-induced obese rats. METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 different groups, each of which was bred for 8 weeks with a different experimental diet: normal diet group (NC), high fat diet group (HFC), high fat diet + 2% Salicornia herbacea L. freeze-dried powder group (2% HS), high fat diet + 5% Salicornia herbacea L. freeze-dried powder group (5%HS), high fat diet + 1% Salicornia herbacea L. freeze-dried nano powder group (1% HSN), high fat diet + 2% Salicornia herbacea L. freeze-dried nano powder group (2% HSN). RESULTS: The 5% HS group showed a weight loss effect in body weight, liver and adipose tissue by reducing the amount of dietary intake and food efficiency ratio. In addition, the 5% HS group showed a significant reduction of serum leptin concentration, while having a beneficial effect on the improvement of lipid metabolism such as increase the serum concentration of adiponectin. However, Hamcho freeze-dried nano powder did not show a weight loss effect. CONCLUSION: Overall data indicated that Hamcho seemed to have anti-obesity effects. In particular, consumption of 5% Hamcho freeze-dried powder might have beneficial effects on body weight, serum adiponectin level, and lipid profiles since it led to reduced body weight and growth of adipose tissues by suppressing dietary intakes. However conduct of further research studies is needed for analysis of active components and biochemical action mechanism of Hamcho.

Nurses' Experiences of the Death of Patients in Geriatric Hospitals

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify and understand nurses' experiences of the death of patients in geriatric hospitals. METHODS: Van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological analysis was applied in the interpretation of experiential descriptions of seven nurses who had experienced the death of patients in a geriatric hospital. RESULTS: The essential subjects derived from the experience of the nurses on the death of patients in a geriatric hospital are covered in the following 7 themes. 'Placed in death site', 'Difficult repetition of death and farewell', 'Emotional waves that rushes in after farewell', 'Dilemmas in a place with no preparation to greet expected death', 'Getting dull from continually being struck with sorrow', 'Being together with living death', and 'Showing courtesy for a good farewell and living well'. CONCLUSION: The results of this research will contribute to the development of policy on all the deaths of patients in geriatric hospitals and suggest basic data that need to be applied in real practice and directions to introduce plans for realistic improvements in nursing care of deathbed patients in geriatric hospitals.

Comparison of Serum Adiponectin Levels According to Body Mass Index and Dietary Behaviors of Female University Students in Seoul / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to determine whether dietary factors could be related with serum adiponectin concentrations in 243, year-three female university students living in Seoul. The mean of body mass index (BMI) and adiponectin levels of all subjects were 20.17 kg/m2 and 11.07 microg/ml, respectively. When the subjects were divided into 3 groups based on BMI (underweight: or = 23), serum adiponectin levels in underweight group was significantly higher than that in 'normal' or 'overweight and 'obesity' groups. Also when the subjects were divided into two groups by mean adequacy ratio (MAR), serum adiponectin concentration of the high MAR group (MAR > 75) was slightly higher than that the low MAR group (MAR < or = 75). Serum adiponectin levels showed a negative correlation with body weight (p < 0.01) or BMI (p < 0.001) and a positive correlation with intakes of of animal or total protein (please clarify) or vegetable protein.Among the dietary behaviors, serum adiponectin levels of females who answered 'yes' to the question about 'eating breakfast' was significantly higher than that of those who answered 'sometimes' or 'No' (p < 0.05) and serum adiponectin levels were higher among those who reported higher fruit intakes. Overall, our results suggested that healthy lifestyle including acceptable BMI, eating breakfast and higher fruit consumption might play an important role in the prevention of obesity and enhancement of blood adiponectin levels.

Effects of cranberry powder on biomarkers of oxidative stress and glucose control in db/db mice

Increased oxidative stress in obese diabetes may have causal effects on diabetic complications, including dyslipidemia. Lipopolysccharides (LPS) along with an atherogenic diet have been found to increase oxidative stress and insulin resistance. Cranberry has been recognized as having beneficial effects on diseases related to oxidative stress. Therefore, we employed obese diabetic animals treated with an atherogenic diet and LPS, with the aim of examining the effects of cranberry powder (CP) on diabetic related metabolic conditions, including lipid profiles, serum insulin and glucose, and biomarkers of oxidative stress. Forty C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were divided into the following five groups: normal diet + saline, atherogenic diet + saline, atherogenic diet + LPS, atherogenic diet + 5% CP + LPS, and atherogenic diet + 10% CP + LPS. Consumption of an atherogenic diet resulted in elevation of serum total cholesterol and atherogenic index (AI) and reduction of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. However, with 10% CP, the increase in mean HDL-cholesterol level was close to that of the group with a normal diet, whereas AI was maintained at a higher level than that of the group with a normal diet. LPS induced elevated serum insulin level was lowered by greater than 60% with CP (P 0.05). Mean activity of liver cytosolic glutathione peroxidase was significantly increased by LPS injection, however it was reduced back to the value without LPS when the diet was fortified with 10% CP (P 0.05). Overall results suggest that fortification of the atherogenic diet with CP may have potential health benefits for obese diabetes with high oxidative stress, by modulation of physical conditions, including some biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Ultrastructural Changes in Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts by Gamma Irradiation

Cryptosporidium parvum is known as one of the most highly resistant parasites to gamma irradiation. To morphologically have an insight on the radioresistance of this parasite, ultrastructural changes in C. parvum sporozoites were observed after gamma irradiation using various doses (1, 5, 10, and 25 kGy) following a range of post-irradiation incubation times (10 kGy for 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr). The ultrastructures of C. parvum oocysts changed remarkably after a 10-kGy irradiation. Nuclear membrane changes and degranulation of dense granules were observed with high doses over 10 kGy, and morphological changes in micronemes and rhoptries were observed with very high doses over 25 kGy. Oocyst walls were not affected by irradiation, whereas the internal structures of sporozoites degenerated completely 96 hr post-irradiation using a dose of 10 kGy. From this study, morphological evidence of radioresistance of C. parvum has been supplemented.

Effects of freeze-dried cranberry powder on serum lipids and inflammatory markers in lipopolysaccharide treated rats fed an atherogenic diet

This study investigated the effects of freeze-dried cranberry powder on anti-inflammation and lipid profiles of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats fed an atherogenic diet for 6 weeks. Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats (6-weeks-old) were equally divided into the following five groups: 1) normal diet group + saline (NC); 2) atherogenic diet + saline (HFC); 3) atherogenic diet + LPS (HL); 4) atherogenic diet with 5% cranberry power + LPS (C5); 5) atherogenic diet with 10% cranberry power + LPS (C10). LPS (0.5 mg/kg) was injected into the abdominal cavities of rats 18 hours prior to sacrifice. At the end of the experimental period, we measured serum lipid profiles as well as levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide (NO), and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine. The mean serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level in C5 rats was significantly higher than that in NC and HL rats (P < 0.05). The mean serum levels of CRP and IL-1beta were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the cranberry powder groups compared to those in HL rats. Additionally, mean serum IL-6 levels tended to be lower in the cranberry groups than that in the HL group, whereas serum IL-10 and NO showed 29% and 88% higher mean values in the C5 group and 49% and 24% higher in the C10 group than those in the HL group, respectively. These results suggest that freeze-dried cranberry powder may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases by modifying serum lipids and the early inflammatory response.

Comparisons of Body Image Perception, Health Related Lifestyle and Dietary Behavior Based on the Self-Rated Health of University Students in Seoul / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to examine the differences in perceived body weight and image and various lifestyles based on the self-rated health of university students when gender was adjusted. Five hundred fifty-five participants were asked their perceived health condition, and 58, 289, 160 and 48 students answered themselves as "very healthy", "healthy", "normal", and "unhealthy", respectively. As compared to the other 3 groups, "unhealthy" group showed higher proportions in dissatisfaction of body weight and negative perception of body image (P < 0.01). As health related lifestyles, "very healthy" group reported longer sleeping time than "unhealthy" group (P < 0.05), and had a higher proportion of people with regular exercise. Among the dietary behaviors, the frequencies of followings significantly different among the groups: "Regularity of meal time" (P < 0.01), "Eat protein foods more than twice a day" (P < 0.001), "Eat vegetables" (P < 0.01), "Eat fruit and fruit juice" (P < 0.01), "Eat vegetable oil added foods" (P < 0.01), "Eat seaweed" (P < 0.01), "Eat breakfast" (P < 0.01), "Modulation in animal fat and high in cholesterol intake" (P < 0.01). Particularly, higher proportion of subjects answered "very healthy" had higher frequencies (6-7 times/week) of these dietary behaviors. Overall results suggest that healthy lifestyle including adequate sleeping time, regular exercise, and good dietary behaviors might be potential factors affecting positive perception of health. In addition, positive perception of body weight and image were related with positive perception of health.

A Study on the Prevalence of Chronic Diseases, Health-related Habits and Nutrients Intakes according to the Quality of Life in Korean Adults / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was done to analyze the chronic diseases prevalence and dietary intake status according to the health related quality of life and to identify its significant properties. This study was conducted based on 2906 subjects ranging from 20~64 years old, out of 9704 total subjects from the 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2008. The average quality of life (QL) score was 0.915, where 983 subjects were below the average (low QL group) and 1923 subjects were above (high QL group). In the high QL group, there was more likely to be young, male, and with higher income and education. For high QL group, the self-related health score was high, and the subjective stress level was low. The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher in the low QL group and anthropometric and biochemical measures were not shown differences between the two groups but waist circumference was significantly higher in the low QL group. The QL score was significantly negative correlated with the waist circumference and the body mass index. As for the recognition rate of Nutrition Guideline, there were no significant differences but high QL group had higher scores in "Eat a variety of foods", "Avoid too much Sodium", and "Enjoy meals and Eating a breakfast". Carbohydrate intake was significantly lower in the high QL group than in low QL group and the high QL group showed higher intake in legumes, meat and poultry, fruits, daily products and beverages. Overall results suggest that increased diabetes prevalence in people with low quality of life might be affected by the diets based on high carbohydrate, increased waist circumference, and lower rate of practice nutritional guideline.

Age-related Circulating Inflammatory Markers and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Korean Women / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the age-related changes of cardiovascular disease risk factors and inflammatory markers in non-obese Korean women. Subjects were 112 women over 20 years old with body mass index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m2 and were divided into 3 groups ( or = 60 years). Mean weight and BMI in the oldest group were significantly higher than those in the other 2 younger groups (P <0.05). Mean total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio (BAR) in the oldest group were significantly higher than those in the youngest group (P <0.05), and mean HDL-cholesterol of the oldest group was significantly lower than that of the youngest group (P <0.05). The older-aged group showed significantly higher mean values of atherogenic index (AI) and LDL/HDL ratio (P <0.05) than the respective younger-aged group, and AI was significantly correlated with age, nitric oxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (P <0.01). In addition, mean vascular cell adhesion molecule-l (VCAM-1) tended to be higher in the older-aged group than the younger group. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a proinflammatory maker, was significantly positively correlated with serum homocysteine, a cardiovascular disease risk factor (P <0.01). In addition, a significantly positive correlation was observed between C-reactive protein and BAR (P <0.01). Overall results suggested that the aging might affect the increase of cardiovascular disease risk factors including the serum lipid profiles, weight and BMI, and age-related increases of weight and BMI might play a role in changes in certain biomarkers of inflammation.

Effects of cranberry powder on serum lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in rats fed an atherogenic diet

This study investigated that the antioxidative effect of freeze-dried cranberry powder against protein and lipid oxidation and ameliorative effect of serum lipid profile in rat fed atherogenic diet. Six weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups: normal diet group with 5% corn oil (control), atherogenic diet group with 5% corn oil, 10% lard, 1% cholesterol, and 0.5% sodium cholate (HFC), atherogenic plus 2% cranberry powder diet group (HFC + C2), and atherogenic plus 5% cranberry powder diet group (HFC + C5), and respective diet and water were fed daily for 6 weeks. After the experimental period, the serum lipid profile, such as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), plasma phenolics content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, serum protein carbonyl and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were examined. Total phenolic compound and total flavonoid levels in freeze-dried cranberry powder were 9.94 mg/g and 8.12 mg/g, respectively. Serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were not significantly different for cranberry powder treatment, but serum HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased in HFC + C5 group compared with HFC group. Plasma FRAP value tended to be increased by cranberry powder treatment though there was no significant difference. Plasma total phenol concentrations and SOD activities were not significantly different among all groups. Serum protein carbonyl and TBARS levels were significantly decreased in HFC + C5 group compared with HFC group. Overall results suggested that freeze-dried cranberry powder might have the serum lipid improving effect, as well as antioxidative effect demonstrated by its protective effect against protein and lipid oxidation.

Dietary Antioxidant Vitamins Intakes and Plasma Antioxidant Levels in Korean Elderly with Diabetes Living in Ulsan / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Diabetic mellitus in an older population is associated with increased basal oxidative stress and free radical accentuated by hyperglycemic challenge. Enhanced free radical in diabetic elderly can cause the oxidative damage and such damage can be protected by antioxidant defense system. It is believed that vitamin C, A and E are the most abundant and effective antioxidants in human plasma. The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant status in Korean diabetic elderly using the case-control study. The antioxidant status was examined by determining plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, A, E, beta-carotene), total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and intakes of vitamin C, A, beta-carotene and retiol. Fasting glucose and HbA1c levels and serum lipid profiles (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) were also determined. Diabetic subjects were 122 elderly persons over 60 years old, visiting public health center, and control subjects were 96 healthy elderly persons living in Ulsan, Korea and they were matched by age, gender, smoking and drinking status. The diabetic and control subjects were divided into sub-groups according to the status of using diet therapy and vitamin supplement. The subjects were interviewed to collect data on their general characteristics, disease history, vitamin supplement, diet therapy and health-related habits by questionnaires. Their dietary intakes were obtained by means of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SQFFQ). Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in diabetes than in control subjects, and plasma total cholesterol level of diabetes was not significantly different from that of control subjects. However serum HDL cholesterol level of diabetes was significantly lower and serum TG level of diabetes was significantly higher than those of control group. The average vitamin A and beta-carotene intakes of diabetes were significantly higher than those of control subjects. There was no significant difference in plasma vitamin C, beta-carotene, and TBARS levels between two groups, but plasma vitamin A, E and TAS levels were significantly higher in diabetes than those in control group. Plasma vitamin A and TAS levels of diabetic subjects using diet therapy were higher than those of control using diet therapy, and plasma vitamin E, beta-carotene and TAS levels of diabetic subjects using vitamin supplements were significantly higher than those of controls using vitamin supplements. These results suggested that diabetic mellitus could enhance antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species and interest in healthy eating such as consumption of more antioxidant nutrients.

Dietary behaviors and body image recognition of college students according to the self-rated health condition

This study was done to investigate the relationship between the perception of body image, body weight satisfaction or dietary behavior and self-rated health status in Korean college students. Subjects, 285 college students, were divided into three groups (healthy, normal, and unhealthy) according to the answer for the self-rated health question. Information about demographic status, self-rated health condition, height and weight, perception of body image, satisfaction of body weight, concern for body weight control, dietary behavior, nutritional knowledge, and health-related characteristics collected by a self-reported questionnaire. The proportion of men and women in each group was not significantly different. The academic year, major, experience of nutritional education, and type of residence were not significantly related with self-rated health but the pocket money range was significantly associated (p<0.05) with self-rated health. The proportion of subjects rated their health as unhealthy was the lowest in 210-300 thousand won pocket money range and was increased in less than 210 thousand won or over 300 thousand won pocket money ranges. There were no significant differences for age, height, weight and BMI between the groups. The body image perception and body weight satisfaction levels of healthy group was significantly higher than those of unhealthy group (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively), but the level of concern for body weight control in healthy subjects was significantly lower than that in unhealthy subjects (p<0.05). The proportion of subjects reported as healthy was significantly increased with increased frequencies of following food behaviors; weekly use of protein foods (p<0.01), vegetables (p<0.05) and dairy products (p<0.01), and food habits such as "regularity of meal time" (p<0.01), "eating in moderation" (p<0.05), and "eating breakfast" (p<0.001). Overall results suggested that the college students have tended to have a better perception of health when they have better body image perception, body weight satisfaction and dietary behaviors.

A Case of Pregnancy in Essential Thrombocythaemia with Low dose Aspirin Treatment / 대한주산의학회잡지

Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by markedly elevated platelet count in the peripheral blood due to an excessive proliferation of bone marrow megakaryocytes. The pregnancy outcome among patients with ET is mostly successful but adverse outcome due to thrombotic and bleeding complications is a matter of concern: miscarriage, intrauterine growth retardation, abruptio placenta, intrauterine fetal death and preterm delivery. Various treatments such as acetylsalicylic acid, hydroxyurea, anagrelide, heparin, interferon alpha and plateletpheresis have been proposed to improve the pregnancy outcome. We report a case of pregnant woman in condition of ET who succeeded in normal vaginal delivery without specific obstetric complications after low dose aspirin therapy during pregnancy.

Obesity Indices and Plasma Total Antioxidant Status in Hypertensive Elderly Living in Ulsan Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The role of free radicals in the progression of many diseases and aging has been given a great attention and total antioxidant status (TAS) has shown to be reduced with aging. The incidence of hypertension has shown to be relatively high in the aged population, and it is known to be associated with increased obesity and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine the obesity indices and the total antioxidant status in hypertensive elderly (64y

A Case of Ureteral Endometriosis associated with Hydronephrosis / 대한산부인과학회지

Endometriosis affecting the urinary tract is very rare disease. The ureteral endometriosis is mostly asymptomatic for a long time, and associated with nonspecific symptoms such as abdominal or flank pain, renal colic, voiding difficulty and gross hematuria. Radiologic and laboratory findings show nonspecific findings, and the diagnosis is difficult. We report a case of obstructive ureteral endometriosis associated with right hydronephorsis. This case is operated under the impression of direct compression of ureter by uterine myoma. Total abdominal hysterectomy and ureteroureterostomy were performed. Final diagnosis of ureteral endometriosis is documented by pathologic findings.