Quality of Life and its Associated Factors among Some Elderly Residents Using a Hall for the Aged in a Community / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the level of quality of life (QOL) and to identify its related factors among the elderly using a hall for the aged. METHODS: The study subjects were 350 elderly people living in Nam Gu, Gwangju City. They were interviewed by questionnaire to collect information on social-demographic characteristics, health behaviors, health-related characteristics and QOL. We used statistical analysis methods such as T-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis to find which factors affected QOL. RESULTS: The characteristics relating to physical functions were as follows: presence of spouse, education, alcohol drinking, teeth condition, arthritis, frequency of visiting the hall for the aged, and depression. Age, arthritis and depression were significantly related to role limitation due to physical problems. General health was related to gender, age, and depression, and vitality was related to education, frequency of visiting the hall, and depression. Role limitation due to emotional problems was related to age and depression, and mental health was related to age, hypertension, arthritis and depression. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed QOL of the elderly was significantly influenced by socio-demographic factors, and physical or emotional conditions. To improve QOL of the elderly, we need to develop programs to promote health and to manage chronic diseases of the elderly.

Visual Evoked Potential in Preterm Infants

OBJECTIVE: The maturation in the central nervous system and the myelination of visual pathway were shown to be reflected by the visual evoked potential (VEP) response recordings. The purpose of this study was to establish normal value of flash visual evoked potentials in preterm infants, especially left to right difference. METHOD: Forty-one preterm infants from 31 to 40 weeks of corrected age had been made VEP records using Cadwell Excel EMG/EP system. Some in whom weekly VEP records had been made at least 3 times were included in longitudinal study and others in occasionally VEP records were included in cross-sectional study. Infants with neurological problems or anomalies, perinatal infectious and other severe systemic disease were excluded. RESULTS: 1) In the VEP study, we were able to establish the reference ranges for N300 peak latency at various corrected ages. 2) The latency of N300 peak latency was not significantly correlated with birth weight, sex, head circumference. 3) The latency of N300 peak decrease linearly, the age increased and also the decrement of N300 peak latency was accelerated at 37 weeks of gestational ages. CONCLUSION: Although VEPs from preterm infants have several peaks, N300 latency is the most prominent and the most reproducible. It has been considered the most important component of the preterm VEPs.

Quality of Semen after Repeated Ejaculation Treatment in Spinal Cord Injured Men

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to document the effects of regular drainage after penile vibrator stimulation on the quality of semen in spinal cord injured (SCI) men. METHOD: Three tetraplegics and eight paraplegics, aging from 20 to 39 years with neurological levels of C7 to L4 were examined between 1 and 11 years after injury (mean; 4 years 11 months). None had ejaculated after the injury. Eleven responders to penile vibrator stimulation (PVS) were prospectively examined. We used a vibrator (POWER MASSAGER ) with a frequency of 100 Hz and an amplitude of about 2.0 mm. Stimulations were performed mostly 2~3 times per week. Semen quality was characterized by semen analysis every visits. We compared baseline values with the values of post-treatment 1~3 months. RESULTS: The percentage of motile sperm and the total count of motile sperm per ejaculate were low but increased substantially with treatment. CONCLUSION: We concluded that repeated ejaculation treatment, for at least 1 month, using the vibrator technique improves semen quality in SCI men who have not ejaculated earlier after injury.