Correlation between Frailty and Cognitive Function in Non-Demented Community Dwelling Older Koreans / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Frailty and cognitive impairment are considered the most common and yet least understood conditions in older adults. This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between frailty and cognitive function in non-demented older Koreans. METHODS: Korean Mini-Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE) scores and Cardiovascular Health Study Frailty Indices were obtained for 486 older adults aged 65 and over who registered at six senior welfare centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify the association between frailty and K-MMSE scores. RESULTS: Of the 486 older adults, 206 (42.4%) were robust, 244 (50.2%) were prefrail, and 36 (7.4%) were frail. Prevalence of cognitive impairment (K-MMSE < or = 23) was 6.3% in the robust group, 16.8% in the prefrail group, and 30.6% in the frail group (P < 0.001), and mean K-MMSE score was 27.5 +/- 2.2, 26.5 +/- 3.1, and 23.7 +/- 5.3, respectively (P < 0.001). Frailty tended to be associated with lower MMSE scores (B = -1.92, standard error, 0.52; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Frailty was found to be correlated with cognitive impairment in non-demented older Koreans. However, further cohort studies are required to determine the association between frailty and cognitive function.

Relationship between Family Adaptability, Cohesion and Adolescent Problem Behaviors: Curvilinearity of Circumplex Model / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES) III using the circumplex model has been widely used in investigating family function. However, the criticism of the curvilinear hypothesis of the circumplex model has always been from an empirical point of view. This study examined the relationship between adolescent adaptability, cohesion, and adolescent problem behaviors, and especially testing the consistency of the curvilinear hypotheses with FACES III. METHODS: We used the data from 398 adolescent participants who were in middle school. A self-reported questionnaire was used to evaluate the FACES III and Youth Self Report. RESULTS: According to the level of family adaptability, significant differences were evident in internalizing problems (P = 0.014). But, in externalizing problems, the results were not significant (P = 0.305). Also, according to the level of family cohesion, significant differences were in internalizing problems (P = 0.002) and externalizing problems (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The relationship between the dimensions of adaptability, cohesion and adolescent problem behaviors was not curvilinear. In other words, adolescents with high adaptability and high cohesion showed low problem behaviors.

FACES III and Family APGAR Score of Multicultural Family Marriage Female Migrant in Jeollanam-Do Province / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Within a recent few years, the number multicultural families had been increasing rapidly in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of the function of multicultural families and its determining factors. METHODS: The study subjects were 68 foreign women who had been married to Korean men and immigrated to Korea. All participants were registered in one of the three migration support centers in South Jeolla Province. They completed a self-administered questionnaire which evaluated the demographic information, FACES III, and the family APGAR scores. We compared their family function with that of the typical Korean families reported in previous articles. RESULTS: Multicultural families were prone to be an extreme family according to the FACES III. Their family APGAR scores were lower compared to those of ordinary Korean families. Family dysfunction of multicultural families as significantly associated with women's age, hometown, education level, the number of family members, and her religion. CONCLUSION: Multicultural families may show different features compared to typical Korean families. Family physicians needs to be concerned with functional patterns of multicultural families. Further studies should be followed to understand modifiable factors for fixing dysfunction of multicultural families.

The Relationship Between Umbilical Coiling Index and Umbilical ArteryDoppler Velocimetry / 대한산부인과학회잡지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between umbilical coiling index and Doppler velocimetry in umbilical artery. The umbilical coiling index was calculated by dividing the total number of helices by the entire cord length(in centimeter) postnatally between December 1995 and March 1996. Doppler flow velocities were obtained from the umbilical artery bifore delivery( within 3 days). The mean umbilical coiling index was 0.17 +/- 0.09 )n=186). The subjects with umbilical coiling indices below the tenth percentile(0.08), above the 90th percentile(0.3), and between the tenth and 90th percentile were defined as hypocoiled, hypercoiled, and normocoiled. The subjects with hypocoiled and hypercoiled cords did not differ from those with normocoiled cords in perinatal outcomes. The correlations between umbilical coiling index and umnilical artery systolic-diastolic ratio were not significang(r=0.015, p < 0.05). The subjects with umbilical artery systolic-diastolic ratio above 90th percentile(3.0) differed from those with below 90th percentile in several ways : fetal heart rate disturbances, birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation and admission to intensive care unit were higher in high S-D ratio group. This study suggest that the umbilical coiling level dose not interfere umbilical aretery flow.