Effects of Levocetirizine on Quality of Life in the Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Allergy is a chronic disorder with undesirable consequences on the quality of life (QoL). The first aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of allergy on the QoL and to show the correlation between symptoms and categories of the QoL. The second purpose is to determine whether treatment with levocetirizine improves the QoL among allergic rhinitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 412 allergic patients answered the questionnaire and its sensitivity was checked to validate its usefulness in asthma and allergic rhinitis patients. To evaluate the effect of applying levocetirizine for 1 month on the QoL among allergic rhinitis patients, a total of 94 subjects were assessed with the questionnaire and analyzed (paired t-test). To evaluate its effect on the symptoms of allergic rhinitis for the duration of 2 and 4 weeks, a total of 100 subjects were analyzed (repeated ANOVA) with the symptom questionnaire. RESULTS: Besides the physical symptoms, patients suffered from activity restriction, emotional problems, difficulty in being examined, and dissatisfaction with health status. The correlation between the questionnaire and the QoL was statistically significant. After treatment, the QoL and symptoms, except nasal congestion, were significantly improved. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire can be beneficial in assessing the QoL among allergic patients. Treatment with levocetirizine provides improvement in the QoL and lowers the symptoms score among allergic rhinitis patients.

Trend of Obesity in School Age Children in Seoul Over the Past 23 Years / 소아과

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in prevalence and the epidemiology of obesity in school age children of Seoul, Korea during the last 23 years with coherency and under the same standards. METHODS: We used the new 1998 standard weight for height to calculate obesity on the personal data from five years and produced a coefficient of correlation that could be applied to previous obesity prevalence results. RESULTS: From age six to 17, the average body mass index increased 5.7 in boys and 6.2 in girls. The prevalence of obesity according to age peaked around age 11 and age 13-14, and increased again at 16-17 in boys. In girls, there was a peak at the age of 10 and a second peak which was at age 16 in 1979, but the age of the second peak gradually came down to a younger age, to age 13, in 2002. Obesity in girls increased steadily after the second peak. In 1979 and 1981, there were many more underweight children than obese. In boys, obesity had risen to 11.0% by 1997 and rose abruptly to 17.9% by 2002 and in girls, to 9.0% by 1997 and 10.9% by 2002. Mild, moderate, and severe obesity also increased with the increase of obesity. CONCLUSION: As Korea became developed, obesity became more frequent than underweight. Obesity increased rapidly and the increase rate accelerated in boys, whereas though it increased, the increase rate slowly decreased in girls.

The Effect of Self-help Group Program on Adaptation and Quality of Life of Mastectomy Patients / 재활간호학회지

This quasi -experimental study was intended to test the effect of self-help group program, which is one of the way to enhance adaptation and quality of life to mastectomy patients. Data was collected from July 14, 1998 to Oct. 31, 1998 at two Medical Center in Seoul. The subjects for this study were the patients who had undergone mastectomy and were follow-up: 14 in experimental group and 14 in control group matched with age and treatment. The instruments for this study were adaptation in Lee(1994)'s physical symptom questionnaire, Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS, 1965), and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS, 1970), quality of life in Spranger(1996)'s and No(1988)'s Quality of Life Questionnaire. The self-help group program for mastectomy patients was developed based on literature review and pilot study by the investigator. The subjects of experimental group were participated in 6 weeks self - help group program and were received arm and shoulder exercise, informational support, and interpersonal support by group members. The control group were received no intervention. Both group answered questionnaires prior to intervention and 6 weeks later. The data analyzed by frequency, chi-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient and Stepwise Multiple Regression using SPSS WIN. The results are as follows; Hypothesis 1, The experimental group with the self-help group program will have a higher score on adaptation state than control group. was not supported. But the posttest score of anxiety and depression in experimental group were declined and the depression score was reduced relatively. Hypothesis 2, The experimental group with the selp-help group program will have a higher score on quality of life than control group. was not supported. But the posttest score of quality of life in experimental group was reduced relatively. Hypothesis 3, The higher adaptation state of mastectomy patients, the higher quality of life. was supported(r=.80, p .001). Additionally, the lower physical symptom, depression and anxiety, the higher quality of life. And depression, which was the main predictor of quality of life, accounted for 59.5%, depression and anxiety accounted for 65.5% of the variance in quality of life. In conclusion, when the self-help group program was intervened to mastectomy patients, it was tended to increase quality of life and to reduce depression and anxiety. So self-help group program can be considered useful nursing intervention effect on adaptation and quality of life of mastectomy patients. With discussion, I suggest repeated further research on self-help group with appropriate sample size and longitudinal study. Also during adjuvant therapy, it is needed to develop convenient method to be supported from peer group and family, such as computer mediated support group.

Does 'Hot Bath' have effect on experimental diabetic neuropathy?

No abstract available.

Brain MRI findings in children with developmental motor delay

No abstract available.