Gender differences in susceptibility to smoking among patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine whether female smokers are more or less susceptible to the detrimental pulmonary-function effects of smoking when compared to male smokers among patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Pack-years and pulmonary function indices were compared between 1,594 men and women with lung cancer who were smokers or had a history of smoking. Differences in individual susceptibility to smoking were estimated using a susceptibility index formula. RESULTS: Of the patients, 959 (92.8%) men and 74 (7.2%) women were current smokers. Common histological types of lung cancer were squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, among others. Women had a lower number of pack-years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1), liters), forced vital capacity (FVC, liters), and total lung capacity (TLC, liters) compared to those of men (25.0 ± 19.2 vs. 42.9 ± 21.7 for pack-years; 1.4 ± 0.5 vs. 2.0 ± 0.6 for FEV(1); 3.0 ± 0.7 vs. 2.0 ± 0.6 for FVC; 4.5 ± 0.8 vs. 5.7 ± 1.0 for TLC; all p < 0.001). The susceptibility index for women was significantly higher compared to that of men (1.1 ± 4.1 vs. 0.7 ± 1.1; p = 0.001). A significant inverse association was shown between the susceptibility index and TLC and FVC (r = -0.200 for TLC, -0.273 for FVC; all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the detrimental effects of smoking on pulmonary function are greater in women, as compared to those in men, among patients with lung cancer.

Switchable redox activity by proton fuelled DNA nano-machines.

The switching electrochemical property of an SWNT/DNA hybrid can be produced through reversible conformational changes between the closed and open state originating from the pH-responding i-motif DNA which significantly improves its molecular switching and stability by hydrophobic interactions with SWNTs.

A Study on the Burden, Health Status and Well-being in Spouse Caregivers of Patients with Stroke / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to investigate the correlation between burden, health status and well-being in spouse caregivers of patients with stroke. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 160 spouse caregivers registered at general hospital in Seoul and Seongnam. The data were collected from July 2th to October 30th, 2003. The Suh & Oh's burden scale, Yang's health status scale and Park's well-being scale were employed to measure burden, health status and wellbeing respectively. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 12 version to obtain summary statistics for the descriptive analysis, Pearson Correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Regression. RESULTS: 1. The mean score of the degree of burden, health status and well-being were 3.52, 5.92 and 3.64 points. 2. The burden of the subjects were significantly negative correlated with psycho- logical health status(r=-.482. p<.01) and wellbeing(r=-.455, p<.01). 3. With the result of stepwise multiple regression, psychological health status and wellbeing were the main variables which could explain burden by 27.1%. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will provide practical guidelines for developing emotional nursing interventions for the spouses taking care of CVA patients who would experience a heavy burden and distress.

A Study on the Burden, Health Status and Well-being in Spouse Caregivers of Patients with Stroke / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to investigate the correlation between burden, health status and well-being in spouse caregivers of patients with stroke. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 160 spouse caregivers registered at general hospital in Seoul and Seongnam. The data were collected from July 2th to October 30th, 2003. The Suh & Oh's burden scale, Yang's health status scale and Park's well-being scale were employed to measure burden, health status and wellbeing respectively. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 12 version to obtain summary statistics for the descriptive analysis, Pearson Correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Regression. RESULTS: 1. The mean score of the degree of burden, health status and well-being were 3.52, 5.92 and 3.64 points. 2. The burden of the subjects were significantly negative correlated with psycho- logical health status(r=-.482. p<.01) and wellbeing(r=-.455, p<.01). 3. With the result of stepwise multiple regression, psychological health status and wellbeing were the main variables which could explain burden by 27.1%. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will provide practical guidelines for developing emotional nursing interventions for the spouses taking care of CVA patients who would experience a heavy burden and distress.

A Comparison of Phenomenological Research Methodology: Focused on Giorgi, Colaizzi, Van Kaam Methods / 간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to describe the differences in three phenomenological research methods used to understand the experience of families of patients with cancer and so provide as guideline to novices first attempting qualitative research. The subjects were 3 family members - spouse, daughter, daughter-in-law -of cancer patients at S-hospital. Unstructured deep interviews were carried out and taped for further analyzed. Interviews were analyzed using three phenomenological methods ; Giorgi's, Colazzi's, and Van Kaam's. The results are as follows: The experience of family the analyzed using Giorgi's method showed different characteristics according to the family members' role. According to Colaizzi's method, they experienced burden, a willingness to care, role conflict, thanks to family and significant others, and ambivalence about treatment. Using Van Kaam's methodology, two categories were identified ; change of family function and burden. Themes in change of family function were positive attitude(9), role conflict(6), negative attitude(5), active attitude(2), and passive attitude(2) ; Themes in burden were emotional burden, physical burden, and economic burden. The result from using Giorgi's method were centered or individual characteristics and these results constituteds situational structured description and a general structured description. From Colaizzi's method the focus was on the common experience of all fo the subjects. In Van Kaam's method, subthemes (13), themes(8), and categories(2) were identified. So researchers should choose the qualitative method according to their research goals and methodological characteristics.