Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Training in the Elderly with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment

Objective@#This study aimed to introduce a 4-week long fully immersive virtual reality-based cognitive training (VRCT) program that could be applied for both a cognitively normal elderly population and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, we attempted to investigate the neuropsychological effects of the VRCT program in each group. @*Methods@#A total of 56 participants, 31 in the MCI group and 25 in the cognitively normal elderly group, underwent eight sessions of VRCT for 4 weeks. In order to evaluate the effects of the VRCT, the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Packet was administered before and after the program. The program’ s safety was assessed using a simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ), and availability was assessed using the presence questionnaire. @*Results@#After the eighth session of the VRCT program, cognitive improvement was observed in the ability to learn new information, visuospatial constructional ability, and frontal lobe function in both groups. At the baseline evaluation, based on the SSQ, the MCI group complained of disorientation and nausea significantly more than the cognitively normal elderly group did. However, both groups showed a reduction in discomfort as the VRCT program progressed. @*Conclusion@#We conclude that our VRCT program helps improve cognition in both the MCI group and cognitively normal elderly group. Therefore, the VRCT is expected to help improve cognitive function in elderly populations with and without MCI.

Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Training in the Elderly with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment

Objective@#This study aimed to introduce a 4-week long fully immersive virtual reality-based cognitive training (VRCT) program that could be applied for both a cognitively normal elderly population and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, we attempted to investigate the neuropsychological effects of the VRCT program in each group. @*Methods@#A total of 56 participants, 31 in the MCI group and 25 in the cognitively normal elderly group, underwent eight sessions of VRCT for 4 weeks. In order to evaluate the effects of the VRCT, the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Packet was administered before and after the program. The program’ s safety was assessed using a simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ), and availability was assessed using the presence questionnaire. @*Results@#After the eighth session of the VRCT program, cognitive improvement was observed in the ability to learn new information, visuospatial constructional ability, and frontal lobe function in both groups. At the baseline evaluation, based on the SSQ, the MCI group complained of disorientation and nausea significantly more than the cognitively normal elderly group did. However, both groups showed a reduction in discomfort as the VRCT program progressed. @*Conclusion@#We conclude that our VRCT program helps improve cognition in both the MCI group and cognitively normal elderly group. Therefore, the VRCT is expected to help improve cognitive function in elderly populations with and without MCI.

The Relationship between Sleep Quality and Stress among Nursing Students in Korea

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sleep quality and stress among nursing students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 94 nursing students from a University in Seoul. Participants completed questionnaires and the data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The mean score of sleep quality was 6.93±2.66 among nursing students and 81.9% had a sleep problem. The mean score of stress was 18.61±4.84. Sleep quality was significantly different by clinical practice days per week, subjective physical health status, and subjective mental health status. Stress levels were significantly different by subjective physical health status, subjective mental health status, social relationship satisfaction, and satisfaction levels of nursing major and university. A significant relationship between sleep quality and stress (r=.45, p < .001) was found, meaning that a lower quality of sleep was significantly correlated with higher stress level. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that most nursing students had sleep problems and stress. Therefore, interventions are needed to be developed to lower the level of stress and increase the quality of sleep among nursing students.

Two Cases of Pediatric Collagenous Gastritis Each Presenting with Refractory Iron Deficiency Anemia and Chronic Diarrhea / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Collagenous gastritis (CG) is a rare disorder that is characterized by the presence of a thick subepithelial collagen band with multiple infiltrated inflammatory cells of the gastric mucosa. CG is divided into two major subsets: first, in children and young adults presenting with severe anemia and abdominal colic pain (pediatric-type CG); and second, in adult patients with chronic watery diarrhea associated with collagenous colitis (adult-type CG). We report two cases of pediatric-type CG, each presenting with refractory anemia and chronic diarrhea.

A Case of Congenital Lobar Emphysema on Right Lower Lobe

Congenital lobar emphysema is a rare disease and a cause of respiratory disturbance in newborns and infancts. The common locations of pulmonary involvement are the left upper lobe, right middle and upper lobe. We experienced a case of congenital lobar emphysema in a 9-month-old male infant. Chief complaints were dyspnea and tachypnea. Chest X-ray or CT scan revealed a hyperinflated right lower lobe, mediastinal shift to the left side and retrosternal herniaton of right lung. There was no evidence of infection and foreign body. This patient was successfully treated with right lower lobectomy. We report this case with a brief review of related literatures.

A Case of Congenital Lobar Emphysema on Right Lower Lobe

Congenital lobar emphysema is a rare disease and a cause of respiratory disturbance in newborns and infancts. The common locations of pulmonary involvement are the left upper lobe, right middle and upper lobe. We experienced a case of congenital lobar emphysema in a 9-month-old male infant. Chief complaints were dyspnea and tachypnea. Chest X-ray or CT scan revealed a hyperinflated right lower lobe, mediastinal shift to the left side and retrosternal herniaton of right lung. There was no evidence of infection and foreign body. This patient was successfully treated with right lower lobectomy. We report this case with a brief review of related literatures.

A Case of Secondary Pulmonary Hemosiderosis in a severe Hemophilia A with High Titer of FactorVIII Inhibitor / 대한소아혈액종양학회지

An 18-Year-old male hemophiliac with high titer of factorVIII inhibitor, stage V hemophilic arthropathy in right knee joint and a history of hematuria and retroperitoneal hemorrhage was admitted because of acute and massive bleeding of epistaxis, pulmonary hemorrhage and intestinal bleeding. The bleeing was not controolled by massive infusion of factorVIII concentrates but by prothrombin complex concentrates and high dose of factorVIII concentrates. He showned symptoms of sustained fever and diffuse pulmonary infiltration which was diagnosed as pulmonary hemosiderosis by MRI. We suppressed his immune reaction by prednisolne to prevent the formation of factorVIII inhibitor. He has been followed up for 3 years and shown no massive bleeding there-after.

Clinical Trial of 2g/kg/day of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Single Dose as Compared with 400mg/kg/day of Intravenous Immunoglobulin for 5days in Kawasaki Disease

PURPOSE: Since the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in Kawasaki disease was reported in 1984, the combined therapy of IVIG & oral aspirin has been popular. In early period, the protocol of 400mg/kg/day for 3-5 days of IVIG had been used, but rescently, the protocol of 2g/kg/day single dose has been preferred. So authers performed a clinical study to compare th efficacies & side effects between 400mg/ kg/day for 5 days & 2g/kg/day single dose of IVIG plus oral aspirin (100mg/kg/ day). METHODS: Seventy five patients who admitted to Eulji medical college hospital from January 1990 to July 1996 were evaluated retrospectively. Twenty nine patients (Group A) were treated with 400mg/kg/day for 5 days of IVIG plus aspirin (100mg/kg/day) and 46 patients (Group B) were treated with 2g/kg/day single dose of IVIG plus oral aspirin (100mg/kg/day). RESULTS: 1) The duration of fever after treatment was not significant difference between two groups (Group A, 25.5+/-30.3 days : Group B, 29.7+/-44.5 days P=0.7440) 2) The total admission days were significant difference between two groups (Group A, 9.9+/-0.4; Group B, 8.2+/-3.0, P=0.0308). 3) The incidence of side effects was not significant difference between two groups (Group A, 62%; Group B, 80%, P=0799). 4) The attack rate of coronary artery involvement was not significant difference between two groups (Group A, 34.5%; Group B, 26%, P=0.1198) 5) The case of re-treatment of IVIG due to relapse was not in Group A, but 5 in Group B (P=0.0661). 6) The mean platelet counts at admission were not difference between two groups (Group A, 434.4+/-17.2x103/mm3; Group B, 374.0+/-13.3x103/mm3, P=0.1449), but on the 7th hospital day, platelet counts were significant differnece between two groups (Group A, 531.9+/-16.5x103/mm3; Group B, 419.8+/-19.0x103/mm3, P=0.0066). 7) There was no significant difference in laboratory findings on admission and in the rate of coronary artery involvement between recurrent and non-recurrent cases of Group B. Conculusions : We conculuded that the protocol of 2mg/kg/day single dose of IVIG in Kawasaki disease may be have some benefits of shorter admission days and less coronary artery involvement, but the incidence of side effects and relapse rate might be less in the protocol of 400mg/kg/day of IVIG for 5 days.