• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.33 no.7
• /
• pp.745-754
• /
• 2000

Effects of oral taurine supplementation (6g/day)for 2-4 weeks on activities of red blood cell(RBC)total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and plasma glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and the level of malondialdehyde(MDA) were evaluated in healthy female adults (23.6$\pm$0.3 years old). Compared to the value for 0 week plasma GSH-Px activity of the subjects was significantly lower after 2 weeks of taurine supplementation(p<0.05) and recovered to the value similar to 0 week after 4 weeks of taurine supplementation. RBC total SOD activity tended to be decreased after 2 weeks of taurine supplmentation compared to the values for 0 week although the difference between the means of the two group was not statistically significant. Plasma MDA level was not significantly decreased by taurine supplementation most probably due to the fact that the subjects participated in the present study were healthy and their antioxidant defense system had been in the 'normal' range. Plasma MDA concentration was negatively correlated with plasma taurine concentration(r=-0.2003m p<0.05) but tended to be positively correlated with plasma cholesterol concentration(r=0.2465, p=0.0645) as expected Plasma GSH-Px activity was positively associated with the percentage of 22:0 (r=0.2892, p<0.05) or 20:4w6(r=0.2939, p<0.05). On the other hand plasma MDA concentration was positively correlated with the percentage of 20:5w3 in plasma total lipids(r=0.2635 p<0.05) and negatively correlated with $\Delta$5 desaturation index of w6 fatty acids(20:3w6⇒20:4w6) in plamsa total lipids(r=-0.2714, p<0.05) as well as in phospholipids(r=-0.2864, p<0.05). From these results protective effect of taurine supplementation against lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system in humans appears to be minimal when the subjects are in a relatively healthy state. Further studies concerning the antioxidant efficacy of taurine should be conducted in human subjects under various disease states related to oxidative stress such as diabetes and artheroxclerosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.4875-4883
• /
• 2016

Background and objective: Breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) is a disabling complication with long term impact on quality on life after breast cancer treatment. Its management remains a major challenge for patients and health care professionals; the goal of this overview was to summarize effects of different treatment strategies for patients with BCRL. Methods: A thorough search was undertaken to allow a systematic review or meta-analysis of treatments for BCRL. Two investigators independently selected studies and abstracted the data. Results: Combined physical therapy (CPT) with different combinations of surgery, oral pharmaceuticals, low-level laser therapy, weight reduction, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, kinesio tex taping, and acupuncture might be effective in reducing lymphoedema, but exercise demonstrated no obvious benefit. The results of direct comparisons showed CPT might be more effective than standard physiotherapy (ST). Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) may not offer additional benefits to ST for swelling reduction, but could facilitate compression bandaging. MLD seemed to have similar effects with self-administered simple lymphatic drainage (SLD) or using an intermittent pneumatic compression pump (IPC). IPC might also not be associated with additional effectiveness for CPT. Efficacy of stem cell therapy vs. compression sleeve or CPT, as well as the effects of daflon and coumarin could not be established. Conclusion: Although many treatments for BCRL might reduce lymphoedema volume, their effects were not well established. The quality of many of the original studies in the included reviews was not optimal, so that in future randomized control trials are a high priority.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.84-92
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the safety and efficacy of a mandibular advancement device (MAD), 'Bioguard,' for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: In this 5-week prospective, multi-center, single group, and non-inferiority trial, patients who chose 'Bioguard' as their treatment option were evaluated using both questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS)) and polysomonography (PSG) (apnea hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen saturation). All patient data, including clinical records, PSG studies (both pre- and post-treatment), and adverse events (AEs), were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Results were obtained for 59 of 62 patients (95.16%). No significant difference in success rate was found between the MAD treatment and surgical treatment (95% CI). AHI, PSQI, ESS and oxygen saturation demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.001) after MAD treatment, and 39 of 62 patients (62.9%) reported 85 AEs. 79 of the 85 AEs (91.8%) were mild cases, and there were no severe AEs related to the MAD treatment. Conclusion: The MAD 'Bioguard' should be considered as an alternative treatment option for OSA patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.132-146
• /
• 2001

Purpose: This study was to analyze the trends and content of all the research (171 research papers) published in the Journal of Fundamentals of Nursing from 1994, when it began to 2000 using an objective tool developed by the researches, and to identify the direction for the future research in Fundamentals of Nursing. Method: Research published in the Journal of Fundamentals of Nursing from 1994 were reviewed. Result: Most of research (94.2%) was non-degree based and funded research was very limited. The average number of researchers per research study was 2.2 and collaborative research has been gradually increasing. The total number of key words was 331 and the average was 2.6 per research. The major key words were not different from other nursing departments and included home care nursing (10 times), health promotion (8 times), self-care (7 times). self-efficacy (7 times), and homo-dialysis (6 times). Eighty seven percent of the research was quantitative research. and there were very few qualitative studies. Considering theory level, it was found that 40% were factor related research For study design, non-experimental studies were most frequent (66%), and the rate, especially of surveys, has remarkably decreased. Selection of subjects by convenience sampling, was most frequent and there were very few studies that provided the rationale for the calculation of sample size. The major subjects of study were patients (44.8%) with various diagnoses. The subjects usually gave oral consent to take part in that study. Giving information (46.9%) and exercise (26.5%) were common nursing interventions, and physiological indices (16.5%). vital signs (10.3%), physical functioning (8.2%), level of knowledge/skill (7.2%) and level of activity (6.2%) were frequently measured as outcome. Variables questionnaires were the major approach used to collect data, and 57.8% of the research provided the Cronbach alpha to guarantee internal consistency of study instruments. Data were analyzed with computerized statistical packages using, ANOVA (42.0%), T test(39.5%), and chi-square test. For the last seven years, nursing research in Fundamentals of Nursing has gradually improved in both quantify and quality. Conclusion: It was difficult to find any uniqueness or difference compared to other departments of nursing. In fact, because the history of the Journal of Fundamentals of Nursing is rather short, we can expect that there will be further improvement in qualify and content in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.9
• /
• pp.953-959
• /
• 2005

Purpose : The administration of total parenteral nutrition(TPN) has become a standard procedure in the management of nutritionally deprived and critically low birth weight neonates. Sepsis remains the most frequent serious complication during TPN, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality and health care costs. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and complications of percutaneous central venous catheterization(PCVC) in very low birth weight infants. Methods : A total of 56 very low birth weight infants below 1,500 g during the period from January 1998 to December 2003 were enrolled and their medical records reviewed. Study group(n=32) included the babies who had undergone PCVC and a control group(n=24) included babies who had not undergone PCVC. We compared the study group with the control group for factors such as subject characteristics and catheter-related complications. Results : There was no difference in subject characteristics, such as birth weight, gestational week, respiratory distress syndrome, duration of ventilator therapy, duration from tube to complete oral feeding, days at TPN and its total duration, body weight at discontinuation of TPN and the days taken to reach to 2,000 g. However, the morbidity rate due to patent ductus arterious, chronic lung disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, osteopenia, cholestasis, and sepsis showed no difference. The study group with infants below 1,000 g showed a higher incidence of sepsis compared to the control group of the same weight group. The study group with infants between 1,000 to 1,500 g showed significantly higher incidences of intraventricular hemorrhage and took longer reach the a body weight of 2,000 g. Conclusion : Considering the high incidence of sepsis in the PCVC group, every attempt should be made to minimize the length of TPN therapy and encourage early enteral feeding. We also recommend the use of PCVC carefully in patients requiring prolonged nutritional support.