• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1175-1179
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• 2015

Background: Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is up-regulated in human cancers. The aim of present study was to investigate the role of MMP-9 C-1562T polymorphism and its interaction with MMP-2 C-735T polymorphism in susceptibility to breast cancer in a population from Western Iran with Kurdish ethnic background. Materials and Methods: The study sample of 205 individuals consisted of 101 breast cancer patients and 104 healthy subjects. MMP-9 C-1562T and MMP-2 C-735T variants were identified using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: Among 67.4% of studied patients the breast cancer developed in the third and forth decades of the life. The frequency of MMP-9 T allele was 17.3% in patients and 10.1% in controls. The presence of T allele significantly increased the risk of breast cancer by 1.87-fold [OR=1.87 (95% CI 1.05-3.33, p=0.035)]. The frequency of MMP-9 CT+TT genotype tended to be higher in those patients with a family history of cancer in first degree-relatives (36.8%) than those without a family history (28.3%, p=0.37). We observed an interaction between the MMP-9 -1562 T allele with MMP-2 -735 C allele that significantly increased the risk of breast cancer [OR=1.42 (95% CI 1.02-1.98, p=0.036)]. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that MMP-9 C-1562T polymorphism alone and in combination with MMP-2 C-735T polymorphism increased the risk of breast cancer that might be a useful biomarker in identifying women at risk of developing breast cancer. Also, this study revealed that in most women from Western Iran breast cancer presents in third and fourth decades of life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1982

Presently, there is increasing demand for geriatric nursing care due to increasing proportion of elderly population and extended age. And, of particular importance in deforming the effectiveness of nursing care given to the elderly is the attitude of nursing personnel toward the elderly patient. This study was intendent to investigate the attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students toward the elderly, and to investigate any possible correlation between these attitudes and the following variables: the students' levels (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior), their preferences for var-ious fields of specialization in nursing after graduation, their clinical experiences with geriatric-patients, their personal experience with elderly family members, their educational experience of the elderly's health problems and geriatric nursing, and their experience with relatives and acquaintances over 60 years of age. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compile basic data about the attitudes of nursing students toward the elderly in order to contribute to the improvement of geriatric nursing. The subjects for this study were 259 nursing students: 163 in the College of Nursing at E-womans University., and 96 in the Department of Nursing in K. College. Data was collected from the 11th of Sep., to the 8th of Oct., 1981, using the Tuckman-Lorge Attitude Questionnaire which contained 131 items excepting 6 items. The attitudes toward the elderly was scored by the use of mean and standard deviation. The relations between attitudes toward the elderly and six independent vairables were analysed by T-test. The results which were obtained are as follows : 1. The attitude score of nursing students was M=71.67 S.D= 16.18. Nursing students agreed with 54.8% of the stereotypic statements, and they had stereotypic attitudes toward the elderly relatively. (P<0.01). 2. There was a significant difference between the attitudes of nursing students toward the elderly, and sophomores had a less stereotypic attitudes than juniors and seniors (P<0.01). 3. There was significant difference between the attitudes toward the elderly and the preferences for various fields of specialization in nursing after graduation, and nursing students those who wanted maternity fields had a more stereotypic attitudes than others (P<0.05, p<0.01). 4. There was no significant difference between the attitudes toward the elderly and the clinical experience with the geriatric patients (P>0.05). 5. There was no significant difference between the attitude3 toward the elderly and the personal experience with elderly family members (F>0.05). 6. There was no significant difference between the attitudes toward the elderly and the educational experience of the elderly's health problems and geriatric nursing (P>0.05). 7. There was no significant difference between the attitudes toward the elderly and the experience with relatives and acquaintances over 60 years of age (P>0.05).

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 2001

Although it is presumed that cancer patients take various alternative therapies, the present status is not well recognized. The purpose of this study is to survey alternative therapies used by cancer patients receiving radiation therapy and then, find associated factors of taking alternative therapies. The study subjects were composed of those who receiving radiation therapy in the department of radiation oncology in 5 hospitals located at Extended Busan city and who were on follow-up after medical cure. They were 394 male and female patients over 20 years old. The mean age of the subjects was 53.2 years old and the age ranged from 23 to 83 years old. 188 patients($47.7\%$) used alternative therapies. Total 68 different kinds of alterative therapies were used, average 7.3 kinds per patient were experienced, and average total cost expenditure was 2,830,000 won. Among the alternative therapies, black bean($38.8\%$) was the most commonly used and brown rice($38.3\%$), ganoderm lucidum($37.8\%$), elm tree($33.5\%$), and phellinus linteus($30.8\%$) were followed in order of frequency. However in considering the time, cost and effort spent, phellinus linteus was the first. In terms of cost, phellinus linteus was the highest with average expenditure of 2,740,000 won. Among the motivation of using alternative therapies, expecting auxiliary help for the hospital therapy was the highest ($31.4\%$). About half of users($56.9\%$) of alternative therapies were recommended by their relatives to use alternative therapies. In comparing the characteristics of experienced and unexperienced groups, alternative therapy was experienced significantly more in patients of younger age(p=0.001), in patient of higher educational level(p=0.001), and in patients of higher income(p=0.030) The proportion of using alternative therapies was significantly higher in the group treated with chemotherapy(p=0.005), and in the patients who did not satisfy with radiation therapy(p=0.001). The frequency of drinking was significantly higher tendency in the inexperienced group(p=0.046), There was no significant difference in marital status, job, religion, other disease, surgical operation of the cancer and smoking staus between the two groups. Among the unexperienced group, $34.0\%$ of the patients did not take the alternative therapies because they did not have know]edge for the alternatives, and $22.3\%$ worried about negative effects on hospital-based therapy $58.7\%$ of them were willing to take the alternative therapies if the effects and safety were proven by the government or research institutes. $21.9\%$ of the patients wanted to take the alternatives if they were affordable. $72.3\%$ of the patients was willing to take them if their families recommend, but $27.2\%$ responded they would not take them in any situation. Conclusively, various kinds of alternative therapies which were not proved medically were exposed to patients, In these circumstances, it is required to investigate, study and evaluate the medical effects and safety of the alternative therapies.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.57-64
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to investigate risk factor found in the patients with stroke in physical therapy. A questionnaire survey was carried out for 130 the patients, who had comparatively alert mentality, hospitalized in kyung hee oriental medical hospital with stroke from January, 1st to May 31st, 1996. Major findings of this stuty were as follows. 1. The stroke patients 67(51.5%)were males and 63(48.5%) femals. The age groups of 50 to 69 years accounted for 67.6% of the total stroke patients are the highest. The job groups of commerce and business of patients 58.5%. The living groups of major citys of the revealed the highest incidence(40.8%). 2. There were 40 patients (30.8 %) who had hemorrhage related condions as the direct cause of their stroke, and 90 patients (69.2 %) who had cerebral infarction with no hemorrhaging as the cause. of the disease that the patients suffered from before their stroke, blood pressure related problems were most numberous 76 patients(58.5%) had such problems. 3. A month before their attack of stroke, were asked what thay thought could become the causes of their strokes. The most frequently mentioned answers were fatigue, drinking too much, and smoking, as chosen by 45 patients(34.6 %). 4. In regarding the relation between stress and stroke, (37.7%), of the surveyed belonged to the most numerous group had of people who said they were not under stress. Yet this group had a large number of parents. And 22.3 % of the surveyed named conflicts among parents, siblings, and relatives. 5. Questions were asked to find out the relationship between complications of stroke and smoking or drinking. It was surprising to see a high rate of attack among the 55.4 % majority who answered that they did not smoke nor drink. 6. To sum up the affect of food on attack of stroke, 42.5% of the people who had a sprcey and salty diet had a higher rate of attack then the group of people with leisurely nature. 7. Looking at the family history, 40.4% of the patients said their parents also suffered the disease. This percentage is the highest. And 40.0% answered that there is no one who suffered in their family history. Judging from the percentages and family.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 1996

Background: Nerve blocks, including epidural analgesia, can be risky for terminal cancer pain patients in generally poor conditions. We performed this study to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia(PCA) to treat severe pain of terminally ill cancer patients during the last days of life. Methods: We explained the patient's poor general condition to relatives and received a written consent to administer PCA. The starting dose of opioid for PCA in cancer pain management was based on previous 24-hour dose. Previous 24-hour opioid dose was converted to intramuscular morphine equivalent. The concentration of opioid mixed into Basal Bolus $Infusor^{(R)}$ was controlled to allow for one half of the previous 24-hour equianalgesic dose to infuse continuously. Patients controlled their pain by pushing the PCA module themselves. Patients were observed by pain service team. Some discharged patients were treated at home until death. Results: Forty eight patients received PCA for last two years. The most common reason receiving a PCA was the patient's poor general condition(52.0%). The mean starting dose of PCA was $20.6{\pm}16.2$ mg of morphine. Over eighty percents of the patients were in good or tolerable state of analgesia. Half of the patients expired within one week. The mean duration of PCA was $8.7{\pm}7.0$ days. The problems during PCA were: difficulty in maintaining intravenous routes, early loss of mentality after starting PCA, hypotension and nausea. Conclusion: We concluded that PCA, if correctly, is an effective, relatively safe and readily controllable method of pain management in terminally ill cancer patients during the last days of life. For future considerations, terminal patients may expire at the comfort of their own homes after the resolution of legal problems regarding using opioid in home care.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6579-6584
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• 2013

Background: With effective early treatments, many breast cancer patients suffer from psychological distress due to adverse effects and lifelong physical disfigurement. Our study aimed to evaluate the psychopathological profile of breast cancer patients in comparison with healthy women and explored demographic correlates. Method: We consecutively enrolled breast cancer patients who came to the hospital for follow-up or rehabilitation care after primary treatment, and healthy female relatives or friends of inpatients in the Cancer Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between August 30, 2010 and January 1, 2012. Psychopathological profile was assessed based on the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) for patients and controls. We compared demographics such as age, ethnicity, education, marriage, and occupation, and incorporated these data plus cancer status for the association with the general SCL-90-R index and scores for 9 major symptom dimensions in multiple regression analysis. Results: We surveyed a total of 291 female breast cancer patients and 531 healthy women. The average age was $55.1{\pm}6.40$ years for breast cancer patients and $43.1{\pm}12.8$ for healthy controls (P<0.01). The mean survival was 5.20 years for cancer patients (range, 0.60-9.90 years). There were statistically significant differences in education, marriage, and occupation between the two groups (P<0.01). General index ($1.45{\pm}0.45$ versus $1.32{\pm}0.37$) and 8 dimension scores (excluding anxiety) on SCL-90-R were significantly higher in patients (P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the breast cancer status was positively correlated with general SCL-90-R index and 6 dimension scores (excluding the anxiety, phobic anxiety and paranoid ideation dimensions) (P<0.05). Regression coefficients ranged from 0.10 (depression) to 0.19 (somatization). Higher interpersonal sensitivity was noticed in single women compared to married women. Conclusions: Chinese patients with breast cancer demonstrate greater psychopathology compared to healthy controls. The breast cancer status is an independent contributing factor to the general psychopathological profile. Breast cancer patients should be given particular counseling and care to alleviate their psychological distress.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2013

The aim of this research is to compare the attitude toward the special needs of dental staffs between the special dental clinic (SDC) and the general dental clinic (GDC). Surveys were done on 21 dental staffs (7 dentists and 14 dental hygienists) of SDC and 47 dental staffs (10 dentists and 37 dental hygienists) of GDC. Attitudes were rated on a questionnaire with the five-point Likert scale. Mann-Whitney test was utilized for statistical analysis. In SDC, more female dentists and dental staffs who have relatives with disability were working. Dental staffs of SDC showed that the more experience they had, the more positive attitudes toward the communication with the patients with special needs (p<0.05). Dental staffs of SDC represented more active attitudes toward the oral health promotion, treatment, research and volunteering (p<0.05). In conclusion, dental staffs who have personal motivation were working in SDC and the experience of dental treatment to the patients with special needs influenced the dental staffs' attitudes toward them. In future, a research about the attitude toward the disabled with more exact scale should be followed.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.797-805
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• 2008

The present study was investigated on type 2 diabetics' actual status of anti-diabetic functional food intake by patients who came to oriental medicine clinics in Daejeon. The male was 37.3% and female was 62.7% of the subjects. The onset of the disease was most common in the age of 50's. Also 40% of the subjects have been suffering for more than 5 years. 35.7% of men, 53.2% for women had family history. Also 61.5% of the patients chose to carry out both diabetic therapy and exercise at the same time. 69.3% of the subjects have had experiences in anti-diabetic functional foods. Anti-diabetic functional foods used to surveyed people were bean, ginseng, and ginseng steamed red of which efficacies were already well known. Besides these foods, other foods such as loach, crucian carp were also used as anti-diabetic foods, but their benefits as anti-diabetic functional foods are not yet fully investigated. Subjects first knew about the therapy because friends or relatives recommended to them and most of them have used for 6 months to 1 year. However, 78.9% of subjects answered 'not so effective' in a question about satisfaction of anti-diabetic functional food. Although many of the patients have tried taking functional foods, they only use them for short period of time and they don't show prominent effect. Therefore these results suggest that in order to use scientifically studied functional foods, education about anti-diabetic functional foods should taken.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.346-356
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• 2001

This paper describes a Q-methodological study on the Perception of comfort in hospital in-patients. The participants completed a 37-item Q sort made up of statements which could be ranked in terms of their relevance to the subjective meaning of comfort. Three interpretable types of comfort were identified through this Q study : Type I, positive medical action style, feel secure and satisfied when medical staff show a positive attitude towards them as patients. They put a high value on prompt responses from medical staff and physical aspects of care like non-invasive procedures or comfortable position. Type II, social relation style, experience a state of comfort when they perceive support or concern from medical staff, relatives or other patients suffering from similar diseases. They feel safe and secure when medical staff are kind and have a good reputation or when the size of the hospital is big enough, Type III, emotional wellbeing style, feel that hope for a healthy life or maintaining self-care activities are highly valuable. They feel safe and comfortable when their privacy is protected. They put worth on independent thinking, strong will, and emotional or psychological comfort. The results of this study can be used as a basis to develop nursing measures for comfort. Further studies on factors which influence perception of comfort and intervention strategies according to the above types of comfort need to be done.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3143-3149
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Turkey and around the world. Treatment adversely affects women's physical, psychological, and social conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify the experiences of Turkish women with breast cancer and the facilitating coping factors when they receive chemotherapy. Methods: A phenomenological approach was used to explain the experiences and facilitating factors of breast cancer patients during the treatment period. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews. The sample comprised 11 women with breast cancer receiving treatment. Results: At the end of the interviews conducted with women with breast cancer, two main themes were identified: adjustment and facilitating coping factors. The adjustment main theme had two sub-themes: strains and coping. Women with breast cancer suffer physical and psychological strains as well as stress related to social and health systems. While coping with these situations, they receive social support, turn to spirituality and make new senses of their lives. The facilitating coping factors main theme had four sub-themes: social support, disease-related factors, treatment-related factors and relationships with nurses. It has been determined that women receiving good social support, having undergone preventive breast surgery and/or getting attention and affection from nurses can cope with breast cancer more easily. Conclusions: Women with breast cancer have difficulty in all areas of their lives in the course of the disease and during the treatment process. Therefore, nurses should provide holistic care, teaching patients how to cope with the new situation and supporting them spiritually. Since family support is very important in Turkish culture, patients' relatives should be informed and supported at every stage of the treatment.