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Single layer devices of indium tin oxide/Alq3∕Al were constructed with varying the active areas from 1to8mm2 and the thicknesses from 30to50nm. Average electric field across the Alq3 layer during the transient state was estimated from the accumulated charges at the interfaces of the devices. The electron mobility could thus be calculated by assuming that the injected charge carriers moved under the average electric field rather than the instantaneous field. The resulting mobility could be determined uniquely in a device thickness. The electron drift mobility was shown to behave similarly to the time-of-flight results.

Background: Remnant lipoproteins are the lipolytic degradation product of the triglyceride-rich lipoproteins produced by the liver (very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and intestine (chylomicrons). Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between remnant lipoproteins and cardiovascular risk. Our study assessed the relationship between obesity and remnant lipoproteins and evaluated the factors related to remnant lipoprotein in children and adolescents. Methods: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body fat mass, total abdominal fat, visceral and subcutaneous fat areas, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) were measured in 135 children and adolescents (67 boys and 68 girls). Plasma RLP fractions were isolated using an immunoaffinity gel containing specific anti-apoB-100 and anti-apoA-I antibodies. The subjects were divided into three groups: the low (< 50 percentile), mid (50~84 percentile), and high (≥ 85 percentile) BMI groups. Results: RLP-C was significantly correlated with age, sex, BMI, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, visceral and subcutaneous fat areas, visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area ratio (VSR), total cholesterol, TG, HDL-C, apoB, and HOMA-IR. From a multivariate regression analysis, TG (β = 0.928, P < 0.001) was found to be independently correlated with RLP-C. After excluding TG as an independent variable, a multivariate regression analysis revealed that the HOMA-IR (β = 0.231, P = 0.007) and systolic blood pressure (β = 0.169, P = 0.046) were independently associated with RLP-C. Conclusion: RLP-C was significantly higher in obese children and adolescents. TG, systolic blood pressure, and insulin resistance were related to remnant lipoproteins. (J Kor Soc Endocrinol 21:311~318, 2006)

Background: Corticosteroids are known to be significant prognostic parameters in sepsis. Recently, an absolute and relative insufficiency of the corticosteroids system has often been reported to often develop particularly in severe sepsis. Degree of such an adrenal insufficiency not only has prognostic implications but also can be used to guide corticosteroids replacement therapy. The 24-hour urinary cortisol levels as well as serum cortisol concentrations were measured to assess the clinical significance and their relationship with the other parameters of sepsis, and also evaluated the clinical implications of the relative adrenal insufficiency. Methods: 26 consecutive patients with sepsis were enrolled. The basal random serum cortisol, ACTH, ADH, lactate levels and 24-hour urinary free cortisol amount were measured. The rapid ACTH (250 μg) stimulation test was also performed. Results: Basal serum cortisol levels were higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors. The 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels were higher in the patients with severe sepsis than in those without. The serum cortisol levels strongly correlated with the serum ADH and lactate levels. The 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels strongly correlated with the serum cortisol and lactate levels. The fractional changes in the cortisol levels after the rapid ACTH stimulation tests correlated with the serum cortisol, ADH, and lactate levels. Conclusion: Both the serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol were found to be significant prognostic factors in sepsis, and showed a strong correlation with the other parameters. The relative adrenal insufficiency might also be an important clinical parameter. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2006; 61: 356-365)

Background: The response rates and survival following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or immunosuppressive treatment were compared in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and the prognostic factors related with survival identified. Methods: Medical data of SAA patients, treated with BMT or immunosuppressive therapy (IST) at the Ajou University Hospital, between January 1995 and December 2005, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 43 patients were evaluable; 18 (41.9%) were treated with IST (antithymocyte globulin plus cyclosporine A plus steroid) and 25 (58.1%) with allogeneic BMT. In the IST group, the response rate was 77.8% (2 complete and 12 partial remissions), with two treatment failures. As later complications, acute myeloid leukemia developed in 1 patient and myelodysplastic syndrome developed in 2. In the BMT group, the response rate was 92.0% (18 complete and 5 partial remissions) (P

Purpose To examine the relationships among loneliness, social support, and family function in elderly Korean. Method The sample for this study were 290 elderly Korean who were at least 60 years of age. Data were collected by interview using the translated Korean versions of the Revised University of California Los Angels Loneliness Scale(RULS), Family APGAR, and Social Support Questionnaire 6. Result Subjects were moderately lonely and had moderately functional families. Means for social support were 1.42 for network size and 4.09 for satisfaction. Subjects who lived with their spouses had a larger number of network members than who did not live with spouses. However, living with spouses was not associated with social support satisfaction. The level of loneliness was related negatively to the level of social support network, social support satisfaction and family function in this study. Social support satisfaction and Family function were the significant predictor of loneliness. Conclusion The number of social supporter and satisfaction and family function should be considered in nursing intervention to decrease the level of loneliness in older adults. Further studies and efforts will be needed to reduce the level of loneliness in older adults.

To identify osteoporosis and examine the relationship between health behavior and the self-efficacy of middle-aged women, a descriptive survey was conducted. The subjects were 465 healthy female residents of Kyunggido, Korea, who underwent ultrasound measurement and a health examination at the Kangmeung-Ci Health Center between July and August 2000. They were 40 to 60 years old, with a mean age of 46.7 years. The subjects completed a self-reported questionnaire that consisted of seven items concerning health behavior and twelve items concerning self-efficacy related to osteoporosis. Bone density was evaluated from ultrasound measurements of the right heel. All the data were analyzed using the program SAS-PC. The study found that the mean T score related to bone density was -1.30, and ranged from -3.52 to 3.06. Based on the T score, 74.8% of the subjects were normal, 12.9% had osteopenia, and 12.3% had osteoporosis. The mean osteoporosis self-efficacy score was 41.17 and ranged from 12 to 60. Osteoporosis self-efficacy differed significantly with health behavior related to health supplementary food (t=5.63, p=.018), exercise (t=6.65, p=.010), alcohol drinking(t=10.80, p=.001), and smoking (t=10.23, p=.001). A community-based health promotion program should be developed to prevent osteoporosis in middle-aged women.

We undertook this work to compare the treatment efficacies and the changes of quality of life after pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercise and the functional electrical stimulation (FES)-biofeedback treatment, both of which are being widely used as conservative treatment methods for female urinary incontinence. We randomly selected 60 female incontinence patients who visited our department and divided them evenly into two groups. They were treated for a period of 6 weeks. The subjective changes in the severity of incontinence and discomfort in daily and social life were measured using a translated version of the questionnaire by Jackson. Objective changes of pelvic muscle contraction force were measured using a perineometer. Pre- and post-treatment maximal pelvic floor muscle contractile (PMC) pressure and changes in the severity of urinary incontinence and discomfort of the two groups showed statistically significant differences (p