• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2023

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurs when abdominal pressure increases, such as sneezing, exercising, and laughing. Surgical and non-surgical treatments are the common methods of SUI treatment; however, the conventional treatments still require continuous and invasive treatment. Laser have been used to treat SUI, but excessive temperature increase often causes thermal burn on urethra tissue. Therefore, the optimal conditions must be considered to minimize the thermal damage for the laser treatment. The current study investigated the feasibility of the laser irradiation condition for SUI treatment using non-ablative 980 nm laser from a safety perspective through numerical simulations. COMSOL Multiphysics was used to analyze the numerical simulation model. The Pennes bioheat equation with the Beer's law was used to confirm spatio-temporal temperature distributions, and Arrhenius equation defined the thermal damage caused by the laser-induced heat. Ex vivo porcine urethral tissue was tested to validate the extent of both temperature distribution and thermal damage. The temperature distribution was symmetrical and uniformly observed in the urethra tissue. A muscle layer had a higher temperature (28.3 ℃) than mucosal (23.4 ℃) and submucosal layers (25.5 ℃). MT staining revealed no heat-induced collagen and muscle damage. Both control and treated groups showed the equivalent thickness and area of the urethral mucosal layer. Therefore, the proposed numerical simulation can predict the appropriate irradiation condition (20 W for 15 s) for the SUI treatment with minimal temperature-induced tissue.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.412-423
• /
• 2002

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise using biofeedback and electrical stimulation after normal vaginal delivery. The data were collected from November 1999 to April 2000 at a university hospital located in Seoul, Korea. Out of 49 women with normal vaginal delivery, 25 of experimental group(with exercise) and 24 of control group(without exercise) were questioned about lower urinary symptoms, discomfort during sexual intercourse and daily life. The maximum pressure of pelvic floor muscle contraction(MPPFMC) and duration of pelvic floor muscle contraction(DPFMC) were measured at pre-treatment, the end of treatment and 8 weeks after a treatment program. The pelvic floor muscle exercise program(using biofeedback and electrical stimulation) was applied to the experimental group twice a week for 4 weeks at the incontinence clinic and the pelvic floor muscle exercise at home for that time and more 8 weeks. Data were analyzed by t-test, $x^2$-test, Fisher's exact test and the repeated measures ANOVA. The results were as follows; 1) MPPFMC(p=0.000) and DPFMC(p=0.021) were significantly increased in the experimental group. 2) In the lower urinary symptoms, daily frequency(p=0.001), nocturia(p=0.002), incontinence episode(p=0.016), stress incontinence(p=0.012), quantity of incontinence(p=0.026), straining(p=0.041), and strength of stream(p=0.009) were significantly decreased in the experimental group. 3) Discomfort during sexual intercourse had not a significant difference between the two groups, which was not significantly decreased as time passed. 4) In the discomfort during daily life, activity restriction(p=0.042), exercise restriction (p=0.008), interpersonal relationship restriction(p=0.046), and discomfort of general life(p=0.027) showed a significant difference between the two groups, which were not significantly decreased as time passed. In conclusion, it is suggested that the pelvic floor muscle exercise using biofeedback and electrical stimulation might be a safer and more effective program for the improvement of postpartum pelvic muscle contraction.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.295-305
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify the relationships among symptom bother, physical and mental stress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. Methods: The participants were 106 women who were diagnosed with OAB (urgency, urge urinary incontinence, frequency, and/or nocturia) at P university hospital. Data were collected from Dec 23, 2011 to Aug 31, 2012. Results: The mean score for symptom bother was 43.1 points, for physical stress, 12.8 which was slightly higher than mental stress (11.8), and for HRQoL, 63.9. For symptom type, there were statistically significant differences in the symptom bother (F=8.67, p<.001) and HRQL (F=3.32, p=.023). The Symptom bother of OAB was positively correlated with physical stress (r=.23, p=.014) and mental stress (r=.33, p<.001) and negatively correlated with the subscales of HRQoL; coping (r=-.66, p<.001), concern (r=-.71, p<.001), sleep (r=-.59, p<.001), and social interaction (r=-.58, p<.001). Conclusion: From the results, bother symptom was associated with physical, mental stress and HRQoL. These results suggest that nursing intervention programs for OAB should be developed not only to relieve the symptoms but also to reduce stress and improve the quality of life.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.275-284
• /
• 2006

Objectives: This investigation was carried out to understand the status of the urinary incontinence (UI) and overactive bladder (OABs) syndrome of women in a rural region. Methods: The authors conducted a questionnaire survey among the 322 females who voluntarily participated in a health examination, from 16 to 18 August 2001. Using by definition of UI and OABs, we calculated the proportion of UI, OABs I, and OABs II. The data collected was evaluated using the SPSS 12.0 statistical package, and the differences of symptoms and problems related to daily life between UI, OABs patients and the others were analyzed using a Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results: The overall proportion of UI was 35.4%, and stress UI (32.9%) is more common than urgency UI (17.4%) and mixed UI (14.9%). The proportion of OABs I and OABs II were respectively 36.0%, 14.0%. Symptoms related to UI or OABs were nocturia (35.1%), frequency (23.9%), urgency (21.4%) etc. Of the incontinence cases, 27.2% had experienced UI for a period of one to three years. The proportion of OABs increased significantly by age (p<0.05), UI didn't. The most frequent symptoms in UI and OABs were respectively 'slow stream', 'urgency'. The most frequent problem of daily life in UI and OABs was 'seeking toilet firstly at stranger place'. Conclusions: The proportion of UI and OABs in our study were respectively 35.4%, 14.0%. UI and OABs must be very significant health problems in women, especially rural region. Systemic and profound interventions for UI and OABs need to administer to women in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The study was conducted to identify the effectiveness of community health programs for local residents. Methods: This study was a one-group pretest-posttest study design. The subjects of the study were 259 residents in 26 villages of 13 primary health care posts located in G city. Data were collected using the questionnaire and analyzed using the paired t-test in SPSS 28.0. Results: As a result of performing the community health programs, prostate symptom scores improved in men, and stress and urgency urinary incontinence scores decreased in women. In addition, it was found that the degree of health-related knowledge increased among female subjects after the community health programs were provided. Conclusion: The community health programs were effective, and the effectiveness of the programs may differ according to gender. Therefore, when developing a program, it is necessary to consider a gender-sensitive approach that considers the difference between men and women.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.81-89
• /
• 2022

Purpose : Kegel exercises reported that it is effective in managing stress-related or complex urinary incontinence through contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. In many previous studies, it was confirmed that Kegel exercise is involved in respiration as well as urinary system diseases. However, there is a lack of research on the effect of pelvic setting when performing Kegel exercises. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect on maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) and abdominal muscle thickness through Kegel exercise after lumbar-pelvic motor control using pressure biofeedback unit (PBU). Methods : The subjects of this study were 10 healthy female students in their 20s. Subjects measured MVV with a spirometer. In hooklying, external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis of the dominant hand were measured using ultrasound. The measured value was an average of three times. After one week of intervention, measurements were made in the same manner. Before Kegel exercise, pelvic setting training was performed using PBU. In hooklying, PBU was placed in the waist and set to 40 mmHg, and it was adjusted to 60 mmHg through pelvic muscle contraction. For Kegel exercise, the pelvis was first set using PBU, and then the pelvic floor muscles were contracted for 8 seconds and relaxed for 8 seconds, 10 times, 1 set, and 3 sets. Results : In MVV, a significant difference was confirmed after exercise than before exercise (p<.05). There was also a significant difference in abdominal muscle thickness before and after exercise (p<.05). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, Kegel exercise using PBU had an effect on MVV and abdominal muscle thickness. However, since this study was conducted without a control group as a preliminary study, additional research should be conducted to supplement this.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.87-99
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the domestic trends of Chuna manual therapy on Obstetrics and Gynecological Diseases in Korean literature. Methods: We searched for papers which had Chuna manual therapy through 2 related journals and 5 Korean web databases. All relevant papers were selected and extracted to be analyzed according to their study designs, academic journals, and target disease. Results: Nine papers belonged to four types of study designs, systematic review, randomized or non-randomized controlled trial and case report. And they were published in four kinds of academic journals. There were four papers about postpartum pain, two low back pain during pregnancy, and a stress urinary incontinence. The exact Chuna techniques were explained in only seven papers. All of papers have been shown that Chuna manual therapy is useful for obstetrics and gynecological diseases. Conclusions: It has been identified that Chuna manual therapy could be a good treatment for obstetrics and gynecological diseases. However, more clinical and well-designed studies with Chuna manual therapy will be needed.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.228-249
• /
• 2018

In 2015, the population of elderly people in Thailand was 16% of the total population and is predicted to be over 20% by 2021 and nearly 28% by 2031. The increase of the elderly population in Thailand has also increased the proportion of dependent elderly people, and caring for them poses many challenges for both families and the government. This descriptive method research aimed to survey the health status of dependent older people in the rural community of Lampang province in northern Thailand. The participants consisted of 62 older people and 62 primary family caregivers from Hong Ha Health Promoting Hospital, Lampang, Thailand (totaling 124 people). The researchers assessed the health status of older people and their activities of daily living (ADL). In addition, researchers assessed the health status and stress of caregivers. All the participants were interviewed about their experiences with caregiving. The results showed that most of the older respondents were female with an average age of 78.15 years. Based on the ADL assessment, 50 of the 62 older persons were homebound while the rest were bedridden. The majority of older people had chronic or long-term conditions that required hospitalization from time to time. Their frequent health problems included oral disorders such as tooth decay or caries/gum disease/no teeth, reduced sight, psychological disorders, knee pain and risk of falling, low BMI, risk of malnutrition, and urinary leakage and incontinence (58.06%, 66.13%, 62.90%, 70.97%, 38.71%, 66.13%, and 37.10%, respectively). Usual care provided by the family members included personal hygiene care, food preparation and feeding, medication management, housekeeping and organizing necessary equipment, supply of needed equipment, prevention of falls, helping with travel for medical checkups and treatment, and providing companionship. Families experienced shortages of medical supplies, daily use equipment, lack of employment, inadequate income, and difficulty accessing health care services due to lack of transportation. Some caregivers experienced caregiving stress related to a lack of social interactions as well as routine caregiving activities. Families need different types of support in order to promote the well-being of older people and caregivers. This highlights the need for a community participation model for the care of older people in order to reflect sustainable long-term outcomes.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Sleep disturbance is a very rapidly growing disease with aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep disturbances and its predictive factors in a three-year cohort study of people aged 60 years and over in Korea. Methods: In 2012 and 2014, we obtained data from a survey of the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. We asked participants if they had been diagnosed with stroke, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, arthritis, pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, cataract, glaucoma, hepatitis B, urinary incontinence, prostate hypertrophy, cancer, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or metabolic syndrome. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination for dementia screening in 2012, and depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in 2012 and 2014. In 2015, a structured clinical interview for Axis I psychiatric disorders was administered to 235 people, and sleep disturbance was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The perceived stress scale and the State-trait Anger Expression Inventory were also administered. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict sleep disturbance by gender, age, education, depression score, number of coexisting diseases in 2012 and 2014, current anger score, and perceived stress score. Results: Twenty-seven percent of the participants had sleep disturbances. Logistic regression analysis showed that the number of medical diseases three years ago, the depression score one year ago, and the current perceived stress significantly predicted sleep disturbances. Conclusion: Comorbid medical disease three years previous and depressive symptoms evaluated one year previous were predictive of current sleep disturbances. Further studies are needed to determine whether treatment of medical disease and depressive symptoms can improve sleep disturbances.