The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of active mandibular exercise (AME) in patients with limited mouth opening after maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) release.

The study used a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group and a pre test-post test design. Sixty-two patients with Maxillomandibular Fixation Release were assigned to the experimental (n=31) or control group (n=31). The AME was performed in the experimental group for 4 weeks. The exercise AME consisted of maximal mouth opening, lateral excursion and protrusive movement. These movements were repeated ten times a day. After the final exercise of the day, the number of tongue blades used for mouth opening was noted. The effect of AME was evaluated after MMF release at different time intervals: a) immediately, b) after 1 week, c) after 2 weeks, d) after 4 weeks, and e) after 12 weeks. The exercise was assessed using the following criteria: a) mandibular movements, b) pain scores associated with maximal mouth opening, c) discomfort scores associated with range of movement, and d) daily life activities that involve opening the mouth.

The experimental group showed significant improvement regarding the range of mandibular movements (maximal mouth opening (F=23.60, p<.001), lateral excursion to the right side (F=5.25, p=.002), lateral excursion to the left side (F=5.97, p=.001), protrusive movement (F=5.51, p=.001)), pain score (F=39.59, p<.001), discomfort score (F=9.38, p<.001). Daily life activities that involve opening the mouth were more favorable compared to those in the control group.

The AME in patients after MMF release is helpful for increasing mandibular movement range, decreasing pain and discomfort, and improving day life activities that involve opening the mouth. Therefore, AME is highly recommended as an effective nursing intervention.

This study was to identify the effects of oropharyngeal sensory stimulation on a functional oral intake scale, oro-pharyngeal swallowing functions, and aspiration pneumonia symptoms with nasogastric tube insertion in stroke patients.

This study was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The subjects of the study were 32 patients who were hospitalized in Kosin Gaspel hospital. The experimental subjects were stimulated for 10~20 minutes, 1 time per day. The intervention was implemented for 2 weeks.

Participants in the experimental group significantly received a higher score in oro-pharyngeal swallowing function than those in the control group. However the participants in the experimental group only got a high score in the function oralintake scale which doesn't imply a statistical significance. In addition, they didn't geta remarkably higher score in aspiration pneumonia symptoms than those in the control group.

This study demonstrates that oropharyngeal sensory stimulation is effective in promoting recovery oro-pharyngeal swallowing function of nasogastric tube insertions in stroke patients.

This study was done to identify the effects of weight-bearing exercise(WBE) on bone metabolism.

WBE was performed for 12 weeks by healthy college women. Bone-related parameters were measured four times during this period by evaluating the immunoradiometric assay and enzyme immunoassay. Bone mineral densities(BMDs) were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry before and after the WBE program. Data was analyzed using t-test, paired t-test, x²-test, and repeated measures ANOVA.

Osteocalcin, a bone formation marker, increased more in the experimental group than in the control group based on the interaction between time and group(F=3.29 p=.024). Little difference between the two groups was found for the other parameters: urinary deoxypyridinoline, insulin-like growth factorI, parathormone, serum calcium, and serum phosphorus without showing any time interaction between the groups. The femoral trochanter BMD rose in the experimental group while that of the control group fell, showing a significant difference for BMD(t=3.06 p=.005). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups for changes in BMD of the forearm, lumbar spine, femoral neck, and femoral ward's triangle.

These findings supported the WBE is beneficial for increasing bone formation in college women and long-term application is needed to substantiate the effects of WBE as a intervention in promotion of bone-health.

This study was to develop a substantive theory on the conquering experience of group-bullies among teenagers, and thereafter suggest a model for solving the problems.

Data collection and analysis was proceeded by a method of Grounded Theory. Data was collected by interviewing the participants. Five teenagers participated in this study who had already overcome the situation.

In the analysis 31 concepts, 6 categories, and 14 subcategories are extracted from the raw data, and all are constituted on the paradigm model. The causal condition is a painstaking of participants. The context is affirmative reconsidering and the phenomenon is conquering difficulties. The intervening condition is a positive intervention of a supporting system and the strategy for action/interaction is building a relationship. The consequences of this analysis is harmonizing.

The results of this study suggest adequate ways of conquering group-bullies. These are positive attitudes towards solving problems and the full use of support systems surrounding them.

To investigate body compositons and bone mineral density(BMD) in college women and to find the relationship between them.

From January to March of 2001, BMD at four parts(forearm, lumbar, femur and whole body), body mass index(BMI), body fat mass(BFM), lean body mass(LBM) and body fat percentage(%Fat) were measured with the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Other physical characteristics were measured with a scale, a height measurer, and questionnaires.

Grouping by the BMI, 43.2% showed low weight, and 5% over weight. When applying the percent Fat, 43.8 % was diagnosed as obesity group. The fact indicate that a majority of college women have unbalanced body composition with high percent Fat, compared to their body weight. Assessing the BMD with the WHO standards, 91.4~95.7% of the BMD of forearm and whole body was normal. But, 40.3% and 33.1~43.9% showed osteopenia at lumbar and femur, and 1.4 %, 0.7~7.2% showed osteoporosis. The BMD at all parts showed significant correlation each other(r=.29~.89, p=.001~.000). Body weight and BMI showed correlations to with BMDs at all parts of the body(r=.19~.46, p=.025~.000; r=.18~.45, p=.039~.000). But the percent Fat had a correlation with only femur neck BMD(r=.19, p=.024).

This study showed a majority of healthy college women were exposed to the risk for osteoporosis. Additional study is required to develop nursing interventions to remove the risk factors of osteoporosis. In particular, the acquisition of balanced body composition is necessary, increasing body weight and BMI through the increase of LBM, not through the quantitative increase of BFM.