Background Although some studies measured the burden of caregivers and the factors that influenced their feelings of burden, few studies have measured the quality of life （QOL） for primary caregivers of patients wit...Background Although some studies measured the burden of caregivers and the factors that influenced their feelings of burden, few studies have measured the quality of life （QOL） for primary caregivers of patients with muscular dystrophy （MD）. We assessed the QOL for primary caregivers of patients with MD in South Korea and identified factors associated with caregivers＇ QOL. Methods Ninety dyads of patients with MD and their primary caregivers were enrolled in this study. The QOL of caregivers of patients with MD was assessed subjectively using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment, Life Brief Form. Caregivers＇ emotional status was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory （BDI） and family function level was evaluated using the Family APGAR scale. Patients reported their emotional status using the BDI or the Children＇s Depression Inventory. The functional levels of patients were evaluated by the modified Barthel Index. Results Caregivers＇ QOL was statistically associated with family income, family function, emotional status of patients, level of education, and emotional status of caregivers （P 〈0.05）. Caregivers who were employed had a significantly higher QOL than those who were not （P 〈0.05）. In multiple regression analyses, emotional and employment status of caregivers was strongly associated with caregivers＇ QOL. Conclusion Rehabilitation teams should consider not only the physical factors of patients but also the psychological and demographic factors of primary caregivers of patients with MD.展开更多
Background Permanent vegetative state is defined as the impaired level of consciousness longer than 12 months after traumatic causes and 3 months after non-traumatic causes of brain injury. Although many studies asses...Background Permanent vegetative state is defined as the impaired level of consciousness longer than 12 months after traumatic causes and 3 months after non-traumatic causes of brain injury. Although many studies assessed the cerebral metabolism in patients with acute and persistent vegetative state after brain injury, few studies investigated the cerebral metabolism in patients with permanent vegetative state. In this study, we performed the voxel-based analysis of cerebral glucose metabolism and investigated the relationship between regional cerebral glucose metabolism and the severity of impaired consciousness in patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury.Methods We compared the regional cerebral glucose metabolism as demonstrated by F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography from 12 patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury with those from 12 control subjects. Additionally, covariance analysis was performed to identify regions where decreased changes in regional cerebral glucose metabolism significantly correlated with a decrease of level of consciousness measured by JFK-coma recovery scare. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical parametric mapping.Results Compared with controls, patients with permanent vegetative state demonstrated decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in the left precuneus, both posterior cingulate cortices, the left superior parietal lobule （Pcorrected 〈0.001）, and increased cerebral glucose metabolism in the both cerebellum and the right supramarginal cortices （Pcorrected 〈0.001）. In the covariance analysis, a decrease in the level of consciousness was significantly correlated with decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in the both posterior cingulate cortices （Puncorrected 〈0.005）.Conclusion Our findings suggest that the posteromedial parietal cortex, which are part of neural network for consciousness, may be relevant structure for pathophysiological mechanism in patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury.展开更多
文摘Background Although some studies measured the burden of caregivers and the factors that influenced their feelings of burden, few studies have measured the quality of life （QOL） for primary caregivers of patients with muscular dystrophy （MD）. We assessed the QOL for primary caregivers of patients with MD in South Korea and identified factors associated with caregivers＇ QOL. Methods Ninety dyads of patients with MD and their primary caregivers were enrolled in this study. The QOL of caregivers of patients with MD was assessed subjectively using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment, Life Brief Form. Caregivers＇ emotional status was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory （BDI） and family function level was evaluated using the Family APGAR scale. Patients reported their emotional status using the BDI or the Children＇s Depression Inventory. The functional levels of patients were evaluated by the modified Barthel Index. Results Caregivers＇ QOL was statistically associated with family income, family function, emotional status of patients, level of education, and emotional status of caregivers （P 〈0.05）. Caregivers who were employed had a significantly higher QOL than those who were not （P 〈0.05）. In multiple regression analyses, emotional and employment status of caregivers was strongly associated with caregivers＇ QOL. Conclusion Rehabilitation teams should consider not only the physical factors of patients but also the psychological and demographic factors of primary caregivers of patients with MD.
文摘Background Permanent vegetative state is defined as the impaired level of consciousness longer than 12 months after traumatic causes and 3 months after non-traumatic causes of brain injury. Although many studies assessed the cerebral metabolism in patients with acute and persistent vegetative state after brain injury, few studies investigated the cerebral metabolism in patients with permanent vegetative state. In this study, we performed the voxel-based analysis of cerebral glucose metabolism and investigated the relationship between regional cerebral glucose metabolism and the severity of impaired consciousness in patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury.Methods We compared the regional cerebral glucose metabolism as demonstrated by F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography from 12 patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury with those from 12 control subjects. Additionally, covariance analysis was performed to identify regions where decreased changes in regional cerebral glucose metabolism significantly correlated with a decrease of level of consciousness measured by JFK-coma recovery scare. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical parametric mapping.Results Compared with controls, patients with permanent vegetative state demonstrated decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in the left precuneus, both posterior cingulate cortices, the left superior parietal lobule （Pcorrected 〈0.001）, and increased cerebral glucose metabolism in the both cerebellum and the right supramarginal cortices （Pcorrected 〈0.001）. In the covariance analysis, a decrease in the level of consciousness was significantly correlated with decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in the both posterior cingulate cortices （Puncorrected 〈0.005）.Conclusion Our findings suggest that the posteromedial parietal cortex, which are part of neural network for consciousness, may be relevant structure for pathophysiological mechanism in patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury.
