This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of sweet taste perception with overweight and obesity among workers in some industrial areas. Participants were 63 workers (mean age: 57.8±7.8 years), who were divided into three subgroups based on sweet taste evaluation using a sweet taste assessment tool provided by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: unsweet group (n=25), medium sweet group (n=27), and sweet group (n=11). There was no significant difference in body mass index (BMI), and any work-related variables among the three groups; however, the difference between subjective perception and objective perception for sweet tastes is statistically different. We also found slight or fair agreement between subjective and objective sweet taste perception of the subjects (weighted kappa value 0.34~0.43). The present study provided measuring objective sweet taste perception may be useful for assessing the risk of high sugar consumption and for improving undesirable dietary behaviors, and management of non-communicable disease among workers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing resilience in breast cancer patients. METHODS: The data were collected using structured questionnaires from 106 breast cancer patients who are members of a self-help group. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression in SPSS WIN version 21.0. RESULTS: Resilience was significantly negatively correlated to depression and positively correlated to hope and family support. However, resilience was not significantly correlated to anxiety. In the regression analysis, factors influencing resilience were reported as hope, religion, lymph node metastasis, surgery side, and time since surgery, which explained 34.1% of the variation. CONCLUSION: The resilience scores of women with breast cancer were higher when depression was lower, hope was higher, and greater family support. This means that reducing depression and increasing hope and family support are necessary when developing and implementing nursing interventions. The results of this study also show the importance of hope in explaining resilience in patients with breast cancer. Therefore, nurses should focus on encouraging hope when they develop programs in order to implement more effective interventions to improve breast cancer patients' resilience.
Anxiety ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Depression ; Female ; Hope ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nursing ; Self-Help Groups

Objective Multidector computed tomography (MDCT) is now commonly used for the evaluation of coronary artery disease. Because MDCT images include many non-cardiac organs and the patient population evaluated is highly susceptible to extracardiac diseases, this study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of extracardiac findings in the MDCT evaluation of ischemic heart disease. Methods From March 2007 to March 2008, a total of six-hundred twenty patients, who underwent 64-slice MDCT evaluations for chest pain, or dyspnea, were enrolled in this study. Cardiac and non-cardiac findings were comprehensively evaluated by a radiologist. Results Enrolled patients included 306 men (49.4%), with a mean age of 66 years. Significant coronary artery stenosis was found in 41.6%of the patients. A total of 158 extracardiac findings were observed in 110 (17.7%) patients. Commonly involved extracardiac organs were lung (36.7%), hepatobiliary system (21.5%), thyroid (19.6%), kidney (10.8%), spine (9.7%) and breast (0.6%). Of those 110 patients, 50 (45.5%) patients underwent further diagnostic investigations. Malignant disease was detected in three (2.7%) patients (lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer). Conclusions Extracardiac findings are frequently present and should be a concern in the MDCT evaluation of chest pain syndrome.

Purpose: The research aimed to investigate the factors affecting cancer preventive behavior among patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Methods: Data were collected from 126 patients who underwent ESD for EGC and who were recruited from a single university affiliated hospital, Seoul, Korea. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The average score of cancer preventive behavior was 66.87±10.36 out of 90. Correlations between attitude toward cancer and preventive behavior regarding cancer were positive (r=.26, p=.004). Also, the regression analyses revealed that factors affecting cancer preventive behavior included perception of cancer screening, attitude toward cancer, and age. A history of drinking alcohol on the other hand was negatively related to cancer preventive behavior. The regression analyses explained 31% of variance (F=6.50, p=.037). Conclusion These results suggest that nurses should develop a program for risk groups (people who drink alcohol regularly, are under the age of 65 and who have poor self-health care after ESD). And such a program should include interventions to improve attitudes toward cancer and perception of cancer screening, and encourage physical activity.

Moebius syndrome (MBS) is a congenital neurologic disorder that causes cranio-facial abnormalities. It involves paralysis of the VI and VII cranial nerves and causes bilateral or unilateral facial paralysis, eye movement disorder, and deformation of the upper and lower limbs. The orofacial dysfunctions include microstomia, micrognathia, hypotonic mimetic and lip muscles, dental enamel hypoplasia, tongue deformity, open bite or deep overbite, maxillary hypoplasia, high arched palate, mandibular hyperplasia or features indicating mandibular hypoplasia. This case report presents a 7-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with MBS at the age 2 years. The patient displayed typical clinical symptoms and was diagnosed with Class II malocclusion with a large overjet/ overbite, tongue deformity and motion limitation, and lip closure incompetency. Treatment was initiated using a removable appliance for left scissor bite correction. After permanent tooth eruption, fixed appliance treatment was performed for correction of the arch width discrepancy and deep overbite.A self-ligation system and wide-width arch form wire were used during the treatment to expand the arch width. After 30 months of phase II treatment, the alignment of the dental arch and stable molar occlusion was achieved. Function and occlusion remained stable with a Class I canine and molar relationship, and a normal overjet/overbite was maintained after 9.4 years of retainer use. In MBS patients, it is important to achieve an accurate early diagnosis, and implement a multidisciplinary treatment approach and long-term retention and follow-up.

Purpose: The Korean Society of Medical Education (KSME) was founded in 1983 and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023. This study examines the evolution of topics discussed at KSME conferences from 1971 through 2023, highlighting shifts in the focus of medical education. Methods: We analyzed 90 KSME conferences over 5 decades (1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s), categorizing the topics into three eras based on emerging themes and continuity. Results: Consequently, 37 topics covered at the conference were categorized. Ten topics continuously appeared from the 1970s to the 2010s, including future directions of medical education, teaching methods, faculty development, and curriculum. The topics from the 1970s to the 1990s included 14 areas, such as medical education evaluation, non-undergraduate curriculum, community-related, and research. Thirteen new topics emerged after the 2000s, such as social accountability, student support, professionalism, and quality improvements. The most common topics under innovations in medical education, a case of curriculum innovation at universities that began after 2000, were clinical clerkship, curriculum development, and medical humanities. Conclusion KSME’s selection of conference topics has been strategically aligned with societal needs and the evolving landscape of medical education. Future topics should continue to address relevant societal and educational challenges.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to 1) explore nurses' attitudes toward death, coping with death, understanding and performance regarding end-of-life (EOL) care, 2) describe correlations among the above factors, and 3) determine the factors affecting nurses' EOL care performance. METHODS: Study participants were 187 nurses stationed at departments that post higher mortality than others such as the oncology department, intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency department (ED). Data were collected from three urban university-affiliated hospitals. Multi-dimensional measure was performed for study instruments such as "attitude toward death", "coping with death" and "understanding and performance regarding EOL care". Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regressions. RESULTS: First, nurses showed significantly different attitudes toward death by age, religion, work unit and EOL care education. Younger nurses tend to score low on the understanding of EOL care, and ED nurses' score was lower than their peers at the oncology department and ICU. Second, EOL care performance was positively correlated with attitude toward death (P<0.001), coping with death (P=0.003) and understanding of EOL care (P<0.001). Third, nurses' EOL care performance was affected by work unit (P<0.001) and understanding of EOL care (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Because nurses' performance was influenced by their work unit and understanding of EOL care, they should be provided with appropriate training to improve their understanding of death and EOL care according to work unit.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Attitude to Death ; Education, Nursing ; Emergencies ; Intensive Care Units ; Terminal Care

PURPOSE: Child Health nurse practitioners (CHNPs) in Korea have important roles in disease management and health promotion for children and adolescents. Yet, practices of CHNPs licensed and employed in hospitals have not been adequately identified. Thus, in this study the scope of practice by CHNPs and job satisfaction and stress were investigated and compared according to the CHNPs' position in the working place. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. All 53 licensed CHNPs participated in the mail survey which included a 71-item questionnaire on job performance and job satisfaction and a job contents questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi2 test, independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare CHNPs employed as nurse practitioner (NP) and CHNPs employed as staff nurses. RESULTS: Compared to CHNPs employed as staff nurses, CHNPs employed as NPs more frequently provided education, environment management, coordination and research in their practice areas. No significant difference was found in job satisfaction between the two groups except for the administration and income subdomains. Only the physical exertion subdomain in job stress was stressful to CHNP employed as staff nurse. Conclusions: Job performance of CHNPs in Korea needs to be revised to include more practical practice in education, coordination, and research related areas. CONCLUSIONS: Job performance of CHNPs in Korea needs to be revised to include more practical practice in education, coordination, and research related areas.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child Welfare* ; Child* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Disease Management ; Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Nurse Practitioners* ; Pediatric Nurse Practitioners ; Physical Exertion ; Postal Service ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Task Performance and Analysis ; Workplace*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting symptom experiences of breast cancer patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with based on the Unpleasant symptom Theory. Sixty breast cancer patients were recruited. We measured their symptom experiences, physiologic factors (immune system function and specific perceived symptoms), psychological factors (depression and anxiety), and situational factors (family support). After obtaining permission from the IRB, data were collected from self-report questionnaires and electronic medical records from a single cancer center. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, correlations and multiple regressions were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The most frequent and severe symptoms were fatigue (4.47+/-2.99), numbness or tingling (3.67+/-3.08) and sadness (3.45+/-3.64). Symptom experiences were significantly positively correlated with psychological factors (r=.603, p<.01) and physical symptoms (r=.384, p<.01). Symptom experiences and situational factors (r=.302, p<.05) were had a significantly negative correlation. The factor that had the most impact on symptom experiences were psychological factors, followed by perceived physical symptoms. The regression model explained 44.8% of the variances. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, the physiological, psychological and situational factors should be considered for caring breast cancer patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Electronic Health Records ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Nursing Theory ; Oncology Nursing ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Neuro-tracing approach is a great option to study innervation of the visceral organs including the kidneys. Important factors contributing to the success of this technique include the choice of a neuro-tracer, and delivery methods to result in successful labeling of peripheral sensory and motor ganglia. The neuro-tracer is usually applied directly to the kidney accessed via a surgical opening of the abdominal wall under deep anesthesia. A series of local microinjections of the dye are performed followed by a wound closure, and recovery period from the surgery. An extra care should be taken to prevent neuro-tracer spillage and accidental labeling of the surrounding organs during injections of the dye. Retrograde neuro-tracers like Fast Blue do not cross synapses, therefore, only neuronal bodies located within dorsal root ganglion neurons and major peripheral ganglia will be labeled by this approach. Retrogradely labeled peripheral neurons could be freshly isolated and dissociated for electrophysiological recordings and biochemical analyses (gene and protein expression), whereas the whole fixed ganglia could be sectioned to undergo immunohisto- and immunocytochemical targeted staining.
Abdominal Wall ; Anesthesia ; Ganglia ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Kidney* ; Microinjections ; Neurons ; Synapses ; Wounds and Injuries