PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify self-leadership and attitude to patient falls and fall prevention behavior in nurses. METHODS: The participants were 178 nurses from two general hospitals in Seoul. Data were collected from March 20 to May 10, 2012 using structured questionnaires which included a Self-leadership scale, Fall attitude scale, and Fall prevention scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and Hierarchial multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score for nurses' self-leadership was 3.48 (5 point scale). The average reported fall attitude was 3.59 (5 point scale) and fall prevention behavior was 3.26 (4 point scale). Self-leadership had a 18% explanatory power in fall attitude and a 5% explanatory power in fall prevention behavior. The factors which influenced fall prevention behavior were nurses' fall attitude (beta=.21, p=.009), fall prevention education (beta=.20, p=.007) and self-leadership (beta=.16, p=.047). All of the factors together had a 13.1% explanatory power. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that provision of regularly fall prevention education to nurses is required and should include a program to activate their positive attitude and self-leadership in order to improve fall prevention behavior in nurses.
Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Leadership ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We report two cases of supratentorial gangliocytomas mimicking an extra-axial tumor. MR imaging indicated that the tumors were extra-axial, and meningiomas were thus initially diagnosed. Relative to gray matter, the tumors were hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. On contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, homogeneous enhancement was observed, while CT scanning revealed calcification in one of the two cases.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Case Report ; Female ; Ganglioneuroma/*diagnosis/pathology ; Human ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Age

OBJECTIVE: Our previous study demonstrated that the placental GnRH and GnRH mRNA did not parallel the time course of hCG secretion, though it is thought to be one of the potential paracrine regulators of hCG secretion from the trophoblasts. The present study was designed to examine the potential variation in GnRH-receptor mRNA expression in the placenta, which may account for the GnRH-mediated action of hCG secretion during pregnancy. METHODS: Human placentas in firt, second, and third trimester of normal pregnancy were obtained. These placentas were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in OCT compound, and sectioned by cryostat. For in situ hybridization, S labeled RNA probes were used and followed by autoradiography. RESULTS: The GnRH-receptor mRNA signals were present in both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cell layers. Signal intensities varied with gestational ages and were abundant at 6-7 weeks, peaked at 9-12weeks, declined at 14 and 24 weeks, and were barely detectable at term. The present study demonstrates that GnRH-receptor mRNA exhibits changes paralleling the time course of hCG secretion during pregnancy CONCLUSION: These data provide mechanistic understanding that the paracrine/autocrine regulation of hCG secretion by placental GnRH is mediated through an increase followed by a decline in GnRH-receptor mRNA expression from the first trimester to term placenta.
Autoradiography ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Placenta* ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; RNA Probes ; RNA, Messenger* ; Trophoblasts

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among depression, somatic symptoms, and activities of daily living of elderly women in urban areas. METHOD: After obtaining participant's consent forms, a one-time, face-to-face, and private interview was conducted with each participant from Sep, 2006 to Jan, 2007 by trained graduate-level students. The questionnaire consisted of K-GDS, PHQ-15, Barthel Index, and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living. The collected data was analyzed with the SPSS/PC 12.0 program, which was used for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. RESULTS: The major findings of this study were as follows 1) 34.1% of participants belonged to the depression group. 2) There were significant relationships between depression and monthly income, somatic symptoms, ADL, IADL, and number of chronic disease. 3) Significant factors influencing depression were somatic symptoms, ADL, and monthly income. CONCLUSION: The results of this study give useful information for designing interventions and program development for appropriate depression management and care for elderly women.
*Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Depression ; Female ; Frail Elderly/*psychology ; Health Status ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Social Isolation ; Urban Population

PURPOSE: There recurred controversies related to legal allowance of abortion since newly advancing prenatal genetic testing technology. This survey was aimed to identify the attitudes toward marriage, and pregnancy (AMP) and terminating pregnancy (ATP) among Korean nursing students. METHOD: A descriptive study was performed from October to November 2012 in South Korea. 424 nursing students responded to two types of tools developed by authors. Questionnaire for ATP is consisted of 10 items with 5-points Likert Scale. Questionnaire for AMP is 12 items containing 5 categories. RESULTS: Mean score of ATP was 36.90. Students that are enrolled in bachelor degree had a significant higher ATP. Students who are currently dating with an opposite gender showed much higher level of ATP than those are not. Lower group of delayed the time of getting marriage and pregnancy showed highest score of ATP, significantly. CONCLUSION: Individual factor must be primarily considered when assessing ATP of nursing students, for example current relationship with opposite gender and educational background, attitude toward marriage and pregnancy. Further studies are needed to identify personal factors of the young adults affecting on the ATP.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Korea ; Marriage* ; Pregnancy* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Nursing* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDS: Intestinal obstruction is one of the main causes of neonatal operations. It is caused by congenital factors, inherited diseases, and acquired diseases. A study was made to understand the status of neonatal intestinal obstruction cases at our hospital. METHODS: This was a clinical analysis of 53 cases of neonatal intestinal obstruction which had been experienced from March 1992 to February 1998 at the Department of General surgery, Sung-Ae General Hospital. RESULTS: 1) Operations for neonatal intestinal obstructions accounted for 42.4% of all neonatal operations. 2) There were 38 males and 15 females; the male-to-female ratio was 2.5:1. 3) Gestational period of 9 cases (16.9%) was less than 36 weeks and the weight in 10 cases (18.8%) wre below 2,500 gm at birth. 4) The main clinical symptoms on admission were vomiting or abdominal distension. 5) There were 49 cases (92.4%) of mechanical obstruction and 4 cases of a paralytic ileus. 6) Associated anomalies were present in 9 cases (16.9%). 7) The postoperative complication and motality rates were 30.1% and 7.5% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical data might provide clinical suspicisions leading to early diagnosis and treatment.
Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Male ; Parturition ; Postoperative Complications ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: If started with segmental block, epidural anesthesia appears to have an inadequate sacral block in the early part of cesarean deliveries. A dural puncture using the combined spinal-epidural technique making an early sacral blockade might be a solution. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was performed on forty patients who were divided into two groups (C, DP; n = 20, each). An epidural infusion of 25 ml of 2% lidocaine with epinephrine was given to the group C. A dural puncture with a 27G Whitacre needle was done before the epidural infusion in the group DP. Two-way sensory levels were checked for 15 min, just before the operation. The side effects and recovery variables were also compared between the groups. RESULTS: Initial wider cephalic block (P = 0.038, 0 min) followed by more caudal block (P = 0.023, 0.013; 5, 10 min after the completion of the epidural infusion, respectively) occurred in the DP group. After 10 min, there were no differences in both block levels. The number of dermatomes blocked was bigger in the DP group at 10 min after. Fewer patients in the DP group had nausea and/or vomiting (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Early spread of the sensory blockade, initial cephalic and then caudal, was due to the dural puncture by a 27G needle. This fast onset could make the parturients more comfortable in the early part of cesarean sections.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Cesarean Section* ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Nausea ; Needles* ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Punctures* ; Vomiting

Polyarteritis nodosa is systemic necrotizing vasculitis of medium and small-sized arteries and results in variable manifestations due to ischemia of the involving organs. Diagnosis can either be made pathologically by demonstrating necrotizing vasculitis of arteries or angiographycally by demonstrating small arterial aneurysm. We experienced a case of PAN with dilated cardiomyopathy, confirmed by clinical feature, renal biopsy, angiography and echocardiography.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Ischemia ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify health knowledge, health promoting behavior and factors influencing health promoting behavior of North Korean defectors in South Korea. METHODS: Participants in this study were 410 North Korean defectors, over 20 years of age residing in Seoul. They were recruited by snowball sampling. Data were collected from April to June, 2010. Health knowledge, health promoting behavior, self-efficacy, perceived barriers to health promoting behavior and social support were measured by structured questionnaires, and perceived physical and mental health status were measured by one item with 10-point numeric rating scale. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression. RESULTS: Health knowledge, health promoting behavior, and perceived barriers to health promoting behavior were moderate while self-efficacy and social support were high. Factors influencing health promoting behavior of the participants were found to be self-efficacy, social support and perceived barrier to health promoting behavior. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that nursing intervention programs enhancing self-efficacy, social support and reducing perceived barriers to health promoting behavior need to be developed for North Korean defectors in South Korea.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analysis of Variance ; *Attitude to Health ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Refugees/*psychology ; Republic of Korea ; Self Efficacy ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the current status of diabetes management and the predictors for poor glycemic control in an urban area. METHODS: This study included 1,138 community-dwelling adults (> or =50 years) with diabetes, of which 584 participated in the diabetes care survey. Logistic regression was used to identify the factors predicting poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c[HbA1c]> or =7%) in the total sample and to evaluate the relationship between the history of diabetes management checkup and poor glycemic control in the diabetes care survey sample. RESULTS: Of the 1,138 patients, 53.2% had blood pressure less than 130/80 mmHg, 41.7% had fasting glucose between 70 and 130 mg/dL, 48.6% had HbA1c below 7.0%, 60.1% had triglycerides below 150 mg/dL, 41.4% had low density lipoprotein cholesterol below 100 mg/dL, and 59.1% had normoalbuminuria (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio <30 mg/g creatinine). Of the 584 patients completing the diabetes care survey, 63.9% had one or more lipid tests, 32.0% had one or more HbA1c tests, 43.8% had one or more microalbuminuria tests, and 42.5% had one or more fundoscopic examinations annually. Female gender (odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-2.36), duration of diabetes (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.09), and alcohol use (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06-1.85) were associated with an increased risk for poor glycemic control while age (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99) and antihypertensive medication (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.83) were associated with a decreased risk. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that glycemic control is likely to be poor in urban areas. We need to develop appropriate community-based strategies to achieve optimal glycemic control and prevent diabetes complications.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Logistic Models ; Triglycerides