PURPOSE: To find the factors of subjective musculoskeletal symptoms associated with the general characteristics and tasks of operating room nurses (OR nurses) and then to use the factors as basic information for preventing and managing musculoskeletal symptoms in OR nurses. METHOD: This study was an exploratory research. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire from OR nurses working at 8 polyclinics in Korea during the period from July 26 2004 to August 19 2004. The questionnaire contains 7 questions on general characteristics and 18 questions on tasks in the operating room. RESULT: 187 (75.1%) nurses said they 'had' subjective musculoskeletal symptoms. Statistically significant differences were observed according to clinical career, career as an OR nurse, skillfulness, satisfaction with tasks in the operating room, perception on suitable treatment, care of symptoms by the hospital. weight of hospital linen and weight of a basic operation set (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal symptoms complained of by OR nurses were significant. This may cause difficulties in nursing tasks in the operating room. Thus, various arrangements should be made for OR nurse with subjective musculoskeletal symptoms at the early stage.
Bedding and Linens ; Korea ; Nursing ; Operating Rooms* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was designed to investigate the effects on count, size, and morphology of human corneocytes when the skin is irritated with a rough towel. The desquamating portion of the stratum corneum was sampled with the detergent scrub technique every other day for 12 days. The following parameters were measured; numerical count, size (surface (mu)2), and shape (regular, irregular). Corneocytes from skin irritated with a rough towel differed from those of normal skin in that they were diminished by about 60% in count and were 14% smaller in size on the first experimental day. These parameters became normalized in count after 10 days and in size after 5 days respectively. On the morphological classification of the cell outlines, there were no significant differences from the control groupts except that there were slightly increased numbers of irregular cells in the experimental groups.
Adult ; Baths* ; Bedding and Linens* ; Epidermis/cytology* ; Human ; Male

Adenoviruses are icosahedral virions containing double-stranded linen DNA. They are 70 nm to 90 nm in diameter and capsid is composed of 252 capsomeres. Several members of this group, including types commonly associated with respiratory disease in man, are capable of producing malignant tumors in young hamsters and a few types have been shown to be oncogenic in young rat. Previous report involving effect of caffein on transformation induced by Adenovirus type 12 [9] has been carried out. The present report represents a continuation of previous study. To obtain evidence concerning the of(tract of MNNG (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroguanidine) on transformation, investigation of adenovirus type 12 of this group was undertaken. For practical consideration it was desirable to investigate the effect of MNNG on the adenovirus type 12-induced transformation in L cell. Results were as following 1. Adeno virus type 12 induced transformation was enhanced in the presence of MNNG. 2. Yields of adeno type 12 virus in L cell were slightly inhibited by treatment of MNNG.
Adenoviridae* ; Animals ; Bedding and Linens ; Capsid ; Cricetinae ; DNA ; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine ; Rats ; Virion

In mid-1987 a baseline microfilarial prevalence survey was conducted among five villages in the Mt Bosavi region of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Through use of the Nucleopore filtration technique, it was determined that 48% of villagers had detectable microfilaraemia. The highest prevalence was documented in Fogomaiyu, where the microfilaraemia rate was 92%. On the basis of this initial survey and the expressed interest of the community, the Division of Health in the Southern Highlands Province undertook an integrated community-based pilot control program. The project used two principal control methods: (a) drug treatment with low-dose diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) distributed to the community weekly and (b) vector control with permethrin-impregnated bednets. Results six months after the intervention indicate that the program was successful in reducing microfilaraemia at Fogomaiyu village from 92% to 6%. The reduction is principally related to the effects of DEC, although the bednets, by limiting vector-person contact, are expected to reduce the incidence of both filariasis and malaria.
Adolescent ; Altitude ; Bedding and Linens ; Community Participation ; Elephantiasis, Filarial - epidemiology

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare sleep patterns, factors of sleep disturbance and sleep enhancement behaviors between sleep disturbance and non-sleep disturbance elderly patients. METHOD: The participants were 117 patients over 65 years old who were hospitalized at 5 general hospitals in Seoul. There were 83 patients in the good sleeper group and 34 in the poor sleeper group. The survey questionnaires included questions on general characteristics, sleep patterns, sleep disturbing factors, and sleep enhancement behaviors of the patients. RESULTS: For sleep patterns and environmental factors of sleep disturbance, the poor sleepers was significantly higher than that of the good sleepers. Significant differences between good sleepers and poor sleepers were also found on the following variables: Environmental factors of sleep disturbance -'Sound of other patient's or care-giver's', 'Discomfort of bed, linen, pillow and patient's gown', 'Light in the room', 'Emergency situations', 'Temperature of patients rooms too hot or too cold'. The significant physical factor of sleep disturbance was 'Hard to breath even without moving' and for sleep enhancement behaviors: 'Use of ear plugs or eye covers'. CONCLUSION: Consequently it is necessary to develop positive and differentiated programs for sleep enhancement for the inactive and poor sleeper among the elderly patients.
Aged ; Bedding and Linens ; Ear ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Patients' Rooms ; Questionnaires ; Seoul

House dust mites produce inhalant allergens of importance to allergic patients. We measured the major group 1 allergens, Der p 1 and Der f 1, from the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farina, respectively in 100 randomly selected domestic homes from Cheonan, Korea. Dust samples were collected by vacuuming from the living room floor and 1 mattress in each home. Der p 1 and Der f 1 were measured by double monoclonal ELISA. Der p 1 levels were very low, with geometric mean levels for floors and mattresses being 0.11 microgram/g (range: 0.01-4.05) and 0.14 microgram/g (range: 0.01-30.0), respectively. Corresponding levels of Der f 1 were higher, 7.46 microgram/g (range: 0.01-262.9) and 10.2 microgram/g (range: 0.01-230.9) for floors and mattresses, respectively. D. farinae appears to be the dominant house dust mite in Cheonan.
Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Bedding and Linens ; Dust/analysis ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Housing ; Humans ; Korea ; Pyroglyphidae/*immunology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify pediatric nurses' attitudes to, and compliance with, standard precautions in the prevention of hospital infections by enhancing their practice of standard precautions. METHODS: The participants were 206 nurses who worked in pediatric nursing departments of a general medical institution in Seoul. The questionnaire was a modification of Kim (2008) and consisted of 18 questions about hand washing, personal protective equipment, sharps, linen and patient care equipment. Collected data were processed using SPSS 15.0 WIN. RESULTS: Mean scores for attitudes to standard precautions and for compliance with standard precautions were 4.43 (+/-0.83) and 4.22 (+/-0.44) respectively. This difference was statistically significant (t=3.368, p=.001). The nurses' compliance with standard precautions differed significantly according to the general characteristics of age (F=8.705, p<.001), total clinical experience (F=9.426, p<.001), current department experience (F=6.555, p<.001), and education experience (t=0.616, p<.043). There was a positive correlation between attitudes to, and compliance with, standard precautions (r=.156, p=.025). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that educational programs and policy on infection control and standard precautions for pediatric nurses are needed. Also these results should contribute to baseline data for establishing appropriate clinical policy on infection control.
Bedding and Linens ; Compliance ; Cross Infection ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Patient Care ; Pediatric Nursing ; Universal Precautions ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Noncontact electrosurgical ground is recently developed to provide adequate electrical return to electric surgical unit without direct contact to the patient. It provides full and safe electrical return without direct contact of patient due to oscillating, high frequency nature of the current flow and large surface of pad. It is useful in burn surgery and effective to prevent burn by improper placements of the grounding pad. But it can induce current to conducting object with direct contact. Current induced in conductive materials can produce heat to make burns. We present a patient with full-thickness burn in left third finger which was resulted from current through stainless steel tube tree on the operating table during surgery. The stainless tube tree was placed on noncontact electrosurgical ground which was covered with plastic sheet and linen sheet. Staff in operating room should be educated and remain vigilant for electrical burns caused by metallic object on noncontact grounding pad.
Bedding and Linens ; Burns* ; Electrosurgery ; Fingers ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Operating Rooms ; Operating Tables ; Plastics ; Stainless Steel

Inhalation of buckwheat flour as well as ingestion of buckwheat foods induces bronchial asthma. The buckwheat flour attached to the husks used as bed pillow filling can provoke bronchial asthma in patients sensitized to buckwheat. In Korea one third of the pillows contain buckwheat husk (BH). Recently the authors examined three asthmatics who presented symptoms when exposed to house dust extract and BH-pillow extract. They had no history of asthma attack following ingestion of buckwheat foods. The possibility of mites or mite like substances in the BH-pillow extract was evaluated. There was a good correlation of skin test results between Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) and BH-pillow extract. The concentrated extract of BH-pillow displayed inhibition of D. farinae radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and a dose dependent pattern RAST inhibition. The lyophilized extract of BH-clean did not show any constant feature in D. farinae RAST inhibition test. Furthermore, mites of Dematophagoides species were discovered in the contents of BH-pillows. Ten of 40 cases who tested positive to the skin test for the extract of BH-pillow manifested weakly positive to buckwheat RAST. None of them presented a previous history of buckwheat food allergy. Also we evaluated the possibility of cross-allergenicity between buckwheat and its husk. Using these results the authors concluded that there were some amounts of allergenic substance from house dust mites in the contents of BH-pillows and that the dust from these could provoke or aggravate the symptoms of asthmatics who were sensitive to house dust mites.
Adult ; Allergens/immunology* ; Asthma/etiology ; Bedding and Linens* ; Cross Reactions ; Female ; Flour* ; Human ; Male ; Mite Infestations/complications ; Triticum/immunology

BACKGROUND: Norwegian scabies is a highly infectious disease characterized by crust formation, different from ordinary scabies, and is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. After the patient in our case was diagnosed with Norwegian scabies, active measures were taken to prevent its transmission within the hospital. Methods: A 66-year-old female patient was admitted to the general ward of a university hospital on January 23rd, 2008 and 6 days later, she was found to have been infected with Norwegian scabies all over the body. For epidemiological investigation, those who had been in contact with the patient were identified and interviewed. The patient was advised to follow the contact precaution, and linen the patient used was cleaned thoroughly. The surrounding environment was decontaminated by applying surface disinfectant. Preventive cream against the Norwegian scabies was distributed to staff members and patients who had been exposed to the patient, and appointed a dermatologist to educate them on how to use of medicine, what the mechanism of the disease is, what cautions must be taken, and how to write an ex post facto report. RESULTS: After the confirmation of the 1st case, no additional cases have been reported in the hospital during the ensuing 2 months. Therefore, prompt prevention and infection control activities against Norwegian scabies can be thought to have been successful. CONCLUSION: Whena patient with an uncertain skin disease is admitted, pertinent measures must be taken from the moment the patient is admitted and contact precaution should be applied both to the patients and the staff members. When a scabies patient is detected in an institution, the medical staff must enforce as much active preventive measures as possible, and by doing so, there will be a better chance to prevent the outbreak of scabies in the hospital.
Aged ; Bedding and Linens ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection ; Female ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Staff ; Patients' Rooms ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin Diseases