OBJECTIVES: The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful non-invasive tool to investigate the autonomic nerve function. Previous studies on the relationship between HRV and depression have been reported controversial results. Similarly, the correlation between the serum lipids and depression is debatable. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between heart rate variability, lipid profile and depression. METHODS: A total of 42 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 32 age and sex-matched normal subjects who had no previous history of major medical and mental illnesses were recruited for this study. A structured-interview was used to assess the general characteristics and psychiatric illness. HRV measures were assessed by time-domain and frequency-domain analyses. Psychological symptoms were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAM-A), Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D). In addition, the evaluation for lipid profile was performed by blood test. RESULTS: In serum lipid profile test, MDD group showed higher cholesterol (197.68+/-42.94 mg/dL vs. 176.85+/-34.68 mg/dL, p=0.044), TG (139.45+/-92.54 mg/dL vs. 91.4+/-65.68 mg/dL, p=0.018), LDL (130.03+/-33.18 vs. 106.62+/-27.08, p=0.004) level than normal control group. In HRV time domain analyses, the standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) was decreased in MDD group than normal control group, but was not significant (32.82+/-14.33 ms vs. 40.36+/-21.40ms, p=0.078). ApEn (Approximate Entrophy) was significantly increased in MDD group than normal control group (1.13+/-0.11 vs. 0.91+/-0.18, p<0.001). ApEn was correlated with LDL level (r=0.277, p=0.028), HAM-D scores (r=0.534, p<0.001) and HAM-A scores (r=0.470, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: MDD patients showed increased ApEn, one of the HRV measurement. And this ApEn was correlated with LDL, HAM-D and HAM-A scores. In this study, the analysis of ApEn would be a useful test of MDD.
Anxiety ; Autonomic Pathways ; Cholesterol ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine the relationships among hospice-palliative care (HPC) nurses' knowledge of delirium, self-efficacy and nursing performance. METHODS: This study was participated by 174 nurses working in the HPC unit. The nurses were asked to fill out a questionnaire that was structured to measure their knowledge of delirium, a self-efficacy in clinical performance scale (SECPS) and nursing performance. RESULTS: The mean score for knowledge was 32.83 out of 45, with correction rate of 73%. The mean score for self-efficacy was 7.08 out of 10. The mean score of nursing performance was 2.95 out of 4. Significant correlation was observed among the variables of knowledge (r=0.28, P < 0.001), self-efficacy (r=0.51, P < 0.001) and nursing performance. CONCLUSION: Nurses with high level of knowledge of delirium showed high level of self-efficacy, and consequently better HPC nursing performance. It is necessary to develop a training program on delirium considering nurses' needs of knowledge of the condition. The effectiveness of the training program should be also examined in future.
Delirium* ; Education ; Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing ; Nursing* ; Self Efficacy

No abstract available.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Ferritins*

Implant prostheses were classified into screw-retained prosthesis and cement-retained prosthesis by their method of retaining, and there is screw and cement retained implant prosthesis (SCRP) which has been made reflecting the strengths of these two. The advantages of the SCRP technique are easy retrievability and passive fit of implant prostheses. However, the occlusal screw holes of implant prostheses can be thought as a disadvantage with respect to esthetics and occlusion. Inappropriately positioned implants also limited the use of the SCRP technique. The present study is reporting about the case where nine implants (US II, OSSTEM, Seoul, Korea) were placed in maxilla and eight in mandible respectively in fully edentulous patients. Then, the cement-retained prosthesis was applied for the part in which the screw hole positioned improperly, and screw-retained prosthesis for properly positioned implants so that the combined screw-cement prosthesis has been produced where the satisfying result has shown in both function and esthetics. Three-year follow-up has been done for the patient.
Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Esthetics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Prostheses and Implants

Background: The purpose of our study was to analyze the effects of hospital volume and region on in-hospital and long-term mortality, direct medical costs (DMCs), and length of hospital stay (LOS) in elderly patients following hip fracture, utilizing nationwide claims data. Methods: This retrospective nationwide study sourced its subjects from the Korean National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database spanning from January 2011 to December 2018. A generalized estimating equation model with a Poisson distribution and logarithmic link function was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs to assess the association of hospital volume with in-hospital and 1-year mortality, DMCs, and LOS . Results: A total of 172,144 patients were included. Comparing the risk of in-hospital death between high-volume and low-volume hospitals, the risk of in-hospital death was 1.2 times higher at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07–1.33; p = 0.002).Additionally, the risk of death at 1 year was 1.05 times higher at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01–1.09; p = 0.008) compared to high-volume hospitals. DMCs were 0.84 times lower at low-volume hospitals for in-hospital period (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.84–0.85; p < 0.001) and 0.87 times lower for 1 year (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.86–0.88; p < 0.001) compared to high-volume hospitals. In-hospital LOS was 1.21 times longer at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.20–1.22; p < 0.001) than at high-volume hospitals. In addition, the risk of in-hospital death was 1.22 times higher (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12–1.33; p < 0.001) and the risk of 1-year death was 1.07 times higher (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04–1.10; p < 0.001) at rural hospitals compared to urban hospitals. Conclusions Clinicians should focus on improving clinical outcomes for hip fracture patients in low-volume and rural hospital settings, with a specific emphasis on reducing mortality rates.

Background: The purpose of our study was to analyze the effects of hospital volume and region on in-hospital and long-term mortality, direct medical costs (DMCs), and length of hospital stay (LOS) in elderly patients following hip fracture, utilizing nationwide claims data. Methods: This retrospective nationwide study sourced its subjects from the Korean National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database spanning from January 2011 to December 2018. A generalized estimating equation model with a Poisson distribution and logarithmic link function was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs to assess the association of hospital volume with in-hospital and 1-year mortality, DMCs, and LOS . Results: A total of 172,144 patients were included. Comparing the risk of in-hospital death between high-volume and low-volume hospitals, the risk of in-hospital death was 1.2 times higher at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07–1.33; p = 0.002).Additionally, the risk of death at 1 year was 1.05 times higher at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01–1.09; p = 0.008) compared to high-volume hospitals. DMCs were 0.84 times lower at low-volume hospitals for in-hospital period (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.84–0.85; p < 0.001) and 0.87 times lower for 1 year (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.86–0.88; p < 0.001) compared to high-volume hospitals. In-hospital LOS was 1.21 times longer at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.20–1.22; p < 0.001) than at high-volume hospitals. In addition, the risk of in-hospital death was 1.22 times higher (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12–1.33; p < 0.001) and the risk of 1-year death was 1.07 times higher (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04–1.10; p < 0.001) at rural hospitals compared to urban hospitals. Conclusions Clinicians should focus on improving clinical outcomes for hip fracture patients in low-volume and rural hospital settings, with a specific emphasis on reducing mortality rates.

Background: The purpose of our study was to analyze the effects of hospital volume and region on in-hospital and long-term mortality, direct medical costs (DMCs), and length of hospital stay (LOS) in elderly patients following hip fracture, utilizing nationwide claims data. Methods: This retrospective nationwide study sourced its subjects from the Korean National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database spanning from January 2011 to December 2018. A generalized estimating equation model with a Poisson distribution and logarithmic link function was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs to assess the association of hospital volume with in-hospital and 1-year mortality, DMCs, and LOS . Results: A total of 172,144 patients were included. Comparing the risk of in-hospital death between high-volume and low-volume hospitals, the risk of in-hospital death was 1.2 times higher at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07–1.33; p = 0.002).Additionally, the risk of death at 1 year was 1.05 times higher at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01–1.09; p = 0.008) compared to high-volume hospitals. DMCs were 0.84 times lower at low-volume hospitals for in-hospital period (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.84–0.85; p < 0.001) and 0.87 times lower for 1 year (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.86–0.88; p < 0.001) compared to high-volume hospitals. In-hospital LOS was 1.21 times longer at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.20–1.22; p < 0.001) than at high-volume hospitals. In addition, the risk of in-hospital death was 1.22 times higher (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12–1.33; p < 0.001) and the risk of 1-year death was 1.07 times higher (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04–1.10; p < 0.001) at rural hospitals compared to urban hospitals. Conclusions Clinicians should focus on improving clinical outcomes for hip fracture patients in low-volume and rural hospital settings, with a specific emphasis on reducing mortality rates.

Background: The purpose of our study was to analyze the effects of hospital volume and region on in-hospital and long-term mortality, direct medical costs (DMCs), and length of hospital stay (LOS) in elderly patients following hip fracture, utilizing nationwide claims data. Methods: This retrospective nationwide study sourced its subjects from the Korean National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database spanning from January 2011 to December 2018. A generalized estimating equation model with a Poisson distribution and logarithmic link function was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs to assess the association of hospital volume with in-hospital and 1-year mortality, DMCs, and LOS . Results: A total of 172,144 patients were included. Comparing the risk of in-hospital death between high-volume and low-volume hospitals, the risk of in-hospital death was 1.2 times higher at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07–1.33; p = 0.002).Additionally, the risk of death at 1 year was 1.05 times higher at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01–1.09; p = 0.008) compared to high-volume hospitals. DMCs were 0.84 times lower at low-volume hospitals for in-hospital period (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.84–0.85; p < 0.001) and 0.87 times lower for 1 year (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.86–0.88; p < 0.001) compared to high-volume hospitals. In-hospital LOS was 1.21 times longer at low-volume hospitals (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.20–1.22; p < 0.001) than at high-volume hospitals. In addition, the risk of in-hospital death was 1.22 times higher (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12–1.33; p < 0.001) and the risk of 1-year death was 1.07 times higher (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04–1.10; p < 0.001) at rural hospitals compared to urban hospitals. Conclusions Clinicians should focus on improving clinical outcomes for hip fracture patients in low-volume and rural hospital settings, with a specific emphasis on reducing mortality rates.

BACKGROUND: In spite of the successful reperfusion therapy, coronary blood flow in infarcted myocardium was known to decrease for a long time. Abciximab is known to inhibit the final pathway of platelet aggregation and maintenance the large vessel patency. But abciximab may have another important effect beyond the these effect. TIMI frame count method is simple, reproducible, objective and quantitative index of coronary flow. We tried to define the effect of abciximab that used with primary angioplasty on the coronary blood flow using TIMI frame count methods. METHODS: We consecutively studied 30 patients who admitted for acute myocardial infarction without cardiogenic shock from September 1997 to August 1999. We analyzed the changes of corrected TIMI frame count(CTFC) between the baseline(immediate after the angioplasty) and follow-up(post-op 7th day) coronary angiogram and compared the results between the group of primary angioplasty with abciximab(abciximab group, n=1) and the group of primary angioplasty without abciximab(non-abciximab group, n=9). RESULTS: There were no differences between abciximab group and non-abciximab group in baseline characteristics, treatment modalities and angiographic results. According to the results of the comparison of deltaCTFC, changing rate of CTFC, deltavelocity and changing rate of velocity, there were significant improvement of the coronary blood flow in infarct related artery in the abciximab group than non-abciximab group. But there were no differences in the changes of coronary blood flow in non-infarct related artery between two groups. The frequency of major adverse coronary events during follow up periods(mean 6 months) were similar(9.1% and 5.2% each other, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abciximab used with primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction improved the coronary blood flow significantly in infarcted myocardium. This finding may be related that abciximab enhance the perfusion and function of microvasculature in infarcted myocardium.
Angioplasty* ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Microvessels ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium ; Perfusion ; Platelet Aggregation ; Reperfusion ; Shock, Cardiogenic

PURPOSE: About 10% of all gastric cancers (GCs) are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated. However, the oncogene of EBV in gastric carcinogenesis has not yet been established. In the present study, we investigated the virus-derived transcripts in the EBV-infected GC cell line to explore the viral oncogene of EBV-positive GCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the SNU719 cell line, a naturally derived EBV-infected GC cell line. The individual expressed sequence tags from the cDNA libraries of SNU719 were searched against the mRNA subset extracted from the GenBank data base. Sequence reaction was carried out for the EBV-associated clones. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed after cells were partitioned into nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions. RESULTS: Using bioinformatic tools, we selected 13 EBV-associated clones from cDNA libraries of SNU719. By sequencing analysis, we revealed that they were all associated with RPMS1, one of the BamHI-A rightward transcripts (BART) of EBV. Some BART cDNAs such as RPMS1 and A73 are known to be translated into protein in vitro, and have been shown to have some biochemical functions relevant to tumorigenesis. But, presently, the BART transcripts were expressed only in the nucleus and not in the cytoplasm, arguing against their role as messenger RNAs. Some other BART transcripts expressed in GCs (BARF0, CST, vIL, BARF1, BLLF1, and BcLF1) were also extensively detected in the nucleus. CONCLUSION: BART transcripts are the predominant viral transcripts expressed in EBV-associated GCs, and they are located only in the nucleus. Therefore, it seems less likely that BART transcripts produce functional proteins to play a role in carcinogenesis of EBV-associated GCs.
Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Clone Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; DNA, Complementary ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Library ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Oncogenes ; Proteins ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach Neoplasms