BACKGROUND: It is understood that amylase is poor and lipase is a little better than amylase in specificity for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. But we recognized that the general knowledge was resulted from the study of inappropriate design of some researchers. So, we tried to find out the true diagnostic value of amylase and lipase by the study of appropriate design, and with the above result, evaluated the usefulness of lipase as a diagnostic test for acute pancreatitis. METHODS: We reviewed the serum levels of the amylase and lipase in 33 patients complaining acute abdominal pain diagnosed as acute pancreatitis by image study (computed tomography, ultrasonography) , and in the 134 patients of control group who, with abdominal pain, were diagnosed finally as non-pancreatic disease at discharge after admission and treatment. Serum amylase and lipase activity were measured by aca IVTM (Chiron Inc.). RESULTS: The sensitivity of amylase and lipase for the diagnosis of acute pan creatitis was 81.8% and 87.8%, respectively. The specificity of amylase and lipase for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was 92.5% and 86.5%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity was 84.6% and 96.3% respectively, when two enzymes were combined by 'and' strategy. The lipase activity remained elevated longer than the amylase in acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: On the contrary of the general knowledge, sensitivities and specificities of the amylase and lipase were fairy high and didn't show big dirt ferences between two enzymes. Though only one of the two enzymes could be selected for the diagnosis of acute Pancreatitis, using both of the enzymes increased the specificity, and lipase was useful to detect the patient who came to hospital a few days later after the onset of symptom.
Abdominal Pain ; Amylases ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Lipase* ; Pancreatitis* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Pathology, Clinical*

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships among attitudes towards death, perceptions of hospice care, and hospice care needs as perceived by family members of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 114 participating families in the ICU at Dong-A University Hospital, from October 10 to November 1, 2019. The data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage, and mean and standard deviation. The t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients were also conducted. Results: Perceptions of hospice care showed significant differences according to age (F=3.06, P=0.031) and marital status (t=3.55, P=0.001). However, no significant differences in attitudes towards death or hospice care needs were found. A significant positive correlation was found between perceptions of hospice care and hospice care needs (r=0.49, P＜0.001). Conclusion In order for families to recognize the need for hospice care and to receive high-quality palliative care at the appropriate time, it is necessary to increase public awareness of hospice care through various educational and awareness-raising efforts, thereby providing opportunities for families of terminally ill patients to request hospice care.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships among attitudes towards death, perceptions of hospice care, and hospice care needs as perceived by family members of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 114 participating families in the ICU at Dong-A University Hospital, from October 10 to November 1, 2019. The data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage, and mean and standard deviation. The t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients were also conducted. Results: Perceptions of hospice care showed significant differences according to age (F=3.06, P=0.031) and marital status (t=3.55, P=0.001). However, no significant differences in attitudes towards death or hospice care needs were found. A significant positive correlation was found between perceptions of hospice care and hospice care needs (r=0.49, P＜0.001). Conclusion In order for families to recognize the need for hospice care and to receive high-quality palliative care at the appropriate time, it is necessary to increase public awareness of hospice care through various educational and awareness-raising efforts, thereby providing opportunities for families of terminally ill patients to request hospice care.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Intestine, Small* ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: For the treatment of peptic ulcer diseases infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole are most commonly used. Recently the resistant rates against these antibiotics have been increased and this has become one of the major causes of treatment failure. It was recently demonstrated that metronidazole resistance is associated with mutation in rdxA gene that encodes an oxygen-insensitive NADPH nitroreductase. The aim of this study was to investigate the mutations of the rdxA gene for the metronidazoleresistant H. pylori isolates from Guri City, Korea. METHODS: H. pylori strains were isolated from gastric biopsy specimens from patients diagnosed as having peptic ulcer or gastric carcinoma in Hanyang University Guri Hospital. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the modified broth microdilution method. Resistance was defined as metronidazole minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) being more than 16 ug/mL Three metronidazole-sensitive and 10 metronidazole-resistant strains were selected to detect mutations in the rdxA genes by direct sequencing of PCR products. RESULTS: Of the 266 clinical isolates of H. pylori that were isolated from 1996 through 2001, 90 isolates (33.8%) showed metronidazole resistance. The frequency of nucleotide substitutions of the rdxA gene of 10 metronidazole-resistant strains (25-33/strain) was not so different from that of the three metronidazole-sensitive strains (22-26/strain). Stop signals generated by nucleotide substitution, insertion, or deletion, were found in 5 metronidazole-resistant strains (50%), but not in 3 metronidazole- susceptible strains. CONCLUSION: The present study confirms that the presence of mutations on the rdxA gene causing a premature stopping of the inferred RdxA protein is associated with metronidazole resistance. But other genes or mechanisms might be implicated in the generation of metronidazole resistance and further investigations are needed.
Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Clarithromycin ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Metronidazole* ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; NADP ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Treatment Failure

PURPOSE: This study investigated medication status by examining the effects of a medication management education program on the knowledge of medications and medication misuse behaviors in the elderly in a local community. METHODS: This study used a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. For the study, 116 subjects were assigned to the control group and another 116 subjects were assigned to the experimental group. The medication management education program consisted of 1:1 education, practice in medication management, consultation, and discussion. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in terms of their knowledge of medications and medication misuse behaviors. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the medical management education program is effective in improving the knowledge of medications and decreasing medication misuse behaviors. Therefore, this education program can be used as an intervention to improve the medication behaviors of the elderly in local communities.
Aged* ; Education* ; Humans ; Medication Therapy Management ; Prescription Drug Misuse

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of interpersonal relationships of head nurses in interacting with others in general hospital settings. METHODS: The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews from seven head nurses and were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Five major categories emerged and they represent a major strategy according to five different groups of interacting people. 'Establishing trust' was identified as the key strategy in dealing with patients and family members. 'Embracing with sisterly love' and 'helping with self-defense' were major strategies for subordinate nurses and physicians, respectively. 'Respecting and recognizing' was the main approach for other professionals such as dietitians and 'emphasizing rules and educating' were a major one for non-professionals. Head nurses paid more attention and made efforts in dealing with their subordinate nurses than with other groups of people, because they felt the most difficulty in their relationship with subordinate nurses. CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that head nurses employ unique strategies in interacting with different groups of people to increase the efficiency of communication. This study would help nurse administrators establish an effective program for improving interpersonal relationships of head nurse.
Head ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Interpersonal Relations ; Nurse Administrators ; Nursing, Supervisory ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of exercise on physiological, physical and psychological functions of the frail elderly. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Data were collected from September 9 to October 10, 2009. The subjects were 56 frail elders who agreed to participate in this study and each subject was randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=28) or the control group (n=28). The exercise program was provided to each subject in the experimental group twice in a week for 6 weeks. Data were analyzed with frequency, chi2-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnor test and independent t-test using SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in psychological functions in the experimental group compared to the control group (t=1.726, p=.045). CONCLUSION: The exercise program showed the effects to improve the psychological functions of the frail elderly with chronic disease. In recommendation, this exercise program could be utilized as a health promoting program for the frail elderly.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Frail Elderly ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Research Design

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to prove the relationship between serum leptin level and bone mineral density of lumbar spine, femur neck and bone markers in postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: We measured serum leptin, serum osteocalcin, urine deoxypyridinoline levels and bone mineral density of lumbar spine, femur neck in 88 premenopausal and 118 postmenopausal women who visited St. Vincent Hospital of Catholic University of Korea from March 1st, 2007 to December 31th, 2007. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlation was shown between serum leptin level and body mass index (BMI) in both premenopausal (r= 0.343, P<0.0001) and postmenopausal women (r=0.360, P<0.0001). And no significant correlation was observed between serum leptin level and bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and femur neck in premenopausal women (r=0.013, P=0.107 and r=0.004, P=0.425, respectively), but in postmenopausal women, there was a positive correlation between serum leptin and lumbar spinal BMD (r=0.085, P=0.02). But after the adjustment with age and BMI, the serum leptin and BMD of lumbar spine did not showed a significantly correlation in the same group (r=0.088, P=0.939). Also, no significant correlations were observed between serum leptin level and serum osteocalcin and urine deoxypyridinoline in premenopausal (r=0.004, P=0.566 and r=0.002, P=0.707, respectively) and postmenopausal women (r=0.026, P=0.096 and r=0.000, P=0.933, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, there is no significant correlation between serum leptin level and bone mineral density and bone markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal Korean women. Our own data would suggest that leptin has both negative and positive effects in bone mass regulation. Furthermore, larger clinical studies are necessary to clarify leptin's role to assess the contribution of the central and peripheral role of leptin in the overall maintenance of bone turnover.
Amino Acids ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Korea ; Leptin ; Osteocalcin ; Postmenopause ; Spine