No abstract available.
Apgar Score* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Infant, Newborn*

PURPOSE: Most of recent MR imagings of cerebral cortex activation have been performed by using high field magnet above 2-T or echo-planar imaging technique. We report our experience on imaging of cerebral cortex activation with a widely available standard 1.5-T MR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Series of gradient-echo images (TR/TE/flip angle :80/60/40 degrees64 x 128 matrix) were acquired alternatively during the periods of rest and task in five normal volunteers. Finger movement (n=10 ;5 right, 5 left) and flashing photic stimulation (n=l) were used as a motor task and a visual task to activate the motor cortex and visual cortex, respectively. Activation images were obtained by subtracting sum of rest images from that of task images. Changes of signal intensity were analyzed over the periods of rest and task. RESULTS: Activation images were obtained in all cases. Changes of signal intensity between rest and task periods were 6.5-14.6%(mean, 10.5%) in the motor cortex and 4.2% in the visual cortex. CONCLUSION: Functional imaging of cerebral cortex activation could be performed with a widely available 1.5-T MR. Widespread applications of this technique to basic and clinical neuroscience are expected.
Cerebral Cortex* ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; Fingers ; Healthy Volunteers ; Motor Cortex ; Neurosciences ; Photic Stimulation ; Visual Cortex

The effects of NMDA-receptor antagonist (MK-801) were assessed for the oxygen free radical mediated brain (hippocampus) injury with eighty rats which were exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) followed by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were used as parameters of the oxygen free radical reaction. Experimental groups consisted of (1) control group (=breathing with air), (2) CO group (=exposed to CO after air breath), (3) CO-air group(exposed to CO after air breath followed by air breath), and (4) CO-HBO group (=exposed to CO after air breath followed by 3 ATA HBO). Each group was divided two subgroup according to the pretreatment (normal saline or MK-801). CO, CO-air and HBO groups increased in SOD activity as compared with control group. And CO-air and HBO groups increased in MDA as compared with control and CO group. Pretreatment of MK-801 decreased SOD activities significantly (p-value<.05) , but MDA amount not significantly (p-value=.107). These results suggest a useful protective effect of NMDA-receptor antagonist (MK-801) in CO induced hippocampal injury mediated by oxygen free radicals.
Animals ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Carbon Monoxide ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Free Radicals ; Malondialdehyde ; Oxygen* ; Rats* ; Superoxide Dismutase

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of oncology ward nurses toward cancer pain management and to find ways to improve the educational program for nurses. METHOD: A total of 209 nurses working at the oncology ward of three hospitals in Seoul and a Gyenggi Province. The survey instrument used was the 32-item scale for evaluating nurses knowledge and attitudes originally developed by McCaffery and Ferrell'(1990), that was by Kim'(1997). RESULTS: In terms of the nurses knowledge of pain management, the result showed that the nurses scored an average of 67.8 out of 100 for phamacokinetics of opioids, 84.8 for classification of analgesics, 60.1 for pain assessment, and 70.7 for drug administration. 18.2% of the nurses hesitate to inject the narcotic agent because of concerns regarding the drug's potential side effects. there was significant difference in the knowledge of pain management according to the general characteristics of pain in terms of the nurses age(p=.001), position (p=.016), years of experiences(p=.002), experience of cancer pain education(p=.001). CONCLUSION: The also showed that nurses working at cancer ward lack knowledge. It is important to provide intensive education to nurses about cancer pain management.
Analgesics ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Classification ; Education ; Pain Management* ; Pain Measurement ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of oncology ward nurses toward cancer pain management and to find ways to improve the educational program for nurses. METHOD: A total of 209 nurses working at the oncology ward of three hospitals in Seoul and a Gyenggi Province. The survey instrument used was the 32-item scale for evaluating nurses knowledge and attitudes originally developed by McCaffery and Ferrell'(1990), that was by Kim'(1997). RESULTS: In terms of the nurses knowledge of pain management, the result showed that the nurses scored an average of 67.8 out of 100 for phamacokinetics of opioids, 84.8 for classification of analgesics, 60.1 for pain assessment, and 70.7 for drug administration. 18.2% of the nurses hesitate to inject the narcotic agent because of concerns regarding the drug's potential side effects. there was significant difference in the knowledge of pain management according to the general characteristics of pain in terms of the nurses age(p=.001), position (p=.016), years of experiences(p=.002), experience of cancer pain education(p=.001). CONCLUSION: The also showed that nurses working at cancer ward lack knowledge. It is important to provide intensive education to nurses about cancer pain management.
Analgesics ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Classification ; Education ; Pain Management* ; Pain Measurement ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) is a leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illness. Risk factors for CDAD include advanced age, long-term admission, antibiotics, proton-pump inhibitor or H₂ blocker use and immunosuppression. The practice guideline of American Journal of Gastroenterology (2013) suggests metronidazole for the first-line therapy of mild-moderate CDAD as well as vancomycin for severe CDAD. MICU inpatients receiving stress ulcer prophylaxis and antibiotics are susceptible to nosocomial CDAD. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate occurrence and treatment of CDAD in MICU. METHODS: Patients who were admitted to the MICU and had CDAD from August 2012 to August 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 90 patients with CDAD, 20 patients (2.22%) had mild-moderate CDAD (16 received metronidazole and 4 received vancomycin therapy) and 70 patients (77.8%) had severe CDAD(54 received metronidazole and 16 received vancomycin therapy). Among the patients with mild-moderate CDAD, treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin resulted in same clinical cure in 50% of the patients (p=1.00). Among the patients with severe CDAD, treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin resulted in clinical cure in 40.7% and 50.0% of the patients, respectively (p=0.511). Clinical symptoms recurred in 7.4% of the severe CDAD patients treated with metronidazole and 6.3% of those treated with vancomycin (p=0.875). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that metronidazole and vancomycin are equally effective for the treatment of mild-moderate CDAD; however, vancomycin demonstrated higher clinical cure rate and lower recurrence rate for severe CDAD, although the difference was not statistically significant. For better clinical outcomes, appropriate medication use by disease severity is needed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clostridium difficile ; Clostridium* ; Critical Care* ; Diarrhea* ; Gastroenterology ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Inpatients ; Intensive Care Units* ; Metronidazole* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ulcer ; Vancomycin*

BACKGROUND: Although many clinicians know about the reducing effects of the pulsed and low-dose modes for fluoroscopic radiation when performing interventional procedures, few studies have quantified the reduction of radiation-absorbed doses (RADs). The aim of this study is to compare how much the RADs from a fluoroscopy are reduced according to the C-arm fluoroscopic modes used. METHODS: We measured the RADs in the C-arm fluoroscopic modes including 'conventional mode', 'pulsed mode', 'low-dose mode', and 'pulsed + low-dose mode'. Clinical imaging conditions were simulated using a lead apron instead of a patient. According to each mode, one experimenter radiographed the lead apron, which was on the table, consecutively 5 times on the AP views. We regarded this as one set and a total of 10 sets were done according to each mode. Cumulative exposure time, RADs, peak X-ray energy, and current, which were viewed on the monitor, were recorded. RESULTS: Pulsed, low-dose, and pulsed + low-dose modes showed significantly decreased RADs by 32%, 57%, and 83% compared to the conventional mode. The mean cumulative exposure time was significantly lower in the pulsed and pulsed + low-dose modes than in the conventional mode. All modes had pretty much the same peak X-ray energy. The mean current was significantly lower in the low-dose and pulsed + low-dose modes than in the conventional mode. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the pulsed and low-dose modes together significantly reduced the RADs compared to the conventional mode. Therefore, the proper use of the fluoroscopy and its C-arm modes will reduce the radiation exposure of patients and clinicians.
Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiographic Image Enhancement

OBJECTIVES: Maternal depression has a detrimental effect on baby growth. Recent reports suggest that depressive symptoms are more likely to occur during pregnancy than in the postpartum period. In Korea, there are relatively few studies of depression during pregnancy compared to those related to postpartum depression. The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with antenatal depression. METHODS: The study included 143 pregnant women who had completed the Korean version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (K-EPDS), the Korea-Marital Satisfaction Inventory's global distress scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-2. Based on the K-EPDS scores, we divided the participants into two groups. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with antenatal depression. RESULTS: Thirty (21%) of the subjects were evaluated as being depressed, pregnant women. Pregnant women with high self-esteem and marital satisfaction were less likely to have depression. Similarly, those who are younger and those with an abortion history were more likely to have depression. Past psychiatric history and family history were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION Dissatisfaction with marriage, low self-esteem, younger age, and abortion history were closely related to the presence of antenatal depression. The results of this study can be used as baseline data for the development of family-based education programs and early antenatal depression policies.