PURPOSE: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experience of becoming a mother after child-birth of Chinese immigrant women in Korea. METHODS: Ten Chinese immigrant women were recruited from multi-cultural center in the metropolitan area. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interview from July 2015 to May in 2016. Interview was conducted until the data were theoretically saturated. Data analysis was performed simultaneously with the data collection, and the contents of the interview were analyzed according to the Corbin and Strauss' grounded theory method. RESULTS: In total, 36 concepts were produced through the analysis, and similar concepts were combined to derive 16 categories. Based on the relation between the categories, the core category is analysed as ‘becoming culture integrating mothers’. The attainment process from this procedural approach are described as cultural intimidated stage, cultural conflicting stage, cultural cooperating stage, cultural integrating stage. There are three types of ‘becoming cultural integrating mothers’, integrating type, conflicting type, and intimidated type. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it is suggested to develop the nursing intervention program including cultural sensitive education and consultation program for helping becoming a mother in each type of the Chinese immigrant women in Korea. In addition, nurse or nursing student education program to enhance the cultural sensitivity is also needed.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Data Collection ; Education ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Female ; Grounded Theory* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Methods ; Mothers* ; Nursing ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: This study was to explore the postnatal care experiences among first time Chinese immigrant mothers living in Korea. METHODS: Data were collected by focus group interviews with 12 first time Chinese immigrant mothers utilizing 3 focus groups. After obtaining written informed consent from all participants, each session of the focus group was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed by content analysis to identify major themes. RESULTS: Four major themes for postnatal care experiences were extracted from the data as follows. 1) Range over traditional, modern, Korean or Chinese postnatal care, 2) Struggle with newborn care, 3) Another struggle with breastfeeding, and 4) Difficulties in becoming a mother as an immigrant. CONCLUSION: Based on their postpartum care experiences, it is concluded that participants requested more professional practical and individualized education/training for successful breastfeeding and newborn care. Health care providers need to develop and implement integrated support and mentoring programs that include information and peer support system for the first time Chinese immigrant mothers living in Korea. This would decrease the difficulties of becoming a mother.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Breast Feeding ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Focus Groups ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Informed Consent ; Korea* ; Mentors ; Mothers* ; Postnatal Care* ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe knowledge status of current research related to maternal adaptation of women immigrants by marriage in Korea. METHODS: Eighteen quantitative current researches published from January, 2006 to August, 2014 that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These 18 articles finally selected for systemic review from 5,168 articles. All current researches included the mother within one year after childbirth and one variable related to maternal adaptation at least. RESULTS: Variables related to psychological adaptation (48.1%) were mostly studied. In detail, parenting stress (17.3%) and parenting competency (15.4%) were frequently surveyed. Also, social support (7.7%), husband rearing support (5.8%) of relational adaptation, and acculturation (3.8%) of cultural adaptation were importantly studied. In addition, frequently used instruments for each study variable were analyzed and evaluated. As major results, parenting stress and parenting efficacy were significantly influenced by social support or husband rearing support and acculturation, and had an effect on parenting behaviors. Various maternal education programs were effective in improving maternal role confidence or parenting efficacy and decreasing parenting stress. CONCLUSION: Nursing intervention programs for improving maternal adaptation should focus on decreasing parenting stress and increasing parenting efficacy by improving social support and acculturation level of women immigrants by marriage in Korea.
Acculturation ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Education ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Marriage* ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Parenting ; Parents ; Parturition ; Spouses

Myxoid and round cell liposarcoma is a variant of liposarcoma characterized by a morphologic continuum in which tumor progression from low-grade myxoid to high-grade hypercellular or round cell areas may be observed. A 28-year old man presented with a painful skin colored subcutaneous mass on his left flank. The skin lesion was discovered about two months ago. Computed tomography revealed a well-defined tumor in the subcutaneous area without significant lymphadenopathy. A histopathologic study showed a nonencapsulated nodular growing tumor mass under the deep dermis composed of a mixture of atypical proliferating lipoblasts in a prominent myxoid stroma, occasional uniform round to oval shaped primitive nonlipogenic mesenchymal cells and plexiform, chicken wire shaped capillaries. Based on these findings, we diagnosed this case as myxoid and round cell liposarcoma. Because liposarcomas are large tumors of the deep subcutis or deeper soft tissue, they rarely come to the attention of the dermatologist. However, liposarcoma should be of concern, especially when rapid growing subcutaneous tumors are shown.
Abdomen ; Capillaries ; Chickens ; Dermis ; Liposarcoma ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue

PURPOSE: IL-10 and IFN-gamma are amongst important cytokines, which are thought to have influence on organ transplantation outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the IL-10 and IFN-gamma gene polymorphisms in Koreans, and their association with renal transplantation outcome. METHODS: Three SNP sites (-1082 G/A, -819 C/T, -592 C/A) of IL-10 promoter region and CA repeats in intron 1 of IFN-gamma gene were analyzed using PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing methods in 73 controls and 164 kidney allograft recipients. Association between polymorphisms of these genes and transplantation outcome was analyzed using chi square test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The allele frequencies of the IL-10 and IFN-gamma genes showed no significant differences between the control and patient groups. The frequencies of IL-10 and IFN-gamma high producer alleles were markedly lower than those of Caucasians. The incidence of multiple acute rejection episodes was higher in IL-10low producer (-1082 AA) than intermediate producer (-1082 GA) group (8.6% vs 0%), and in IFN-gamma high producer ([CA]12 positive) than low producer ([CA]12 negative) group (11.9% vs 6.6%). The incidence of chronic renal allograft dysfunction was lower in IL-10 intermediate producer than low producer group (7.7% vs 18.0%), and also lower in the combination of IL-10 intermediate/IFN-gamma low producer type than in other combinations (0% vs 18.2%). However, all these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: IL-10 and IFN-gamma have little influence on renal transplantation outcome in Koreans, probably due to quite limited polymorphisms of these genes in this population. The results of this study would be useful as basic data for renal transplantation in Koreans.
Alleles ; Allografts* ; Cytokines ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interleukin-10* ; Introns ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Organ Transplantation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of high school students' mental health on their academic achievement and school dropout rate by using longitudinal data. METHODS: For this study, 153 high schools were randomly sampled on a nationwide scale. The descriptive data was collected from a school information internet site which is organized by the Korean Ministry of Education. We used the schools' mean scores on the Adolescent Mental Health Problem-Behavior Questionnaire-II (AMPQ-II) scale which was used for estimating students' mental health in the 2013 school-based mental health screening test. The data analysis was conducted by using hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that the AMPQ-II scale's mean scores have significant effects on the following year's academic achievement and annual dropout rates. Especially, the AMPQ-II scale's mean scores tend to increase the school dropout rate in vocational schools. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study is that Korean high school students' mental health states significantly influence their academic achievement and school dropout rate.
Adolescent ; Education ; Humans ; Internet ; Mass Screening ; Mental Health* ; Statistics as Topic ; Student Dropouts*

BACKGROUND: Excessive exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) or decreased antioxidants leads to damage of proteins, lipids, and DNA. Previous studies suggest that oxidative stress may be important in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether oxidative stress is increased in atopic dermatitis patients compared to a normal control group, we examined DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, ROS production and antioxidant expression. METHODS: Patients with atopic dermatitis (n=16; mean Scoring Atopic Dermatitis [SCORAD] index=53.06) were investigated compared to a normal control group (n=25). To examine DNA damage in the cellular level, we performed comet assays on lymphocytes and granulocytes taken from patients and control group. To measure lipid peroxidation products, urine and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were analyzed. To examine intracellular redox in lymphocytes, ROS were measured using flow cytometry. Expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1, 2 antioxidants were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Atopic dermatitis patients showed severe DNA damage compared to the control group in both lymphocytes (1.89 and 1.51, respectively, p<0.05) and granulocytes (2.07 and 1.58, respectively, p<0.05). While urine MDA levels were not significantly different between groups (1.64 and 1.13 microM/g respectively, p>0.05), plasma MDA levels were significantly increased in atopic dermatitis patients compared to controls (1.45 and 0.80 microM/g respectively, p<0.005). ROS production by activated lymphocytes was increased in atopic dermatitis patients compared to controls. SOD 1, 2 were expressed in all atopic dermatitis patients without significant increase compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Increased DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and ROS production in lymphocytes as indices of oxidative stress were observed in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis patients compared to normal control. Although precise mechanism of oxidative stress on the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is not defined yet, decreasing ROS exposure or augmenting antioxidant defenses may be alternative therapeutic approaches for atopic dermatitis.
Antioxidants ; Comet Assay ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lymphocytes ; Malondialdehyde ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reverse Transcription ; Superoxide Dismutase

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and prenatal ultrasonography (USG) with postnatal diagnosis for the diagnosis of fetal anomalies. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 41 fetuses who underwent fetal MRI with prenatal USG from 2005 to 2008 was performed. In 28 cases of the total population, the final neonatal diagnosis was also analyzed for the consistency of pre- and postnatal diagnoses for each diagnostic tool. Postnatal diagnosis was confirmed by physical examination, radiographic studies (USG, MRI and/or computed tomography), surgery, and/or autopsy. RESULTS: Mean gestational age at the fetal MRI performed was 26.1+/-4.7 weeks. The most common indication of the fetal MRI was central nervous system (CNS) anomalies (n=12), followed by thoracic anomalies (n=5), abdominal anomalies (n=2), genitourinary anomalies (n=3), head and neck anomalies (n=4), and others (n=2). When compared with postnatal diagnosis, the accuracy of prental MRI was superior to prenatal USG (89% vs. 71%). The cases with additional accurate diagnosis with using fetal MRI were 4 CNS, 1 genitourinary, and 1 craniofacial anomaly. Of notes, there was a case of enlarged cisterna magna in which prenatal MRI missed the diagnosis. In 2 cases (7.1%), both imaging studies made an incorrect prenatal diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Fetal MRI could confirm the USG diagnosis in most cases and provided more accurate diagnosis in some cases of CNS and thoracic, genitourinary system abnormalities. MRI is expected to be a good adjunctive for USG to improve prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies.
Central Nervous System ; Cisterna Magna ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Head ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Neck ; Physical Examination ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Urogenital System

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the clinical results of thoracolumbar burst fractures, managed by posterior fixation of 2 segments above and 1 segment below, using an offset sublaminar hook. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Mono-segment fixation above and below the injured vertebra, using posterior pedicle screw fixation, has the benefit of saving the uninjured mobile lumbar segment in thoracolumbar junction burst fracture patients. However, in a severely comminuted vertebral body, mono-segment fixation may not prevent loss of correction and metal failure. Options for such cases are additional anterior column support or long segment fixation, including 2 segments above and 1 below the injured vertebra. Instead of fixing 2 segments below the fracture level, fixation of one segment below, using the offset sublaminar hook, can save the uninjured segment, especially in the upper lumbar segment, with greater fixation strength than mono-segmental screws only. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included eleven patients with a thoracolumbar junction burst fracture, which underwent posterior fixation using pedicle screws in 2 segments above and 1 segment below, aided by an offset sublaminar hook. The mean follow-up period was 30.7 months (range, 24 to 58 months). Radiographs taken at follow-up were evaluated for implant loosening, correction loss, change in pedicle screw angle, and loss of vertebral height, adjacent segment instability and junctional degenerative change. The clinical results were collected in out-patient department. RESULTS: No implant loosening was noted. No case showed adjacent instability, acceleration of junctional degenerative change at the lower end of lumbar segment or hook dislodgement. Also, there were no junctional area related symptoms. CONCLUSION: For posterior surgery of thoracolumbar burst fractures, this construct, fixing 2 segments above and 1 segment below injured vertebra, aided by an offset sublaminar hook, was satisfactory in maintaining fracture reduction, and showed no instability or acceleration of degeneration on adjacent segnents.
Acceleration ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Chronic placental inflammation, such as villitis of unknown etiology (VUE) and chronic chorioamnionitis (CCA), is considered a placental manifestation of maternal anti-fetal rejection. The aim of this study is to investigate its frequency in twin pregnancies compared to singleton pregnancies. METHODS: Three hundred twin placentas and 1,270 singleton placentas were consecutively collected at a tertiary medical center in Seoul, Republic of Korea from 2009 to 2012. Hematoxylin and eosin sections of tissue samples (full-thickness placental disc and chorioamniotic membranes) were reviewed. RESULTS: Non-basal VUE was more frequent in twin placentas than in singleton placentas (6.0% vs 3.2%, p < .05). In preterm birth, CCA was found less frequently in twin placentas than in singleton placentas (9.6% vs 14.8%, p < .05), reaching its peak at an earlier gestational age in twin placentas (29-32 weeks) than in singleton placentas (33-36 weeks). CCA was more frequent in twin pregnancies with babies of a different sex than with those with the same sex (13.8% vs 6.9%, p=.052). Separate dichorionic diamniotic twin placentas were affected by chronic deciduitis more frequently than singleton placentas (16.9% vs 9.7%, p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The higher frequency of non-basal VUE in twin placentas and of CCA in twin placentas with different fetal sex supports the hypothesis that the underlying pathophysiological mechanism is maternal anti-fetal rejection related to increased fetal antigens in twin pregnancies. The peak of CCA at an earlier gestational age in twin placentas than in singleton placentas suggests that CCA is influenced by placental maturation.
Chorioamnionitis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Premature Birth ; Republic of Korea ; Seoul ; Twins*