No abstract available.
Dwarfism*

OBJECTIVE: The changes of the production of nitric oxide in preeclampsia are still controversial. To determine the changes of nitric oxide production in preeclamptic pregnancies, NOS activity and eNOS and iNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae were compared with those in normal placentae, and to determine the changes of nitirc oxide production according to the sites of placenta, NOS activity and eNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae were also compared with those in normal placentae. METHODS: Human placentae were obtained from 15 normal and 15 preeclamptic pregnant women at the time of cesarean section. NOS activity was assessed by measuring the conversion of [3H]-arginine into [3H]-citrulline. The eNOS and iNOS expression were assessed by using western blot analysis. Data were analyzed by Student t-test and paired t-test where appropriate. RESULTS: The NOS activity(judged by measurement of [3H]-citrulline production) was significantly increased in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(P<0.05). In normal and preeclamptic pregnant placentae, the NOS activity in main stem villi was increased compared to that in terminal villi. However, the difference of NOS activity between main stem villi and terminal villi was not significant(P>0.05). Quantification of the autoradiographic images demonstrated that the integrated optical density of the immunoreactive bands of eNOS were significantly lower in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(p<0.05). Conversely, the integrated optical densities of the bands of iNOS were significantly higher in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the eNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae was lower than that in normal placentae, the NOS activity was significantly higher in preeclamptic placentae than that in normal in this study. These are result from increased production of iNOS in the compensatory mechanisms for the decreased nitric oxide production in pre-eclamptic placentae.
Blotting, Western ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether twin discordancy is a risk factor for adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: Three hundred and seventy-five twin gestations over 28 weeks of gestation were included in this retrospective study. Medical records of mothers and infants were reviewed. Pregnancies were divided into 2 groups according to the birth weight discordancy(%) between twin neonates(group I;less than 25%, group II;25% or more). Birth weight discordancy was calculated from following formula; (birth weight of larger twin-birth weight of smaller twin)/birth weight of larger twin x 100. Perinatal and neonatal outcomes in group I and II were compared with each other. Also, difference in the outcomes between the smaller and larger twins of group II was evaluated. To evaluate whether birth weight discordancy is an independent variable in predicting poor perinatal and neonatal outcomes, multiple logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Thirty-seven gestations(9.9%) were documented to belong to group II. Group II showed significantly higher incidence of preeclampsia, placenta previa, and small for gestational age infants(p<0.01, p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). The group also showed higher incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes(admission to neonatal intensive care unit, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, congenital anomaly, neonatal death, p<0.01). Outcomes of the larger and smaller twins of group II were not significantly different with each other except small for gestational age infants(p<0.005). However, birth weight discordancy was not an independent variable in predicting adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: Fetal growth discordancy of 25% or more should be regarded as a risk factor for adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes in twin gestations. However it is not an independent factor in predicting adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Mothers ; Placenta Previa ; Pneumonia ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Sepsis

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to adapt the standardized evidence-based nursing protocol using the IPC (intermittent pneumatic compression) intervention to prevent venous thromboembolism in surgical patients. Further, an investigation was done to measure knowledge on prevention of venous thromboembolism, surrogate incidence of venous thromboembolism and to assess IPC compliance in the study patients compared with those in surgical patients who underwent IPC intervention due to previous clinical experience. METHODS: An analysis was done of the nine modules suggested by National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) in the adaptation manual of the clinical practice guideline for protocol adaptation. A nonequivalent control group post test design as a quasi-experiment was used to verify the effect of the IPC protocol. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in knowledge of prevention of venous thromboembolism, IPC application time after intervention and the number of IPC applications between the experimental group (n=50) using the IPC nursing protocol and the control group (n=49). However, the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism were not observed in either the experimental group or the control group after the intervention. CONCLUSION: Results confirm that the standardized IPC nursing protocol provides effective intervention to prevent venous thromboembolism in surgical patients.
Compliance ; Evidence-Based Nursing ; Evidence-Based Practice ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices ; Nursing Assessment* ; Nursing* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Venous Thromboembolism* ; Venous Thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the C677T Methylene-TetraHydroFolate Reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism affects the total maternal serum homocysteine and folate concentration in preeclamptic pregnant women. METHODS: Patients admitted to the hospital for the delivery during 2000-2002. 126 controls without the pregnancy complications and 34 patients with severe preeclampsia were enrolled. The serum homocysteine analysis was conducted using the high performance liquid chromatography methods. The serum folate and vitamin B12 concentration were determined using a radioimmunoassay kit. The C677T MTHFR gene mutation was examined by the polymerase chain reaction of the genomic DNA fragments. RESULTS: The total maternal serum homocysteine concentration and the serum vitamin B12 concentration were not significantly different between controls and the preeclampsia patients (p=0.44 for homocysteine, p=0.06 for vitamin B12). However, the maternal serum folate concentration was significantly higher in the preeclampsia patients than in controls (27.00 +/- 9.54 nmol/L versus 18.03 +/- 12.97 nmol/L, respectively, p=0.01). The total maternal serum homocysteine concentration, the serum folate concentration, and serum vitamin B12 in the C677T MTHFR CC type and TT type were not significantly different (p=0.21 for homocysteine, p=0.22 for folate, p=0.14 for vitamin B12). CONCLUSION: The C677T MTHFR mutation does not significantly affect the maternal homocysteine and folate concentration in both the controls without pregnancy complication and the preeclampsia patients.
Chromatography, Liquid ; DNA ; Female ; Folic Acid* ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Oxidoreductases* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnant Women* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: Periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) is the most important cause of cerebral palsy in premature infants. However, there are relatively few studies demonstrating the correlation between ultrasound findings and neurologic outcomes of low-birth-weight infants. To clarify the situation, we analyzed ultrasound findings and neurologic outcomes of many infants with periventricular leukomalacia. METHODS: Our study includes 36 infants with PVL, born in Chungnam National University Hospital, from October 1998 to December 2001. 25 infants with bilateral PVL were compared with 11 infants with asymmetric PVL. For a period of 12 to 48 months, the children were evaluated with neurologic assessments. RESULTS: In infants with bilateral lesions, 88%(22/25) of them had evidence of cerebral palsy. 16 children had spastic quadriplegia and others had spastic diplegia. 7 children with unilateral lesions were free of motor sequele at follow up. Other neurologic handicaps(mental retardation, opthalmologic abnormality or epilepsy) were not related with the symmetry or sizes of the lesions. CONCLUSION: In this study, unfavorable neurologic outcomes of bilateral PVL are confirmed. Therefore, every effort should be made to prevent the development of periventricular leukomalacia as well as not to miss the diagnosis. In addition, if there are any small lesions, regular neurologic assessments and early start of rehabilitation programs should be done.
Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular* ; Quadriplegia ; Rehabilitation ; Ultrasonography

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) that histologically resembles nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma has been reported in various sites including the stomach, salivary gland, lung, skin, thymus, tonsil and uterine cervix. LELC of the stomach was rarely reported after the first report by Burke et al. in 1990. More than 60% of them were associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Most commonly affecting elderly Asians with slight male predominance (M/F ; 1.2/1), it usually is located in the proximal portion of the stomach and distinguished from lymphoid-rich adenocarcinoma by the absence of definitive glandular differentiation in the LELC. We recently experienced 4 cases of LELC of the stomach associated with EBV. Patients consisted of two Korean females and two Korean males with one in 3rd decade, one in 5th decade and two in 6th decade. The tumors of all cases were located in the proximal portion of the stomach. Gross types were 1 Borrman type I, 2 Borrman type II and 1 early gastric carcinoma type IIc. The size of the tumors varied from 0.8 cm to 7 cm. Microscopic findings were similar in all 4 tumors.; The tumors were composed of syncytial nests of undifferentiated cells having vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli, admixed with abundant lymphoplasma cell infiltration in the stroma. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells were reactive for cytokeratin and the stromal lymphocytes were mostly T cells. There were dark hybridization signals in the nuclei of most of the tumor cells but no signals in the stromal lymphocytes in three cases on in situ PCR hybridization and on all cases PCR amplification for EBNA-1. It is concluded that LELCs of the stomach have distinctive histologic characteristics and the usual association with EBV. Further accumulation of these cases will define the prognosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Palatine Tonsil ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Salivary Glands ; Skin ; Stomach* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymus Gland

The study was conducted to investigate the influences of food service employees' job burnout, job engagement, and workplace safety perception on their job satisfaction. A survey was administered on 589 school food service employees in Gyeongbuk from December 5, 2005 to February 18, 2006. The final response rate was 71% (N = 416); the data were analyzed using SPSS Windows (ver. 12.0). A majority of the respondents were females (99.0%) and 40 years old or older (75.3%); 84% were temporary contract-based or irregular workers. Among the job burnout dimensions, exhaustion (2.98 +/-0.59) was rated higher than cynicism (2.33 +/-0.54), while professional efficacy level (3.61 +/-0.47) was relatively high. In terms of job engagement, the means of absorption (3.67 +/-0.49) and dedication (3.65 +/-0.52) were higher than that of vigor (3.22 +/-0.46). A systematic environmental level (3.15 +/-0.58) was lower than safety knowledge level (3.63 +/-0.49) among the workplace safety statistics, whereas the anxiety level (3.25 +/-0.74) was relatively high. The food service staff were more satisfied with 'supervisors' and 'co-workers' than with 'pay' and 'promotion'. A hierarchial regression analysis revealed that dedication, absorption, systematic environment, and safety knowledge were significant factors to increase job satisfaction and exhaustion which significantly decreased their job satisfaction.
Absorption ; Adult ; Anxiety ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Food Services* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction*

Hemodialysis(HD)-associated hypotension is a frequent complication, but it is difficult to manage. Until now, several maneuvers have been tried to prevent the HD-associated hypotension. Of these, the sodium content of dialysate was regarded as an important factor for maintaining blood pressure during HD. In this study, we evaluated the effect of hypertonic dialysate on blood pressure, interdialytic weight gain and the incidence of thirst. The study was done for 6 weeks successively with 3 different groups. Each patient was dialysed with 3 different dialysates for 2 weeks: Group I(Conventional HD: sodium concentration: 137 mEq/L), Group II(Hypertonic HD: 147 mEq/L) and Group III (Sequential HD: from 147 to 140 mEq/L). Hemodynamic parameters(blood pressure, pulse rate and ultrafiltration rate), biochemical parameters(hematocrits, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, osmolality, sodium, potassium, chloride, fasting blood sugar) and complications (interdialytic weight gain &thirsty sensation) were compared among 3 groups. The results were as follows: 1. Decline of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure at the time of a 3 hour check during hemodialysis was lower in the Group II than Group I and III (p=0.002; p=0.012). and decline of diastolic blood pressure at the time of a 4 hour check during hemodialysis was lower in the Group II and III than Group I(p=0.04). 2. ncidence of hypotensive episodes during dialysis was significantly lower in Group II than group I (p=0.0287). 3. The ultrafiltration in Group III at the time of 1 hour, 2 hour and 3 hour check during hemodialysis was higher than that in Group I and II at the time of 1 hour, 2 hour and 3 hour check during emodialysis respectively (p=0.0001; p=0.0001; p=0.0004). 4. Interdialytic weight gain was higher in Group II(3.1+/-0.8) than GroupI(2.8+/-0.8) and III (2.9+/-0.9) (p=0.0422). 5. Hematologic and biochemical results were not significantly different among 3 Groups. 6. Frequency of thirst was different in Group I, II and III, 0.05+/-0.12, 0.41+/-0.24 and 0.22+/-0.29 respectively (p=0.0259). The results suggest that hypertonic HD was effective in preventing HD-associated hypotension but interdialytic weight gain and thirst sensations were increased as compared with a conventional method. In this situation, sequential HD seems to be an alternative method to minimizes the side effect of hypertonic HD.
Blood Pressure* ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Dialysis Solutions ; Fasting ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence* ; Osmolar Concentration ; Potassium ; Renal Dialysis* ; Sensation ; Sodium ; Thirst* ; Ultrafiltration* ; Weight Gain*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive study was to explain the relationship between ways of coping and health-related hardiness in university students at G city. METHOD: The participants were a convenience sample of 250 students. The data were collected by a questionnaire given to the students between June 1 to June 10, 2006. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The most frequently used method of coping was pursuit of social support. The mean score for level of health-related hardiness was 3.34+/-0.55. There were significant differences in ways of coping according to satisfaction with college life (F=4.036, p=.008). There were significant differences in health-related hardiness according to smoking or not (F=6.237, p=.002). There were positive correlation between problem focused coping and hardiness (r=.357, p=.000), between social support and hardiness (r=.345, p=.000), between hope seeking thought and hardiness (r=.247, p=.000). In regression analysis, ways of coping was significantly influenced by hardiness(16.6%). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that programs for strengthening hardiness can be considered as significant nursing interventions for helping university students cope with stress.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Hope ; Humans ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking