BACKGROUND: Nonimmune hydrops fetalis has become an important perinatal problem since it was first described in 1943. Although recent advances in antenatal ultrasound have made it possible to detect and manage nonimmune hydrops fetalis in early pregnancy, the perinatal mortality is still high. OBJECTIVE: To obtain clinically useful data regarding antenatal diagnosis, management, and perinatal outcomes of nonimmune hydrops fetalis, and to assist clinicians offer proper antepartum counseling and obstetric management which may be able to improve prognosis. Study design: We retrospectively reviewed 33 cases of nonimmune hydrops fetalis delivered in our hospital over a 4-year period. RESULTS: The antenatal diagnosis was possible by ultrasonography in all cases. Accumulation of fluid in fetal serous cavity and generalized skin edema were observed in all cases. A probable etiology was found in 23 (69.7%) cases through ultrasonography, various laboratory studies including fetal karyotyping, and autopsies. These were cardiovascular (4), respiratory (6), chromosomal (4), skeletal (1), and others (8). Despite extensive diagnostic studies, no definite etiology was found in 10 (30.3%) cases. Excluding the ten fetuses delivered after induced abortion, eight infants were born alive and six died in the neonatal period. The mortality rate was 91.3% (21/23). CONCLUSION: Nonimmune hydrops fetalis represents a very poor perinatal outcome. It is suggested that to improve the prognosis, various antenatal and postnatal approaches to find associated etiologic factors should be performed, and intensive perinatal cares are needed.
Abortion, Induced ; Autopsy ; Counseling ; Edema ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis* ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Mortality ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze periodic screening behaviors for breast cancer and factors affecting the screening behaviors among hospital nurses. METHODS: A total of 461 nurses were recruited from 15 hospitals located in two southern areas of Korea. The Champion's Health Beliefs Model Scale-Korean version and a structured study questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were collected during July and August 2008. RESULTS: Nurses who performed periodic mammography accounted for 15.6% of the total, while 22.8% performed periodic breast self-examination (BSE). Among married nurses, the rates of periodic mammography and BSE were significantly different by age, menopausal status, delivery experience, family history of breast cancer, and experiences of cervical cancer screening. Significant factors affecting periodic mammography were family history of breast cancer, experiences of cervical cancer screening, age above 40, and performance of periodic BSE. For health beliefs, levels of severity, confidentiality and barrier were significant factors for periodic BSE. CONCLUSION: Nurses, who are role models for health promoting behaviors, did not adequately performing periodic BSE and mammography. A health promotion program for breast cancer designed for hospital nurses is needed to improve performance rates for periodic screening behaviors for breast cancer.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Confidentiality ; Data Collection ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to determine the efficacy of rapid karyotyping from fetal ascitic fluid. METHODS: In three cases of isolated fetal ascites diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography, ultrasound guided fetal paracentesis and amniocentesis were performed and successfully obtained. Fetal karyotyping in each case at 29, 30 and 32 weeks gestation using modified lymphocyte culture method was conducted. RESULTS: The chromosomal analysis was successful within 72 hours and abnormalities were detected in two cases and revealed trisomy 21 in each case. Our study demonstrated that the majority distribution of white blood cells was lymphocytes which ranged from 2.1 * 10(6) cells/ml to 3.7 * 10(6) cells/ml and the cell density for culture was at least than 0.35 * 10(6) cells/ml. CONCLUSION: The use of ascitic fluid as a cell source to achieve rapid fetal karyotyping can be valuable when cordocenteis or amniocentesis would be technically more difficult, or when rapid result is required for planning of perinatal management at late second or third trimester gestational age.
Amniocentesis ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid* ; Cell Count ; Cytogenetics* ; Diagnosis* ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Paracentesis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

We describe a case of cutaneous angiomyolipoma found in the ear lobe, that is not associated with tuberous sclerosis. The lesion developed on the youngest patient yet reported in the literature.
Angiomyolipoma* ; Ear ; Humans ; Tuberous Sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: Adult onset Still s disease is an acute systemic inflammatory disorder. There are no pathognomonic symptoms or specific laboratory abnormalities. In recent reports, serum ferritin concentration is increased in active disease phase and decreased after defervescence. Our purpose was to determine the clinical significance of serum ferritin as an indicator for disease activity. METHODS: Seven patients who were diagnosed as adult onset Still s disease at Samsung Medical Center between October 1994 and March 1997, were reviewed. In these patients we checked leukocyte count, ESR, CRP and serum ferritin concentrations at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up periods and recorded febrile events during follow-up periods. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis and during febrile periods, the concentrations of ferritin were extremely high(927ng/ml to 96,650ng/ml normal 10-290.8 ng/ml). The values were unrelated to other manifestations of the disease or laboratory findings. The ferritin concentrations decreased rapidly after adequate treatment. Eleven febrile reattacks happened in 7 patients. Serum ferritin concentrations were increased in 8 febrile attacks, while leukocyte count, ESR, and CRP were increased in 5, 5, 6 febrile attacks respectively, There were 10 events of increased serum ferritin concentrations in 7 patients during follow-up periods and 8 events were related with fever. The increases of other laboratory tests were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In all patients, serum ferritin concentrations were increased at the time of diagnosis and closely related to fever. During follow-up periods, serum ferritin concentrations are helpful in monitoring disease activity and guiding decisions about treatment.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Ferritins* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset*

Twin pregnancy is at increased risk for congenital anomalies. Although twins were relatively infrequent, they accaunted for a disproportionately large portion of adverse pregnancy outcome, primarily as a consequence of preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy induced hypertension. In case of twin pregnancy with a single anomalous fetus, the clinicians are faced with difficult decision-making processes regarding the route of delivery, when to deliver, how aggressively to attempt to prevent delivery. Twin pregnancy discordant for a fetal abnormality can be managed expectantly or by selective fetocide of abnormal twin. Recently we experienced two cases of twin pregnancy with a single anornalous fetus. We reported cases with concerned literatures.
Diabetes, Gestational ; Female ; Fetus* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy, Twin*

BACKGROUND: Although studies on dental fear in relation to sex and age have been conducted, there have been few nationwide studies particularly on the youth sector. In addition, no validity and reliability verifications have been implemented for new research groups on the Korean version of the Dental Fear Survey (K-DFS). Therefore, this study aimed to apply the K-DFS developed in a previous study on Korean youth to draw conclusions on dental fear among the youth.METHODS: This study used the K-DFS, a Korean translation of Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey for elementary school, middle school, and high school students. This study selected 2,161 young people of various ages as participants and increased the validity of the research results by expanding nationwide the scope of the study area.RESULTS: Differences in fear levels according to sex were higher in boys fear behavior scores than in girls' regarding dental treatment (P < 0.05). Students with dental fear had higher scores on items associated with dental treatment and fear of dental stimuli compared with students without dental fear (P < 0.05). Differences were observed among the three groups (P < 0.05). However, the results of logistic regression analysis showed no statistically significant differences for dental visits based on sex, grade, and other subcomponents (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: By verifying the validity of the newly developed K-DFS, this research confirmed its utility as a dental fear questionnaire. Therefore, there can be no objection that the grounds for criticism have been established according to conventional wisdom. In the future, however, developing and studying the limits of K-DFS that overcome the factors of dental fear, especially pain, will help reduce dental fear in adolescents.
Adolescent ; Dental Anxiety ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influencing factors on the compliance of breast self-examination (BSE) among nurses who work at three general hospitals in Kyung-Nam areas. METHOD: 258 hospital nurses were included in the study. Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, x2 test and logistic regression analysis. RESULT: Nurses reported medium levels of knowledge, self efficacy and health believes about breast cancer and BSE, and 26% of the nurses performed the BSE at least once during the last 6 months. Compliers of BSE perceived significantly higher levels of self-efficacy, susceptability and health motivation, and lower level of barrier compared to non-compliers. Significant influencing factors on BSE compliance were 'experience of getting recommendation for breast self-examination', 'susceptibility', 'barrier', and 'self-efficacy' and those variables explained 22.5% of variance in compliance of BSE. CONCLUSION: Nurses, who must play as a role model for health promoting behaviors, did not have enough knowledge of breast cancer and BSE. Also, their performance rate of BSE was quite low. Thus, it is essential to provide an educational program for breast cancer and BSE to nurses in order to enhance nurses' performance rate of BSE.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination* ; Breast* ; Compliance* ; Health Behavior ; Hospitals, General ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Motivation ; Self Efficacy

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate quality of reports of non-randomized controlled quasi-experimental study articles published in the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing (KJWHN). METHODS: A search was done for experimental studies assessing intervention effects among all articles published in the KJWHNfrom 2008 to 2013. Original articles were reviewed and analyzed according to the 22 checklist items of the guidelines for Transparent Reporting for Evaluations with Non-randomized Designs (TREND). RESULTS: Thirty-five articles on experimental studies were identified. The evaluation of the quality of reporting in these experimental studies found that there was a wide variety in the level of satisfying the TREND checklist. In particular, according to TREND topics, low levels of reporting quality were found for "title & abstract (only for information on how units were allocated to the intervention)", "outcomes in methods", "assignment in methods", "blinding in methods", "recruitment in results", "baseline data in results", "interpretation in discussion (especially intervention mechanism and success or barriers), "generalizability in discussion". CONCLUSION: Results indicate that adherence to TREND guidelines varied in experimental studies published in the KJWHN suggesting the recommendation that for higher levels of complete reporting, TREND guidelines be used in reports on experimental studies.
Checklist ; Female ; Humans ; Clinical Trial* ; Methods ; Nursing Research ; Nursing* ; Research Design ; Women's Health*

PURPOSE: This research was aimed to analyze the reports of qualitative researches published in Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing (KJWHN). METHODS: Twenty qualitative researches using in-depth interviews or focus groups published in KJWHN during from 2002 to 2011 were selected for analysis. Selected reports were analyzed by consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ), which were a reporting guideline for qualitative researches, and consisted of thirty two items and three domains, i.e., (1) research team and reflexivity, (2) study design, and (3) data analysis and reporting. RESULTS: Personal characteristics related to credentials, gender and interviewer's bias or assumption were less reported than other items in the 1st domain. In the 2nd domain, descriptions such as a presence of non-participants, pilot test for interview guide development, and transcript return to participants were less reported than other items. In the 3rd domain, items related to number of data coder, participants checking of the finding, and clarity of minor themes were less reported than other items. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that COREQ is a useful guideline for reporting of qualitative studies. From these results, we suggest that full items of COREQ should be considered and described when researchers report qualitative research.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Reflex ; Statistics as Topic ; Women's Health