PURPOSE: This study was conducted to understand the meaning of mind control as it is understood by elderly persons in Korea. METHOD: This study was conducted by engaging three elderly persons who are over the age of sixty five and presently residing in Seoul. Several in depth interviews were conducted with these individuals from March 2003 until November 2003. The contents of the interviews were analyzed using the Giorgi Method (1985), which places the emphasis on discovering meaning within the phenomenological context of an individual's experience. RESULTS: The analysis of the contents revealed the following four components with regard to the meaning of mind control for elderly persons (1) Settling the mind (2) Gradual lowering of expectations and hope for the success of offspring, (3) Having good thoughts and acting accordingly, and (4) Making up one's mind to follow the 'natural flow of life'. CONCLUSION: By allowing a wider and deeper understanding of the meaning of mind control for elderly persons the results of this study provide a basis for improving the care of elderly with a holistic perspective.
Aged* ; Hope ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Change Events ; Seoul

PURPOSE: An umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) in the high position reduces the lumen of the aorta and may thereby impair blood supply to the intestine. Effects of UAC on intestinal blood flow were investigated. METHODS: With the measurement of the aortic diameter, pulsed Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 23 fasting newborns to measure blood flow velocities (peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, mean velocity, time velocity integral and resistive index) in the celiac trunk (CT) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) before and after removal of the UAC in the high position. RESULTS: UAC reduced the cross-sectional area of the aorta by 3.5-15.0% (mean 7.5%), with the percentage of reduction being inversely related to birth weight (r=-0.86, P<0.0001). Blood flow velocities in the CT and the SMA did not change significantly after removal of the UACl left in place for 7 days. There were also no differences in blood flow velocities pre- and postremoval of the UAC which stayed in place for 17.3 days and caused a mean aortic obstruction of 11.7%. However, a longer indwelling time of the UAC may lead to a higher velocity in the CT with UAC in place, as reflected by a correlation by multiple regression analysis (r=0.42, P=0.045). CONCLUSION: Although UAC remaining in place for up to 2 weeks in fasting newborns does not lead to direct alterations in blood supply to the intestine, the possibility of blood flow impairment to abdominal organs by prolonged use cannot be excluded.
Aorta ; Birth Weight ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Fasting ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed

A research survey was conducted on 112 nursing educational institutes with three year associate and four ear baccalaureate programs and 36 institutes with master programs to determine the status of computer and informatics education in Korea. Seventy-seven(68.8%) of the 112 schools with associate and baccalaureate programs responded and 20(55.6%) of 36 schools with master program responded. Out of 77 institutions only 16 schools indicated that Nursing Informatics was offered as a separate course. It was taught mostly to the first year or the second year students and number of credits ranged from 1 to 3 while 2 credit being the most popular one. Further analysis of the syllabus indicated that the contents covered by different schools varied from school to school. They were computer basics, internet and communication, application program, the concept and the elements of the nursing informatics, utilization of nursing informatics in nursing practice, education, research, and administration, and health information system. Sixty schools out of 77 addressed computer related subjects in their curriculum. Computer related subjects were taught mostly to the first year students as a 2 credits class. Contents covered in computer related subjects were computer basics, internet and communication, and application program. Strategies for the implementation of nursing informatics in nursing education and exemplary programs are presented based on the findings.
Academies and Institutes ; Curriculum ; Ear ; Education* ; Education, Nursing ; Health Information Systems ; Humans ; Informatics ; Internet ; Korea* ; Nursing Informatics* ; Nursing*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Fetal Blood* ; Humans* ; Mice* ; Quality Control* ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is a rare hip disorder that mainly occurs in pubertal children. Although the exact cause of this disorder is unknown, it is known to be associated with obesity, trauma, delayed sexual development, delayed bone maturation, chronic renal failure, genetic diseases, endocrine disorders (growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism), growth hormone therapy, and gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist) therapy. We report 2 cases of slipped capital femoral epiphysis in adolescent females who were receiving growth hormone therapy. The first case is of a 16 year-old-girl with chronic renal failure and renal osteodystrophy. The second case is of an 11 year-old-girl with idiopathic precocious puberty who had received GnRH agonist and growth hormone therapy. Unilateral or bilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis developed at 1 year 3 months after treatment in both the cases. The chief complaints were pain in the hip joint and lower extremities. Growth hormone and/or GnRH agonist therapy was stopped, and in situ screw fixations of the involved hip epiphyses were performed.
Adolescent ; Child ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Epiphyses ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Growth Hormone ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lower Extremity ; Obesity ; Puberty, Precocious ; Renal Osteodystrophy ; Sexual Development ; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore characteristics of and risk factors for accidental inpatient falls. METHODS: Participants were classified as fallers or non-fallers based on the fall history of inpatients in a tertiary hospital in Seoul between June 2014 and May 2015. Data on falls were obtained from the fall report forms and data on risk factors were obtained from the electronic nursing records. Characteristics of fallers and non-fallers were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Risk factors for falls were identified using univariate analyses and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Average length of stay prior to the fall was 21.52 days and average age of fallers was 61.37 years. Most falls occurred during the night shifts and in the bedroom and were due to sudden leg weakness during ambulation. It was found that gender, BMI, physical problems such elimination, gait, vision and hearing and medications such as sleeping pills, antiarrhythmics, vasodilators, and muscle relaxant were statistically significant factors affecting falls. CONCLUSION: The findings show that there are significant risk factors such as BMI and history of surgery which are not part of fall assessment tools. There are also items on fall assessment tools which are not found to be significant such as mental status, emotional unstability, dizziness, and impairment of urination. Therefore, these various risk factors should be examined in the fall risk assessments and these risk factors should be considered in the development of fall assessment tools.
Accidental Falls* ; Dizziness ; Gait ; Hearing ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Leg ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Nursing Records ; Patient Safety ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Urination ; Vasodilator Agents ; Walking

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that shows increased sensitivity to nondepolarizing muscle relaxants. Atracurium is eliminated by Hofmann elimination and ester hydrolysis. We studied the onset and duration of atracurium in patients with myasthenia gravis. METHODS: Ten patients undergoing thymectomy for myasthenia gravis and ten patients of ASA Class I-II without liver, kidney and neuromuscular disease for orthopedic surgical procedures were assigned. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental (4~5 mg/kg) and maintained with inhalation of N2O:O2 (1:1) and enflurane (1.0~2.0 vol%). Atracurium (0.5 mg/kg) was given as a muscle relaxant and then intubation was performed after twitch response was depressed more than 80%. Neuromuscular relaxation was assessed by TOF (T1) at the adductor pollicis with supramaximal stimulation of ulnar nerve at 2 Hz every 12 seconds. The onset and the duration of 5, 25, 50, 75% recovery time of T1 and the recovery index were recorded. RESULTS: Onset of block was shortened and recovery time of 5, 25, 50, 75% and recovery index were prolonged in patients with myasthenia gravis. Conlusions: In patients with myasthenia gravis, atracurium induced rapid onset time and prolonged recovery time of 5, 25, 50, 75% and recovery index.
Anesthesia ; Atracurium* ; Enflurane ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Kidney ; Liver ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Relaxation ; Thiopental ; Thymectomy* ; Ulnar Nerve

PURPOSE: To evaluate CT findings which may help differentiate benign from malignant parotid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT findings of seventy-one cases with surgically-proven parotid tumors were retrospectively analysed for size, location, margin, internal density, adjacent tissue plane and lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: The margin of the mass was smooth and sharp in most benign tumors (89.5%), and irregular or indistinct in twelve which were malignant (75%, p<0.01). With regard to internal density, 70.2% of benign tumors were homogeneous (similar to muscle) and 81.3% of malignant tumors were heterogeneous (p<0.01). When analysing low density patterns within the mass, focal low densities in benign tumors (11/17) and diffuse or scattered multifocal low densities in those which were maligant (8/13) were frequently seen. Three malignant tumors invaded adjacent muscles, the parapharyngeal space, and bones, each in one case, and twelve malignant and one benign tumor infiltrated the adjacent fascia or subcutaneous fat layer. In five patients with a malignant tumor, obliteration by the mass of the fat plane between the mastoid tip and styloid process was noted, suggesting facial nerve invasion, while in three cases of malignancy, lymphadenopathy greater than 1cm was seen. CONCLUSION: In differentiating malignant and benign parotid tumors, the presence of irregular or indistinct margin of the mass, and invasion of adjacent structures, are important. Lymph node enlargement greater than 1cm and diffuse internal low densities, which may suggest necrosis or cystic change were also helpful in differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis, Differential* ; Facial Nerve ; Fascia ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mastoid ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Subcutaneous Fat

PURPOSE: The clinical usefulness of serum procalcitonin (PCT) was evaluated for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) in infants with urinary tract infections (UTIs). METHODS: A total of 46 infants (between 1 and 12 months of age) were enrolled in this study. Laboratory studies including the WBC count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and PCT were measured before initiation of intravenous antibiotic treatment and a (99m)Tc-DMSA renal scan was performed during treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the mean age, gender and microorganisms detected between the patients with a lower UTI and those with APN. The duration of fever before and after treatment was significantly longer in the APN group. Except for the WBC count, there was a significantly higher ESR, serum CRP and PCT levels detected in the APN group. Although the serum CRP and PCT showed similar sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of APN, simultaneous measurement of the ESR, serum CRP and PCT increased the specificity and accuracy for the diagnosis of APN. Furthermore, only the serum PCT showed a statistically significant difference between the groups with no or only a very mild renal lesion (group 1) and the groups with significant renal lesions (group 2). CONCLUSION: The serum PCT combined with the ESR and serum CRP was a helpful marker for the diagnosis of APN. In addition, the serum PCT could be a useful predictor of the severity of renal parenchymal involvement associated with APN.
C-Reactive Protein ; Calcitonin ; Erythrocyte Count ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Protein Precursors ; Pyelonephritis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Tract Infections

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an uncommon disease that is characterized by inflammation and destruction of cartilaginous structures. When tracheobronchial tree is involved, respiratory obstructive symptoms can occur. A 35-year-old man, with a previous diagnosis of RP, was scheduled for rigid bronchoscopy to relieve dyspnea, caused by subglottic stenosis. After laser splitting of the subglottic web, the spontaneous respiration of the patient was insufficient, and hypercarbia developed progressively even with assisted ventilation. After 20 minutes of aggressive hyperventilation to reduce end-tidal CO2 level, sudden extreme tachycardia and hypotension developed. Ventilation rate was reduced and prolonged expiration time was allowed to alleviate a near-tampon status from dynamic hyperinflation. After the hemodynamic status was stabilized, the patient was transferred to the ICU for mechanical ventilation. He received ICU care for 30 days, and now, he was on supportive care on a ward, considering Y stent insertion to prevent luminal collapse from tracheobronchomalacia.
Adult ; Bronchoscopy* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Hypotension ; Inflammation ; Laryngostenosis ; Phenobarbital ; Polychondritis, Relapsing* ; Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Stents ; Tachycardia ; Tracheobronchomalacia ; Ventilation