BACKGROUND: There are significant concerns about emerging antibiotic resistance that are largely due to the inappropriate use of antibacterial agents for viral respiratory infections. We explored clinicians' attitude on antibiotic prescription for patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) using survey. METHODS: A random, stratified sample of physicians in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon was surveyed with a mailed questionnaire, and 353 clinicians completed information. A total of 344 were included in the final dataset after excluding incomplete data with missing information (response rate 34.4%). RESULTS: Among 344 physicians, those who would prescribe antibiotics in scenario patient were 39.2%, wait and prescribe 30.5% and not prescribe antibiotics 30.2%. Those who believed antibiotics would help treatment of acute sinusitis were 83.7%, acute pharyngitis 36%, acute tonsillitis 86.3%, acute bronchitis 64% and acute lower respiratory diseases 66.9%. In logistic regression analysis, those who were located in Gyeonggi region and those who believed antibiotics help treatment of tonsillitis and suppurative otitis media would prescribe antibiotics in scenario patient significantly more, whereas those who believe antibiotics help treatment of acute pharyngitis and lower respiratory disease prescribe antibiotics less. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians' attitude to antibiotics in respiratory disease has a significant effect on antibiotic prescription for RTIs. Interventions such as practice guidelines and patient education to optimize antibiotic prescription should take this effect into account.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bronchitis ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; Palatine Tonsil ; Patient Education as Topic ; Pharyngitis ; Postal Service ; Prescriptions* ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Sinusitis ; Tonsillitis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: This paper is a critical review of the descriptive phenomenological methodology in Korean nursing research. We propose constructive suggestions for the improvement of descriptive phenomenological methodology in light of Husserl’s phenomenological approaches. Methods: Using the keywords of ‘phenomenology,’ ‘experience,’ and ‘nursing,’ we identify and analyze 64 Korean empirical phenomenological studies (selected from 282 studies) published in 14 Korean nursing journals from 2005 to 2018. The PubMed and the Korea Citation Index were used to identify the studies. Results: Our analysis shows that all the reviewed articles used Giorgi’s or Colaizzi’s scientific phenomenological methodology, without critical attention to Husserl’s philosophical phenomenological principles. Conclusion The use of scientific phenomenology in nursing research, which originated in North America, has become a global phenomenon, and Korean phenomenological nursing research has faithfully followed this scholarly trend. This paper argues that greater integration of Husserlian phenomenological principles into scientific phenomenological methodology in nursing research, such as participant-centered bracketing and eidetic reduction, is needed to ensure that scientific phenomenology lives up to its promise as a research methodology.

Hydropic degeneration is a frequent degenerative change in otherwise typical uterine leiomyomas. Very rarely, however, a significant amount of edema fluid accumulates around the fascicles of neoplastic smooth muscle bundles and forms the characteristic multinodular growth pattern that is called perinodular hydropic degeneration of leiomyoma (PHDL). The gross findings, showing a vague worm-like appearance and very rarely having an extrauterine extension, and the microscopic features, showing perinodular retraction artifacts forming pseudovascular spaces, make it difficult to differentiate the tumor from intravenous leiomyomatosis or myxoid leiomyosarcoma. We described two cases of leiomyomas showing perinodular hydropic degeneration (PHD), a condition that has rarely been described in English literature, and discussed the mechanism of forming "extrauterine extension" or cotyledonoid features. One of our cases showed the typical features of cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma, the other showed those of intramural dissecting leiomyoma. An awareness of the gross and microscopic findings of PHDL is important not to overdiagnose a benign smooth muscle neoplasm as a more aggressive type of tumor. It is thought that intramural dissecting leiomyoma, cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma, and PHDL are not distinct, but closely related subtypes showing different phases of evolutionary changes.
Artifacts ; Edema ; Leiomyoma* ; Leiomyomatosis ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Muscle, Smooth

BACKGROUND: Measurements of the concentrations of free amino acids in the blood are used as useful biochemical indicators. The sample pretreatments, including anticoagulant selection and deproteinization, are important steps in plasma-free amino acid analysis for accurate and stable results. Heparin and EDTA venous plasma in a frozen state are most commonly applied sample sources in our laboratory. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the anticoagulant and delayed deproteinization in amino acid measurement using ion-exchange chromatography. METHODS: We used Biochrom 20 amino acid analyzer (Biochrom, U.K). Blood samples were taken from 3 healthy adults after a minimum of 8 hours fasting. Two different types of vacutainer tubes, including sodium heparin and EDTA were used. To investigate variations by heparin volume, 3 mL and 6 mL of blood were drawn in 10 mL heparin tubes. We used an aqueous solution of SSA for deproteinization. To investigate variations through delayed deproteinization, we deproteinized the samples immediately and 24 hours later after plasma separation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in concentrations except for cystine, glutamic acid and taurine, and the retention time between the 6 sample groups. The concentration of taurine was higher in the groups of late deproteinized plasma. In the groups of the same deproteinization time, there were no significant differences in concentration by different heparin concentrations. When we compared the results of 3 mL EDTA plasma with that of heparin-treated 6 mL of blood, the most widely used sample type, there was a significant difference in cystine concentration in the delayed deproteinized group but there were no differences in the immediately deproteinized group. CONCLUSIONS: Both 3 mL EDTA blood and 6 mL heparin-treated blood can be used commonly in case of using high-resolution ion-exchange chromatography and an immediately deproteinized sample. But, the results in amino acids can be affected in delayed pretreatment samples. Their effects should always be considered when interpreting laboratory results. The laboratories should standardize adequate sample preparation for the accurate analysis of amino acids.
Adult ; Amino Acids ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Cystine ; Edetic Acid ; Fasting ; Glutamic Acid ; Heparin ; Humans ; Plasma ; Taurine

BACKGROUND: Smoking is the single most important factor for the prevention of diseases and the promotion of health. The objectives of this study are to compare the health related quality of life and other factors between the adult male smokers and nonsmokers. METHODS: Study subjects were selected from the parents of students of three schools; one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school in Suwon city, Kyungki Do. Among 2,308 respondents to the questionnaire, 1,127 were analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of questions of general socioeconomic status, health related quality of life questionnaire, Fagerstrom nicotine tolerance questionnaire, and the Why test. RESULTS: There were no significant socioeconomic differences between the smokers and nonsmokers except religion(p=0.000). The smoking rate of the subjects was 66.2%, the average amount of smoking was 18.28 cigarettes per day, and the mean nicotine dependence score was 3.99+/-2.33. Smokers ranked lower scores in all scales of the health related quality of life than nonsmokers. The health related quality of life of the group of high nicotine dependence was low in comparison with the group of low nicotine dependence. The most common reason of smoking was to relieve tension. CONCLUSION: Smokers ranked lower scores in all scales of the health related quality of life than nonsmokers.
Adult* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male* ; Nicotine ; Parents ; Quality of Life* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Use Disorder ; Weights and Measures

The study performed a systematic review of screening for preeclampsia with the combination of vascular parameters and maternal serum markers in the first and early second trimester. We identified eligible studies through a search of Medline, and, for each included study, we focused on the relationship between the maternal serum markers and preeclampsia. In the selected literature, a combination of maternal serum markers was analyzed, also. Several tests suggested moderate or convincing prediction of early preeclampsia, but screening for late preeclampsia was poor. Literatures for serum markers were selected. Each serum marker was identified independently, and where relevant, a combination of these markers was analyzed. Encouraging results for the first trimester screening were observed when it was combined with other markers. Even in the first trimester of pregnancy, we can present the reliable results for the prediction of early preeclampsia. Detection rate for combination markers may yield higher detection rate and be promising to identify patients at high risk of developing preeclampsia.
Biomarkers ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second

Reports of constitutional ring chromosome 22, r(22) are rare. Individuals with r(22) present similar features as those with the 22q13 deletion syndrome. The instability in the ring chromosome contributes to the development of variable phenotypes. Central nervous system (CNS) atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) are rare, highly malignant tumors, primarily occurring in young children below 3 years of age. The majority of ATRT cases display genetic alterations of SMARCB1 (INI1/hSNF5), a tumor suppressor gene located on 22q11.2. The coexistence of a CNS ATRT in a child with a r(22) is rare. We present a case of a 4-month-old boy with 46,XY,r(22)(p13q13.3), generalized hypotonia and delayed development. High-resolution microarray analysis revealed a 3.5-Mb deletion at 22q13.31q13.33. At 11 months, the patient had an ATRT (5.6 cmx5.0 cmx7.6 cm) in the cerebellar vermis, which was detected in the brain via magnetic resonance imaging.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Central Nervous System ; Child ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Infant* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microarray Analysis ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Phenotype ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; Ring Chromosomes*

Recent studies have described an association between obesity and gut microbiota, suggesting that the latter might play a critical role in the development of the former. Possible mechanisms by which gut microbiota can mediate obesity are by changes in gut microbiota which can influence energy absorption, modulate associated enzymes and induce low-grade inflammation. Several studies have reported beneficial effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), including anti-obesity effects and improvements in lipid profiles. However, other studies have reported of no beneficial effects of LAB on obesity, or even an increase in obesity. Using probiotics for the improvement of gut microbiota as a treatment for obesity is likely to be more complex than anticipated and may require a long-term complex program (e.g., 4R program: remove, replace, reinoculate, repair) and multiple follow-up evaluations over time.
Absorption ; Bacteria ; Dysbiosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Inflammation ; Lactic Acid ; Microbiota ; Obesity ; Probiotics

PURPOSE: This study identifies correlations among information needs and knowledge about prenatal genetic screening and diagnosis (I-PGSD & K-PGSD), and attitude toward terminating pregnancy (ATP) among pregnant women in South Korea. METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted from January 2013 to April 2014 in South Korea. 222 pregnant women responded to three questionnaires developed by the authors. The questionnaire for I-PGSD consisted of 19 questions; 18 questions for K-PGSD; and 10 questions for ATP. RESULTS: Mean scores were 80.46±11.73 for I-PGSD; 14.86±3.74 for K-PGSD; and 33.71±6.13 for ATP. The ATP score was positively correlated with the I-PGSD and K-PGSD scores, but statistically significant with only I-PGSD (p=.006). I-PGSD scores were higher than average on three genetic syndromes (Down, Patau, and Edwards syndrome), on management after the diagnosis of positive fetal aneuploidy, and on test result interpretation after the amniocentesis and level II fetal ultrasonogram. CONCLUSION: In light of current legal and moral controversy regarding terminating pregnancy and rapidly advancing prenatal genetic testing technology, more prenatal genetic education for nurses and nursing students who teach pregnant women is needed. In addition, more professional counseling services provided by trained nurses are also required.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Amniocentesis ; Aneuploidy ; Counseling ; Diagnosis* ; Education ; Female ; Genetic Testing* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women* ; Students, Nursing ; Ultrasonography

This paper is a critical review of descriptive phenomenological methodology in Korean nursing research. We propose constructive suggestions for the improvement of descriptive phenomenological methodology in light of Husserl's phenomenological approaches. Methods: Using the key words of 'phenomenology,' 'experience,' and 'nursing,' we identify and analyze 64 Korean empirical phenomenological studies (selected from 282 studies) published in 14 Korean nursing journals from 2005 to 2018. The PubMed and the Korea Citation Index were used to identify the studies. Results: Our analysis shows that all the reviewed articles used Giorgi's or Colaizzi's scientific phenomenological methodology, without critical attention to Husserl's philosophical phenomenological principles. Conclusions: The use of scientific phenomenology in nursing research, which originated in North America, has become a global phenomenon, and Korean phenomenological nursing research has faithfully followed this scholarly trend. This paper argues that greater integration of Husserlian phenomenological principles into scientific phenomenological methodology in nursing research, such as participant-centered bracketing and eidetic reduction, is needed to ensure that scientific phenomenology lives up to its promise as a research methodology.