PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of nursing students in Korea who used concept mapping for understanding pathophysiology. METHODS: The data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire from 83 sophomore nursing students after studying concept mapping in pathophysiology class. Each group consisted of five nursing students submitting four concept maps regarding cell injury, inflammation, infection, and neoplasm. After familiarity with concept mapping, the participants wrote their experiences anonymously on sheets of paper. The submitted materials were analyzed via qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The collected materials were classified into 3 themes, 8 categories, and 18 subcategories. Three themes emerged: (1) awareness of capabilities, (2) difficulties of completion, and (3) benefits of application. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that participants experienced self-capabilities, and the difficulties and benefits of concept mapping. Concept mapping also provided the opportunity for nursing students to realize communication skill improvement by active group discussion within a group.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Nursing* ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Students, Nursing*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of DHEA on hindlimb muscles(soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius) in a focal brain ischemia model rat. METHOD: Twenty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: CINS(cerebral ischemia + normal saline), CIDH(cerebral ischemia + DHEA), or SHNS(sham + normal saline). Both the CINS and CIDH groups underwent a transient right middle cerebral artery occlusion operation. In the SHNS group, a sham operation was done. 0.34mmol/kg DHEA was administered daily by an intraperitoneal injection for 7days. RESULT: The muscle weight, muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the Type I muscle fiber of soleus and Type II muscle fiber of plantaris and gastrocnemius, myofibrillar protein content of gastrocnemius, and muscle strength in the CINS group decreased compared with the SHNS group. The muscle weight, muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the Type II muscle fiber of plantaris and gastrocnemius, myofibrillar protein content of soleus, and muscle strength in the CIDH group increased compared with the CINS group. CONCLUSION: It was identified that muscle atrophy could be induced during 7 days after a cerebral infarction, and DHEA administration during the early stages of a cerebral infarction might attenuate muscle atrophy.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia/*pathology ; Dehydroepiandrosterone/*pharmacology ; Hindlimb ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal/*drug effects/pathology ; Muscular Atrophy/chemically induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review previous literature with an aim to explore the sleep disturbance level after a patient undergoes cataract surgery using an integrative review. METHODS: We used the key words, ‘cataract surgery’, ‘sleep’, and ‘intraocular lens’ to find peer-reviewed publications in seven databases. Among 450 searched articles, eight articles were selected after exclusion of articles that did not meet the criteria. RESULTS: Five of the articles submitted that subjective sleep quality of the patients with blue-filtering intraocular lens (BF-IOL) implant improved as compared to that before surgery. The change of saliva melatonin concentration after BF-IOL implant did not coincide in two of the articles. Two of the articles reported an increased level of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells response after BF-IOL implantation. CONCLUSION: The published studies stated that BF-IOL implant did not have any negative impact on quality of sleep among cataract patients suffering with poor sleep. Rregardless of intraocular lens type, cataract surgery may increase photoreception of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells one year after surgery although the mechanism was not clear. It is necessary to identify various factors influencing the quality of sleep such as gender and activities among cataract patients with BF-IOL implant in the future.
Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Melatonin ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Saliva

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the experiences and perceptions of nursing students related to their cadaver practice through an integrative review. Methods: An integrative review was conducted using Whittemore and Knafl’s framework published in 2005. The key words, “nursing students & cadaver” and “nursing students & anatomy” were used to search peer-reviewed publications in six databases. Among 373 searched articles, 15 articles were selected after excluding articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria. The literature quality was moderate (levels C and B). Results: The results from the 15 selected studies were integrated and classified into seven themes: “anxiety and discomfort,” “gratitude and respect for donors,” “dignity of the human body and life,” “acceptance of death,” “getting closer to the nursing profession,” “enhanced understanding and memory of the human body” and “enhancement of learning motivation.” Conclusion In conclusion, cadaver practice provided an opportunity to form values about the dignity of life and death, helped nursing students understand the human body, and motivated them to approach the profession of nursing. It is suggested to develop integrated cadaver practice programs that incorporate bioethics, spiritual nursing, and the vocation of the nursing profession.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review primary research exploring the correlations between the levels of serum testosterone and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in healthy men without prostate diseases. Methods: An integrative review was conducted using the Whittemore & Knafle (2005) framework. The keywords, ‘testosterone & prostate-specific antigen’, ‘testosterone & PSA’ and ‘healthy men’ were used to search peer-reviewed publications in six databases. Among 1,959 searched articles, eleven articles were selected after excluding articles that do not meet inclusion criteria. Literature quality was moderate (Level 3). Results: As a result of this study, it was confirmed through the nine articles that healthy adult men showed no significant correlation between the serum testosterone and the PSA. Conversely, two articles presented that the serum PSA correlate positively with the testosterone. In particular, it is inferred that the effect of the serum testosterone and the PSA secreted into a 24-hour circadian rhythm with different amplitudes and slopes would have had great influence. However, it does not consider the factors affecting the testosterone and the PSA, such as race, liver disease, and BMI, so there is insufficient empirical data to clearly explain the relationship between the testosterone and the PSA. Conclusion The correlation between the serum testosterone and the PSA in healthy adult men is insignificant in relation to the circadian rhythm of the testosterone and the PSA secretion. It is that a large-scale study including various influencing factors using new biochemical indicators such as pro PSA be conducted in the future.

PURPOSE: This study was done to understand the meanings and nature of experiences of the burnout of nurses working in oncology wards. METHODS: The hermeneutic phenomenology developed by van-Manen was used. The period for data collection was from November, 2006 to May, 2007. This study took place in 3 university hospitals in B & U cities. Nine nurses working in oncology wards participated. Data collection was done through individual in-depth interviews. RESULTS: The eight most common themes demonstrated by participants from this study were 'being fed up with endless demands', 'collapsing in front of deaths', 'gasping for breath due to overwhelming tasks', 'uncontrollable suffering of body', 'gradually loosing self-esteem', 'frustration from the work world', 'beleaguered relationships', and 'desire to escape'. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that there is a need to develop a preventive burnout program for nurses working in oncology wards.
Data Collection ; Hospitals, University ; Hypogonadism ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Oncology Service, Hospital ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This study examined relationships among stress, stress coping strategies, and somatization in mothers-in-law from multi-cultural families in a rural area. METHODS: Elderly mothers-in-law (n=227) living with foreign daughters-in-law completed a self-reporting questionnaire. Data were collected from April to August 2009. Questions related to stress (Visual Analog Scale, VAS), coping strategies (Coping Strategy Scale) for stress, and somatization (Symptom Check List 90, Revised). SPSS/WIN 12.0 program was used for descriptive analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Subjects had a moderate level of stress (5.03). There were significant differences in stress level according to age, educational level, religion, chronic disease, health status, number of children, agreement of an international marriage of her sons, satisfaction in living with a foreign daughter-in-law, and family conflict. Stress showed a significant positive correlation with offensive coping strategy, passive strategy, and somatization. Stress, offensive coping strategy, and passive coping strategy affected the level of somatization. CONCLUSION: In a family situation involving co-habitation of mother- and foreign daughter-in-law, increased stress experienced by the mother-in-law can lead to increased offensive and passive coping strategies, and increased somatization. More effective means of stress reduction are needed for mothers-in-law from multi-cultural families.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Aged ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Family Conflict ; Humans ; Marriage ; Somatoform Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise on muscle weight and Type I and II fiber cross-sectional area of affected and unaffected hindlimb muscles in rats with neuropathic pain induced by unilateral peripheral nerve injury. METHODS: Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation and cutting of the left L5 spinal nerve. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: The Pain+Exercise (PE) group (n=21) and the Sham+Exercise (SE) group (n=20). All rats had 28 sessions of treadmill exercise at grade 10 for 30 minutes, twice/day at 10 m/min for 14 days. Body weight, food intake and activity were measured every day. At 15 days all rats were anesthetized and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected. Muscle weight and Type I, II fiber cross-sectional area of the dissected muscles were measured. RESULTS: The PE group showed significant increases (p<.05), as compared to the SE group for body weight and total diet intake, muscle weight of the unaffected soleus and plantaris, and in Type I and II fiber cross-sectional area of unaffected three muscles and affected plantaris. CONCLUSION: Exercise for 14 days attenuates unaffected soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy in neuropathic pain model.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eating ; Hindlimb/*physiology ; Male ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/*physiology ; Muscular Atrophy/etiology/physiopathology ; Neuralgia/*etiology ; Peripheral Nerves/*injuries ; *Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze types of nurse's attitudes toward the aging process. METHODS: A Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each item was used. Thirty-four selected Q-statements from each of 38 subjects were classified into a shape of normal distribution using a 9 point scale. The collected data was analyzed using a QUANL PC program. RESULTS: Five types of attitudes towards the aging process from research subjects in Korean nurses were identified. Type I is a positive acceptance type, Type II is a negative acceptance type, Type III is a passive coping type, Type IV is an active coping type, and Type V is an ambiguous acceptance type. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that different approaches of educational programs for elderly care are recommended based on the five types of nurse's attitude toward the aging process.
Adult ; Aging/*psychology ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Q-Sort ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor on muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of affected and unaffected hindlimb muscles in rats with neuropathic pain induced by unilateral peripheral nerve injury. METHODS: Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation and cutting of the left L5 spinal nerve. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: The NOSI group (n=19) had NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) injections daily for 14 days, and the Vehicle group (n=20) had vehicle injections daily for 14 days. Withdrawal threshold, body weight, food intake and activity were measured every day. At 15 days all rats were anesthetized and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected from hindlimbs. Muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of the dissected muscles were determined. RESULTS: The NOSI group showed significant increases as compared to the Vehicle group for body weight at 15 days, muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of the unaffected soleus and gastrocnemius. The NOSI group demonstrated a higher pain threshold than the vehicle group. CONCLUSION: NOSI for 14 days attenuates unaffected soleus and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy in neuropathic pain model.
Animals ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eating/drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors/*administration & dosage/pharmacology ; *Hindlimb ; Male ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/*drug effects/metabolism ; Muscle Proteins/metabolism ; Muscular Atrophy/drug therapy ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/*administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Neuralgia/*etiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; *Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley