PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations among emotional intelligence, interpersonal relationship, and job satisfaction among clinical nurses. METHODS: Data were collected from 315 nurses who had worked for more than 6 months at five general hospitals by a self-reported questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe-test, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchial regression using SPSS 18.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of emotional intelligence was 3.42 and the score of self emotional appraisal was the highest. The mean score of interpersonal relationship was 3.44 and the score of intimacy was the highest. The mean score of job satisfaction was 3.04. Emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationship were positively correlated with the job satisfaction. Hierarchial multiple regression analysis showed that use of emotion was the main factor of affecting job satisfaction, which explained 30.8% of the variance for the nurses' job satisfaction together with intimacy, regulation of emotion, position, and monthly salary. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationship, especially use and control of emotion and intimacy contributed to nurses' job satisfaction. It is necessary to develop and implement the program for increasing emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationship for improving job satisfaction.
Emotional Intelligence* ; Hospitals, General ; Job Satisfaction* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of LH receptor in folliculogenesis, we confirm the expression level of LH receptor (LH-R) mRNA in human granulosa cells (GCs) and its expression levels were analyzed by comparison to embryo developmental rate and pregnancy rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GCs were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval from the patients undergoing IVF-ET program. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=20) is poor responder (retrieved oocyte(s)< or =3ea), Group II (n=80) is normal responder (retrieved oocytes>3ea). After the extraction of total RNA, semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed and the expression level of LH-R mRNA was normalized by beta-actin. Statistical analysis was performed by using Chi(2) test, Student's t-test and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: In Group II, the relative values of LH-R mRNA (0.680 vs. 0.463, p<0.005) and pregnancy rate (54.7% vs. 23.1%, p<0.05) were significantly higher than in Group I. Number of retrieved oocyte(s) was gradually increased when the expression of LH-R mRNA was increased (p<0.05). But the quality of retrieved oocyte and transferred embryo were not related with the expression of LH-R mRNA. When the pregnancy rate was compared with FSH only group and FSH combined with hMG group in the ovarian stimulation protocol, FSH combined with hMG group was significantly higher than FSH only group in Group I (37.5% vs. 0%), and the expression of LH-R mRNA was significantly higher in hMG combined group than FSH only group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Expression level of LH-R mRNA has important role in ovarian function related with the response to gonadotrophin in human folliculogenesis. Furthermore these data might provide the evidence that additional use of hMG is helpful to poor responders.
Actins ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy* ; Receptors, LH* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND: It is said that tuberculous pleuritis responds well to anti-tuberculous drug in general, so no further aggressive therapeutic management is unnecesarry except in case of diagnostic thoracentesis. But in clinical practice, we often see some patients who need later decortication due to dyspnea caused by pleural loculation or thickening despite several months of anti-tuberculous drug therapy. Therefore, we want to know the clinical difference between a group who received decortication due to complication of tuberculous pleuritis despite of anti-tuberculous drug and a group who improved after 9 months of anti-tuberculous drug only. METHODS: We reviewed 20 tuberculous pleuritis patients(group 1) who underwent decortication due to dyspnea caused by pleural loculation or severe pleural thickening despite of anti-tuberculous drug therapy for 9 or more months, and 20 other tuberculous pleuritis patients(group 2) who improved by anti-tuberculous drug only and had similar degrees of initial pleural effusion and similar age,sex distribution. Then we compared between the two groups the duration of symptoms before anti-tuberculous drug treatment and pleural fluid biochemistry like glucose, LDH, protein and pleural fluid cell count and WBC differential count, and we also wanted to know whether there was any difference in preoperative PFT value and postoperative PFT value in the patients who underwent decortication, and obtained following results. RESULTS: 1) Group 1 patients had lower glucose level{63.3+/-30.8(mg/dl)} than that of the group 2{98.5+/-34.2(mg/dl), p<0.05}, and higher LDH level{776.3+/-266.0(IU/L)} than the group 2 patients{376.3 +/-123.1(IU/L), p<0.05), and also longer duration of symptom before treatment{2.0+/-1.7(month)} than the group 2{ 1.1 +/-1.2(month), p<0.05)}, respectively. 2) In group 1, FVC changed from preoperative 2.55+/-0.80(L) to postoperative 2.99+/-0.78(L)(p<0.05), and FEV1 changed from preoperative 2.19 +/- 0.70(L/sec) to postoperative 2.50+/-0.69(L/sec) (p<0.05). 3) There was no difference in pleural fluid protein level(5.05+/-1.01(gm/dL) and 5.15+/-0.77 (gm/dl), p>0.05) and WBC differential count between group 1 and group 2. CONCLUSION: It is probable that in tuberculous pleuritis there is a risk of complication in the case of showing relatively low pleural fluid glucose or high LDH level, or in the case of having long duraton of symptom before treatment. We thought prospective study should be performed to confirm this.
Biochemistry ; Cell Count ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Glucose ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleurisy ; Prospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

Endobronchial foreign bodies are difficult to diagnose as the cause of obstructive pneumonia and atelectasis, However, once discovered, they can generally be removed, leading to an immediate and dramatic resolution of the symptoms. Occasionally, small foreign bodies that lodge in the peripheral airway are often initially asymptomatic but become symptomatic several years later. We reported a case of obstructive pneumonia and massive hemoptysis caused by a foreign metallic body. The patient knew that the foreign body was lodged in the peripheral airway on the chest X-ray, but did not want treatment. Several years later, he had a massive hemoptysis and obstructive pneumonia. Removal with a flexible bronchoscope failed, but the metallic foreign body was self-expectorated by coughing after the procedure. The pneumonia was resolved after removing the foreign body. The patient improved and was discharged without any sequela.
Bronchoscopes ; Cough ; Foreign Bodies* ; Hemoptysis* ; Humans ; Pneumonia* ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Thorax

Many patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy experience chest pain, and some of these patients are diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. Acute myocardial infarction in the setting of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can occur without coronary atherosclerosis. Although the exact pathophysiologic mechanism of this remains unclear, some pathologic studies have suggested that small vessel coronary artery disease in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may play a major role in producing myocardial ischemia. Small vessel disease can be suspected when the coronary angiogram shows patent epicardial coronary arteries with slow flow of the angiographic contrast medium. We report here on a case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that was complicated with acute myocardial infarction, and this induced catastrophic refractory ventricular tachycardia.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) was reported as a cause of unknown origin of central or peripheral thromboembolism with patent foramen ovale, aortic debris and spontaneous echo contrast. Especially the paradoxical right to left shunt via micro-fenestration on this sac may be the important cause of this embolism. We report a case of 39 year-old female patient who had atrial septal aneurysm with multiple renal infarction. Symptom was improved with aneurysmectomy and patch closure, then long term anticoagulation has been continued.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Embolism ; Female ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Thromboembolism

BACKGROUND: An earlier index of reperfusion is desirable to determine whether additional therapy is necessary for myocardial salvage. Using the washout phenomenon of biochemical markers, many investigator have reported noninvasive methods for detection coronary reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Recently cardiac Troponin-T has been developed as a new myocardial specific marker, especially myocardial damage. The object of this study is to investigate the utility of cardiac Troponin-T for early assessment of reperfusion therapy. METHODS: The study group comprised 10 patients with acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion therapy that was initiated within 6 hours after the onset of symptoms. Blood samples were taken before treatment, every 30 min interval for 3 hours and then 6, 24, 72 hours after the onset of reperfusion therapy to measuring Troponin-T, Creatin Kinase(CK), and CK-MB level. Serum concentration of cardiac Troponin-T level was measured with immunoassed using ES-300, Boehringer Mannheim. We compared the real reperfusion that was assessed by coronary angiogram, chest pain disappearence and resolusion of St-segment elevation with an index of coronary reperfusion, the increase in Troponin-T(big up tri, open Troponin-T) 60, 90 min after repefusion therapy(Successful Reperfusion Index : Tn-T 60(90)-0>0.3 ng/ml) and the sensitivity, specificity, Positive, and negative predictive value were calculated using this threshold(Successful Reperfusion Index). RESULTS: 1) The studied patients(M/F : 7/3, mean age 54+/-12 year) were treated within 3 hour with thrombolytic therapy(7 patients, t-PA) or emergency angioplasty(3 patients). 2) The cardiac Troponin-T levels in eight patients with successful reperfusion showed early peak within 24 hours after reperfusion therapy were initiated but in 2 patients without successful reperfusion showed sustained increase without early peak within 24 hours. The CK-MB levels in patients with successful reperfusion also showed early peak within 24 hours but 5 of 8 patients showed no significant increase until 2 hours after reperfusion therapy. 3) The sensivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for detecting reperfusion using a threshold value of 0.3 ng/ml of big up tri, open Troponin-T 90 min(60 min) after reperfusion therapy was 100%(56%), 50(100%), 89%(100%), and 100%(20%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Serial measurements of cardiac Troponin-T, especially reperfusion index(0.3 ng/ml of big up tri, open Troponin-T 90 min after reperfusion therapy) are useful for early assessment of reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction.
Biomarkers ; Chest Pain ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Reperfusion* ; Research Personnel ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Troponin T*

Uterus didelphys with unilateral obstructed hemivagina is indeed a very rare congenital anomaly. Uterus didelphys with obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis usually presents after menarche with progressive abdominal pain during menses secondary to hematocolpos. The method of choice for diagnosis is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI can do much for the early diagnosis and the prevention against further complications of this condition because it can demonstrate the mullerian duct anomaly complicated with obstructed hemivagina in detail and even ipsilateral renal agenesis. A greater awareness of the syndrome of uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis should lead to its prompt diagnosis, allowing for early and appropriate surgical intervention as well as decreased long-term morbidity. Early accurate diagnosis after menarche followed by excision and marsupialization of the blind hemivagina offers complete relief of symptoms and preserves reproductive potential. We report a case of uterine didelphys with obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agensis with a brief review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Hematocolpos ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menarche ; Uterus*

BACKGROUND: Chronic postoperative pain (CPOP) is defined as pain of at least 2 months duration after a surgical procedure. Until recently, it has been a neglected topic, because it can occur after a wide spectrum of operations; however, little is known regarding its underlying mechanism, prevalence, risk factors, and treatments. We investigated characteristics of CPOP after various operations via a questionnaire. METHODS: Patients were contacted at > 2 months after surgery, irrespective of sex, type of operation or anesthesia method, and a follow-up pain questionnaire was administered by phone. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five of 400 patients (36.3%) described CPOP. The prevalence of CPOP was significantly lower in laparoscopic surgery (29/159, 18.2%) than open surgery (116/241, 48.1%). The prevalence of CPOP was higher with the use of PCA (patient controlled analgesia), (45.3%) than without PCA (24.6%). There were no significant differences regarding sex, anesthetic method, or duration of operation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the prevalence of CPOP may be related to use of an endoscope and PCA. However, it is difficult to completely explain the correlation, because this is a complex area of research. More research is needed to improve the quality of pain relief.
Anesthesia ; Endoscopes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

A 11-month-old male with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). He had suffered from recurrent infection and chronic diarrhea. Two older brother died of pneumonia 2 months after birth, but his HLA identical sister was healthy. He had very low number of T lymphocyte and NK cell. Although number of B lymphocyte was normal, level of immunoglobulin was extremely low. First BMT was done when he was 11 months old. Eighteen milliliter of bone marrow was simply infused without conditioning or GVHD prophylaxis. T lymphocyte appeared and fever which persisted despite use of antibiotics disappeared at day 7. Grade II GVHD developed, but was well controlled with corticosteroid. T lymphocyte subpopulation became normal at day 42. But pancytopenia developed and persisted despite use of G-CSF. Second BMT was done 4 months after 1st BMT. The conditioning regimen included busulfan (8 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg), and ATG, cyclosporine and short-course MTX were used for GVHD prophylaxis. He achieved ANC> 500/uL at day 20 and platelet> 20,000/uL at day 29. BM examination on day 45 showed that 100% of marrow cells were donor origin. Acute and chronic GVHD did not develop. Since T lymphocyte was observed on day 21, various immunological parameters were normalized sooner or later. Immunological reconstitution was complete on day 280. Vaccination was given after 1 year of BMT and he is healthy now.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Busulfan ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cyclosporine ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Pancytopenia ; Parturition ; Pneumonia ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Vaccination