PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mediating role of psychological capital (PCP) in the relationship between occupational stress and turnover intention in nurses. METHODS: Data were collected from a sample of 447 nurses working at four Veterans Administration Hospitals throughout South Korea from July 1 to July 31, 2014. We collected data from the nurses using the following surveys: the Short Form Korean-Occupational Stress Scale, the Korean version of the Turnover Intention Scale, and the Korean version of the Psychological Capital Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the mediating role of PCP. RESULTS: The level of occupational stress was 1.81 ± 0.23, the level of turnover intention was 3.29 ± 0.86, and the PCP level was 3.95 ± 0.52. There were significant correlations among the three variables (occupational stress, turnover intention, and PCP). PCP played a partial mediating role (β=−0.22, p = .008) in the relationship between occupational stress and turnover intention (p < .001) among nurses working at the Veterans Administration Hospitals. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, we recommend that South Korean hospitals offer occupational stress management programs that incorporate relevant programs in efforts to strengthen the overall components of PCP among nurses to reduce turnover intentions. Further studies are required to determine the most effective intervention programs for hospital settings.
Humans ; Intention* ; Korea* ; Linear Models ; Negotiating* ; Nursing Care ; Personnel Turnover ; United States Department of Veterans Affairs* ; Veterans*

Dietary nitrate supplementation from green leafy vegetables and beetroot is involved in the ‘nitratenitrite- nitric oxide (NO) pathway’ and is reported to have important vascular impacts. This study evaluated the blood parameters and blood flow change subsequent to a raw juice diet program. The 28 subjects who voluntarily participated in the raw juice diet program at Sahmyook University were instructed to drink the juice composed of fruits and vegetables instead of partaking the usual meal, at a scheduled time daily. The study was approved by the research ethics council of the Sahmyook University (SYUIRB 2014-043). Evaluation of the participants after the required duration revealed decreased levels of soft lean mass (P＜0.05), skeletal muscle mass (P＜0.001), body fat mass (P＜0.001), body mass index (P＜0.001) and circulating levels of total cholesterol (P＜0.001), triglycerides (P＜0.05), HDL-cholesterol (P＜0.01), LDL-cholesterol (P＜0.01), and blood urea nitrogen (P＜0.001). Conversely, circulating levels of creatinine (P＜0.001), hemoglobin (P＜0.001), and hematocrit (P＜0.01) were increased after the intervention. The blood flow levels were also increased after the program (P＜0.001). Our results indicate that a short-term raw juice diet contributes to the improvement of vascular blood flow and blood lipid parameters, and decreases the lean muscle mass related to dehydration.

PUPPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze related factors for major nursing diagnoses used in caring for institutionalized elders. METHOD: This study was a descriptive study. The participants were 92 residents in a long-term care facility in Wonju, selected by convenience sampling. The instrument was a checklist designed on the basis of the related factors suggested by NANDA (1997) and a literature review. Data was collected by chart review, observation, and interviews with the participants. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the SPSS WIN program. RESULT: The most frequent nursing diagnosis was 'risk for injury', 'self-esteem disturbance', 'activity intolerance', 'impaired phyical mobility', and 'powerlessness'. The most frequent component for related factors for the five component for each nursing diagnosis was the physical component, followed by the social component. Common related factors for the nursing diagnoses were 'pain', 'change of emotional state/disorder', 'cognitive disorder', 'change of physical structure and function', and 'physical impairment', and 'immobility'. CONCLUSION: The results of this study can contribute to the development of appropriate nursing intervention programs for elders (eg. 'Injury Prevention Programs', 'Self-esteem Improvement Programs' etc.). Clinical guidelines that gerontological nurses can use to accurately assess health problems and select appropriate nursing interventions may be developed.
Checklist ; Gangwon-do ; Long-Term Care ; Nursing Diagnosis* ; Nursing*

BACKGROUND: The primary goal of therapy for acmmegaly is to reduce excess growth hormone (GH) secretion through surgical excision of pituitary adenoma and, in patients with large tumors, to debulk tumor mass and decompress adjacent structures. For the patients in whom surgery is contraindicated or has failed, radiotherapy should be considered. However, there was no analysis of the outcome folIowing the treatment of acromegly in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 128 patients who underwent surgical excision or radiotherapy for acromegaly and followed at our hospital between January 1980 and July 1997 to investigate the outcome of surgny and radiotherapy for acromegaly and to analyze preoperative and preradiotherapeutic parameters that predict a successful outcome of therapy. RESULTS: Pituitary adenomectomy was underwent to the 113 patients with acromegaly, then 33.6% of them showed basa1 GH levels below 5 ug/L and basal GH levels were dropped below 2.5 ug/L in 22.1% of the 113 patients. Postoperative basal GH levels were significantly correlated with preoperative tumor size(r=0.54, p<0.05) and preoperative GH levels(r=0.44, p<0.05). A successful outcome of surgery was influenced by preoperative tumor size, preoperative GH level and extrasellar extension. Multivariate analysis indicated that preoperative tumor size was an independent significant factor affecting the postoperative outcome(OR=2.19, p<0.05). After radiotherapy, the median years of decrease GH<10ug/L and <5ug/L were 3.7 and 7.8, respectively and GH levels of <5ug/L occurred in 35 percent of the patients at 5 years and in 56 percent at 10 yeats. The outcome of radiotherapy depends on the GH levels in preradiotherapy. CONCLUSION: The most reliable prognostic preoperative parameter of successful outcome of surgery was preoperative tumor size and the rate of fall in serum GH after radiotherapy is comparable to the preradiotherapy GH levels in our study, so that early diagnosis and proper treatment can improve the outcome of therapy in the patients with acromegaly. In the cases of large GH-secreting pituitary adenoma, it is required a combination of surgery and radiotherapy to achieve maximal suppresssion of GH levels before radiotherapy.
Acromegaly* ; Early Diagnosis ; Growth Hormone ; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma ; Humans ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies

Langerhans cell granulomatosis(LCG), previously termed 'Histiocytosis-X', is one of the rare disease. LCG is characterized by proliferation of Langerhans cells in a unifocal or multifocal pattern. And LCG may be manifested in a variety of way, ranging from a spontaneously regressing solitary lesion to a multisystem life-threatening disorder. This disease usually involves the bone, lung, skin and lymph node. The most common endocrinologic abnormalities in LCG are diabetes insipidus and growth hormone deficiency. LCG involving the thyroid gland is extremely rare and only a small numbers of cases have been reported worldwide. A 41-year-old diabetic female visited the hospital due to the neck swelling for 3 months and she also complained of polyuria, polydipsia and easy fatigue. LCG involving multiple organs included thyroid gland was diagnosed by high-resolution CT of lung, by characteristic histological findings of the thyroid lesion and by the immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein and OKT 6(CD la). She is followed at OPD without any medication.
Adult ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Fatigue ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Langerhans Cells ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Rare Diseases ; S100 Proteins ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: F-18 FDG PET/CT has excellent sensitivity and specificity for staging non-Hodgkin lymphomas, but to the author's knowledge few studies to date have evaluated FDG PET/CT in peripheral T cell lymphoma. We evaluated the usefulness of F-18 FDG PET/CT in staging of patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma, especially indolent cutaneous T cell lymphomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty five patients (M:F=17:8, age 53.7+/-14.8 yrs) with biopsy-proven indolent cutaneous T cell (CL) or noncutaneous T cell lymphomas (NCL) underwent PET/CT scans for staging at baseline. Peak standardized uptake values (p-SUV) of all abnormal foci were measured and compared between cutaneous and noncutaneous lesions. F-18 FDG PET/CT was performed on 6 patients with indolent CL and on 19 patients with NCL. RESULTS: All 6 patients with indolent CL had no significant FDG avidity in the skin despite histologically positive cutaneous lesions. However, FDG avidity appeared in extracutaneous lesions (lymph nodes) in two patients with CL where CT imaging suggested lymphoma involvement (mean p-SUV 4.26+/-0.37 in noncutaneous lesions in CL). In NCL, FDG avidity was demonstrated in all lesions where CT imaging suggested lymphoma involvement (mean p-SUV, 8.52+/-5.00 in noncutaneous lesions in NCL). CONCLUSION: F-18 FDG PET/CT has the limitation of usefulness for the evaluation of the skin in indolent CL. In contrast, F-18 FDG PET/CT is sensitive in staging evaluation of extracutaneous lesions regardless of CL or NCL.
Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

PURPOSE: The effects of biological subtypes within breast cancer on prognosis are influenced by age at diagnosis. We investigated the association of young age with locoregional recurrence (LRR) between patients with luminal subtypes versus those with nonluminal subtypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 524 breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes between 1999 and 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients received curative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy based on contemporary guidelines. Radiation was delivered for patients who underwent breast conserving surgery or those who had four or more positive lymph nodes after mastectomy. Adjuvant hormone therapy was administered to 413 patients with positive hormone receptors according to their menstrual status. RESULTS: During median follow-up of 84 months, the 10-year locoregional recurrence-free survival rate (LRRFS) was 84.3% for all patients. Patients < 40 years showed significantly worse 10-year LRRFS than those ≥ 40 years (73.2% vs. 89.0%, respectively; p=0.01). The negative effect of young age on LRRFS was only observed in luminal subtypes (69.7% for < 40 years vs. 90.8% for ≥ 40 years; p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis using luminal subtypes ≥ 40 years as a reference revealed luminal subtypes < 40 years were significantly associated with increased risk of LRR (hazard ratio, 2.33; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Young breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes had a higher risk of LRR than those aged ≥ 40 years. This detrimental effect of young age on LRR was confined in luminal subtypes.
Age Factors ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Phenobarbital* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Pioglitazone is known to have antidiabetic effects through decreasing peripheral, hepatic and vascular insulin resistance by the stimulation of PPAR gamma. To address the possible genetic factors affecting the pharmacokinetics (PK) of pioglitazone, 27 male Korean volunteers were enrolled from two separate bioequivalence studies. Each subject was administered 15 mg pioglitazone and reference drug PK parameters were used. We used Illumina Human610 Quad v1.0 DNA Analysis BeadChip for whole genome SNPs analysis and whole genome genotyping data was processed by linear regression analysis for PK parameters. We found 35 significant SNPs (P < 0.0001) in C(max), 1,118 significant SNPs (P < 0.0001) in T(max) and 1,259 significant SNPs (P < 0.0001) in AUC(inf) from whole genome analysis. For clinical pharmacological purpose, we selected SNPs from several phase I and II drug metabolizing enzyme and analyzed PK parameters with genotypes. Four SNPs (rs7761731 and rs3799872 from CYP39A1; rs156697 from GSTO2; rs1558139 from CYP4F2) showed significant associations with pioglitazone C(max). In the T(max) group, seven SNPs from 3 genes (rs3766198 from CYP4B1; rs2270422 from GSTZ1; rs2054675, rs10500282, rs3745274, rs8192719, and rs11673270 from CYP2B6) had significant associations. In the AUC(inf) group, seven SNPs from 4 genes (rs11572204 from CYP2J2; rs4148280 from UGT2A1, rs4646422 from CYP1A1; rs3745274, rs8192719, rs11673270, and rs707265 from CYP2B6) showed significant associations with pioglitazone absorption. These results showed that genetic makeup could affect the PK parameters and these informations could be provide information for personalized pioglitazone therapy.
Absorption ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; DNA ; Elvitegravir, Cobicistat, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Drug Combination ; Genome ; Genotype ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Linear Models ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Pharmacogenetics ; Pharmacokinetics* ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; PPAR gamma ; Therapeutic Equivalency ; Volunteers

Among the treatment options for BRCA mutation carriers, risk reducing surgery is the most effective. However, this procedure has been rarely performed in Korea. Interestingly, our case showed double heterozygosity for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. The patient was diagnosed with left renal cancer and left breast cancer at 45-years-of-age, 4 years before risk reducing surgery. The patient received left radical nephrectomy and left partial mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. After pretest counseling, the patient underwent genetic testing that identified BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. After post-test counseling, the patient decided on intensive surveillance. At 49-years-of-age, the patient was newly diagnosed with contralateral breast cancer. Treatment options were discussed once again. We performed bilateral total mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy after multidisciplinary discussion. The patient has been satisfied with the results of surgery. We think this procedure is a recommendable treatment option for BRCA mutation carriers.
Breast Neoplasms ; Counseling ; Genes, BRCA1 ; Genes, BRCA2 ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mastectomy, Simple ; Nephrectomy

Pelvic pain syndrome or pelvic congestion syndrome, with no apparent organic cause, is a common gynecologicaldisorder. Ovarian varix, one of the causes of this syndrome, presents a difficult diagnostic and therapeuticproblem, though surgical ligation of the ovarian vein is an effective method of treatment. Although ovarian veinembolization has been recently developed as a useful alternative, no previous reports have described thisprocedure in Korea. We report a case of pelvic pain syndrome successully treated by ovarian vein embolization.
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Korea ; Ligation ; Pelvic Pain* ; Varicose Veins ; Veins*