PURPOSE: This study was done to identify differences in three groups of operative patients (Forced Air Warming, Electrical Blanketrol, Control) for discomfort and pattern of body temperature during surgery and post operatively. METHODS: The sample consisted of 3 randomized 3 groups of abdominal surgery patients admitted to an university hospital in D-city : The Bair Hugger and upper body blanket were used with the first group, electrical blanketrol with PVC Film with the second, and the third group was the control. ANOVA was used with the WIN SPSS 17.0 program to analyze the data. RESULTS: Significant differences were found among the three groups for tympanic and esophageal body temperature at 1 hour after starting surgery. There was significant difference in tympanic body temperature during the 15 minute stay in the post anesthetic room. There were no significant differences in thermal discomfort while in the post anesthetic room. or There among the three groups for serum cortisol during surgery. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, application of a Bair Hugger or electrical blanketrol improves maintenance of body temperature of operative patients as well as body temperature of post operative patients, and is a clinically significant warming method providing a more consistent body temperature.
Body Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypothermia ; Rewarming ; Shivering

This study was done to examine ER nurses' burn-out, as an understanding in the relationship of nursing performance and professional identity. The subjects of the study were nurses working in the emergency room of the general hospital with over 300 beds, located in D metropolitan city and C city. The self-report questionnaires were administered and 120 were collected. For the data analysis, SPSS WIN 12.0 was used. ER nurses' burn-out was 2.99, the mean of nursing performance was 3.69, and professional identity was 3.51. The extent of ER nurses' burn-out showed significantly negative correlation with the extent of nursing performance(r=-.257), along with professional identity(r=-.192). While ER nurses' nursing performance showed significantly positive correlation with professional identity(r=.696). In conclusion, the higher professional identity, the fewer ER nurses experienced burn-out, and the higher extent of nursing performance was obtained. It is necessary to create activities and programs to reduce and prevent burn-out.
Emergencies ; Hospitals, General ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Statistics as Topic

A 28-year-old primi gravida visited our department at 20 weeks gestation. The ultrasound screening revealed twin gestation, and follow up screening revealed a bilobed large fetal neck mass in the 1st twin. We measured thyroid volume with ultrasound which was 5.072 cm3. Other fetal organs appeared normal. Cordocentesis was performed for fetal thyroid function and congenital hypothyroidism was confirmed. In addition, maternal thyroid hormones were checked. The other fetus was normal. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the maternal serum was increased, but thyroxine (T3) was (within normal range). Two weeks later, we checked TSH and free T4 in amniotic fluid and administered intra-amniotic thyroxine (200 ?g). We repeated the procedures 2 more times in two consecutive weeks. After 3 intra-amniotic thyroxine injection, follow-up cordocentesis revealed euthyroid status of the fetus. Although the thyroid gland had decreased in size and volume, it was still goitrous. At 36 weeks of gestation, the patient was admitted for preterm premature rupture of the membranes and the twin was delivered vaginally. The 1st twin was proved as an euthyroid status and antithyroid antibody was not detected. During the 3 years follow up, the baby had no considerable developmental problem. The intrauterine recognition and treatment of congenital goitrous hypothyroidism may not only reduce the obstetric complications associated with large goiters, but possibly improve the prognosis for normal growth and mental development of affected fetuses.
Adult ; Amniotic Fluid ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; Cordocentesis ; Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture ; Fetus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Goiter ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Mass Screening ; Membranes ; Neck ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Rupture ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine ; Twins

PURPOSE: Recent studies using human and mice reported that apolipoprotein A-V (APOA5) gene plays an important role in controlling triglyceride (TG) concentrations. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in the APOA5 gene and TG in subjects and to search for possible associations of the APOA5 gene variants and common haplotypes with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the case-control subjects including 100 HTG patients and 243 unrelated healthy control. The genes were screened for SNPs by direct sequencing in 48 genetically unrelated individuals. Six SNPs (-1390C>T, -1020G>A, -3A>G, V150M, G182C and 1259T>C) were genotyped in case and control populations. RESULTS: In this study, our results indicated a strong association between APOA5 SNP -3A>G and G182C and elevated TG levels (p<0.001). Analysis of the SNPs from APOA5 gene has identified major haplotype showing very strong association with HTG, CGGGTT (p<0.001). Likelihood ratio test (LRT) of these six SNPs revealed that haplotypes were strong independent predictors of HTG (p<0.001). Haplotype-trend logistic regression (HTR) analysis revealed a significant association between the CGGGGC (haplotype 2) and CGGGTT (haplotype 4) and HTG (OR=2.48, 95% CI=1.06-5.76 and OR=8.54, 95% CI=2.66-27.42, respectively). CONCLUSION: We confirm that the APOA5 variants are associated with triglyceride levels and the haplotype may be strong independent predictors of HTG among Koreans.
Apolipoproteins A/*genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; *Haplotypes ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia/genetics ; Korea ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Triglycerides/*blood

OBJECTIVES: Tricalcium phosphate and calcium hydrogenorthophosphate are high production volume chemicals, mainly used as foodstuff additives, pharmaceuticals, lubricants, synthetic resin, and disinfectants. Phosphate has the potential to cause increased algal growth leading to eutrophication in the aquatic environment. However, there is no adequate information available on risk assessment or acute and chronic toxicity. The aim of this research is to evaluate the toxic potential of phosphate compounds in the aquatic environment. METHODS: An aquatic toxicity test of phosphate was conducted, and its physico-chemical properties were obtained from a database recommended in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidance manual. An ecotoxicity test using fish, Daphnia, and algae was conducted by the good laboratory practice facility according to the OECD TG guidelines for testing of chemicals, to secure reliable data. RESULTS: The results of the ecotoxicity tests of tricalcium phosphate and calcium hydrogenorthophosphate are as follows: In an acute toxicity test with Oryzias latipes, 96 hr 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was >100 (measured:>2.14) mg/L and >100 (measured: >13.5) mg/L, respectively. In the Daphnia test, 48 hr 50% effective concentration (EC50) was >100 (measured: >5.35) mg/L and >100 (measured: >2.9) mg/L, respectively. In a growth inhibition test with Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, 72 hr EC50 was >100 (measured: >1.56) mg/L and >100 (measured: >4.4) mg/L, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the ecotoxicity test of phosphate using fish, Daphnia, and algae, L(E)C50 was above 100 mg/L (nominal), indicating no toxicity. In general, the total phosphorus concentration including phosphate in rivers and lakes reaches levels of several ppm, suggesting that phosphate has no toxic effects. However, excessive inflow of phosphate into aquatic ecosystems has the potential to cause eutrophication due to algal growth.
Calcium ; Daphnia ; Disinfectants ; Ecosystem ; Eutrophication ; Lakes ; Lubricants ; Oryzias ; Phosphorus ; Resins, Synthetic ; Risk Assessment ; Rivers ; Toxicity Tests ; Toxicity Tests, Acute

The prevalence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has been increasing worldwide. In Korea, the most common genotype of CA-MRSA is the Panton-Valentine leukocidin-negative, sequence type 72 Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec type IV clone. However, within Korean hospitals, this strain is still not commonly reported. In this study, we describe a case of infective endocarditis caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin-negative MRSA (ST72-SCCmec type IV A clone). Infection occurred after open reduction and internal fixation due to a right humerus fracture with cerebral hemorrhage. Initially, the patient was treated with linezolid, but with the onset of severe thrombocytopenia, the patient was switched to vancomycin therapy.
Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Clone Cells ; Endocarditis* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Humerus ; Korea ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Prevalence ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vancomycin ; Linezolid

Background: This study compared the treatment outcomes of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) before and after the implementation of public–private mix (PPM). Factors affecting treatment success were also investigated. Methods: Data from culture-confirmed pulmonary MDR-TB patients who commenced MDR-TB treatment at Pusan National University Hospital between January 2003 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups in terms of PPM status: pre-PPM period, patients who commenced MDR-TB treatment between 2003 and 2010; and post-PPM period, patients treated between 2011 and 2017. Results: A total of 176 patients were included (64 and 112 in the pre- and post-PPM periods, respectively). 36.9% of the patients were resistant to a fluoroquinolone or a second-line injectable drug, or both. The overall treatment success rate was 72.7%. The success rate of post-PPM patients was higher than that of pre-PPM patients (79.5% vs. 60.9%, p=0.008). Also, loss to follow-up was lower in the post-PPM period (5.4% vs. 15.6%, p=0.023). In multivariate regression analysis, age ≥65 years, body mass index ≤18.5 kg/m2, previous TB treatment, bilateral lung involvement, and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)- or pre-XDR-TB were associated with poorer treatment outcomes. However, the use of bedaquiline or delamanid for ≥1 month increased the treatment success. Conclusion The treatment success rate in MDR-TB patients was higher in the post-PPM period than in the pre-PPM period, particularly because of the low rate of loss to follow-up. To ensure comprehensive patient-centered PPM in South Korea, investment and other support must be adequate.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-f light mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a new diagnostic tool for microorganism identification. The clinical usefulness of this approach has not been widely examined in Korea. This retrospective pre–post-intervention quasi-experimental study examined the effect of MALDI-TOF MS on patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteremia in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: All consecutive patients with MDR bacteremia in the ICU of a tertiary care hospital between March 2011 and February 2013 and between March 2014 and February 2016 were enrolled. MALDI-TOF MS was introduced between these periods. In the pre-intervention and intervention groups, microorganisms were identified by conventional means and by MALDI-TOF MS, respectively. The groups were compared in terms of time from venipuncture to microorganism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test results. RESULTS: In total, 187 patients (mean age, 61.0 years; 56.7% male) were enrolled. Of these, 97 and 90 were in the pre-intervention and intervention groups, respectively. The intervention group had a significantly shorter time from venipuncture to microorganism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test results (82.5 ± 21.6 hours vs. 92.3 ± 40.4 hours, p = 0.038). The antibiotics were adjusted in 52 patients (26 each in the pre-intervention and intervention groups) based on these results. These groups did not differ in terms of time from venipuncture to antibiotic adjustment, and multivariate regression analysis showed that MALDI-TOF MS–based microorganism identification was not associated with 28-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that MALDI-TOF MS accelerated microorganism identification in patients with MDR bacteremia, but did not inf luence 28-day mortality.

Background/Aims: Despite the obvious benefits of adding immune checkpoint inhibitors to platinum-etoposide chemotherapy in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), real-world data remain scarce. Methods: This retrospective study included 89 patients with ES-SCLC treated with platinum-etoposide chemotherapy alone (chemo-only group; n = 48) or in combination with atezolizumab (atezolizumab group; n = 41) and compared the survival outcomes between these two groups. Results: Overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in the atezolizumab group than in the chemo-only group (15.2 months vs. 8.5 months; p = 0.047), whereas the median progression-free survival was almost the same (5.1 months vs. 5.0 months) in both groups (p = 0.754). Subsequent multivariate analysis revealed that thoracic radiation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.223; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.092–0.537; p = 0.001) and atezolizumab administration (HR, 0.350; 95% CI, 0.184–0.668; p = 0.001) were favorable prognostic factors for OS. In the thoracic radiation subgroup, patients who received atezolizumab demonstrated favorable survival outcomes and no grade 3–4 adverse events (AEs). Conclusions The addition of atezolizumab to platinum-etoposide resulted in favorable outcomes in this real-world study. Thoracic radiation was associated with improved OS and acceptable AE risk in combination with immunotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC.

Purpose: The diagnostic yield of transbronchial biopsy (TBB) using radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (RP-EBUS) is 71%, which is lower than that of transthoracic needle biopsy. We investigated the performance and safety of sequential transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBC) using a novel 1.1-mm diameter cryoprobe, after conventional TBB using RP-EBUS for the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions (PLLs). Materials and Methods: From April 2021 to November 2021, 110 patients who underwent bronchoscopy using RP-EBUS for the diagnosis of PLL ≤ 30 mm were retrospectively included in our study. All records were followed until June 2022. Results: The overall diagnostic yield of combined TBB and TBC was 79.1%, which was higher than 60.9% of TBB alone (p=0.005). The diagnostic yield of sequential TBC was 65.5%, which increased the overall diagnostic yield by 18.2%. The surface area of tissues by TBC (mean area, 18.5 mm2) was significantly larger than those of TBB by 1.5-mm forceps (3.4 mm2, p < 0.001) and 1.9-mm forceps (3.7 mm2, p=0.011). In the multivariate analysis, PLLs with the longest diameter of ≤ 22 mm were found to be related to additional diagnostic benefits from sequential TBC (odds ratio, 3.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.043 to 11.775; p=0.042). Complications were found in 10.5% of the patients: pneumothorax (1.0%), infection (1.0%), and significant bleeding (8.6%). None of the patients developed any life-threatening complications. Conclusion Sequential TBC with a 1.1-mm cryoprobe improved the performance of conventional TBB using RP-EBUS without serious complications.