Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy is caused by a single nucleotide change in the mitochondrial deoxynucleic acid(mtDNA). We identified a single guanine to adenine transition mutation in the mitochondrial DNA at nucleotide position 11778(Wallace mutation)in a 13 year old boy. To our knowldge, this is the first report confirming mtDNA mutation in Korea. This would be very helpful for the correct diagnosis of optic neuritis, optic neuropathy and optic atrophy of unknown etiology as well as for genetic counselling in the future.
Adenine ; Adolescent ; Diagnosis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Guanine ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Optic Atrophy ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber* ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Optic Neuritis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of nutritional education program (NEP) on nausea and vomiting, anorexia, food intake, and nutritional status among GI cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: A nonequivalent, non-synchronized posttest design was used. Study subjects were conveniently selected 30 patients (15 subjects for each group) who were undergoing chemotherapy. The subjects of the experimental group received NEP which consisted of 2 educations and 1 counselling while they were hospitalized, and telephone counselling with nutritional supports after discharge for four times. RESULTS: The score of anorexia was lower and the amount of food intake was higher in the experimental group than those of the control group. However, there were no significant differences in levels of nausea and vomiting, weight, hemoglobin, albumin, and total protein level between the experimental and the control group. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that the NEP was effective in alleviating anorexia and improving subjective food intake of GI cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. These findings suggest that NEP can be a useful nursing intervention for preventing nutritional disorders for patients with GI cancer after chemotherapy.
Anorexia ; Child ; Eating ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Nausea ; Nutrition Disorders ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Telephone ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to understand and describe health-related experience of women with physical disabilities, using feminist qualitative approach. METHODS: Eight women with physical disabilities participated to the study. Their mean age was 43, ranging from 39 to 67 years old. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews and all interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed data were analyzed using traditional qualitative content analysis from a feminist perspective. RESULTS: Six major categories emerged from the data. Category 1: "Isolation and alienation from the world.", Category 2: "A distorted self-image of physically disabled body.", Category 3: "Difficulties due to a fixed gender role.", Category 4: "Constant suffering from chronic pain.", Category 5: "Health problems that they have to endure by themselves.", Category 6: "Sublimation through selfreliance." The results of the study show how Korean women with physical disabilities suffer from social stigma, indifferences, and discriminations and struggle to survive in these unfriendly surroundings. CONCLUSION: The results of the study would help health professionals in designing effective intervention to improve health and to empower women with physical disabilities by providing deep understanding and critical insights of those women.
Disabled Persons ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Feminism ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Social Stigma ; Stress, Psychological

A 45-year-old Korean woman visited our hospital complaining of poor vision after carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. We have confirmed the presence of a point mutation at position 11778 in the ND4 gene of mitochondrial DNA. This case suggests that CO poisoning may precipitate the clinical expression of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). To our knowledge, this would be the first case report of clinical expression of LHON precipitated by CO poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide/adverse effects ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/*complications ; DNA Damage ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Optic Atrophies, Hereditary/*etiology/genetics ; *Point Mutation ; Visual Acuity

Purpose: : This study investigated the occurrence of postoperative ileus and its related factors in patients after spinal surgery.
Methods: : After a retrospective review of data from patients who underwent spinal surgery at a single hospital located in Busan from 2012 through 2016, a total of 253 patients were included. The subjects were divided into non-ileus and ileus groups. We compared patient-, surgery-, and postoperative hematologicalrelated factors.
Results: : A total of 41 (16.2%) out of 253 patients experienced postoperative ileus. Data analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups in mean age (68.44 vs 60.50 years), occupation (9.8 vs 28.8%), cardiovascular comorbidity (63.4 vs 37.7%), approach of surgery (supine/prone: 29.3/70.7 vs 12.7/87.3%), duration of anesthesia (5.86 vs 4.43 hours), narcotic use (75.6 vs 56.6%), postoperative serum hemoglobin level (3 days: 10.81 vs 11.41 g/dL), postoperative serum protein (immediately/3 days: 5.30/5.43 vs 5.62/5.68 g/dL), postoperative albumin level (3 days: 3.17 vs 3.40 g/dL), postoperative C-reactive protein level (3 days: 11.44 vs 8.36 mg/dL), postoperative bed stabilization period (3.32 vs 2.50 days), and onset of bowel movement (2.59 vs 1.94 days). In multivariate logistic regression, age and time of anesthesia were independent risk factors of postoperative ileus.
Conclusion : To detect ileus after spinal surgery early, nurse education is needed with intensive screening on advanced age, surgery-related factors, and postoperative hematological indices.

Purpose: : This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the quality of life of lung transplant patients.Method : The participants were patients who received lung transplants at a general hospital in City Y. Data were collected through structured questionnaires from June 2023 to August 2023. General characteristics, lung transplantation-related characteristics, quality of life, functional disability, treatment compliance, social support, anxiety, and depression—were measured. For data analysis, hierarchical multiple regression was performed using SPSS/WIN 29.0. Results: : In the final model, quality of life was associated with income, self-help group attendance, functional disability, social support, treatment compliance, and anxiety and depression. Together, they explained 61.2% of the total variance in the results. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that improving lung transplant patients’ quality of life requires active intervention in stress management to perform treatment instructions well, a social support system that can help them financially, and encouraging and participating in social activities as patients.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the possible relationship between viral infection and first trimester pregnancy loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 51 gravidas with missed abortion, fetal anomaly, pre-term delivery, and full-tem delivery at Hanyang University Hospital. Enteroviruses were detected by semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry in abortive tissues and placentas. Enterovirus serotypes were confirmed by genome sequencing. Herpesviruses were detected by PCR. RESULTS: Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) was detected in 8 of 14 missed abortion cases, 1 of 27 full-term cases, and none of the 9 pre-term cases. Coxsackievirus B1 (CVB1) was detected in an encephalocele case. Herpes simplex virus type 1 was found in 4 full-term cases, 3 pre-term cases, and none of the missed abortion cases. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CVB3 was significantly higher in missed abortion cases compared to full-term or pre-term delivery cases. CVB infection may therefore be an important etiological agent of missed abortion.
Abortion, Missed/*etiology ; Adult ; Coxsackievirus Infections/complications/*diagnosis/virology ; Enterovirus B, Human/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Placenta/virology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*virology ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Uterus/*virology

OBJECTIVES: Intrauterine growth restriction(IUGR) accounts for significantiy increased perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity rates. The Purpose of this study is to investigate the association between some of the risk factors and the incidence of fetal growth restriction. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The retrospective survey of obstetric records of 2188 mothers, who delivered between July, 1995 and June, 1998, was carried out in Hanyang University Kuri Hospital, with the following inclusion criteria: Korean, singleton pregnancy with live birth and a gestational age of more than 32 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 1) The incidence rate for IUGR was 4,7% during the period of 1995 through 1998. 2) 41.2% of IUGR was due to unknown causes, 58.8% of IUGR was due to known. Among known causes the maternal factor was 40.2%, the placenta factor was 14.7%, and the fetal anomaly was 4%. 3) Among maternal factors, pregnancy induced hypertension was the most common cause. 4) The incidence of IUGR was higher in primiparous women and in female babies. 5) The IUGR group showed lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes than control group,
Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Incidence ; Live Birth ; Mothers ; Perinatal Mortality ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Purpose: This study was undertaken to revise and update the Nutrition Quotient (NQ) for Korean adults, a tool used to evaluate dietary quality and behavior. Methods: The first 31 items of the measurable food behavior checklist were adopted based on considerations of the previous NQ checklist, recent literature reviews, national nutrition policies, and recommendations. A pilot survey was conducted on 100 adults aged 19 to 64 residing in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province from March to April 2021 using a provisional 26-item checklist. Pilot survey data were analyzed using factor analysis and frequency analysis to determine whether checklist items were well organized and responses to questions were well distributed, respectively. As a result, the number of items on the food behavior checklist was reduced to 23 for the nationwide survey, which was administered to 1,000 adults (470 men and 530 women) aged 19 to 64 from May to August 2021. The construct validity of the developed NQ (NQ-2021) was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, linear structural relations. Results: Eighteen items in 3 categories, that is, balance (8 items), moderation (6 items), and practice (4 items), were finally included in NQ-2021 food behavior checklist. ‘Balance’ items addressed the intake frequencies of essential foods, ‘moderation’ items the frequencies of unhealthy food intakes or behaviors, and ‘practice’ items addressed eating behaviors. Items and categories were weighted using standardized path coefficients to calculate NQ-2021 scores. Conclusion The updated NQ-2021 appears to be suitable for easily and quickly assessing the diet qualities and behaviors of Korean adults.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the effects of job embeddedness, nursing work environment, and nursing professionalism on turnover intention in nurses working at rehabilitation hospitals. METHODS: This descriptive study employed a cross-sectional research design. Questionnaires were collected from May to June, 2019. Participants were 200 nurses from three rehabilitation hospitals in Seoul and Gyunggi province. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Mean scores for turnover intention, nursing work environment, nursing professionalism. and job embeddedness were 3.21±0.65, 2.90±0.43, 3.06±0.24, and 3.11±0.40, respectively. Turnover intention was negatively correlated with job embeddedness, nursing practice environment, and nursing professionalism. Nursing work environment was the most important predictor in turnover intention, followed by job embeddedness. CONCLUSION The findings in this study indicated that we need to investigate the level of job embededness, nursing work environment, and nursing professionalism in nurses working at rehabilitation hospitals. Hospital managers should develop and apply appropriate policies and strategies to reduce nurses' turnover intention, improve nursing work environment and enhance the level of job embededness.