No abstract available.
Pregnancy* ; Pyelonephritis*

PURPOSE: This purpose of this study was to identify the level of safe-handling of cytotoxic drugs and use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) among nurses at a regional cancer center in South Korea. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The participants were 131 nurses who care for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Demographic information, safe-handling of cytotoxic drugs and use of PPE were collected using questionnaires from May 7 to 25, 2018. RESULTS: Response rate was 98.4%. The mean age of the nurses was 28.2±4.4 years and their clinical nursing experience was 4.34±3.93 years. The mean scores out of 5 for the participants' safe handling of cytotoxic drugs was 3.73± 0.43. In use of PPE, the mean score of wearing gloves, masks, and gowns were 3.89±.77, 3.06±1.04, and 2.34±0.98, respectively. The main reason for not wearing PPE was ‘too busy’ (62.8%). The level of safe-handling of cytotoxic drugs was not significantly different according to any variables, but the use of PPE was significantly different according to age (p=.021). CONCLUSION: The findings showed that nurses had exposure to cytotoxic drugs in the processes of preparation, administration, cleaning of spills, and handling of patient waste. Education programs and continuous monitoring are needed to improve the use of PPE among nurses and trigger the appropriate motivation for consistent personal protection.
Cancer Care Facilities ; Drug Therapy ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Masks ; Motivation ; Nursing ; Personal Protective Equipment*

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the knowledge, anxiety and compliance with preventive behavior of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in liver transplant patients. METHODS: The participants in the study were 100 liver transplant patients at an outpatient clinic. The data were collected from May 20, 2016, to June 20, 2016. RESULTS: The knowledge score was 6.37±1.73 (range; 1~10) and the correct answer rate was 63.7%. The state anxiety score was 41.35±10.08 (range; 20~68) and the trait anxiety score was 39.60±8.85 (range; 22~59). The compliance with preventive behavior score was 35.70±5.23 (range; 21~45). Anxiety differed significantly according to education level (P=0.040) and occupation status (P=0.047). Compliance with preventive behavior differed significantly according to period after surgery (P=0.035). Compliance with preventive behavior and state anxiety (P=0.007) and trait anxiety (P<0.001) were negatively related. The factor that had the greatest effect on compliance with preventive behavior was trait anxiety (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The epidemic of the MERS has already been completed and none of the subjects of this study has been infected with the MERS; however, patients with liver transplantation always have a risk of various opportunistic infections. If new infectious diseases such as MERS occur in the future, increased anxiety may decrease the practice of prevention. Therefore, anxiety experienced by liver transplant patients should be managed.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anxiety* ; Communicable Diseases ; Compliance* ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Education ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Middle East* ; Occupations ; Opportunistic Infections

This study was conducted to investigate whether there were any differences in the body image perception, dietary behavior and maternal dietary guidance between an obese group ("OG") and a normal weight group ("NWG"), and furthermore, to provide basic informations for comprehensive educational programs for obese children. For this purpose, the questionnaire method was used. The subjects were 1,501 elementary school children, in the 4th to the 6th grades in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Andong, and their mothers (1,459). The percentage of the children who misperceive their body image was higher among the girls (30.4%) than the boys (22.6%). The average scores for balanced dietary behavior as assessed by the children was higher in the OG than in NWG; the average scores for dietary control as assessed by their mothers was higher in the NWG than in the OG. The scores for dietary behavior as assessed by the children was different from those as assessed by their mothers. Assuming that the mothers would give more correct and balanced answers, the development of a reliable questionnaire for dietary behavior that could be more accurately answered by the children is necessary. Maternal dietary guidance for dietary control was more frequently given in the OG as compared with the NWG and more frequently in girls as compared with boys ; while that for balanced diet was more in the NWG as compared with the OG. The worse the mothers estimate of the dietary behavior for their children, the more they tried to guide their children in dietary behavior. It is recommended that the children should be taught to correctly recognize the degree of their obesity, and receive the appropriate educational program accordingly, including the maternal dietary guidance.
Body Image ; Busan ; Child* ; Daegu ; Diet ; Female ; Gwangju ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Mothers ; Obesity ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Endovascular recanalization therapy (ERT) has been proven its efficacy in improving prognosis of acute ischemic stroke with intracranial large artery occlusion. Before the DAWN and DEFUSE 3 trials, ERT was recommended for stroke patients who could be treated within 6 hours after the onset of symptoms and the prognosis after ERT has been known time-dependent. However, the most recently published 2 ERT trials performed more than time window of 6 hours showed significant efficacy of ERT to compare with conservative therapy in selected patients. Now we should apply the result of new trials of ERT in the extended time window clinically. Herein, the result of recent ERT trials and the predictive factors affecting prognosis beyond the concept of time in ERT will be discussed.
Arteries ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Stroke ; Thrombectomy

Salmonella meningitis is rare yet poses causes significant neurological morbidity in children. Infants, especially those under 3 months of age, and those with immunocompromised states, such as malignancy, malaria, and human immunodeficiency virus infection, are at increased risk for developing Salmonella meningitis. Herein, we describe a case of Salmonella meningitis in a previous healthy 8-year-old girl who presented with high fever, vomiting, and altered mental status. Group D Salmonella species were isolated in cerebrospinal fluid culture, and no abnormal findings were noted in brain magnetic resonance imaging. Immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte subset counts were within the normal ranges, and no genetic mutation responsible for primary immunodeficiency disease was detected by next-generation sequencing. The patient’s condition improved rapidly with third-generation cephalosporin, and no complications or sequalae developed. Nontyphoidal Salmonella can cause meningitis in immunocompetent children and can be successfully treated with early administration of antibiotics.

The postpartum period is generally considered to be increased risk of various cerebral disorders, such as reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), and eclampsia. They manifest as an isolated syndrome or overlapped. Emergent diagnosis and appropriate treatment are mandatory because of the risk of permanent cerebral damage. Here, we report a case presenting with the overlap of RCVS, PRES, and transient splenial lesion of corpus callosum after delivery.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to follow benign thyroid nodules confirmed by ultrasound (US)-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) after inconclusive cytology on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Methods: Sixty-two thyroid nodules from 62 patients with CNB-confirmed benign histology that initially had inconclusive cytology on FNA were retrospectively included. The thyroid nodules were followed for 38.7 months (median, 27.5 months; range, 6 to 101 months), and the US findings of biopsied nodules, such as the interval change in size, US characteristics, and imaging category based on the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS), were evaluated. In addition, patients’ clinical records were reviewed for any further management or newly diagnosed thyroid malignancy. Results: Among 62 cases, three (4.8%) showed interval size growth, while 59 (95.2%) demonstrated no interval change or a decrease in size. There was no upgrade of K-TIRADS category or any newly diagnosed malignancy during the follow-up period. Conclusion US-guided CNB-confirmed benign thyroid nodules with inconclusive cytology on FNA showed a stable status during follow-up, and repeated CNB could be helpful in the management of nodules with inconclusive cytology on FNA.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the prehospital process and reperfusion therapy process of acute ischemic stroke in Busan metropolitan area and examine the impact of living arrangement on the early management and functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: The patients who diagnosed with AIS and received reperfusion therapy at the Busan Regional Cardiovascular Center between September 2020 and May 2023 were selected. We investigated the patients’ hospital arrival time (onset to door time) and utilization of 119 emergency ambulance services. Additionally, various time matrices related to reperfusion therapy after hospital were examined, along with the functional outcome at the 90-day after treatment. Results: Among the 753 AIS patients who underwent reperfusion therapy, 166 individuals (22.1%) were living alone. AIS patients living alone experienced significant delays in symptom detection (p<0.05) and hospital arrival compared to AIS patients with cohabitants (370.1 minutes vs. 210.2 minutes, p<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of 119 ambulance utilization and time metrics related with the reperfusion therapy. Independent predictors of prognosis in AIS patients were found to be age above 70, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, tissue plasminogen activator, living alone (odds ratio [OR], 1.785; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.155–2.760) and interhospital transfer (OR, 1.898; 95% CI, 1.152–3.127). Delay in identification of AIS was shown significant correlation (OR, 2.440; 95% CI, 1.070–5.561) at living alone patients. Conclusion This study revealed that AIS patients living alone in the Busan metropolitan region, requiring endovascular treatment, face challenges in the pre-hospital phase, which significantly impact their prognosis.

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of chewable toothbrush and manual toothbrush and provide basic data for recommendation of the chewable toothbrush in specific groups and situations. A total of 20 subjects participated in this study (rolling method, 10; non-rolling method, 10). After professional prophylaxis, participants used the manual toothbrush to brush their teeth for 3 minutes. After a 7-day wash-out period, participants used the chewable toothbrush according to the manufacturer's instructions. Pre- and post-plaque indexing of the teeth was performed. The dental plaque index was assessed using the Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (TMQHPI) for amount of plaque and Silness-Löe Plaque Index (SLPI) for plaque thickness. The difference between pre- and post-dental plaque index was analyzed using a paired t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The Mann-Whitney U test was also used to compare the dental plaque index reduction rates. The dental plaque index differed significantly between the chewable toothbrush and the manual toothbrush. The TMQHPI reduction rate was significantly different between the rolling and non-rolling method groups for the manual toothbrush but not the chewable toothbrush. The difference in SLPI reduction rate between the rolling and non-rolling method groups was significant for the manual toothbrush but not for the chewable toothbrush. Differences in the dental plaque index reduction rates between the chewable and manual toothbrushes were not significant in the non-rolling method group. The results of this study showed higher reduction rates in dental plaque with manual toothbrush use than with chewable toothbrush use. However, the non-rolling method group did not show statistically significant differences according to toothbrush type. The present study showed that a chewable toothbrush can be an alternative to a manual toothbrush for individuals who have difficulty using the generally recommended rolling method.
Abstracting and Indexing as Topic ; Dental Plaque Index ; Dental Plaque* ; Methods ; Pilot Projects* ; Tooth