BACKGROUND: The cell mediated immunity has an important role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. sIL-2R has been known as a sensitive marker of T lymphocyte activation. Elevated serum levels of sIL-2R have been found in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, organ transplantation, autoimmune diseases, and various granulomatous diseases. Elevated levels of sIL-2R have been also found in the seam and pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculosis. To evaluate the diagnostic value of sIL-2R in the differentiation of tuberculous pleurisy and. nontuberculous pleurisy. We measured the level of sIL-2R in the sera and pleural fluids of 12 patients with tuberculous pleurisy and 32 patients with nontuberculous pleurisy. METHOD: Samples of pleural fluid and serum were centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 min to remove cell pellets. Soluble R-2R was measured with a sandwitch enzyme immunoassay using the Cellfree r Interleukin-2 Receptor Test kit( T-cell science, Inc. Cambridge, MA). RESULTS: The results obtained were as follows: 1) The sIL-2R level in pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculous pleurisy was higher than that of patients with nontuberculous pleurisy(P<0.005). 2) When the sIL-2R level above 5,000 u/ml in pleural fluid was used as the cut-off value to diagnose tuberculous pleurisy, it had a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 90.9%. 3) The sIL-2R level in the sera of the patients with tuberculous pleurisy was higher than that of patients with bacterial pleural effusions and normal control group(P<0.05) and there was no difference of levels compared with malignant pleural effusions and transudative pleural effusions(P>0.05). 4) In patients with tuberculous pleurisy, the mean concentration of sIL-2R in pleural fluid was higher than that in serum(P<0.005). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the measurement of elevated levels of pleural fluid sIL-2R in tuberculous pleurisy may be useful in the differential diagnosis between patients with tuberculous pleurisy and nontuberculous pleurisy.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Organ Transplantation ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Pleurisy* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop parent coaching domains for the health management of childhood leukemia survivors. METHODS: In this study, we conducted a literature review and in-depth interviews with 6 parents of childhood leukemia survivors who were identified using convenience sampling. We identified areas of parent coaching through the 4 stages of the GROW model, which are: goal setting, realistic grasp, confirmation of realization, and search for alternatives. RESULTS: Nine domains and 27 subcategories emerged from the study. The 9 parent coaching domains for the health management of childhood leukemia survivors were routine life management, education and information provision, emotional support for the surviving children, social support for the surviving children, follow-up management, family support, school life management, symptom management, and improvement of growth and development. CONCLUSION: This research developed 9 parent coaching domains for the health management of children surviving leukemia. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the efficient health management of childhood leukemia survivors by enabling practitioners to continuously identify new coaching domains as needed for their health management. Researchers should improve the health management of childhood leukemia survivors by developing nursing interventions for these new coaching areas.
Child ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth and Development ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Nursing ; Parents ; Survivors

The foreign bodies in vagina cause intense inflammation. Genital complaints in patients could indicate the presence of a vaginal foreign object. Vaginal bleeding and blood-stained, foul-smelling discharge are considered to be the main clinical manifestations of vaginal foreign bodies, and toilet tissue reported as the most commonly found foreign body. The insertion of foreign bodies into the vagina is not uncommon but presentation as lower abdominal pain in an gynaecological clinic is rare. The causes of insertion are sexual stimulation, sexual abuse, accident of post-surgery and most cases find a solution after vaginal speculum examination. We describe a case of foreign body in the vagina of a patient presenting with chronic lower abdominal pain but undetectable and unrecognized in general examination.
Abdominal Pain ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Sex Offenses ; Surgical Instruments ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina ; Young Adult

Human ovarian follicles reduce rapidly in number throughout fetal and adult life. Throughout the menstrual cycles, primordial follicles grow into mature follicles and then ovulate to form corpus luteum. Apoptosis has been implicated in several events that occur during the process of follicular growth, atresia and the regression of the corpus luteum. By the use of immunohistochemistry, we clarified the involvement of apoptosis in the human ovary during follicular growth, regression and atresia by investigating the expression of Fas, Fas-ligand, Bcl-2 and Bad in primordial follicles, primary follicles and mature follicles. Fas immunostaining was present in primordial oocytes, both oocytes and granulosa cells of primary follicles, preantral follicles and all follicular cells of mature follicles. Fas-ligand and Bad immunostaining patterns were similar to those of Fas except for theca cells. Bcl-2 immunostaining was present in both oocytes and granulosa cells of primary, preantral and mature follicles. In corpus luteum, Fas, Fas-ligand, Bcl-2 and Bad immunostaining were observed and decreased in the regressing corpus luteum. In postmenopausal ovary, Fas, Fas-ligand, Bcl-2 and Bad immunostaining were entirely negative. Bad immunostaining was observed but Bcl-2 was not in atretic follicle. These results suggest that Fas, Fas-ligand, Bcl-2 and Bad may play important roles in human ovary during follicular growth, regression and atresia simultaneously. Further studies should be required to elucidate the underlying mechanism and apoptosis of the disease associated with normal and abnormal ovarian aging.
Adult ; Aging ; Apoptosis ; Corpus Luteum ; Female ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Menstrual Cycle ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Follicle* ; Ovary ; Theca Cells

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to review 4 years' experience of peritoneal inclusion cysts at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital. METHODS: A retrospective study of 50 cases of peritoneal inclusion cyst between April 1, 1999 and June 30, 2003 was carried out and then clinical feature, preoperative diagnostic findings, operative findings and recurrence were compared with previous reports. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 40.2 years old and most of them were premenopausal. The majority (94%) of patients had history of laparotomy and most (70.2%) of them had history of total hysterectomy. The values of tumor makers such as CA125 and CA19-9 were normal in most of the patients. The peritoneal inclusion cysts usually generate on the left side of the pelvic cavity, size of them were often (59.6%) 5 to 10 cm and they usually (65.4%) have septum in ultrasonographic findings. They probably had pelvic adhesion or ovarian cyst with them in operative findings. Most of the recurrence occurred after only adhesiolysis was done. CONCLUSION: Because peritoneal inclusion cyst is benign and uncommon disease, its preoperative diagnosis rate was low. In our experience of 50 cases of peritoneal inclusion cyst, most of the patients have history of laparotomy and were premenopausal. When the ultrasonographic findings of cyst are 5 cm to 10 cm in size and have septum, they are likely to be peritoneal inclusion cyst. Their recurrence might be more common when adhesiolysis only was performed.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparotomy ; Ovarian Cysts ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between Osteoprotegerin gene polymorphisms, and bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: Restriction fragment length polymorphisms at the Osteoprotegerin A163G (promoter), G1181C (exon 1) gene site, and BMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur were analyzed in 229 postmenopausal Korean women (81 normal, 111 osteopenic and 37 osteoporotic patients). BMDs were measured by DEXA. RESULTS: The distribution of A163G and G1181C polymorphisms in all postmenopausal women was as follows: AA 54.6%, AG 37.1%, GG 8.3%; GG 52.4%, GC 38.0%, CC 9.6%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, BMI, and menopause duration, A163G polymorphism was significantly associated with BMD at the lumbar spine and G1181C polymorphism BMD at the trochanter in all postmenopausal women. A163G polymorphism was significantly associated with BMD at the lumbar spine in normal and osteoporotic patients, and BMD at the femur neck and wards triangle in normal patients. G1181C polymorphism was significantly associated with BMD at the femur neck in osteopenic and osteoporotic patients, and BMD at the wards triangle and trochanter in osteoporotic patients. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that osteoprotegerin gene polymorphisms may be an important contributor to the variation of BMD among postmenopausal Korean women.
Bone Density ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Menopause ; Osteoprotegerin* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Spine

Although pathology reports of thyroid tissue in ovarian teratomas are abundant, benign teratomas of the thyroid are extremely rare in adolescents and adults. Therefore, their clinical characteristics are still not well characterized. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman with a growing mass in her neck. Left lobectomy of the thyroid revealed it to be a benign thyroid teratoma composed of tissues from all three germ layers. Preoperative evaluations included thyroid ultrasonography (US), ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), and computed tomography (CT) of the neck. A 4.7-cm, well defined, predominantly hypoechoic mass intermingled with hyperechoic internal lesions, was observed in the inferior portion of the left thyroid lobe with substernal extension on US. The posterior extent of the nodule was not visualized due to deep attenuation of the echo. US-guided FNAC failed to reveal any thyroid follicular cells, but suggested a benign cystic tumor. Neck CT hinted at the diagnosis of teratoma because the mass contained large amounts of fat, and the margin was well defined. Extrathyroidal extension and cervical lymphadenopathy were not seen. She underwent left thyroid lobectomy, and histologic examination confirmed benign thyroid teratoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of benign thyroid teratoma in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Germ Layers ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neck ; Teratoma ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the perceived importance and frequency of nurse role behaviors for medical and surgical nurses and to examine the relationship between perceived importance and frequency of nurse role behaviors in the two groups. METHOD: A descriptive design was used with convenience sampling of 351 medical and surgical nurses in the 40 hospitals with over 500 beds. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: 1) The total score for perceived importance of nurse role behaviors was 4.09+/-.53 for medical nurses and 4.13+/-.53 for surgical nurses. 2) The total score for frequency was 3.15+/-.54 for medical nurses and 3.24+/-.56 for surgical nurses. 3) The perceived importance of nurse role behaviors was higher than the frequency, but the difference between two groups was not significant. 4) The perceived importance of nurse role behaviors was highly correlated with frequency (r=.579, p=.000) for the two groups. CONCLUSION: Medical and surgical nurses perceived the importance nurse role behavior but the frequency of the behavior is lower. Therefore, further research is needed to develop strategies to increase the frequency of nurse role behaviors.
Nurse's Role* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the relationship between body composition, metabolic parameters, and lumbar and femur bone mineral density (BMD) in pre-and post-menopausal women. METHODS: Of 394 females who participated in a medical check-up program, anthropometric measurements and fasting glucose levels and lipid profiles were measured. Body composition analysis was performed using the bioimpedence method and the BMD of the lumbar spine, femur neck, trochanter, ward's triangle, and total were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The mean age was 49.5 +/- 9.8 years, and among the subjects, 203 (51.5%) were pre-menopausal and 191 (48.5%) were post- menopausal women. Skeletal muscle mass, fat- free mass, lean body mass, and basal metabolic rate had a positive correlation with the lumbar and femur spine BMD, even after adjustment for age and weight in pre-menopausal women. The abdominal fat ratio, fat mass, waist circumference, percent fat, and total cholesterol had a negative correlation with the lumbar and femur spine BMD, even after adjustment for age and weight in pre-menopausal women. The lean body mass in the legs and trunk, skeletal muscle mass, and fat free mass had a positive correlation with the BMD of the lumbar spine and femur neck, unlike the lean body mass of the arms did not, after adjustment for age and weight in post-menopausal women. CONCLUSION: In pre- and post-menopausal Korean women, body composition, lean body mass, fat -free mass, and skeletal muscle mass were positive correlates, and fat mass and percent fat were negative correlates with the lumbar spine and femur BMD.
Abdominal Fat ; Arm ; Basal Metabolism ; Body Composition ; Bone Density ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Glucose ; Humans ; Leg ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Spine ; Waist Circumference

With increase of multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli in community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTI), other treatment option with a therapeutic efficacy and a low antibiotic selective pressure is necessary. In this study, we evaluated in vitro susceptibility of E. coli isolates from CA-UTI to fosfomycin (FM), nitrofurantoin (NI), temocillin (TMO) as well as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SMX), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and cefepime (FEP). The minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by E-test or agar dilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, using 346 E. coli collected in 12 Korean hospitals from March 2010 to February 2011. FM, NI and TMO showed an excellent susceptibility profile; FM 100% (346/346), TMO 96.8% (335/346), and NI 99.4% (344/346). Conversely, resistance rates of CIP and SMX were 22% (76/346) and 29.2% (101/349), respectively. FEP still retained an activity of 98.5%. In Korea, NI and TMO in addition to FM are a good therapeutic option for uncomplicated CA-UTI, especially for lower UTI.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage ; Cell Survival/*drug effects ; Cephalosporins/administration & dosage ; Ciprofloxacin/administration & dosage ; Community-Acquired Infections/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/drug effects ; Escherichia coli/*drug effects ; Escherichia coli Infections/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Fosfomycin/administration & dosage ; Humans ; Nitrofurantoin/administration & dosage ; Penicillins/administration & dosage ; Republic of Korea ; Sulfadoxine/administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; Trimethoprim/administration & dosage ; Urinary Tract Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology