PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore the impact of nurse staffing level and oral care on pneumonia in elderly inpatients in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs). METHODS: Data were obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Services (HIRA) including the profiles of LTCHs, monthly patient assessment reports and medical report survey data of pneumonia patients by HIRA in the fourth quarter of 2010. The sample consisted of 37 LTCHs and 6,593 patients. RESULTS: Patient per nurse staff (OR=1.43, CI=1.22~1.68) and no oral care (OR=1.29, CI=1.01~1.64) were significantly related with hospital acquired pneumonia. The difference in percent of oral care by hospital was not significant between high and low group in nurse staffing level. CONCLUSION: In order to reduce the occurrence of pneumonia in eldery patients, effective nursing interventions are not only required but also nurse staffing levels that enable nurses to provide the intervention.
Aged ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Insurance, Health ; Long-Term Care* ; Nursing ; Pneumonia*

Cytokines play a pivotal role in maintaining bone homeostasis. Osteoclasts (OCs), the sole bone resorbing cells, are regulated by numerous cytokines. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand play a central role in OC differentiation, which is also termed osteoclastogenesis. Osteoclastogenic cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-11, IL-15, IL-17, IL-23, and IL-34, promote OC differentiation, whereas anti-osteoclastogenic cytokines, including interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-3, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-27, and IL-33, downregulate OC differentiation. Therefore, dynamic regulation of osteoclastogenic and anti-osteoclastogenic cytokines is important in maintaining the balance between bone-resorbing OCs and bone-forming osteoblasts (OBs), which eventually affects bone integrity. This review outlines the osteoclastogenic and anti-osteoclastogenic properties of cytokines with regard to osteoimmunology, and summarizes our current understanding of the roles these cytokines play in osteoclastogenesis.
Cytokines ; Homeostasis ; Interferons ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-11 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-15 ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-23 ; Interleukin-27 ; Interleukin-3 ; Interleukin-33 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-7 ; Interleukin-8 ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Necrosis ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; RANK Ligand

Background: The primary objectives of mandibular surgery are to achieve optimal occlusion, low sensory disturbance, and adequate fixation with early movement. In-depth knowledge of the mandibular structure is required to achieve these goals. This study used computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the mandibular cortical thickness and cancellous space according to age and sex. Methods: We enrolled 230 consecutive patients, aged 20 to 50 years, who underwent CT scanning. The cortex and cancellous space centered around the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) canal were measured at two specific locations: the lingula and second molar region. Statistical analysis of differences according to increasing age and sex was performed. Results: The t-test revealed that the cancellous space and cortical thickness differed significantly with respect to the threshold of 35 years of age. Both cortical thickness and cancellous space in the molar region were negatively correlated with age. Meanwhile, both cortical thickness and cancellous space in the lingula region showed a positive correlation with age. With respect to sex, significant differences in the cancellous space at the molar region and the cortical thickness at the lingula were observed. However, no further statistically significant differences were observed in other variables with respect to sex. The sum of each measurement on the mandibular body reflected the safe distance from the surface of the outer cortex to the IAN canal. The safe distances also showed statistically significant differences between those above and below 35 years of age. Conclusion Knowledge of the anatomical structure of the mandible and of changes in bone structure is crucial to ensure optimal surgical outcomes and avoid damage to the IAN. CT examination is useful to identify changes in the bone structure, and these should be taken into account in the planning of surgery for older patients.

Background: The efficacy and safety of equine cartilage as a competent xenograft material for rhinoplasty were evaluated and compared to the outcomes of rhinoplasty using silicone implants. Methods: We performed a multicenter, double-blind, non-inferiority, and randomized confirmatory study. Fifty-six patients were randomized 1:1 to the study group (using MegaCartilage-E) and control group (using silicone implants). The Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) score, photo documentation, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and adverse event data were obtained until 12 months after surgery. The primary efficacy, which is the change in ROE score 6 months after surgery, was assessed in the modified intention-to-treat set. The secondary efficacy was evaluated in the per-protocol set by assessing the change in ROE score 6 and 12 months after surgery and nasofrontal angle, the height of the nasion, and GAIS 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: The change in ROE score of the study group was non-inferior to that of the control group; it increased by 24.26 ± 17.24 in the study group and 18.27 ± 17.60 in the control group (p = 0.213). In both groups, all secondary outcome measures increased, but there was no statistical difference. In the safety set, treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 10 patients (35.71%) in the study group and six patients (21.43%) in the control group (p = 0.237). There were 13 adverse device events in the study group and six adverse device events in the control group (p = 0.515). Conclusion Processed equine cartilage can be used effectively and safely as xenograft material for rhinoplasty.

Objective: To assess whether computed tomography (CT) conversion across different scan parameters and manufacturers using a routable generative adversarial network (RouteGAN) can improve the accuracy and variability in quantifying interstitial lung disease (ILD) using a deep learning-based automated software. Materials and Methods: This study included patients with ILD who underwent thin-section CT. Unmatched CT images obtained using scanners from four manufacturers (vendors A-D), standard- or low-radiation doses, and sharp or medium kernels were classified into groups 1–7 according to acquisition conditions. CT images in groups 2–7 were converted into the target CT sty le (Group 1: vendor A, standard dose, and sharp kernel) using a RouteGAN. ILD was quantified on original and converted CT images using a deep learning-based software (Aview, Coreline Soft). The accuracy of quantification was analyzed using the dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and pixel-wise overlap accuracy metrics against manual quantification by a radiologist. Five radiologists evaluated quantification accuracy using a 10-point visual scoring system. Results: Three hundred and fifty CT slices from 150 patients (mean age: 67.6 ± 10.7 years; 56 females) were included. The overlap accuracies for quantifying total abnormalities in groups 2–7 improved after CT conversion (original vs. converted: 0.63vs. 0.68 for DSC, 0.66 vs. 0.70 for pixel-wise recall, and 0.68 vs. 0.73 for pixel-wise precision; P < 0.002 for all). The DSCs of fibrosis score, honeycombing, and reticulation significantly increased after CT conversion (0.32 vs. 0.64, 0.19 vs. 0.47, and 0.23 vs. 0.54, P < 0.002 for all), whereas those of ground-glass opacity, consolidation, and emphysema did not change significantly or decreased slightly. The radiologists’ scores were significantly higher (P < 0.001) and less variable on converted CT. Conclusion CT conversion using a RouteGAN can improve the accuracy and variability of CT images obtained using different scan parameters and manufacturers in deep learning-based quantification of ILD.