It is well estabilshed that the xerosis is closely related to diabeic pruritus. Although the causes of xerosis are thought to bie the abnormalities of sweating and autonomic nervous system, the exact mechanism of the xerosis in diabetic skin is still unknown. This study was designed to investigate the possible derangement of glucose metabolism in the skin of diabetes mellitus patients with xerosis. The epidemal glucose content and hexokonase activities were masured in the skin samples obtained from normal individuals and diabetes mellitus patients with xerosis The epidermal glucose content was measured by the enzymatic cycling method. The enzymatic activities of hexokinase were assayed by fluorometric method. The epidermal glucose content of diabetic patients increaed approximately twice [27.46+9.52 (mmole/kg /dry weight) that of normal individuals [13.90+4.79(mmole/kg /dry weight)] (p<0. 0001). The epidermal hexokinase activities of diabetes patients were significantly decreased [0.56+0.15(mole/hr/kg/dry weight)] compared to that of normal indivduals [0.96+0.24(mole/hr/kg dry weight)] (p<0.0001). There were no significant differences in the epidermal glucose content and enzyme activities of hexokinase between the diabetic patients with: erosis and diabetic patients without xerosis. These data indicated that decreased activities of hexokinase could reduce the glucose phopkiorylation and uptake into keratinocytes, and which could lead to accumulat. glucose in the interstitial space of diabetic epidermis. And the decreased hexokinase activities may exert on lipid metabolism and glycolysis of diabetic epiidermis, because hexokinase is a key enzyme of hexose monophosphate pathway and glycolysis.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidermis ; Glucose ; Glycolysis ; Hexokinase* ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Lipid Metabolism ; Metabolism ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Sweat ; Sweating

We present four cases of herpes zoster treated successfully with vidarabine-5-monophosphate, two patients receiving chernotherapy and radiation therapy due to Hodgkins lymphoma or colon cancer, a patient combined with viral meningitis, and a patient with herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Viclarabine can be used to treat herpes zoster in immunosuppressed patients or patients with malignancy or patients with severe complications.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus ; Herpes Zoster* ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Meningitis, Viral

No abstract available.
Humans ; Retreatment* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Hemorrhage* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages*

No abstract available.
Aminosalicylic Acid* ; Cycloserine* ; Prothionamide* ; Retreatment* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the impact of job stress on low back symptoms among Clinical nurses (CNs) in university hospital. METHODS: A total of 322 CNs employed in a hospital in Seoul were interviewed by a well-trained interviewer using the structured questionnaire. Data collected for this study includes demographics, social and work characteristics, low back symptoms, and job stress. To test the impact of job stress on low back symptoms, we used multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back symptoms was 25.8% in this study. Low back symptoms differed significantly by factors, such as physical work burden, past history of injury and work duration. Also low back symptoms differed significantly by organizational system among independent variables of job stress. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of organizational system to low back symptoms was 2.07 after an adjustment. CONCLUSION: This study showed that organizational system among job stress was a significant variable in explaining low back symptoms. We suggest the improvement of organizational system category as a preventive strategy for low back pain in CNs working in hospital.
Demography ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Women, Working

No abstract available.
Humans

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the results of intervention activities on the management of steam sterilizers and sterile items in out-patient clinics and clinical laboratories. METHODS: A checklist was developed and used to monitor and evaluate the adequacy of sterilizers and sterilized items at out-patient clinics and clinical laboratories in a tertiary-care hospital. The checklist consisted of 7 items: condition of the material used for packaging sterile items, maintenance of shelf-life records, sterilizer cleanliness, maintenance of expiry date details of sterilized items, sterilization conditions, use of chemical indicators, and the results of biological indicators. Monitoring and additional intervention activities were carried out once every week for 53 weeks from August 2007 to July 2008. The study period was divided into 2 terms, early and late intervention; the duration of each term was 6 months, and we compared the ratio of adequacy of management of sterilizer and sterilized items between the 2 terms. RESULTS: There were a total of 795 observations from 15 departments in 1 year. Sterility of the materials used for packaging increased from 87.4% in the first 6-month term to 97.9% in the second 6-month term. Records for shelf-life increased from 89.6% to 98.5% in the same period, while the figures for maintaining expiry date details of sterilized items and for steam sterilizer cleanliness increased from 92.6% to 99.2%, and from 91.9% to 98.5 (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our intensive checklist-based intervention was effective in improving the management of steam sterilizers and sterile items in out-patient clinics and clinical laboratories.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Checklist ; Humans ; Infertility ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Outpatients ; Product Packaging ; Steam ; Sterilization

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify practical exercise performance and to define the factors related to exercise performance in middle-aged women. METHODS: The researchers collected data from 206 middle-aged women, ages 40 to 59. The measurements used were a scale for degree of exercise performance, and self-efficacy scale, affect, perceived barriers and benefits related exercise, body-shape perception, and the youngest child's education stage. The data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 17.0 and SAS program using t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Exercise performance showed significant differences according to body-shape perception (F=5.45, p<.01), the youngest child's education stage (F=4.44, p<.05). Exercise performance had a significant strong positive relation with self-efficacy (r=.616), a moderate relation with self-rated health (r=.428) and with affect related exercise (r=.519), a mild relation with perceived benefits (r=.339) and with social support (r=.239), and a negative mild relation with perceived barriers (r=-.330) with 99% significance. Self-efficacy, affect, perceived barriers, and the youngest child's education stage explained 46.4% of a variance in exercise performance in middle-aged women. The factor most influencing was self-efficacy related exercise at 37.9% of the variance. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that self-efficacy, affect, perceived barriers, and the youngest child's education stage should be considered as important factors for developing program of middle-aged women.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Phenothiazines

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Artery* ; Takayasu Arteritis*