PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting prenatal care (PNC) by married immigrant women. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of "Reproductive Health Status of Married Immigrant Women and Policy Directions in Korea" by the Korea Institute for Health & Social Affairs. The participants were 727 married immigrant women from Asia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi2 test and logistic regression with SPSS 14.0. RESULTS: Of the 727 women interviewed, 91.7% visited prenatal clinic. However, first time for PNC was late and total number of PNC was lower (9.07) than the average of Korean women. Timing and number of PNC in rural area were later and fewer than those in urban area. PNC by these women was significantly lower in those who had lived in Korea longer and for those who the employed. However, PNC was significantly higher in those who attended health education during pregnancy and had not experienced premature delivery. Those who attended health education during pregnancy (OR=2.84, CI=1.49~5.40) or were unemployed (OR=0.51, CI=0.26~0.99) were more likely to have PNC. CONCLUSION: These findings illustrate the need to strengthen the public information and provide special services to their demands about PNC for married immigrant women.
Asia ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care

PURPOSE: Communication in hospitals is one of the major factors in patient safety. So, the purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between intra-organizational communication satisfaction and the safety attitude of nurses in hospitals. METHOD: A descriptive survey design with convenience sampling was used. Data collection was done using a self-report questionnaire answered by 278 nurses from one university hospital located in Kyeoung-gi Province, Korea. RESULT: Intra-organizational communication satisfaction positively correlated with safety attitude (r=.747, p<.01). Among the 6 sub dimensions of safety attitude, perceptions of management (r=.675, p<.01), job satisfaction (r=.640, p<.01) and teamwork climate (r=.600. p<.01) were strongly related to intra-organizational communication satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis was done to identify explanation power of intra-organizational communication satisfaction against safety attitude. The model was significant (F=48.540, p<.01). Intra-organizational communication satisfaction accounted for 60.9% of variance in safety attitude (Adj R2=.609). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that higher levels of intra-organizational communication satisfaction promote positive safety attitude in hospital nurses and that communication media quality is an important factor in patient safety attitude. Therefore, developing interventions to revitalize intra-organizational communication level based on communication media quality will help in the construction of positive safety attitude in nurses.
Climate ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Job Satisfaction ; Patient Safety

Hemodialysis(HD)-associated hypotension is a frequent complication, but it is difficult to manage. Until now, several maneuvers have been tried to prevent the HD-associated hypotension. Of these, the sodium content of dialysate was regarded as an important factor for maintaining blood pressure during HD. In this study, we evaluated the effect of hypertonic dialysate on blood pressure, interdialytic weight gain and the incidence of thirst. The study was done for 6 weeks successively with 3 different groups. Each patient was dialysed with 3 different dialysates for 2 weeks: Group I(Conventional HD: sodium concentration: 137 mEq/L), Group II(Hypertonic HD: 147 mEq/L) and Group III (Sequential HD: from 147 to 140 mEq/L). Hemodynamic parameters(blood pressure, pulse rate and ultrafiltration rate), biochemical parameters(hematocrits, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, osmolality, sodium, potassium, chloride, fasting blood sugar) and complications (interdialytic weight gain &thirsty sensation) were compared among 3 groups. The results were as follows: 1. Decline of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure at the time of a 3 hour check during hemodialysis was lower in the Group II than Group I and III (p=0.002; p=0.012). and decline of diastolic blood pressure at the time of a 4 hour check during hemodialysis was lower in the Group II and III than Group I(p=0.04). 2. ncidence of hypotensive episodes during dialysis was significantly lower in Group II than group I (p=0.0287). 3. The ultrafiltration in Group III at the time of 1 hour, 2 hour and 3 hour check during hemodialysis was higher than that in Group I and II at the time of 1 hour, 2 hour and 3 hour check during emodialysis respectively (p=0.0001; p=0.0001; p=0.0004). 4. Interdialytic weight gain was higher in Group II(3.1+/-0.8) than GroupI(2.8+/-0.8) and III (2.9+/-0.9) (p=0.0422). 5. Hematologic and biochemical results were not significantly different among 3 Groups. 6. Frequency of thirst was different in Group I, II and III, 0.05+/-0.12, 0.41+/-0.24 and 0.22+/-0.29 respectively (p=0.0259). The results suggest that hypertonic HD was effective in preventing HD-associated hypotension but interdialytic weight gain and thirst sensations were increased as compared with a conventional method. In this situation, sequential HD seems to be an alternative method to minimizes the side effect of hypertonic HD.
Blood Pressure* ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Dialysis Solutions ; Fasting ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence* ; Osmolar Concentration ; Potassium ; Renal Dialysis* ; Sensation ; Sodium ; Thirst* ; Ultrafiltration* ; Weight Gain*

Duret hemorrhage is characterized by an upper brainstem hemorrhage due to increased intracranial pressure by mass effect such as subdural hematoma or a brain tumor. The anteroposterior elongation and downward displacement of the upper brainstem by transtentorial herniation results in the compression and tearing of the paramedian perforating vessels that feed the upper brainstem tegmentum. The consequent hemorrhage that involves the upper brainstem renders recovery to be almost impossible. Following a tricuspid valve replacement surgery, a 56-year-old woman developed a left fronto-temporo-parietal nontraumatic subdural hematoma resulting in transtentorial herniation of the left mesial temporal lobe. A successful surgical evacuation of the hematoma was done with clinical improvement. Two days later, she was referred to neurology with an aggravated right side weakness, dysarthria, and a newly developed extraocular movement disturbance. A brain CT and MRI showed a pontine hemorrhage. We report a case of pontine hemorrhage, a Duret hemorrhage, after the surgical evacuation of nontraumatic subdural hematoma.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain Stem ; Dysarthria ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neurology ; Temporal Lobe ; Tricuspid Valve

The purpose of this study was to develop the CORE Program for sex offenders and to determine its effectiveness. The CORE Program was designed with an aim to achieve cognitive restructuring, improve the ability to empathize in interpersonal relationships, and enhance self-esteem and intimacy. We conducted this program over 48 sessions for 28 sex offenders. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated using the Interpersonal Responsiveness Index (IRI), Self-esteem Questionnaire (SEQ), UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLALS), Coping Using Sex Inventory (CUSI), Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (RMAS), and Wilson's Sex Fantasy Questionnaire (WSFQ). The data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Our results showed no significant changes in the SEQ, UCLALS, and IRI scores after the treatment program. However, the scores for the CUSI, RMAS, and WSFQ significantly improved after this program. In this paper, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the CORE Program for sex offenders. We also discuss the limitations of our study and provide suggestions for future research. Our findings indicate that this treatment program should be provided to sex offenders for preventing recidivism.
Criminals ; Fantasy ; Humans ; Loneliness ; Paraphilic Disorders ; Rape ; Surveys and Questionnaires

C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a recently defined pathological entity characterized by C3 accumulation with absent or scant immunoglobulin deposition, leading to variable glomerular inflammation. The clinical presentation of patients with C3G is highly variable, as they may present with symptoms ranging from microscopic or mild proteinuria to full-blown nephrotic syndrome, with or without renal impairment. However, there is no consensus recommendation for specific treatment in children with C3G. Recently, new therapies have been suggested to target complement pathways, owing to an improvement in the understanding of the pathogenesis of C3G. C3G complement blockade with eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeted against complement C5, inhibits activation of the alternative complement pathway. We could not use eculizumab owing to its high price; thus, we administered oral prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). MMF was replaced with cyclosporine because proteinuria persisted, with a consistently low serum C3 level; we tapered off the prednisolone because of a Cushingoid appearance and amenorrhea. Thereafter, proteinuria improved, and the serum C3 level returned to normal. Thus, we report the effectiveness of cyclosporine in a patient with C3G and an inadequate response to prednisolone and MMF, who was detected via school urinary screening.
Amenorrhea ; Child* ; Complement C5 ; Complement Pathway, Alternative ; Complement System Proteins ; Consensus ; Cyclosporine* ; Female* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Mass Screening ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Prednisolone ; Proteinuria

PURPOSE:Recent studies proposed that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the omega6 series (linoleic acid, LA) compared to the omega 3 series (linolenic acid, LNA) may be a potent promoters of adipogenesis during the gestation/lactation period. Increased ratio of LA/LNA may stimulate adipose tissue development during gestation/lactation period and may subsequently lead to chilhood obesity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate fatty acids composition of the breast milk in Korean lactating women and to analyze the relationship between LA/LNA and the body weight gain of the infants. METHODS:Fifty eight healthy postpartum lactating women and their healthy 58 breast feeding infants were studied. At 11.3+/-3.9 days of postpartum, breast milk were taken and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography with one-step methylation method. RESULTS:The total fat contents in breast milk were 3.2+/-1.3%. The total fat contents in breast milk were not related to maternal BMI or Kaup index of infants. The percentage of PUFA was 24.9+/-6.0%. Among these PUFA, the percentage of LA and LNA was 20.3+/-5.8% and 2.2+/-0.8%, respectively. LA/ LNA ratio was 10.2+/-2.5. There were no significant correlations between LA/LNA ratio and infant weight gain during the first 2 months of life. CONCLUSION: Short term weight gain of infant was not related to the LA/LNA ratio in the breast milk. Further studies on the long term effects on fat percent and body weight of infants would be needed.
Adipogenesis ; Adipose Tissue ; alpha-Linolenic Acid ; Body Weight* ; Breast Feeding ; Breast* ; Chromatography, Gas ; Fatty Acids* ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Linoleic Acid ; Methylation ; Milk, Human* ; Obesity ; Postpartum Period ; Weight Gain

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of preclinical clinical performance examination (CPX) on nursing students' confidence in their nursing skills and critical thinking competence. METHODS: The design of this research was one-group pretest-posttest, and the participants were 112 nursing students. The preclinical CPX consisted of a clinical examination, patient-nurse relationship, oral test of related knowledge, written test of the nursing process, and debriefing using comprehensive scenarios based on real patient cases. The confidence of nursing skills consisted of an 8-item NRS and the critical thinking competence consisted of a 12-item 4-point scale developed by researchers and measured in both the pretest and posttest. The collected data were analyzed using paired t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The score for confidence in nursing skills (t=10.60, p<.001) and that for critical thinking competence (t=7.03, p<.001) increased significantly after preclinical CPX. CONCLUSION: This study showed that preclinical CPX was effective in improving nursing students' confidence in their nursing skills and critical thinking competence. Therefore, preclinical CPX is expected to be utilized in nursing practice education. Additional studies including those on control groups are recommended to compare differences between the preclinical CPX group and control group.
Education ; Humans ; Mental Competency* ; Nursing Process ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing ; Thinking*

Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) is a conjugation enzyme in the metabolism of exogenous and endogenous lipophilic compounds for their excretion and detoxification. Acidic isozyme of GST, GST-Pi, has been recognized as a preneoplastic marker in the experimental hyperplastic nodules of liver in rats, and GST-Pi is abundant in the squamous cells of the skin, also. This histochemical study was carried out to evaluate the distribution and the relationship between the differentiation status of squamous cells in dysplastic or neoplastic epithelium in various organs. The human placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GST-Pi) were stained immunohistochemically with specific anti GST-Pi rabbit antibody in 23 cases of human squamous cell carcinomas. The patients consisted of 14 cases from the uterine cervix, 3 cases from the esopahgus, 3 cases from the lung and 3 cases from the larynx. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Basal cells in normal mucosa were stained negative for GST-Pi while superficial keratinocytes were stained moderately positive. Basal dysplastic cells were stained negatively or weakly positive. Carcinoma cells especially large cells either keratinizing or nonkeratinizing were stained moderately to strongly. Carcinoma cells surrounding keratin pearl were strongly reacted with GST-Pi than other carcinoma cells. 2. Differentiated cells of squamous cell carcinoma showed moderate to strong positive reaction to GST-Pi staining irrespective of its site of origin. 3. Therefore, Immunohistochemical staining pattern of GST-Pi in various squamous carcinoma cells showed similar immunohistochemical reaction to the GST-pi, which is closely correlated to the degree of differentiation, keratinigation and also suggested that squamous carcinoma cells had abundant GST-Pi related detoxifying system.
Humans ; Rabbits ; Animals

This study was done to investigate satisfaction of fifth-grade(n=264) and sixth-grade(n=117) students from school foodservice in five elementary schools in Won-ju. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being very poor and 5 being very good, overall satisfaction from school foodservice was found to be 3.21+/-0.98('so-so~satisfaction'). The highest satisfactory factor was neatness of foodservice staffs(3.79+/-1.00), while the lowest satisfactory factor was the students' overall opinions of school foodservice(3.03+/-1.06). The biggest unsatisfactory factor was found to be 'bland food'. 'Enhancement of taste'(49.08%) caused the most complaints against school foodservice. Soup was identified as the type of food most likely to be left over, and there was some significant difference between fifth-graders and sixth-graders. The reason cited most often for leftovers was unfavorable menus(33.42%). Students were more likely to try foods which were unfamiliar to them and also foods they previously disliked as a result of using school foodservice(28.87%). Also significant, when the meal director was present during the meal service, satisfaction was markedly higher than when the director was not present.
Humans ; Meals