OBJECTIVES: Outbreaks of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) occur every 3-4 years in Korea, most recently in 2011. The aim of our study was to determine the optimal time to perform indirect particle agglutination antibody assays to improve early diagnosis of MP pneumonia in children. METHODS: A database of 206 pediatric patients treated for pneumonia at the Hanyang University Hospital from June to October 2011 was analyzed retrospectively for demographic characteristics and laboratory test results. RESULTS: Among the 206 patients treated for pneumonia during the study period, there were 160 children (mean age, 5.44 years) diagnosed with MP pneumonia, who were studied further. The mean age of these MP pneumonia patients was 5.44 years. Antibody titers increased with increasing time between symptom onset and the collection of serum collection: MP titers were <1:640 for sera collected after 5.44 days and titers > or =1:640 for those collected after 8.58 days; P<0.001). Antibody titers were considered positive when they reached > or =1:640. In 42 MP pneumonia patients in whom there was a four-fold or greater increase in titer between successive serum samples, the optimal cut-off time-point for distinguishing between the initial and second titer groups was 7.5 days after the onset of symptoms (sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 92.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Negative MP antibody titers earlier than 8 days after the onset of symptoms in children with pneumonia may require repeating to confirm the diagnosis. This finding could optimize diagnosis and result in better therapeutic outcomes of MP pneumonia in children.
Agglutination ; Child ; Disease Outbreaks ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Authors reviewed mammographic ultrasonographic and MRI findings a patient with breast cysticerocosis, which was operated and pathologically proved. Mammography showed a 1 cm sized round radioopaque lesion with curvilinear calification, which was located near the pectoralis major muscle. Ultrasonograiphic findings showed heterogenous hypoechoic cystic lesion with internal hyperechoic nodule and posterior acoustic shadowing. T2Wl and proton density MR image showed low signal intensity with cresentic high signal intensity portion. 2D-FLASH dynamic MRI showed intermediate signal intensity and peripheral signal void area, which was not enhanced with Gd-DPTA. The possibility of cysticercosis can be considered be considered when a cytic lesion is discovered near the pectoralis muscle in a patient living in an endemic area.
Acoustics ; Breast* ; Cysticercosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mammography ; Pectoralis Muscles ; Protons ; Shadowing (Histology)

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Nevus*

Allergic contact dermatitis to topical agents mostly results from vehicles and preservatives and rarely from the active ingredients. Ribavirin, an active ingredient of Viramid® cream, is a synthetic nucleoside derivative with broad spectrum activity against a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses. We report an 18-year-old woman, who had a perioral edematous patch with exudative crusts after topical application of Viramid® cream (nsung pharmaceutical Co., Korea) for the treatment of herpes labiahs. A patch test showed that the sensitizer was ribavirin, the active ingredient of the antiviral agent, Viramid® cream.
Adolescent ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Ribavirin* ; RNA Viruses

Allergic contact dermatitis to topical agents mostly results from vehicles and preservatives and rarely from the active ingredients. Ribavirin, an active ingredient of Viramid® cream, is a synthetic nucleoside derivative with broad spectrum activity against a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses. We report an 18-year-old woman, who had a perioral edematous patch with exudative crusts after topical application of Viramid® cream (nsung pharmaceutical Co., Korea) for the treatment of herpes labiahs. A patch test showed that the sensitizer was ribavirin, the active ingredient of the antiviral agent, Viramid® cream.
Adolescent ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Ribavirin* ; RNA Viruses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships of critical thinking disposition (CT), nursing work environment (NWE), and clinical decision making ability among nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was conducted on 192 nurses who had worked for more than six months in five general hospitals. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data, which included demographics, CT, NWE, and clinical decision making ability. RESULTS: The mean score of CT was 3.5. The highest score was on the objectivity of CT and the lowest on systematicity. The mean score of NWE was 2.3. The highest score was on the collegial nurse-physician relations of NWE and the lowest on the staffing and resource adequacy. The mean score of clinical decision making ability was 3.3. In hierarchical multiple regression, affecting factors on clinical decision making ability were CT and NWE. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that clinical decision making ability is associated with CT and NWE. To improve clinical decision making ability, it is important to improve CT. In addition, it should be considered to improve NWE where the nurses can make a decision with their job through critical thinking.
Clinical Decision-Making* ; Demography ; Hospitals, General ; Nursing* ; Physician-Nurse Relations ; Thinking*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical manifestation of Henoch-Schonlein purpura and existance of renal involvement may influence on its course and prognosis. To verify prevention with early administration of steroid, we studied the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analysed 65 children under 15 years of age with Henoch-Scho nlein purpura according to their age, sex, and seasonal incidence. Forty children showed typical skin lesions, arthralgia and abdominal pain. We have divided them two groups. Group A consisted of 20 children who received 1 mg/kg of prednisolone/perday for 2 weeks and group B did not. We carried out their physical examination and urinalysis monthly for a year. RESULT: The main clinical manifestations were skin rash(100% ), abdominal symptoms(41.5 %), joint symptoms (49.2%), and renal involvement(34%). As for gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain(66.7% ) was most commonly observed one and others were nausea or vomiting (44.7%) and melena(25.9%). The joint involvement was observed mostly in knee(56.3%) and ankle joint(31.3% ), Hematuria was observed in all cases with renal involvement and proteinuria, in 28% of them. The improvement of renal manifestations were noted in 84.2% of them within 4 months. Mild elevation of IgA was more frequently observed in renal involvement group than non-involved group (p< 0.01). There were no significant differences in immonologic parameters such as IgG, IgM, IgE, duration of the acute phase and severity of cutaneous symptoms between two growps. None of steroid treated growp showed progression of nephropathy. Of the 20 non-steroid treated growp, 2(10%) developed nephropathy. Conclusion We may suggest that existance of renal involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura influences its course and prognosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Ankle ; Arthralgia ; Child ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Joints ; Nausea ; Physical Examination ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Purpura* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Seasons ; Skin ; Urinalysis ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Streptococcal Infections*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate levels of stress, self-esteem, and powerlessness in Korean husbands married to foreigner wives. METHODS: The subjects were 183 Korean men who were living with foreigner wives in the Gwangju, Jeonnam and Jeonnbuk areas. Data were collected from January to May 2012 and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and backward multiple regression with the SPSS PC WIN version 18.0. RESULTS: The average level of stress was 4.48, with difficulties in international marriage experienced by the subjects due to differences in language and culture. The average reported self-esteem score was 29.69, and the average powerlessness score 117.76. There were significant differences in perceived powerlessness depending on the employment statuses, income levels, and nationalities of the participants' wives, and their perceived levels of satisfaction with living with a foreigner wife. Powerlessness was positively correlated with stress (r=.41, p<.001), and negatively correlated with self-esteem(r=-.63, p<.001). The factors affecting the perceived powerlessness included self-esteem (beta=-.54, p<.001), stress (beta=.28, p<.001), lower income (beta=.13, p=.016), and working wife (beta=.12, p=.036). CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers need to explore strategies to improve self-esteem and powerlessness in Korean men married to foreigner wives.
Emigrants and Immigrants ; Employment ; Ethnic Groups ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Male ; Marriage ; Spouses

No abstract available.
Lichens* ; Mucinosis, Follicular*