BACKGROUND: Direct observation of healthcare workers is commonly used in hospitals to investigate hand hygiene compliance. However, the hand hygiene compliance rate may increase due to the Hawthorne effect, which is the modification of behavior simply because subjects become aware that they are being observed. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of the Hawthorne effect when directly observing hand hygiene compliance in intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare personnel. METHODS: A total of 87 staff members from the coronary care unit and cardiac surgery ICU of a general hospital in Seoul were included in this study: 24 residents and interns, 55 nurses, and 8 nursing assistants. Both covert and overt observations, where subjects were either unaware or aware of any direct observation, were performed on separate occasions. RESULTS: A total of 1,052 covert and 1,336 overt observations were documented over 30 and 34 occasions, respectively. Overall hand hygiene compliance was significantly higher with overt observation than with covert observation (1,041/1,336, 77.9% vs. 659/1,052, 62.6%, P<0.001). The Hawthorne effect was present in all professions and behaviors, with the exception of nursing assistants, and prior to touching a patient. CONCLUSION: Direct observation of hand hygiene compliance was associated with the Hawthorne effect when observations were made overtly and this was likely to contribute to an overestimation of compliance rate.
Compliance ; Coronary Care Units* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic* ; Hand Hygiene* ; Health Personnel ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Thoracic Surgery*

Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) of the peritoneum is considered to be a distinct subtype of peritoneal mesothelioma and has mostly behaved in a benign fashion. We report a case of WDPM in a 48-year-old-woman. It was incidentally found during a hysterectomy for a uterine cervical carcinoma. Grossly, the tumor was composed of multiple peritoneal nodules, measuring up to 2 cm. Microscopically, the nodules showed well-developed papillae lined by a single layer of cuboidal mesothelial cells. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a positive reaction for cytokeratin and a negative reacion for carcinoembryonic antigen and Leu-M1. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells showed numerous long, slender microvilli and desmosomes.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Desmosomes ; Hysterectomy ; Keratins ; Mesothelioma* ; Microvilli ; Peritoneum*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Critical Care*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of different isolation policies in reducing the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospital in-patients. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of an isolation policy on transmission of MRSA in the 745-beds hospital. First period, all patients with MRSA (March - July 2000) were not isolated Second period, strict isolation policies were performed (August 2000 - January 2002). All patients with MRSA were isolated in separated room, hand hygiene using alcohol handrub, gowning and g1oving, apply of MRSA notice sticker, criteria in isolation remove, separated disinfection and wastement. Third period, semi strict isolation policies were performed (February 2002 - August 2005). Some patients with MRSA were isolated in separated room and others were admitted in general ward for bed shortage. Only some practices were performed in hand washing and separated disinfection in general ward. RESULTS: The rates of MRSA nosocomial infection per patients during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surveillance were reported 0.56, 0.23, and 0.42 (P<0.05). Patient-days rate of MRSA nosocomial infection during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surveillance were reported 0.62, 0.27, and 0.38 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: With many different isolation policies, it was possible to reduce nosocomial infection of MRSA. In this study, strict isolation policies (2nd period) were the most effective practices in reducing MRSA infection.
Cross Infection ; Disinfection ; Hand Disinfection ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Patients' Rooms ; Prospective Studies

Recently developed new classifications (Holland, Van Nuys, modified Lagios) of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) linked to outcome have emphasized the importance of nuclear morphology rather than architecture. We have evaluated these three classifications in ductal carcinomas composed of in situ and invasive carcinomas. The reproducibility of three classifications was assessed (n=49), and the histological grade of the DCIS was compared with the histologic differentiation (modified Bloom & Richardson method) and nuclear grade (modified Black method) of the coexisting invasive ductal carcinoma (n=45). According to Holland classification, the DCIS component was poorly differentiated in 51.0%, intermediately differentiated in 40.8%, and well differentiated in 8.2%. Using the Van Nuys classification, the DCIS component was group 3 (high grade with or without necrosis) in 44.9%, group 2 (non-high grade with necrosis) in 28.6%, and group 1 (non-high grade without necrosis) in 26.5%. According to the modified Lagios classification, the DCIS component was high-grade in 42.8%, intermediate-grade in 32.7%, and low-grade in 24.5%. The histologic grades of the three classifications revealed significant correlations between Holland and Van Nuys classification (p<0.0001) and between Holland and modified Lagios classification (p<0.0001), especially in poorly differentiated/group 3/high-grade DCIS. The reproducibility of classification of the DCIS was 71.4% in the Holland, 61.2% in the Van Nuys, and 55.1% in the modified Lagios classifications. The grade of the DCIS showed significant correlation with the grade of coexisting invasive ductal carcinoma (p<0.0001), especially in poorly differentiated/group 3/high-grade DCIS. In conclusion, DCIS grade, determined by the Holland, Van Nuys or modified Lagios classifications, is closely correlated with the histologic grade of the invasive ductal component in tumors composed of in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma, and may be a useful factor to estimate clinical behavior of DCIS. In our experience the Holland classification is recommended for DCIS classification due to its high reproducibility.
Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating* ; Classification* ; Netherlands

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

We report a case of right broad ligament tumor with features of female adnexal tumor of probable wolffian origin. A 40-year-old woman presented with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Ultrasonography revealed 1 10cm sized right parovarian solid mass. On microscopic examination, the tumor showed mixed pattern of tightly packed tubular structures and diffuse spindle cell proliferation. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated cytokeratin-and vimentin-positivity and carcino-embryonic antigen-negativity. The ultrastructural study showed prominent tubular structures, continuous basal lamina, definite junctional complex but no secretory granules or glycogen particles, favoring wolffian origin.
Female ; Humans

Carcinosarcomas of the female genital tract have generally been regarded as a type of sarcoma. Recent studies, however, suggest the tumor may be more closely related to carcinoma and may represent metaplastic carcinoma in histogenesis. We analyzed clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of 10 carcinosarcomas to evaluate the relative importance of the carcinomatous and sarcomatous components in metastasis and recurrence. The primary tumor originated in the uterine body in seven cases, the uterine cervix in two and the ovary in one. Patient,s ages ranged from 54 to 71 years (mean, 64). The most common symptom of the uterine mass was vaginal bleeding. The median survival time was 21 months following diagnosis in five cases. Surgico-pathologic FIGO stages of five patients who received an operation were stage III and IV, but clinical FIGO stage of three patients (60%) among them were I. Lymphovascular invasions were identified in seven areas; five vascular invasion lesions showed the carcinomatous component alone, one the sarcomatous component alone, and remained one admixture of both components. Metastatic and recurrent lesions to the paraaortic lymph node, ovary, pelvic wall, or vaginal vault showed characteristically carcinomatous component only. Immunohistochemically, positive reactions for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen were noted in the sarcomatous component of five cases. Vimentin positivity was detected in carcinomatous component of three cases. We conclude that the dominant element in carcinosarcomas of the female genital tract is the carcinomatous component. The survival rate of carcinosarcoma is extremely poor. The surgico-pathologic stage is better indicator of survival than the clinical stage. Immunohistochemical findings suggest that carcinosarcoma may represent a metaplastic carcinoma in histogenesis.
Carcinosarcoma* ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Female* ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucin-1 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vimentin

Osteochondrodysplasia is a heterogeneous group of disorders appearing short limbed dwarfism. Because many of these entities are lethal and hereditary, an accurate diagnosis is mandatory. The purpose of this study is to define the clinicopathologic features and radiologic findings of osteochondrodysplasia. We reviewed 29 autopsy cases of congenital short limbed dwarfism, consisting of thanatophoric dysplasia (TD) (12 cases), osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) (12 cases), asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia (ATD) (3 cases), short-rib-polydactyly syndrome (SRPS) (1 case) and hypochondrogenesis (1 case). The gestational age ranged from 16 to 41 weeks. Of 6 fetuses that were born alive, 3 were ATD, 2 were TD and 1 was hypochondrogenesis. TD was frequently complicated by hydramnios. Of 8 cases studied chromosomally, only 1 showed chromosomal abnormality -46XY, inv 9. Intrauterine growth retardation was frequently associated with OI. Pulmonary hypoplasia was present in 23 cases (79%), including all cases of ATD, SRPS and hypochondrogenesis, 11 in TD and 7 in OI. Other associated anomalies were present in 17 cases (59%).
Autopsy* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Diagnosis ; Dwarfism ; Extremities ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Osteochondrodysplasias* ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; Polyhydramnios ; Thanatophoric Dysplasia

Sclerosing polycystic adenosis (SPA) of the salivary glands is a rare entity analogous to fibrocystic disease of the breast. Less than 50 cases of SPA have been published in the literature. We report the first Korean case of SPA of the right parotid gland. A 34-year-old man presented with a slowly growing right parotid mass. Computed tomography showed a relatively well-demarcated, heterogeneously enhancing mass with multiple small calcifications. Fine needle aspiration showed cohesive sheets of epithelial cells with granular oncocytic cytoplasm and scattered lymphocytes. The parotidectomy specimen showed a 3 cm-sized solid nodular lesion with small cysts. Microscopically, the lesion was an unencapsulated mass of sclerotic fibrous tissue with cystic ducts, multiple calcifications, and lymphoplasma cell infiltration. Sclerosing adenosis and cystic ducts with frequent apocrine-like cells were noted. Familiarity with the cytologic and histological features of SPA is very important making the correct diagnosis.
Adult ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast ; Cystic Duct ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Parotid Gland ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Salivary Glands