BACKGROUND: The polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assay is rapid, sensitive analytical technique but has problem of high false-positive rate. We applied dUTP-UDG PCR (dU-PCR) method to prevent carryover contamination major source of high false positive in PCR assays, for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS: The PCRs for detection of M. tuberculosis were performed with P1 and P2 primers based on IS6110 repeated sequence. FTC-2000 was used for capillary PCR and Uno-Thermoblock was used for heating block PCR. In order to evaluate the effect of dU-PCR controlling carryover contamination, PCRs were performed in the presence of UDG and the absence of UDG. To compare the sensitivity of usual dT-PCR with dU-PCR, chromosomal DNA of M. tuberculosis ranging 500pg to 0.5fg were amplified by dT-PCR and dU-PCR method using two different thermocycler, capillary and heating block type, respectively. RESULT: The dU-PCR using UDG prevented carryover contamination by amplicon DNA up to 500pg. By capillay PCR method, the lower limits of detectability of dT-PCR and dU-PCR were 0.5fg and 500fg, respectively, which indicates the sensitivity of dU-PCR was lower than dT-PCR. But by heating block method, the lower limits of detectability of both method of dU and dT-PCR were 0.5fg. So the sensitivity of dU-PCR was same as dT-PCR. CONCLUSION: The dU-PCR by heating-block method was sensitive test for detection of M. tuberculosis that effectively prevent carryover contamination by amplicon.
Capillaries ; DNA ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Tuberculosis

To evaluate the efficacy of transdermal scopolamine patch in reducing nausea and vomiting associated with general anesthesia, we studied 60 healthy women undergoing major gynecologic surgery. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Each group was composed of 30 patients. Group I; not applied a transdermal scopolamine patch. Group II: applied one transdermal scopolamine patch on the skin behind her ear at the night before surgery. Anesthesia was induced by thiopental sodium(5 mg/kg) and succinylcholine(1.5 mg/kg) and maintained with fentanyl(3-6 ug/kg), enflurane(0.5-1.5 vol%) and nitrous oxide(50 vo1%) in oxygen. A comparison with Group I and Group II indicated that the transdermal scopolamine patch reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting associated with general anesthesia significantly(Group I; 36.67%, Group II; 13.33%, p<0.05).
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Antiemetics ; Ear ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nausea* ; Oxygen ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide* ; Skin ; Thiopental ; Vomiting*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to provide Simulation Problem-Based Learning (S-PBL) for community visit nursing students according to their Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality types for learner-focused education and to verify its effectiveness. METHODS: This study was conducted with subjects having the ST (Sensing-Thinking) and NF (iNtuition-Feeling) personality types, which are conflicting personality types, and forty-one subjects were allocated to the experimental group and nineteen subjects to the control group. The training, provided to subjects once a week, for a total of six times and 100 minutes each time, was with respect to the improvement of problem-solving ability, communication ability, and clinical practice competency. Data were analyzed through t-test and independent t-test. RESULTS: After training, the self-rated problem-solving competency (t=3.07, p=.003), communication ability (t=2.86, p=.006), and academic self-efficacy (t=2.44, p=.018) were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. However, there was not a significant difference in the clinical practice ability rated by subjects themselves (t=1.50, p=.140) and by professors (t=1.08, p=.285), and in the communication ability rated by professors (t=0.72, p=.474). CONCLUSION: The community visit nursing S-PBL, according to MBTI personality types, is a helpful learning method for nursing students participating in self-directed learning of nursing theory and practice.
Communication ; Education ; Humans ; Learning ; Methods ; Nursing Theory ; Nursing* ; Personality Inventory ; Problem-Based Learning* ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: This study was to identify predictors of sexual function in gynecologic cancer patients. METHODS: The participants were 154 patients treated at a university medical center in A city, Korea. The data collection was performed through a structured questionnaire from July to December, 2010. The instruments used in this study were Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) perceived health status scale, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, body image, and depression. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: The mean score of perceived health status was 8.42 and sexual function was 8.42. The lowest score among sexual function was lubrication. The scores of sexual function was significantly different by age, job, marital status, period after diagnosis of cancer and diagnosis. There were significant correlations between sexual function, perceived health status, ECOG performance, body image and depression. In multiple regression analysis, predictors were identified as ECOG performance, age, diagnosis and period after diagnosis of cancer (Adj.R2=.28). The most powerful predictor of female sexual function was ECOG performance (19.0%). CONCLUSION: The above findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a more effective and personalized sexual function improvement program for gynecologic cancer patient.
Academic Medical Centers ; Body Image ; Data Collection ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lubrication ; Marital Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to analyze the characteristics and effect size of intervention studies that used acupressure for the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). METHODS: Nine electronic databases including Korea Education Research and Information, the National Assembly Library, KISS, Korea Med, NDSL, PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane library, and OVID (to December, 2009) were searched. Thirteen studies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were selected. Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: Overall effect size of acupressure was moderate (0.684). Nausea had a moderate effect size (0.770) and nausea and vomiting had a high effect size (0.899). Acupressure using sticker needles had a high effect size (1.368) among finger acupressure, si-acupuncture, and wrist band treatment. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that acupressure using sticker needles on the spots of nei-guan, chok-samni and hap-kok can reduce the levels of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. For improving the reliability of the meta-analysis results, further randomized controlled trials with better study methodology are needed.
Acupressure ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Fingers ; Humans ; Clinical Trial ; Korea ; Nausea ; Needles ; Vomiting ; Wrist

OBJECTIVES: Sleep problems has been consistently reported as a suicidal risk factor in adults and, recently, also in adolescents. In this study, dividing study subjects by the previous suicidal behaviors (suicidal vs non-suicidal), we compared the group differences of suicidal risk factors, and examined the possibility of sleep as a suicidal risk factor. METHODS: Study subjects were 561 (271 boys and 290 girls) from a community sample of high school students. Suicidal Risk Behavior Checklist, Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression (CES-D), Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) Anxiety and Aggression subscale, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were done. RESULTS: Forty six students (8.1%) reported previous actual self-harm behavior as a suicidal attempt, 181 students (32.4%) reported having suicidal thought only. Three hundred thirty four students (59.5%) reported no previous suicidal behavior (thought and attempt, both). Suicidal behavior group showed higher score on risk behaviors such as school violence, substance use and internet addiction. CES-D, SCL-90-R, PSQI showed significant group difference. Logistic regression analysis showed suicidal risk were significantly associated with depression, stress in suicidal risk factors and sleep latency, daytime dysfunction in PSQI. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows the most prolonged sleep latency and increased index of all PSQI components except sleep efficiency in suicidal attempt group. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep Problems had a strong association with the suicidal risk behavior in adolescents. Sleep problems, especially, prolonged sleep latency, daytime dysfunction might be important markers for suicidal behavior. Screening for sleep problems in adolescents are encouraged for the parents, school teachers, and related medical physicians.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aggression ; Anxiety ; Checklist ; Depression ; Humans ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Parents ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Suicide ; Violence

PURPOSE: To identify the agreed opinion of experts on oriental health promotion services and nursing in Korea. METHOD: The study is based on the 3-round Delphi method. As a Delphi panel, a total of 28 people with at least three years of experience in the area of oriental medicine consisted of this. RESULTS: The experts suggested that Yangsaeng, lectures on prevention of CVA, correct understanding of the misuse/abuse of oriental medicine, daily health care, meridian/acupoints massage, and Kigong therapy should be included in the promoting oriental health nursing servies. CONCLUSION: The agreed opinions by the experts on the oriental health promotion services and nursing, can help enhance the understanding of oriental health promotion. The curriculum should be developed further and tested with the development of the Korean oriental nursing intervention methods which is appropriate to Korean culture.
Curriculum ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Promotion* ; Korea ; Lectures ; Massage ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Nursing*

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare spiritual well-being and perceived health status between Korean and Korean-American and to provide basic data that might develop comprehensive health care program including spiritual dimension. METHOD: The subject of the study were 411 adults chosen from religious organization located in Gyeongsang Province, Korea and Chicago, U.S.A.. The instruments used in the study were Spiritual Well-being Scale by Paloutizian and Ellison and Health Self Rating Scale by North Illinois University. Analysis of data was done by using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, ANCOVA, ANOVA and Duncan test with SPSS program. RESULT: 1) The mean score of spiritual well-being of Korean was 3.17 and Korean-American was 2.63, there was significant difference between two groups. 2) Perceived health status of Korean was 2.37 and perceived health status of Korean-American was 2.54, there was significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: According to this study, it is important to take into considerations spiritual aspects and cultural and environmental elements in developing the comprehensive health care program.
Adult ; Comprehensive Health Care ; Humans ; Illinois ; Korea

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*