No abstract available.
Eyelids ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Person-centered Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT). METHODS: The English P-CAT was translated into Korean with forward and backward translation. Survey data were collected from 458 staff in 17 long-term care facilities in Korea. Construct validity and criterion related validity were evaluated. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess reliability. RESULTS: The Korean version of P-CAT was shown to be valid homogeneously by factor, item and content analysis. Internal consistency reliability was satisfactory in which the values of factor 1, factor 2 and the total scale were .84, .77 and .86 respectively. Exploratory factor analysis supported the construct validity with a two-factor solution. Factor loadings of the 13 items ranged in .34~.80. Criterion validity to the Person-centered Climate Questionnaire-staff (PCQ-S) was .74 (p<.001). CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the P-CAT was found to be an applicable instrument with satisfactory reliability and validity for further use in measuring successful person-centered care in long-term care facilities for older persons.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; *Long-Term Care ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; *Program Evaluation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Republic of Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Translating

In vivo electroporation has emerged as a leading technology for developing nonviral gene therapies, and the various technical parameters governing electroporation efficiency have been optimized by both theoretical and experimental analysis. However, most electroporation parameters focused on the electric conditions and the preferred vehicle for plasmid DNA injections has been normal saline. We hypothesized that salts in vehicle for plasmid DNA must affect the efficiency of DNA transfer because cations would alter ionic atmosphere, ionic strength, and conductivity of their medium. Here, we show that half saline (71 mM) is an optimal vehicle for in vivo electroporation of naked DNA in skeletal muscle. With various salt concentrations, two reporter genes, luciferase and beta-galactosidase were injected intramuscularly under our optimal electric condition (125 V/cm, 4 pulses x 2 times, 50 ms, 1 Hz). Exact salt concentrations of DNA vehicle were measured by the inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and the conductivity change in the tissue induced by the salt in the medium was measured by Low-Frequency (LF) Impedance Analyzer. Luciferase expression in-creased as cation concentration of vehicle dec-reased and this result can be visualized by X-Gal staining. However, at lower salt concentration, transfection efficiency was diminished because the hypoosmotic stress and electrical injury by low conductivity induced myofiber damage. At optimal salt concentration (71 mM), we observed a 3-fold average increase in luciferase expression in comparison with the normal saline condition (p < 0.01). These results provide a valuable experimental parameter for in vivo gene therapy mediated by electroporation.
Animals ; Comparative Study ; DNA/*administration & dosage/metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Electric Conductivity ; Electroporation/methods ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Female ; Gene Therapy/*methods ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Reporter ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Luciferase/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects/*metabolism/pathology ; Osmolar Concentration ; Plasmids/genetics/*metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; Transfection ; Vehicles/*administration & dosage ; beta-Galactosidase/metabolism

In vivo electroporation has emerged as a leading technology for developing nonviral gene therapies, and the various technical parameters governing electroporation efficiency have been optimized by both theoretical and experimental analysis. However, most electroporation parameters focused on the electric conditions and the preferred vehicle for plasmid DNA injections has been normal saline. We hypothesized that salts in vehicle for plasmid DNA must affect the efficiency of DNA transfer because cations would alter ionic atmosphere, ionic strength, and conductivity of their medium. Here, we show that half saline (71 mM) is an optimal vehicle for in vivo electroporation of naked DNA in skeletal muscle. With various salt concentrations, two reporter genes, luciferase and beta-galactosidase were injected intramuscularly under our optimal electric condition (125 V/cm, 4 pulses x 2 times, 50 ms, 1 Hz). Exact salt concentrations of DNA vehicle were measured by the inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and the conductivity change in the tissue induced by the salt in the medium was measured by Low-Frequency (LF) Impedance Analyzer. Luciferase expression in-creased as cation concentration of vehicle dec-reased and this result can be visualized by X-Gal staining. However, at lower salt concentration, transfection efficiency was diminished because the hypoosmotic stress and electrical injury by low conductivity induced myofiber damage. At optimal salt concentration (71 mM), we observed a 3-fold average increase in luciferase expression in comparison with the normal saline condition (p < 0.01). These results provide a valuable experimental parameter for in vivo gene therapy mediated by electroporation.
Animals ; Comparative Study ; DNA/*administration & dosage/metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Electric Conductivity ; Electroporation/methods ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Female ; Gene Therapy/*methods ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Reporter ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Luciferase/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects/*metabolism/pathology ; Osmolar Concentration ; Plasmids/genetics/*metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; Transfection ; Vehicles/*administration & dosage ; beta-Galactosidase/metabolism

It is known that neutropenia caused by combination pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is well tolerated and carries a negligible risk of infection. Neutropenic enterocolitis is encountered most frequently in patients with hemato-oncologic diseases who are undergoing intensive chemotherapy. However, little information exists regarding this life-threatening event in the setting of HCV therapy. We present here an unusual case of fatal neutropenic enterocolitis in a cirrhotic patient receiving combination therapy for HCV infection. This is the first report of a death from neutropenic enterocolitis associated with treatment for chronic HCV infection. The present case suggests that caution should be exercised when continuing HCV therapy in neutropenic patients with advanced fibrosis, and the decision to maintain such therapy should be balanced against the potential for serious adverse events.
Enterocolitis, Neutropenic ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferons ; Neutropenia ; Ribavirin

PURPOSE: We aim to compare the effectiveness and safety of fluticasone propionate (Flt) plus tulobuterol (Hk) versus high-dose Flt alone in controlling asthma in children. METHODS: Fifty three children aged 4 to 8 years, who were diagnosed with mild persistent asthma and underwent maintenance therapy with a low dose of inhaled corticosteroid (Flt) of 50-100 microgram/day were randomized to receive Flt plus Hk (Hokunalin(R) patch 1 mg, Abbott Japan, Tokyo, Japan), or Flt alone at twice the dosage. Patients underwent new treatment for 4 weeks. Asthma symptom scores, mean changes in morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF), the frequency of night awakenings, the use of reliever medication, caregiver's overall satisfaction and safety were evaluated and compared in each group. And they were followed-up again 4 week after treatment course for the evaluation of treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE). RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of mean changes in the morning and evening PEF, the frequency of night awakening, the use of rescue medication and caregiver's overall satisfaction (P=0.83, P=0.83, P=0.17, P=0.32 and P=0.63). Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was observed between 2 groups in the incidence of any TEAE (P=1.00). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a combination of Flt and Hk was as effective as a high-dose Flt therapy in the management of mild persistent asthma in children. The results of this study suggest that tulobuterol add-on therapy can be considered as a reasonable substitute to an increase in the dosage of steroid in the patients with steroid-phobia and it might be used to reduce the risk of high dose steroid therapy.
Aged ; Androstadienes ; Asthma ; Child ; Diethylpropion ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Terbutaline ; Tokyo ; Fluticasone

Although arthralgia with or without hyperuricemia commonly occurs in a patient receiving antituberculous treatment including pyrazinamide, acute gouty arthritis is rarely reported. Here we report a case of acute gouty arthritis presented after antituberculous treatment in a patient with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and mild renal insufficiency. A 76-year-old woman complained sudden onset of painful swelling in both first metatarsophalangeal joints 9 weeks after antituberculous treatment. She had hypertensive nephropathy with mild renal insufficiency and asymptomatic hyperuricemia for 8 years. Needle aspiration of the joint fluid demonstrated needle-shaped strongly negative birefringent monosodium urate crystal. The painful swelling improved with steroid and colchicine.
Aged ; Arthralgia ; Arthritis, Gouty* ; Colchicine ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; Joints ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; Needles ; Pyrazinamide* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* ; Tuberculosis ; Uric Acid

Most pancreatic pseudocysts are located in or around the pancreas, but they can be found in all the potential spaces around viscera in and outside of the abdominal cavity. The complications of pancreatic pseudocysts are infection, rupture, fistula, obstruction and hemorrhage. However, an upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by pancreatic pseudocyst is rare. Pseudocysts with complication like hemorrhage require percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical treatment. We report a case of the pancreatic pseudocyst involving duodenal wall with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which was improved by conservative treatment.
Abdominal Cavity ; Duodenum* ; Fistula ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* ; Hemorrhage ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst* ; Rupture ; Viscera

Tinea barbae is a dermatophyte infection of the bearded areas of the face and neck. The incidence of tinea barbae has decreased as improved sanitation. We report a case of tinea barbae in a 58-year-old-man, who presented with relatively well-defined erythematous pustular plaque on the upper lip. A fungal culture from tissue of the lesions was grown on Sabouraud dextrose agar and showed typical Trichophyton verrucosum. The nucleotide sequence of internal transcribed spacer for clinical isolate was identical to that of Trichophyton verrucosum strain ATCC 10695. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole for 3 months. The skin lesions improved 3 months after treatment, and recurrence has not been observed.
Agar ; Arthrodermataceae ; Base Sequence ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Itraconazole ; Lip ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Sanitation ; Skin ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the cesarean section (CS) rate is increased in women whose labor was induced compared to those who had spontaneous labor at term pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in women whose labor was either induced (induction group, n=497) or spontaneous (spontaneous group, n=878) at 37+0 to 41+6 weeks of gestation from January 2008 to June 2009. Maternal age, parity, body mass index (BMI), Bishop scores, gestational age, hypertension, diabetes, delivery mode, indications for CS, neonatal outcome were compared between the two groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between the CS rate and labor induction after adjusting for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: CS (17.3% vs. 5.3%, P<0.001) and vacuum-assisted delivery (10.7% vs. 6.4%, P<0.001) rates were significantly higher in the induction group compared to the spontaneous group. The CS rate in the induction group was higher than the spontaneous group not only in nulliparous women (25.3% vs. 8.6%, P<0.001), but also in multiparous women (3.8% vs. 0.3%, P=0.002). However, after adjusting confounding factors, the higher CS rate was significantly associated with advanced maternal age, higher BMI, lower Bishop scores and nulliparity, with no demonstrable tie to labor induction. Neonatal outcome in the two groups were comparable. CONCLUSION: Although CS rate was higher in women whose labor was induced than those who had spontaneous labor, this higher rate was associated with maternal age, BMI, Bishop scores and parity, but was not impacted by labor induction per se.
Body Mass Index ; Cesarean Section* ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Age ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Retrospective Studies