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

No abstract available.
Eyelids ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton*

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

Among three representative species of Angelica found in Asian countries, including Korea, China, and Japan, Angelica acutiloba (AA) has been used as traditional herbal medicine with antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetes activities. In this study, the potential genotoxicity and mutagenicity of the AA extract were examined in a battery of in vitro and in vivo tests (bacterial reverse mutation assay, in vitro chromosomal aberrations assay, and in vivo micronucleus assay) in accordance with the test guidelines for toxicity testing developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Upon testing in the bacterial mutation assay (Ames test) using five Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA102, TA1535 and TA1537, no significant increase the number of revertant colonies in the metabolic activation system and non-activation system was noted in the AA extract groups. Also, in the chromosome aberration test, the AA extract did not cause chromosomal aberration with or without metabolic activation by S9 mix. A bone marrow micronucleus test of mice demonstrated that the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the AA extract groups (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg BW) was equivalent to that of the negative control group. Based on these results from a standard battery of assays, the AA extract was concluded to have no genotoxic at the proper dose.
Activation, Metabolic ; Angelica* ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Marrow ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Erythrocytes ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Incidence ; Japan ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Micronucleus Tests ; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Toxicity Tests

Angelica acutiloba (AA), a Japanese species of Danggui, has been used worldwide as a traditional herbal medicine with several bioactivities including anti-diabetic, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-obesity. However, there is lack of toxicological data available to evaluate potential long-term toxicity and the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of AA extract in accordance with the test guidelines published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In the 14-day repeat-dose toxicity study, no adverse effects on mortality, body weight change, clinical signs, and organ weights was found following repeat oral administration to rats for 14 days (125, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight), leading that 2000 mg/kg is the highest recommended dose of AA extract for the 13-week repeat-dose oral toxicity study. In the 13-week repeat-dose oral toxicity study, the AA extract was orally administered to groups of rats for 13 weeks (125, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight) to compare between control and AA extract groups. The administration of AA extract did not produce mortality or remarkable clinical signs during this 13-week study. And, the data revealed that there were no significant differences in food/water consumption, body weight, hematological parameters, clinical chemistry parameters, gross macroscopic findings, organ weight and histopathology in comparison to the control group. On the basis of these results, the subchronic NOAEL of the AA extract was more than 2000 mg/kg/day when tested in rats. And, the AA extract is considered safe to use orally as a traditional herbal medicine.
Administration, Oral ; Angelica* ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Weight ; Body Weight Changes ; Chemistry, Clinical ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mortality ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Organ Size ; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development ; Rats*

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

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