PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to identify the current status of nursing studies on heart failure (HF) patients in South Korea and to suggest future study direction. METHODS: A literature review of databases such as KoreaMed, KERIS and nursing and allied health journal were searched with key terms ‘heart failure’ and ‘nursing’ for the period from January 2000 to February 2017. A total of 35 studies including 28 articles and 7 theses met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-seven out of 35 studies were observational studies on outpatients and most of the studies did not mention the ejection fraction and New York Heart Association functional classification class (NYHA class) in the inclusion criteria. Self-care and health-related quality of life as psychological factors, and physical activity as a biological factor, were used as main variables. However, we found it difficult to understand how much score indicates better quality of life because of an inconsistent and wide score. In quality assessment, 8 intervention studies had no serious flaws. CONCLUSION: Further studies should consider more biological and social factors influencing HF. The quality assessment with respect to nursing intervention studies in HF showed that randomized and double-blind trials are needed.
Biological Factors ; Classification ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Motor Activity ; Nursing* ; Outpatients ; Psychology ; Quality of Life ; Self Care

We herein report a case of occupational contact urticaria syndrome induced by cefotiam di-hydrochloride in a nurse. She had generalized pruritic wheals accompanied by palpitations and tachypnea during the preparation of cefotiam solution. A scratch patch test with cefotiam di-hydrochloride, a major component of cefotiam ingredient showed multiple erythema and wheals within 5 minutes, accompanied by palpitations and tachypnea. No delayed type reaction was observed. Based on her clinical history and scratch test result, we diagnosed her condition as contact urticaria syndrome caused by cefotiam.
Cefotiam* ; Erythema ; Patch Tests ; Tachypnea ; Urticaria*

No abstract available.
Asthma* ; Humans ; Prednisolone* ; Theophylline*

Acral persistent papular mucinosis is a subtype of the localized papular mucinosis. Clinically, ivory to flesh-colored papules develop exclusively on the back of the hands, the extensor surface of the wrists, and occasionally the distal forearms. Histologically, mucin accumulates in the upper reticular dermis, typically sparing a subepidermal zone and fibroblasts are not increased in number. On experiencing a case of numerous papules on both hands and forearms of a fifty year-old woman, we present it as acral persistent papular mucinosis.
Dermis ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Mucins ; Scleromyxedema* ; Wrist

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for acceleration of bone healing process on allograft transplantation after curettage in benign bone tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 2007 to February 2009, twenty-one patients who had benign bone tumor and underwent allograft transplantation after curettage were evaluated. Mean follow-up period was 14.6 months (range, 12-26 months). We compared with 13 cases of PRP group and 8 cases of non-PRP group in terms of size of lesion, bone resorption, amount of applied PRP and complications. The mean age at surgery was 23.6 years (range, 4-73 years). The most common diagnosis was simple bone cyst (7) followed by enchondroma (4), giant cell tumor (3), undifferentiated benign bone tumor (3) and so on. RESULTS: The mean size of lesion was 33.5 cm3 (range, 2.3-181.9 cm3) (29.4 cm3 in PRP group and 40.2 cm3 in non-PRP group). The mean volume of injected PRP was 7.4 cc (range, 3-12 cc). Bone union started at 3.0 months (range, 1.5-5.8 months) in PRP group and 5.3 months (range, 4-8 months) in non-PRP group. Three cases for each group were excluded due to recurrence and pathologic fracture. One patient had febrile episode 3 weeks later after surgery which subsided with antibiotics. CONCLUSION: The PRP could accelerate bone union in allograft transplantation after curettage of benign bone tumor. Furthermore, we expect that PRP can accelerate bone union in fracture or non-union.
Acceleration ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bone Cysts ; Bone Resorption ; Chondroma ; Curettage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Humans ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Recurrence ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants

The purpose of study is to prevent Nosocomial Respiratory Infection after understand the Correlation about Recognition and Performance of Critical Nurses. Data were collected from Critical Nurses 300 persons who has worked in 14 Subsidary Hospitals of University in Seoul and the collection periode is from Nov. 1st, 1997 to Jul. 14th, 1998. There are 40 questions and constructed by 6 Domains which Hand Washing, Suction Management, Airway Management, Respiratory Instrument, Ventilation and Respiratory Intervention. Also, the Data were analized with SPSS program. The obtained results are as follows ; (1) The Mean of Recognition for Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection is 4.649 and by Domains, Respiratory Intervention(4.758), Suction Management (4.669), Airway Management(4.660), Hand Washing(4.651), Ventilation(4.605) and Respiratory Instrument(4.561) according to the Mean. (2) The Mean of Performance for Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection is 3.991 and by Domains, Respiratory Intervention(4.498), Airway Management (4.107), Hand Washing(4.084), Suction Management(3.898), Respiratory Instrument (3.860) and Ventilation(3.690) according to the Mean. (3) In the Correlation of Recognition and Performance for the Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection, Hand Washing(r=0.755, p=0.000), Airway Management(r=0.724, p=0.000), Respiratory Intervention(r=0.693, p=0.000) are mentioned significant correlation level. The Performance is good whenever the Recognition is high for Respiratory Instrument(r=0.143, p=0.054) but it's not significant level and Suction Management and Ventilation has no Correlation. (4) In Normal Properties, The Recognition is good(p<0.05) when Nurses has plenty Clinical Career, Attendance of the Education and Exclusive Nurse for the Respiratory Infection is in Hospital. The Age is not significant correlation level statistically but represent a little correlation. The Performance is good(p<0.05) when Elder Age, Attendance of the Education and the plenty Clinical Career is not significant correlation level statistically but represent a little correlation. Another properties has no menas. According to the results, Suggestion is as follows ; (1) Required Education to advance Recognition and Performance about Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection for a little clinical career of Nursing and younger Nurses. (2) It needs to analyze Performance about Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection by observation of research worker.
Airway Management ; Critical Care* ; Education ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Suction ; Ventilation

Normal aging causes changes in the brain volume, connection, function and cognition. The brain changes with increases in age and difference of gender varies at all levels. Studies about normal brain aging using various brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables such as gray and white matter structural imaging, proton spectroscopy, apparent diffusion coefficient, diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI are reviewed. Total volume of brain increases after birth but decreases after 9 years old. During adulthood, total volume of brain is relatively stable. After 35 years old, brain shrinks gradually. The changes of gray and white matters by aging show different features. N-acetylaspartate decreases or remains unchanged but choline, creatine and myo-inositol increase with aging. Apparent diffusion coefficient decreases till 20 years old and then becomes stable during adulthood and increase after 60 years old. Diffusion tensor properties in white matter tissue are variable during aging. Resting-state functional connectivity decreases after middle age. Structural and functional brain changes with normal aging are important for studying various psychiatric diseases such as dementia, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Our review may be helpful for studying longitudinal changes of these diseases and successful aging.
Adult ; Aging* ; Bipolar Disorder ; Brain* ; Child ; Choline ; Cognition ; Creatine ; Dementia ; Diffusion ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Parturition ; Protons ; Schizophrenia ; Spectrum Analysis ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Even though advanced heart failure (HF) severely affects the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL), there is little information regarding this issue. This review is aimed to describe the relevant clinical characteristics of patient with advanced HF and identify factors influencing HRQoL in these patients. METHODS: Empirical articles were searched from electronic databases issued from January 2000 to June 2018 with using the key terms ‘heart failure’ and ‘quality of life’. There were a total of 22 articles that met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for this study. RESULTS: First, nine studies among 22 studies clearly stated that their participants were samples of patients with advanced HF. Most reviewed studies showed the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class as the criteria for identifying advanced HF. Second, the level of HRQoL varied depending on the measurement tools utilized by the researchers. Third, the NYHA class, gender, and symptoms were mainly associated with HRQoL in patients with advanced HF. Also, nurse- or physician-led intervention, exercise, spiritual-focused intervention, and palliative care improved the HRQoL of the patients with advanced HF. CONCLUSION: This study found that the clear application of criteria for advanced HF and the development of advanced HF-specific HRQoL measurement was needed. Prospective studies should be considered for identifying differences in the levels and factors influencing HRQoL in patients with early stage or advanced HF to design patient-centered care.
Heart Failure ; Heart ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Patient-Centered Care ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Review Literature as Topic

Behcet's disease (BD) involves multisystem vasculitis of unknown origin. Ocular manifestations of BD mostly include bilateral panuveitis and retinal vasculitis, which are very challenging to treat. Interferon alfa-2a (IFN) has been recently introduced for treating refractory Behcet uveitis, mainly in Germany and Turkey. Nonetheless, there is so far no consensus about the ideal treatment regimen of IFN for Behcet uveitis. We report our experience of IFN treatment in five Korean BD patients with refractory uveitis. All patients complained of oral ulcers; one patient had a positive pathergy test and 2 showed the presence of HLA-B51. Immunosuppressive agents used prior to IFN treatment included cyclosporine and methotrexate. The IFN treatment was commenced with a dose of 6-9 MIU/day for 7 days, adjusted according to individual ocular manifestations, tapered down to 3 MIU three times in a week, and then discontinued. All patients showed positive response to IFN treatment; 50% of them showed complete response without additional major ocular inflammation during the follow-up period. Other BD symptoms also improved after IFN treatment in most cases. After treatment, the relapse rate and the required dose of oral corticosteroid were decreased in most cases, showing a significant steroid-sparing effect. However, the visual acuity was not improved in most cases due to irreversible macular sequelae. Despite the small sample size of this study, we suggest that, in Korean patients, IFN is an effective treatment modality for BD uveitis as was observed in German and Turkish patients.
Adult ; Behcet Syndrome/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Cyclosporine/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage ; Interferon-alpha/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use ; Recurrence ; Remission Induction ; Treatment Outcome ; Turkey ; Uveitis/diagnosis/*drug therapy/etiology ; Visual Acuity

Purpose: Differential diagnosis between benign and malignant tumors is critical for appropriate treatment. Patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the foot and ankle are often diagnosed late, and it can be predicted their prognosis will be poor. This study was aimed to investigate whether the delayed diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma of the foot and ankle affects the oncological results and prognoses. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data from our tumor database and included all patients who had undergone a first wide excision of primary soft tissue sarcoma of the foot and ankle. Wide excision had been performed at a single regional musculoskeletal oncology center, and the patients had been followed up for more than 1 year. Between January 2007 to January 2021, we reviewed 26 patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the foot and ankle. Statistical analyses were performed by dividing the time of diagnosis based on 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years or more. The primary endpoints of the study were overall, local recurrence-free, and metastasis-free survival rates. Actuarial survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis. The log-rank test was used to determine whether there was a significant difference between the survival curves according to the time of diagnosis. Results: Six, eight, and ten patients died, had distant metastasis, and developed local recurrence during the study period, respectively. The 5-year overall survival, 5-year metastasis-free survival, and 5-year local recurrence-free survival rates of the entire patient group were 80.1%, 73.0%, and 56.7%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate was higher in patients diagnosed earlier when the duration until diagnosis was 1 and 5 years than in those diagnosed later. A statistically insignificant difference was observed in local recurrence and distant metastasis during each period according to the diagnostic delay. Conclusion Delayed diagnosis in patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the foot and ankle has no influence on the oncological prognosis. Therefore, even if the self-observation period is long in the above patients, it is necessary to actively engage in treatment.