PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data to assess spiritual health of HIV/AIDS patients and devise spiritual nursing mediation plans in practical nursing work by examining the levels of spiritual well- being (SWB) and spiritual needs of HIV/AIDS patients'. METHODS: A correlation survey study was conducted on HIV/AIDS patients age ranging from 20 to 70 years to investigate the relationship between their SWB and spiritual needs. RESULTS: 1. Average scores of HIV/AIDS patients' related to SWB were found to be higher than the intermediate level: 54.59 in SWB; more specifically, 27.78 in existential well-being and 26.80 in religious well-being. 2. Average score of for HIV/AIDS patients' spiritual needs was 108.67: More specifically, 37.80 in the needs of love and interest, 42.35 in the needs of seeking meanings and purposes, and 28.51 in the needs of wanting to be forgiven. 3. Concerning the correlation between SWB and spiritual needs, the total SWB and total spiritual needs of HIV/AIDS patients' showed a weak positive correlation (r=0.344, P=0.013). CONCLUSION: The result of the study showed that SWB and spiritual needs of HIV/AIDS patients' are higher than the average scores, and these two parameters have a weak positive correlation, indicating that HIV/AIDS patients have strong spiritual needs of seeking meanings and purposes. Therefore, more studies on the spiritual nursing mediation plans are needed in order to raise their spiritual well-being levels and meet their spiritual needs through precise assessment.
Humans ; Love ; Negotiating ; Nursing, Practical

PURPOSE: Valid determination of HER2 status is a prerequisite to establish an adequate treatment strategy for breast cancer patients, regardless of the disease stage. The goal of this study was to examine the feasibility of the newly developed silver-enhanced in situ hybridization (SISH) technique as an alternative to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HER2 assay in primary invasive breast cancer. METHODS: FISH and SISH for HER2 amplification were performed using tissue microarray. Both methods were used in 257 consecutive primary breast cancers. RESULTS: HER2 amplification was observed in 62 (23.1%) of a total of 257 breast cancers based on SISH. Of the 257 breast cancers measured using both methods, the results of the two methods were consistent in 248 (concordance, 96.5%; kappa=0.903). When we compared HER2 amplification in the primary tumor with the metastatic lymph nodes of the same patients, HER2 amplification was observed in nine cases (14.0%) out of 64 cases in which HER2 was not amplified in the primary tumors. In contrast, HER2 status was completely preserved in metastatic lymph nodes showing HER2 amplification in the primary tumor. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that SISH can be a feasible alternative to FISH in the clinical setting. In node-positive breast cancer, confirmation of the HER2 status of the metastatic lymph nodes appears to be mandatory, regardless of the HER2 status of the primary tumors.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymph Nodes

BACKGROUND: From our clinical experiences, there are some problems with a paratracheal stellate ganglion block at the 6th cervical level e.g. small changes in blood flow to the upper extremities and more difficulty in differentiating sympathetically-maintained pain from neuropathic pain. This study compared the effectiveness of the classic injection technique and the modified injection technique in paratracheal stellate ganglion block at the 6th cervical level. METHODS: Forty patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. In Group I, the patients underwent a paratracheal stellate ganglion block at the 6th cervical level with 1% mepivacaine 6 ml using the classic injection technique. In Group II, the patients underwent a paratracheal stellate ganglion block at the 6th cervical level with 1% mepivacaine 6 ml using the modified injection technique by applying strong pressure to the cephalad portion of the needle entry point. The skin temperature of the first finger was measured before and after the stellate ganglion block, and the warm sensation on the face and upper extremities, hoarseness and upper extremity paralysis were examined. RESULTS: The increase in skin temperature of the first finger after the procedure was 0.26 +/- 0.22 degrees C in Group I and 0.84 +/- 0.63 degrees C in Group II, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the warm sensation on the face and upper extremities, hoarseness and upper extremity paralysis between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The modified injection technique is more effective in the sympathetic block on the upper extremities than the classic injection technique.
Fingers ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Mepivacaine ; Needles ; Neuralgia ; Paralysis ; Sensation ; Skin Temperature ; Stellate Ganglion* ; Upper Extremity*

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are increasingly treated by radiologists using various embolic materials. Because of pain and significant hemodynamic changes that may be associated with this treatment, anesthesiologists are frequently asked to provide anesthesia and supportive care. We evaluated the hemodynamic changes that occurred after absolute alcohol embolization. METHODS: Fourteen patients between 15 and 50 years of age who had arteriovenous malformation were included in this study. 2 to 4 ml of alcohol was injected each time. The hemodynamic parameters were measured before alcohol injection (control) and after 1st to 10th alcohol injection. RESULTS: Blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output were significantly increased after 1st to 10th alcohol injection compared with control value. Central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance were not significantly changed. But pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly increased after 9th and 10th alcohol injection. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was significantly increased after 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th alcohol injection. CONCLUSIONS: Bolus injection of absolute ethyl alcohol induces short-term significant increases in blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output probably by severe pain and sympathetic activation that appear to be centrally mediated. The underlying mechanism of cardiovascular event and other systemic effects of intravascular ethanol in this setting need further study.
Anesthesia ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Central Venous Pressure ; Ethanol ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Sclerotherapy* ; Vascular Resistance

BACKGROUND: Prolonged extracorporeal circulation entails tremendous threats of red cell lysis, severe bleeding problems due to platelet injury and activation, and endothelial damages by sequestered leukocytes. In consideration of these problems, a new centrifugal pump was developed and tested clinically to evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS: We compared the effects of a centrifugal pump with those of a roller pump on hematological responses during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in 20 coronary artery bypass surgery patients. The patients were divided into two groups of 10 each. The studied parameters included WBC counts, platelet counts, plasma Hb and D-dimer. Blood samples were taken after sternotomy, at 60 min, 120 min and 180 min after CPB start, and at 2 hr after CPB stop. RESULTS: No differences between the groups were found in bypass time, aortic cross clamp time, extracorporeal circulation flow and hematocrit. The centrifugal pump group demonstrated less platelet depletion (p<0.05), hemolysis (plasma Hb, p<0.05) and fibrinolysis (D-dimer, p<0.05). These differences were CPB time dependent and became statistically significant after 120 min bypass. CONCLUSION: We conclude that roller pump still can be safely used for standard cardiac procedures with bypass time less than 120 minutes and the centrifugal pump has significant potential to be safely applied to CPB for long ypass time in order to avoid postperfusion syndrome.
Blood Platelets ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Fibrinolysis ; Hematocrit ; Hemolysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Plasma ; Platelet Count ; Sternotomy

PURPOSE: Young infants with suspected sepsis routinely undergo laboratory evaluation. In particular, when an infant is a newborn baby, evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been frequently included, because the prognosis is poor, irrespectively of the etiology of meningitis. We aimed to examine the clinical predictors of CSF pleocytosis among the newborns. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all infants, aged 30 days or younger, requiring lumbar puncture. Electronic data sources provided the demographic data of the newborns, the clinical manifestations, and all laboratory values. After a univariate analysis, logistic regression analysis was performed to predict newborns at increased risk for CSF pleocytosis. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen newborns were studied; 20 of whom (17.7%) had CSF pleocytosis. Fever was significantly associated with CSF pleocytosis (P=0.008, OR=5.08, 95% CI, 1.39-18.54). The infants with lethargic appearance also had an increased risk for CSF pleocytosis. Blood urea nitrogen level was higher in patients with pleocytosis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that other clinical features and laboratory data were not significant, except for fever and lethargy. A total of 45% of the infants with CSF pleocytosis were diagnosed with serious bacterial infection, as opposed to 19.4% of those without CSF pleocytosis. CONCLUSION: In case of neonates, it would be better to perform lumbar puncture, when the infant has fever or lethargic appearance, although, the results of routine laboratory tests were nonspecific.
Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lethargy ; Leukocytosis ; Logistic Models ; Meningitis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Spinal Puncture

A 4-year old boy with supravalvular ascending aortic stenosis underwent sliding aortoplasty. After cardiopulmonary bypass weaning, aorta suture site was torn accidentally and the patient was in hypovolemic shock. Emergency cardiopulmonary bypass was reinstituted and the aorta was repaired. After removal of the aortic clamp, bradycardia and hypertension were noted. We suspected increased intracranial pressure due to hypoxic brain damage after massive blood loss and the patient was treated to lower the intracranial pressure. Physicians should be aware of the significance of the hemodynamic change associated with increased intracranial pressure to prevent further neurologic damage.
Aorta ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Bradycardia ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Emergencies ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Intracranial Pressure ; Shock ; Sutures ; Weaning

This study was performed to examine the combined effects of gamma linolenic acid and isoflavone supplementation on menopausal symptoms and serum lipids in 73 postmenopausal women. A total subjects were randomly assigned to isoflavone (30 mg) + gamma-linolenic acid (110 mg) group or placebo group. We measured menopausal symptoms by modified Kupperman Index (KI) and oxidized LDL, lipid peroxides, blood components and anthropometric parameters before and after the 12 week intervention period. After the 12 weeks of supplementation, supplement group and placebo group showed a significant reduction of modified kupperman index (p < 0.001). Isoflavone (30 mg) + gamma-linolenic acid (110 mg) supplement group showed a significant reduction of oxidized LDL cholesterol concentration (p = 0.006) whereas placebo group did not show significant change. Isoflavone and gamma-linolenic acid consumption did not significantly affect plasma concentrations of total, LDL, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, apo A1, B and blood components. The result of present study demonstrated the supplementation of 30 mg isoflavone and 110 mg gamma-linolenic acid per day for 12 weeks may protect LDL cholesterol from oxidative stress.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Female ; gamma-Linolenic Acid ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma

BACKGROUND: The early and accurate diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) has become important because of introduction of new therapeutic strategies for LM and increasing incidence of LM along with longer survival of cancer patients. We aimed to evaluate the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) CYFRA 21-1 as a diagnostic indicator for LM in patients with cancer. METHODS: CSF CYFRA 21-1 level was analyzed using electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay. The difference in concentration of CSF CYFRA 21-1 between 91 patients with LM and 339 control groups (patients with other neurological disease or healthy controls) was investigated. The cut-off value of CSF CYFRA 21-1 as a diagnostic indicator for LM and its diagnostic performance were evaluated. RESULTS: The CSF CYFRA 21-1 was significantly higher in LM patients than control groups (p<0.001). A cut-off value of diagnosis for LM in patients with cancer was 1.59 ng/mL. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of CSF CYFRA 21-1 were 80.2%, 96.2%, 92.8%, 84.9%, 94.8% for diagnosis of LM. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that CSF CYFRA 21-1 can be an additional diagnostic indicator for cancer patients with LM.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sensitivity and Specificity