Objective To explore the effects of expressing human ciliary neurotrophic factor (hCNTF) mediated by retroviral vector in olfactory ensheathing cells(OECs) on the survival and neurite outgrowth of cultured neurons. Methods S\|hCNTF fragment was digested with endonucleases(Kpn I and Xba I) from pcDNA\-3\|S\|hCNTF plasmid and cloned into pRev\|TRE vector.The harvested pRev\|TRE\|hCNTF was identified and transfected with pRev\|Tet\|On into ecotropic Ecopack\|293 cells,resulting in 2 retroviral supernatants(pRev\|TRE\|hCNTF and pRev\|Tet\|On).Primarily cultured rat olfactory ensheathing cells(OECs) were co\|infected with the 2 retroviruses,and induced to secrete hCNTF with different concentrations of doxycline.The secreted hCNTF in OEC culture supernatant was detected with Western\|blot.Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) from a postnatal rat of 2 days was co\|cultured with CNTF\|modified OECs,and the supernatant was used to culture retinal ganglion cells(RGCs).Following ?\|tubulin immunocytochemical staining,the length of DRG neurites were measured,while the numbers of surviving RGCs were counted. Results 1.Individual 630bp and 400bp fragments were digested from pRev\|TRE\|S\|hCNTF expression vector with endonucleases(Hind Ⅲ and BamH Ⅰ),and respected direction and integration of hCNTF cDNA which inserted pRev\|TRE vector were identified; 2.The expression of 24kD CNTF proteins in CNTF\|modified OEC culture supernatant was positively\|correlated with the concentration of doxycline,while no such protein expression was detected in the control groups; 3.The number of surviving RGCs in CNTF\|modified OECs group(41\^34?5\^4) was significantly higher than those in unmodified OEC(23\^15?4\^7),OECs(24\^55?5\^8) and blank(16\^8?6\^5) groups;and 4\^The neurites of DRG were longer (660?67?m) and denser in CNTF\|modified OECs group,as compared with unmodified OECs(418?45?m),Mock+OECs(400?65?m) and blank (0?m) control groups.No process migrated and grew from the tissue mass in blank group.Conclusion\ hCNTF can be expressed in OECs with a doxycline concentration\|dependent manner after transfected via pRev\|TRE\|S\|hCNTF vector,and possesses a marked enhancing effect on the survival and neurite outgrowth of cultured neurons.[

Multiple species of muridae and arvicolidae rodents serve as the natural reserviors of hantaviruses. Hantaviruses are distributed in rodent populations world-widely even in geographical areas where hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has not been reported. Serologic diagnosis of infection, using hantaviral antigen, indicates that hantaviruses are wider distributed in wild rodents. This study was designed to intended the hantavirus infection among wild rodents captured in Kyebang mountain, Kangwon-do in Korea. A total of 216 wild rodents in 3 species were trapped in July and September in 1995. Serological evidence for hantaviruses infection were tested against five hantavirus antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique (IFA). Among 100 Eothenomys regulus, 78 Apodemus peninsulae and 38 Apodemus agrarius (IFA). Among 100 Eothenomys regulus, 78 Apodemus peninsulae and 38 Apodemus agrarius; 12 C. regulus, 15 A. peninsulae and 6 A. agrarius were IF antibody positive against hantaviruses. This data suggest that Eothnomys regulus and Apodemus peninsulae would be a natural reservoir of hantaviruses.
Animals ; Diagnosis ; Gangwon-do ; Hantavirus Infections* ; Hantavirus* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Korea ; Muridae ; Murinae ; Rodentia*

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects and complications of modified facial mask for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in elderly patients with respiratory failure.Methods A total of 132 elderly patients(107 males and 25 female,aged 78.5±8.6 years) treated with NIV from February 2008 to May 2011 were randomized into two groups:modified facial mask(group A,n=68,56 males and 12 females,aged 78.8±22.2 years) and control facial mask(group B,n=64,64 males and 13 females,aged 76.6±20.4 years).Duration of NIV,time in RICU(respiratory intensive care unit),length of hospital stay,risk for hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP),risk for invasive ventilation,cure rates,in-hospital mortality,NIV failure rate and cost were compared between the two groups.The complications of NIV,such as oropharyngeal dryness,skin damage of face and nose,abdominal bloating,gas leakage from mask were also compared between the two groups.Results Compared with group B,duration of NIV(12.2±2.3 d vs.18.4±3.6d),time in RICU(7.3±3.2d vs.14.6t5.4d),length of in hospital stay(16.6±4.2d vs.28.2±6.2)d,and cost(2.23±0.12 ten thousand yuan vs.4.23± 0.24 ten thousand yua) in group A were significantly decreased(t=9.72,14.91,13.08,10.81 respectively,all P＜0.05).The risk for invasive ventilation [2.9％ (2 cases) vs.43.8％(28 cases)],NIV failure rate [5.9％ (4 cases) vs.12.5％ (28 cases)] were also decreased in group A compared with group B(x2 =31.26,25.74,both P＜0.05).Compared with group B,The complications of NIV such as skin damage of face and nose[4.4％ (3 cases) vs.37.5％ (24 cases)],abdominal bloating [2.9％ (2 cases) vs.28.1％ (18 cases)],gas leakage from mask [8.8 ％ (6 cases)vs.50％(32 cases)] in group A were significantly decreased(x2 =31.26,25.74,all P＜0.05).Conclusions Modified facial mask for NIV is effective in the treatment of elderly patients with respiratory failure.The complications and in-hospital mortality are reduced with the application of modified facial mask for NIV and it is highly tolerated by patients.Modified facial mask for NIV is the first choice in the treatment in elderly patients with respiratory failure.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effect of an individualized educational program by multidisciplinary staffs on the need for caring among patients with radiotherapy. METHODS: A quasi experimental study with one group was designed to examine the effect. A total of 48 adult patients were recruited from a university hospital in G-city, Korea from July, 2006 to June, 2007. The level of patients' need for caring during radiotherapy was assessed at the pre- and post-education by a trained research assistant. The level of patients' need for caring on radiotherapy was measured with a 20-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Paired t-test showed that the level of patients' need was reduced at the post-test compared to pre-test (t=3.40, p=0.002). The level of need was higher among the older than 65 yr (F=4.82, p=0.034), and patients who had education years less than 10 yr (F=4.40, p=0.042) and not a spouse (F=5.97, p=0.019) at the pre-test, while there were no difference according to participants' characteristics at the post-test. CONCLUSIONS: This multidisciplinary and individualized education program was effective on reducing the level of need for caring during radiotherapy. Therefore, for long-term self-management, further educational strategies based on patients' needs through multidisciplinary teamwork need to be developed and applied.
Adult ; Humans ; Korea ; Patient Education as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Care ; Spouses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of web-based learning for ventilator practice on the knowledge and clinical competence of nursing students. METHOD: The research design was a non-equivalent control group pre-post non-synchronized design. Twenty five nursing students were collected for the experimental group from August 23 to November 26, 2004 and nineteen nursing students for the control group from August 22 to November 25, 2005. All subjects experienced clinical practices in an intensive care unit of a hospital in G city for 2 weeks. The web-based learning for ventilator practice was conducted in the experimental group only. The data were analyzed with t-test and ANCOVA using SPSS 10.1 program. RESULT: The 2 week web-based clinical practice learning significantly improved the knowledge scores for the experimental group, however, there was no significant differences in the score for the clinical competence between experimental and control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a self-directed web-based learning for ventilator practice of nursing students can facilitate the knowledge of care for a ventilated patient. Therefore, faculties should develop a variety of web-based multimedia content programs for clinical instruction based on clinical situation.
Clinical Competence* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Learning ; Multimedia* ; Nursing* ; Research Design ; Students, Nursing* ; Ventilators, Mechanical*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of female marriage immigrants attending Korean language class in Gwangju, Korea by analyzing daily food and nutrient intake. METHODS: Eighty-three female immigrants completed a survey. Anthropometric measurements were obtained, and dietary food intake was assessed using a 1-day 24 hour recall method. RESULTS: The average length of residence in Korea was 5.3 years, and mean age of subjects was 31.0 years old. The home countries of subjects were Vietnam (50.6%), China (24.1%), Philippines (13.3%), and others (12%). Due to the length of residence, there were significant differences in body weight (p < 0.05), BMI (p < 0.05), percent body fat (p < 0.05), and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). The subjects who were 30~49 years old consumed more vegetables and less seaweed than the subjects who were 20~29 years old. The other kinds of consumed foods were similar among groups in different age groups or lengths of residence in Korea. Average energy intake of subjects was 1,641.0 Kcal. The group with less than 5 years of residence showed higher cholesterol intake than the group with 5 or more years of residence in Korea (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in nutrient intake between the groups of different age or length of residence. There was a positive association among dietary cholesterol intake and consumption of eggs, milk. and dairy products, and blood pressure. CONCLUSION: The study shows that length of residence affects rate of obesity and nutritional status. Further extensive research is needed to understand the effect of dietary changes and nutritional status of female marriage immigrants as well as for their successful adaptation to develop a more active and long-term nutrition education program.
Adipose Tissue ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; China ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; Dairy Products ; Eating* ; Education ; Eggs ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Energy Intake ; Female* ; Gwangju* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Marriage* ; Methods ; Milk ; Nutritional Status* ; Obesity ; Ovum ; Philippines ; Seaweed ; Vegetables ; Vietnam

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a simulation-based education course and to evaluate the results after the application for second year nursing students. METHODS: This study was a non-equivalent control pre-post design. Based on the clinical situation scenarios about patients with COPD and MI, a total of two simulation-based learning modules was developed. Pretest and posttest was conducted to evaluate the difference in critical thinking disposition, problem solving, and clinical competence between two groups of 102 students for the experimental group, 2007 and 90 students for the control group, 2006. The experimental group conducted a clinical performance evaluation in the final test, on December 10, 2007. RESULTS: In the experimental group, knowledge related to learning objectives was significantly increased and core intervention was performed almost exactly, but the same result was not observed in domains of analysis of laboratory test, and nursing education for patients. Self-evaluated clinical competence and problem solving level were significantly more improved in the experimental group than control group, but critical thinking disposition level wasn't. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, a simulation-based education course needs to utilize self-directed learning module like computer-based learning through web contents and MicroSim and video productions for improving nursing students' critical thinking.
Clinical Competence ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Learning ; Problem Solving ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Students, Nursing ; Thinking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine descriptors of dyspnea and clinical characteristics in patients with COPD at ED visit. METHOD: The study design was a descriptive survey, and 46 patients with COPD complaining of dyspnea were participated during their visits to the ED of C university hospital in G city, from October 1, 2004 to April 8, 2005. RESULT: The qualitative characteristics of dyspnea at the time of decision to the ED visit were short of breath (71.7%), tight (32.6%), hard to breathe (15.2%), smothering or suffocating (10.9%), gasping (8.7%), couldn't breathe (6.5%), constricted (2.2%), and hunger for air (2.2%). In the item of dyspnea checklists, My chest felt tight was the most common description among subjects. As the result of factor analysis of dyspnea checklists, the first factor was characterized rapid and shallow, the second was suffocating/smothering, the third was hunger for air, and the fourth was constricted. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a checklist of dyspnea descriptors based on this findings would be utilized as a tool of initial and ongoing assessment for dyspneic patients with COPD in the ED after identifying the validity and reliability of the checklist.
Checklist ; Dyspnea* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Hunger ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Subject Headings ; Thorax

Objective To investigate the relationship between total homocysteine (tHcy) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in brain infarction patients. Methods Sixty patients with fasting plasma tHcy levels ≤10μmol/L (non-Hhcy group), 60 patients with fasting plasma tHcy levels>10μmol/L and≤15μmol/L (H1 group), and 60 patients with fast-ing plasma tHcy levels>15μmol/L (H2 group) were chosen in hospitalized patients with acute cerebral infarction. Values of CIMT were detected in three groups of patients. The clinical biochemical indicators including triglyceride (TG), total choles-terol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood sugar (FBS), folic acid (FA), Vitamin B12 (VitB12) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were also detected. Results There was signifi-cant difference in CIMT between three groups (P<0.01). The value of CIMT increased in H2 group [0.98(0.90, 1.05)mm] com-pared with that of non-Hhcy group [0.85(0.80, 0.95)mm]. The value of CIMT increased in H2 group compared with H1 group [0.98(0.90, 1.05)mm vs 0.85(0.85, 0.95)mm], P<0.05). There were significant differences in tHcy, FA and VitB12 between three groups. Based on the log-transformed values of CIMT as the dependent variable, multiple stepwise linear regression showed significant associations of the following variables with increased CIMT: increasing age, the history of smoking, the history of diabetes, higher LDL-C and tHcy levels. Conclusion Brain infarction in patients with higher tHcy level often have lower levels of FA and VitB12, and increased CIMT. When the level of tHcy >15 μmol/L, there is more significantly higher level of CIMT. The increased CIMT level was associated with some cerebrovascular risk factors in patients with brain infarction.

Metabolic abnormalities were identified and carotid intima-media-thickness(IMT)was measured in 221 individuals at risk for metabolic syndrome(MS).The results indicated that IMT was significantly thicker in MS individuals than that in non-MS individuals(P＜0.01).And there was a tendency of progressive increase in IMT with increasing components of metabolic syndrome.