To raise traditional medicine to a higher level of scientific research, a mathematical model has been proposed using symbolic notations and operators to describe several disease symptoms generally recognized in traditional medicine. Even though this model to a certain degree offers a mathematical approach to identify the relationships between yin-yang and the five viscera, it is not an efficient means of explaining the pathology in traditional medicine due to its use of superfluous notations and definitions. In this paper, we introduce two concise operators, a self-development operator and an action operator: the former describes the effect of a viscus in the unbalanced state on other viscera: the latter explains the engendering and restraining relationships between the two viscera. These tools are useful to elucidate the interactions among the states of the five viscera based on yin-yang and the five elements theory. Our mathematical model with these two operators facilitates description for the scheme of deficiency-excess of yin-yang in the five viscera. Accordingly, we have mathematically refined the existing results and shown clinical applications as well.
Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Models, Theoretical ; Viscera ; pathology ; Yin-Yang

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the depth of sedation and the usefulness of the monitoring tool in determining the level of sedation in patients undergoing third molars extraction under conscious sedation with midazolam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty two patients undergoing third molars extraction at the department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Ewha Womans Mokdong Hospital from February 2010 to April 2010 were analyzed. All patients were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) class I and had no contraindications tosedation. The bispectral index was recorded continually during surgery using a bispectral monitor. The initial sedation was accomplished using a 3 mg bolus of midazolam followed by a 2 mg bolus of midazolam until the level of sedation, at which the patient's eyes were closed or the subject was responsive only to loud or repeated calling of their name, was reached. All subjects were surveyed with a postoperative questionnaire to evaluate the level of sedation. RESULTS: The bispectral index (BIS) decreased approximately 5 minutes after midazolam administration, but increased at the local anesthesia injection and odontomy procedure. The amnestic effect was shown effectively in the early stages of surgery. CONCLUSION: Conscious sedation with intravenous midazolam is effective in achieving the effect of anxiolysis, analgesia and amnesia. The BIS is an objective and useful means of assessing the depth of sedation.
Amnesia ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Local ; Conscious Sedation ; Eye ; Female ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Midazolam ; Molar, Third ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Surgery, Oral ; Tooth Extraction

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the current status of education for nursing management in Korea. METHODS: A descriptive study was done using a questionnaire developed by the investigators. The data were collected by survey from 96 out of 129 nursing schools, between December 2010 and February 2011. RESULTS: For 22.9% of nursing schools, there was no faculty for nursing management. The credits and subjects included in nursing management varied among the nursing schools. Lectures in subjects related to nursing management were given not only by nursing management faculty but also by faculty with other majors. There were more faculty and credits for nursing management courses in 4-year nursing schools than in 3-year schools. CONCLUSION: To improve the quality of education in nursing management, there is a need to standardized courses and provide nursing faculty who have majored in nursing management.
Faculty, Nursing ; Humans ; Lectures ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Personnel ; Schools, Nursing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the major trends of research in the Journal of Korean Nursing Administration from 2007 to 2009. METHOD: Research designs, participants, research domains, and key words were analyzed from the Journal of Korean Nursing Administration. RESULTS: Job satisfaction, organizational commitment, job stress, turnover intention, nursing performance, self-efficiency, leadership, empowerment, nursing informatics, and quality control were the major key words commonly listed in the journal articles. Of the research in the Nursing Administration Journal, quantitative methods were used in 94.5% of the research studies and qualitative methods in only 5.5%. The major participants in the research were nurses, nurse managers, and patients. Statistical methods like ANOVA, correlation, t-test, regression, chi-square test, LISREL were the dominant method of analysis used in the research. The primary domains in the journal articles were directing, organizing, control, planning, and informatics. CONCLUSION: Through this study, the trend of research in nursing administration can be identified. We recommend that collaboration, nurse work environment, evidence-based practice, scheduling, coaching, patient falls and safety, and positive culture should be included as topics for the future research.
Cooperative Behavior ; Evidence-Based Practice ; Humans ; Intention ; Job Satisfaction ; Nurse Administrators ; Nursing Informatics ; Power (Psychology) ; Quality Control ; Research Design

Mast cells are involved in allergic responses, protection against pathogens and autoimmune diseases. Dexamethasone (Dex) and other glucocorticoids suppress FcepsilonRI-mediated release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells. The inhibition mechanisms were mainly investigated on the downstream signaling of Fc receptor activations. Here, we addressed the effects of Dex on Fc receptor expressions in rat mast cell line RBL-2H3. We measured mRNA levels of Fc receptors by real-time PCR. As expected, Dex decreased the mRNA levels of activating Fc receptor for IgE (FcepsilonR) I and increased the mRNA levels of the inhibitory Fc receptor for IgG FcgammaRIIb. Interestingly, Dex stimulated transcriptions of other activating receptors such as Fc receptors for IgG (FcgammaR) I and FcgammaRIII. To investigate the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation, we employed a transcription inhibitor actinomycin D and a translation inhibitor cycloheximide. The inhibition of protein synthesis without Dex treatment enhanced FcgammaRI and FcgammaRIII mRNA levels potently, while FcepsilonRI and FcgammaRIIb were minimally affected. Next, we examined expressions of the Fc receptors on cell surfaces by the flow cytometric method. Only FcgammaRIIb protein expression was significantly enhanced by Dex treatment, while FcgammaRI, FcgammaRIII and FcepsilonRI expression levels were marginally changed. Our data showed, for the first time, that Dex regulates Fc receptor expressions resulting in augmentation of the inhibitory receptor FcgammaRIIb.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cycloheximide ; Dactinomycin ; Dexamethasone ; Glucocorticoids ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mast Cells ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Fc ; RNA, Messenger