BACKGROUND: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been detected in a number of pathologic conditions in the central nervous system. This study was investigated the patterns of iNOS expression in the neuronal PC12 cell and the effects of nitric oxide on the apoptosis of PC12 cells. METHODS: The stimulating agents for induction of iNOS expression in PC12 cells were bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), and interferon-gamma (IFN-). RESULTS: The expression iNOS mRNA and protein in PC12 cells stimulated with LPS/TNF-/IFN- were profoundly increased. The expression of iNOS mRNA arose at 6 hours, peaked at 12 hours, and declined to 48 hours after LPS/TNF-/ IFN- treatment. iNOS protein was increased up to 24 hours in LPS/TNF-/IFN- treated PC12 cells while the expression of nNOS was unaffected. Accumulation of NO derivatives in the culture media was markedly increased at least at up to 48 hours after LPS/TNF-/IFN- treatment. The induction of iNOS expression and NO production in differentiated PC12 cells was correlated with apoptotic cell death judged by transmission electron microscopy and DNA fragmentation from the results of the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUDP biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method. After treatment with NOS inhibitor, N-monomethylarginine (NMMA), a profound decrease in NO production by LPS/TNF-/IFN- treated PC12 cells was noted. And the LPS/TNF-/IFN- induced apoptosis was prevented by the NMMA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results it is concluded that the expression of iNOS in differentiated PC12 cells is induced by the combined application of LPS, TNF-, and IFN-. And the apoptosis of cultured PC12 cells is mediated by iNOS-derived NO.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Biotin ; Cell Death ; Central Nervous System ; Culture Media ; DNA Fragmentation ; Interferon-gamma ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Necrosis* ; Neurons* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II* ; Nitric Oxide* ; PC12 Cells* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

This study aimed to investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of the water extract of Pulsatilla koreana (Yabe ex Nakai) Nakai ex T. Mori., Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch (WEPPG).

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of stress, spousal support, and resilience on the types of coping among women with breast cancer. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional survey design, a total of 120 participants, diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mass removal surgery, and were fluent in Korean, were recruited at a cancer center in Seoul, Korea. Self-reported questionnaires of stress, spousal support, resilience, and ways of coping were administered upon the permission from the original developers. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 Win program. RESULT: Ways of coping was positively correlated with spousal support, resilience, and stress. Positive correlations were found between problem-focused coping, spousal support, and resilience. Positive correlations were found between emotion-focused coping with stress and resilience. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that spousal support had significant moderating effect on the relationship between stress and emotion-focused coping. CONCLUSION: Women perceived their diagnosis and surgery as more stressful, they more like to use emotion-focused coping. Women with more spousal support and resilience were found to use problem-focused coping more. Based on the findings of this study, a tailored intervention for women with breast cancer for improving their coping is expected in future research.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Seoul

A 26-year-old woman presented with skin pigmentation and numbness on the upper arm. More than six café au lait spots over 15 mm diameter could be seen throughout her skin. Neurofibromatosis (NF) type 1 was diagnosed based on genetic study. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed Chiari type 1 malformation and syringomyelia was noted in the C2 to T7 level in the spinal MRI. We suggest Chiari malformation and syringomyelia could be a rare manifestation in a patient with NF type 1.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to identify the risk perception of acute respiratory infections, safety climate and the use of personal protective equipment, and to verify the factors influencing use of personal protective equipment by nurses’ working in general hospitals. Methods: The survey was conducted with 133 nurses working in general hospitals with 200 beds to 499 beds. Data collection was done, from November 13 to December 12, 2017. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results Factors influencing the use of personal protective equipment related to acute respiratory infections in general hospital nurses were training (β=.36, p<.001), types of isolation facilities in the respective departments (negative pressure room) (β=.27, p<.001), patient instructions (β=.20, p=.027), and absence of job hindrances (β=.15, p=.042). The explanatory power of these results was 47.6%. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that for general hospital nurses it is necessary to establish a physical safety climate such as a negative pressure room, and to encourage the use of personal protective equipment related to acute respiratory infections. Also, changes should be accompanied by training in the use of personal protective equipment, provision of patient care guidelines, compliance with standard precaution, and the creation of an organizational safety climate and support for the organization.

Purpose: This study examined the factors affecting mortality and clinical severity score (CSS) of male and female patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) using clinical epidemiological information provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational cohort study. From January 21 to April 30, 2020, a total of 5624 patients who were released from quarantine or died were analyzed. Results: The factors influencing release or death that differed by sex were high heart rate and malignancy in males and chronic kidney disease in females. In addition, the factors influencing progression to severe CSS were high BMI (severe obesity) and rheumatic disease in males and high temperature, sputum production, absence of sore throat and headache, chronic kidney disease, malignancy, and chronic liver disease in females. Older age, low lymphocyte count and platelets, dyspnea, diabetes mellitus, dementia, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission affected mortality in all the patients, and older age, low lymphocyte count and platelets, fever, dyspnea, diabetes mellitus, dementia, and ICU admission affected progression to severe stage of CSS. Conclusions This study is expected to contribute to the general results by analyzing nationally representative data. The results of this study present an important basis for development of differentiated nursing and medical management strategies in consideration of factors that influence treatment effects and outcomes according to sex of patients with COVID-19.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships among menopausal symptoms, functional status, and distress and to identify factors influencing distress in premenopausal breast cancer patients who had been on endocrine therapy. METHODS: A descriptive correlational study was conducted. Data were collected using questionnaires from 140 patients with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy at a general hospital. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Tukey HSD test, Pearson's correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean scores for menopausal symptom, functional status, and distress were 19.65±7.86, 2.67±0.33 and 3.69±2.19, respectively. The menopausal symptoms and distress were positively correlated (r=.76, p<.001). The menopausal symptoms and functional status (r=−.43, p<.001) and functional status and distress (r=−.31, p<.001) were negatively correlated. The most influential factor for distress was menopausal symptoms (β=.79, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, developing nursing intervention programs focusing on decreasing menopausal symptoms and distress are recommended.
Activities of Daily Living ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Menopause ; Nursing ; Stress, Psychological

Purpose: Nursing clinical practice education is transforming with the advent of mobile education and the unique experiences it offers in caring for virtual patients. For this innovative approach, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of mobile-based virtual women’s breast cancer nursing simulation training content on nursing students’ confidence, satisfaction, and learning flow. It also examines the nursing students’ virtual patient care experiences. Methods: A mixed methods approach using a convergent design was employed to examine students’ cancer care confidence and satisfaction, learning flow, and learning experiences. Quantitative data through online questionnaires and qualitative data through focus group interviews were collected, merged, and analyzed. Results: This study developed a virtual nursing training module aimed at caring for women with breast cancer, a novel approach to facilitate mobile-based simulation training for nursing students. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, a chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, t-test for participant homogeneity (experimental: 20, control: 20), independent t-test, and paired t-test. Satisfaction (t=3.53, p=.001) and confidence (t=4.07, p=.001), as well as flow (t=3.78, p=.001), significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group. Two core themes and five sub-themes were derived from the experimental group’s experiences acquired by caring for women with breast cancer virtually, including that the students “Virtually cared for breast cancer patients, learning as if real.” Conclusion The mobile-based virtual nursing simulation training content allowed nursing students to upgrade their comprehensive nursing care skills by experiencing a fun and practical environment made possible by a new learning method.

Purpose: Nursing clinical practice education is transforming with the advent of mobile education and the unique experiences it offers in caring for virtual patients. For this innovative approach, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of mobile-based virtual women’s breast cancer nursing simulation training content on nursing students’ confidence, satisfaction, and learning flow. It also examines the nursing students’ virtual patient care experiences. Methods: A mixed methods approach using a convergent design was employed to examine students’ cancer care confidence and satisfaction, learning flow, and learning experiences. Quantitative data through online questionnaires and qualitative data through focus group interviews were collected, merged, and analyzed. Results: This study developed a virtual nursing training module aimed at caring for women with breast cancer, a novel approach to facilitate mobile-based simulation training for nursing students. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, a chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, t-test for participant homogeneity (experimental: 20, control: 20), independent t-test, and paired t-test. Satisfaction (t=3.53, p=.001) and confidence (t=4.07, p=.001), as well as flow (t=3.78, p=.001), significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group. Two core themes and five sub-themes were derived from the experimental group’s experiences acquired by caring for women with breast cancer virtually, including that the students “Virtually cared for breast cancer patients, learning as if real.” Conclusion The mobile-based virtual nursing simulation training content allowed nursing students to upgrade their comprehensive nursing care skills by experiencing a fun and practical environment made possible by a new learning method.

Purpose: Nursing clinical practice education is transforming with the advent of mobile education and the unique experiences it offers in caring for virtual patients. For this innovative approach, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of mobile-based virtual women’s breast cancer nursing simulation training content on nursing students’ confidence, satisfaction, and learning flow. It also examines the nursing students’ virtual patient care experiences. Methods: A mixed methods approach using a convergent design was employed to examine students’ cancer care confidence and satisfaction, learning flow, and learning experiences. Quantitative data through online questionnaires and qualitative data through focus group interviews were collected, merged, and analyzed. Results: This study developed a virtual nursing training module aimed at caring for women with breast cancer, a novel approach to facilitate mobile-based simulation training for nursing students. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, a chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, t-test for participant homogeneity (experimental: 20, control: 20), independent t-test, and paired t-test. Satisfaction (t=3.53, p=.001) and confidence (t=4.07, p=.001), as well as flow (t=3.78, p=.001), significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group. Two core themes and five sub-themes were derived from the experimental group’s experiences acquired by caring for women with breast cancer virtually, including that the students “Virtually cared for breast cancer patients, learning as if real.” Conclusion The mobile-based virtual nursing simulation training content allowed nursing students to upgrade their comprehensive nursing care skills by experiencing a fun and practical environment made possible by a new learning method.