PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to verify the effects of daily 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing on the acquisition of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) and healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in a medical intensive care unit (MICU). METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled group posttest only design, involving 91 patients in MICU at a tertiary hospital (47 patients in the experimental group and 44 patients in the control group). The 2% CHG bathing was performed daily according to bathing protocol to the patients in the experimental group, and traditional bath was performed every three days to those in the control group. Fisher's exact test and χ² test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: MDRO were found in 6 patients of the experimental group and in 15 patients of the control group. The difference was statistically significant (p=.016). HAI occurred in 2 patients of the experimental group and in 7 patients of the control group. The difference was not statistically significant (p=.084). CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that daily bathing with CHG was effective in reducing the incidence of MDRO acquisition. Therefore, it is expected that daily bathing with CHG will be used as an effective nursing intervention to reduce the incidence of MDRO acquisition.
Baths ; Chlorhexidine ; Critical Care ; Cross Infection ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Nursing ; Tertiary Care Centers

Objectives: This study examined the mediating effects of smartphone dependence on the relationship between anxiety and delayed bedtime and analyzed the group differences based on gender and economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from 4254 middle school students living in metropolitan areas and cohabiting with highly educated parents were analyzed using the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey.The participants were divided into four groups based on gender and economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. T-tests, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted on each variable. The Baron–Kenny method and Sobel tests were used to verify the mediating effects. Results: Female students showed higher levels of anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime. Groups experiencing economic difficulties due to COVID-19 reported higher levels of anxiety and smartphone dependence. Across all groups, positive correlations were observed between anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime. Smartphone dependence partially mediated the relationship between anxiety and delayed bedtime, except in the group of male students experiencing economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. Conclusion This study confirmed the associations between anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime among adolescents, suggesting the need for interventions related to smartphone use to support the mental health of adolescents in stressful situations.

Objectives: This study examined the mediating effects of smartphone dependence on the relationship between anxiety and delayed bedtime and analyzed the group differences based on gender and economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from 4254 middle school students living in metropolitan areas and cohabiting with highly educated parents were analyzed using the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey.The participants were divided into four groups based on gender and economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. T-tests, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted on each variable. The Baron–Kenny method and Sobel tests were used to verify the mediating effects. Results: Female students showed higher levels of anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime. Groups experiencing economic difficulties due to COVID-19 reported higher levels of anxiety and smartphone dependence. Across all groups, positive correlations were observed between anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime. Smartphone dependence partially mediated the relationship between anxiety and delayed bedtime, except in the group of male students experiencing economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. Conclusion This study confirmed the associations between anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime among adolescents, suggesting the need for interventions related to smartphone use to support the mental health of adolescents in stressful situations.

Objectives: This study examined the mediating effects of smartphone dependence on the relationship between anxiety and delayed bedtime and analyzed the group differences based on gender and economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from 4254 middle school students living in metropolitan areas and cohabiting with highly educated parents were analyzed using the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey.The participants were divided into four groups based on gender and economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. T-tests, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted on each variable. The Baron–Kenny method and Sobel tests were used to verify the mediating effects. Results: Female students showed higher levels of anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime. Groups experiencing economic difficulties due to COVID-19 reported higher levels of anxiety and smartphone dependence. Across all groups, positive correlations were observed between anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime. Smartphone dependence partially mediated the relationship between anxiety and delayed bedtime, except in the group of male students experiencing economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. Conclusion This study confirmed the associations between anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime among adolescents, suggesting the need for interventions related to smartphone use to support the mental health of adolescents in stressful situations.

Objectives: This study examined the mediating effects of smartphone dependence on the relationship between anxiety and delayed bedtime and analyzed the group differences based on gender and economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from 4254 middle school students living in metropolitan areas and cohabiting with highly educated parents were analyzed using the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey.The participants were divided into four groups based on gender and economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. T-tests, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted on each variable. The Baron–Kenny method and Sobel tests were used to verify the mediating effects. Results: Female students showed higher levels of anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime. Groups experiencing economic difficulties due to COVID-19 reported higher levels of anxiety and smartphone dependence. Across all groups, positive correlations were observed between anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime. Smartphone dependence partially mediated the relationship between anxiety and delayed bedtime, except in the group of male students experiencing economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. Conclusion This study confirmed the associations between anxiety, smartphone dependence, and delayed bedtime among adolescents, suggesting the need for interventions related to smartphone use to support the mental health of adolescents in stressful situations.

Previous studies have shown that tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can be developed in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) due to annular dilatation. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of the progression of TR in patients with persistent AF. A total of 397 patients (66.9±11.4 years, 247 men; 62.2%) with persistent AF were enrolled between 2006 and 2016 in a tertiary hospital, and 287 eligible patients with follow-up echocardiography were analyzed. They were divided into two groups according to TR progression (progression group [n=68, 70.1±10.7 years, 48.5% men] vs. non-progression group [n=219, 66.0±11.3 years, 64.8% men]). Among 287 patients in the analysis, 68 had worsening TR severity (23.7%). Patients in the TR progression group were older and more likely to be female. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ＜50% were less frequent in the progression group than those in the non-progression group (7.4% vs. 19.6%, p=0.018). Patients with mitral valve disease were more frequent in the progression group. Multivariate analysis with COX regression demonstrated independent predictors of TR progression, including left atrial (LA) diameter ＞54 mm (HR 4.85, 95%CI 2.23-10.57, p＜0.001), E/e’ (HR 1.05, 95%CI 1.01-1.10, p=0.027), and no use of antiarrhythmic agents (HR 2.20, 95%CI 1.03-4.72, p=0.041). In patients with persistent AF, worsening TR was not uncommon. The independent predictors of TR progression turned out to be greater LA diameter, higher E/e’, and no use of antiarrhythmic agents.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination adoption stages using the Precaution Adoption Process model. METHODS: A total of 173 female university students from B metropolitan city participated. Demographics, factors contributing to action, knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy related to the HPV vaccination were measured. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis using SPSS for Windows version 21.0. RESULTS: Factors that contributed to the transition from the unaware and unengaged stages to the undecided about action stage included age, economic status, experience of recommendation from doctors, perceived severity of cervical cancer, and perceived barriers. Factors that contributed to the transition from the undecided about action stage to the deciding to act stage were perceived benefit and self-efficacy of the HPV vaccination. Factors that contributed to the transition from the deciding to act stage to the acting and maintenance stages were experience of recommendation from doctors and perceived severity of cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that aggressive HPV vaccination campaigns increase awareness. Further studies should develop tailored strategies for promoting HPV vaccination that emphasize health beliefs and self-efficacy.
Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vaccination*

Epiphyseal fractures in neonates are rare and difficult to diagnose on simple radiographic images and objective guidelines for treatment have not yet been established. Authors performed conservative treatment for displaced distal femoral epiphyseal fracture detected on 5th day after cesarean section delivery. At 10 years of follow-up, satisfactory functional recovery was observed. Herein, we report on a case of displaced distal femoral epiphyseal birth fracture with literature reviews.
Cesarean Section ; Epiphyses* ; Female ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy

Objective: Using microRNA (miR) as a biomarker has been a new way for diagnosing many diseases. Although many studies on miR-biomarker have been published, researches on miR-biomarker in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to valiate a candidate serum miR as a novel disease-specific novel miR for AS. Methods: Total RNAs were extracted from sera samples of patients with AS (n=57), patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n=37), or healthy controls (HC) (n=19). Through serum miR screening by microarray, differential levels of miR were subsequently validated by real time PCR. At the time of serum sampling, clinical values such as sex, age, disease duration, AS-disease activity score, uveitis, peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, human leukocyte antigen-B27 presence, and recent medication were evaluated. Results: We found that the expression level of serum miR-3620-3p in AS was notably lower than that in RA or HC. The receiver–operator characteristics curve for determining the diagnostic accuracy showed an area under the curve of 0.919 (p＜0.001) with a sensitivity of 87.1% and a specificity of 86.0%. Correlation studies showed that the expression level of miR-3620-3p was only associated with the development of uveitis (p＜0.05). Conclusion Serum miR-3620-3p can be as a new biomarker for diagnosing AS.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting the discrimination of the elderly using welfare centers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 217 elderly people from a welfare center in D city. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire survey consisting of ageism experience, social participation attitude, social support, and empowerment. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression were performed using SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: As a result of analyzing the correlations among the variables, the discrimination experience of the elderly showed negative correlations in social participation attitude and child relationship support. The factors affecting the discrimination experience of the elderly include gender, job, smartphone use, and child relationship support had a significant effect. The explanatory power of the discrimination experience of these factors was 15.4%. Conclusion This study found that gender, job, social support, and smartphone use were factors influencing the discrimination experience of the elderly. It is hoped that public relations and policy measures should be considered.