PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the effect of work environment on nursing performance and the effect of job satisfaction and empowerment on nurses performance in hemodialysis units. METHODS: Participants in this study were 206 nurses from 22 hemodialysis units in local clinics, general and university hospitals in two metropolitan areas. The work environment, nursing performance, job satisfaction and empowerment of the participants were measured using four self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: Nursing performance correlated significantly with work environment, job satisfaction, and empowerment in the participants. Predictability of work environment for nursing performance was 28%. Job satisfaction and empowerment showed complete mediating effects, but not moderating effects in the relationship of work environment and nursing performance in the participants. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that work environment is an important variable affecting nursing performance in nurses in hemodialysis units and that job satisfaction and empowerment are mediating variables in the relationship of work environment and nursing performance in nurses in hemodialysis units. Improvements in the work environment are needed to induce the high job satisfaction and empowerment that can lead to improvement of nursing performance.
Hospitals, University ; Job Satisfaction* ; Negotiating ; Nursing* ; Power (Psychology)* ; Renal Dialysis*

To evaluate the frequency of EM A and Ki-I antigen expression in the large cell lymphoma and to define the histologic characteristics of Ki-1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, 40 cases of malignant lymphoma, diffuse large cell type were immunostained by Ki-I and EMA monoclonal antibodies. Eight cases of large cell lymphomas expressed EMA, among which 4 cases were positive for Ki-I antibody as well. The positive rate for EMA was much higher in T cell lymphomas than in B cell lymphomas. Among 4 cases of Ki-I positive lymphomas, 2 cases showing membrane staining of Ki-1 with prototypic histologic feature of anaplastic large cell lymphoma were classified as Ki-1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma(ALCL). Ki-I positive ALCL were T-cell in one and non-T, non-B cell type in the other, respectively. The remaining 2 cases of Ki-1 positive lymphomas showing cytoplasmic staining were classified as both B-cell centroblastic/centrocytic lymphoma and T-cell pleomorphic large cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of tuberculosis has been based on the detection of tubercle bacilli by acid-fast stain of smear or cultures, and recently the serologic diagnosis of tuberculosis has been provided a means of sensitive and specific detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We evaluated the utility of enzyme immunoassay using determiner Tuberculosis Glicolipids(TBGL) antibody kit(Kyowa Medex Co. Ltd, Japan) to detect anti-TBGL antibody for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: Anti-TBGL antibody assay was performed to the form 44 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis(17 patients with smear positive, 7 patients with only culture positive, 20 patients with clinically active tuberculosis) and 80 controls (30 healthy controls, 24 patients with non-tuberculous respiratory diseases, 26 patients with inactive tuberculosis). We compared the sensitivity and specificity of anti-TBGL antibody with culture and AFB stain. RESULTS: Anti-TBGL antibodies were detected in 16 of 17(94%) smear positive patients, 4 of 7 patients with only culture positive and 16 of 20(80%) smear negative patients who had been clinically diagnosed as active pulmonary tuberculosis. Nine(35%) out of 26 patients with inactive tuberculosis, one(4%) out of 24 patients with non-tuberculous respiratory diseases and no one of healthy control had a positive antibody response. Overall sensitivity, specificity of the anti-TBGL antibody assay were 82%, 88%, respectively and sensitivities and specificities of culture and AFB smear 64%, 97%, and 49%, 100%, respectively. Anti-TBGL antibody titers in patients with active tuberculosis were significantly higher than control grup(P<0.05). Conclusions : The anti-TBGL antibody assay was sensitive, rapid and convenient. This assay will be useful as a tool for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in combination with other conventional methods.
Antibodies ; Antibody Formation ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

BACKGROUND: Dementia has emerged as a leading public health problem with elderly persons and its early detection is important for treatment in curable cases. Although dementia screening tests are available, they are still complex and time consuming in practice and therefore difficult to use. Our goal was to validate the time and change(T&C) test, a simple, standardized method for detecting dementia in the elderly populations. METHODS: Participants were 59 patients aged 65 years or older at an urban hospital from November 1 to December 31, 2001. The time test evaluated the understanding of clock hands indicating 11:10, and the change test the ability making 1,000 Won from a group of coins consisting one 500 Won, seven 100 Won, seven 50 Won. T&C ratings were validated against a reference standard based on physician`s diagnosis. Test-retest reliability and inter-observer reliability were assessed. RESULTS: The T&C test had a sensitivity of 73.0%, specificity of 90.9%, positive predictive value of 93.1%, and negative predictive value of 66.7%. Test-retest and inter-observer agreement rates were 95% and 95%, respectively. The T&C test was not influenced by education. The time and change tests took a mean of 7.5 seconds and 19.6 seconds to complete respectively, and was acceptable to participants. When timed cut points were added, the T&C test had a sensitivity of 86.5%, specificity of 40.9% and test-retest and inter-observer agreement rates were 77.3% and 81.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The T&C test is a simple, accurate reliable, performance-based tool for detection of dementia in the elderly.
Aged* ; Dementia* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Hand ; Hospitals, Urban ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Numismatics ; Public Health ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Congenital hepatic fibrosis is an inherited, congenital disorder of the liver, and is occasionally associated with cystic disease of the liver and kidney. We present a case of congenital hepatic fibrosis with Caroli's disease. A 21-year-old woman had suffered from an episodic fever with headaches for 3 years. In laboratory examination, the liver function test was within the normal limits. Esophageal varix was noted by an endoscopic examination. Hepatosplenomegaly and multiple dilated bile ducts were seen by abdominal CT scanning. An orthotopic whole liver transplantation was done. The liver was fibrotic and enlarged. Multiple cystically dilated intrahepatic ducts were noted. Microscopically, diffuse portal fibrosis and widening with proliferation of bile ductules were seen. Intrahepatic bile ducts were markedly dilated and tortuous. The liver cell cords were well preserved.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Caroli Disease* ; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Female ; Fever ; Fibrosis* ; Headache ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Transplantation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi Sampling* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Female ; Pregnancy

Polyarteritis nodosa is systemic necrotizing vasculitis of medium and small-sized arteries and results in variable manifestations due to ischemia of the involving organs. Diagnosis can either be made pathologically by demonstrating necrotizing vasculitis of arteries or angiographycally by demonstrating small arterial aneurysm. We experienced a case of PAN with dilated cardiomyopathy, confirmed by clinical feature, renal biopsy, angiography and echocardiography.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Ischemia ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Vasculitis

To identify the smoking status and its related factors in middle and high school boys in Kwangju a study was performed from 15th to 30th of June 1992. Population were selected by two-stage random sampling method and total 3,959 students replied to the self-administered questionnaire survey(1,574 in middle school, 1,664 in academic high school, 712 in business high school). The results were as follows; 1. The proportion of current smokers was 1.5% in middle schools and 20.1% in high schools. And the smoking rates increased with school grade years(p<0.01). 2. For the motivation of smoking, curiosity was the most frequent factor and the next was temptation by friends. 3. The most common situation on the first experience of smoking was that middle school boys smoked a cigarette which was found in a house, through curiosity, with friends, at home. High school boys smoked a cigarette taken from friends, through curiosity, with friend, on the road or at home. 4. The proportion of smokers who smoke a cigarette regularly was 34.8% among smokers in middle school and 70.2% among smokers in high school. The most proportion of duration of smoking was less than 1 month among middle school boys (20.8%) and more than 2 years among high school boys(43.9%). The first smoking experience was in elementary school among middle school boys and the third grade of middle school in high school students. Most current smokers(73.9% in middle school boys, 65.3% in high school boys) wanted to quit smoking. 5. Smokers had significant association with intimate friend's smoking, mother's and brother's smoking, inharmonious friendships, dissatisfied with home and school life, lower school grades, generous attitude to other smokers, lack of knowledge to passive smoking and no contact to mass media(TV)(p<0.01).
Commerce ; Exploratory Behavior ; Friends ; Gwangju* ; Humans ; Male* ; Motivation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution

No abstract available.

No abstract available.