PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define the relationships between job stress, professional self-concept, and job satisfaction among nurses in rehabilitation units and to identify factors that influence job satisfaction. METHODS: This study surveyed 240 nurses working at the rehabilitation units of 10 hospitals located in G City. To collect the data, nurses' job stress, the professional self-concept of nurses instrument (PSCNI), and the Korean-Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (K-MSQ) were used. The data were analyzed through t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: The scores for job stress, professional self-concept, and job satisfaction were 3.34+/-0.61, 72.36+/-8.64 and 3.17+/-0.39, respectively. Job satisfaction and job stress showed a low-level negative correlation with statistical significance (r=-.13, p=.042), whereas a medium-level positive correlation was found between job satisfaction and professional self-concept (r=.46, p<.001). Job stress, professional self-concept, total career length and size of working hospital explained approximately 25.8% of job satisfaction (F=17.52, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Considering the results in this study, it is necessary to develop a practical educational program to establish positive professional self-concept for nurses in rehabilitation units. Such efforts must be supported by clinical nursing administrations through policies aimed at reducing job stress and increasing job satisfaction.
Job Satisfaction* ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation*

Historically, gastrointestinal stroma tumors (GIST) have been considered as smooth muscle tumors, but the controversy over this histogenesis is provoked due to various results with utilizing immunohistochemical methods. In andeffort to further clarify the histogenesis of GIST, we performed the immunohistochemical study, as well as histopathologic reexamination, of 24 cases, all diagnosed as smooth muscle tumors of gastrointestinal tract, from Seoul Paik Hospital and Ewha University Hospital between 1980 and 1989, and the main results were as follows; 1) In the histopathologic features by light microscopic study, 11 benign and 13 malignant lesions (including one high grade malignancy and 12 low-grade malignant lesions) were disclosed. 2) In the immunohistochemical study, all tumors showed Vimentin positivity (100%), but no tumor showed S-100 protein positivity (0%), and 7 cases (29.1%) showed Desmin positivity. Positive reaction for Desmin made it possible to suggest that the histogenesis of GIST be in smooth muscle, and neurogenic origin would be excluded by all negativity for S-100 protein. In summary, we would like to conclude that GIST would be smooth muscle tumors on account of their morphological characteristics and their intramural location, but most of them appear poorly differentiated by immunohistochemical method.

The incidence of colorectal cancer has been increased gradually and it was about 6.9% of all malignancies in Korea. Early diagnosis was recognized as the most important factor influencing the prognosis of colorectal cancer and the incidence of early colorectal cancer was increasing. Thus great change was observed in the treatment of early colorectal cancer, endoscopic therapy as well as curative surgical resection is being accepted. We report a case of effective and safe endoscopic therapy for early rectal cancer in 5S-year-old male patient. He presented with rectal prolapse and bleeding of a year's duration. A large polypoid mass with fine nodular surface and thick, short stalk was seen in the rectum at 4cm above the anal verge during flexible sigmoidoscopy. After the histologic examination of specimen obtained by bite biopsy, CT scan of pelvic cavity and ultrasonogram of abdomen, the tumor was removed safe and completely by 2 sessions of piecemeal polypectomies and strip biopsy. He has been well without symptoms and signs of recurrence of rectal cancer for 20 months.
Abdomen ; Biopsy* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectal Prolapse ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Epidural hematoma (EDH) is relatively rare in newborn infants and frequently associated with instrumental deliveries or other complications during labor and delivery. Although surgical evacuation has been the most common therapy, many other procedures have been suggested. Although many epidural hematomas require surgical evacuation rather than non-surgical management, the conservatiob or aspiration of hematoma have been attempted. In the case of EDH associated with cephalhematoma, aspiration of cephalhematoma could be attempted because frequent features of these combination were communication between these hematoma. We report a case of successful nonsurgical management for epidural hematoma through the aspiration of accompanying cephalhematoma in a five-day-old newborn infant.
Hematoma ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Retropharyngeal Abscess

PURPOSE: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Serum levels of TNF-alpha are elevated in many human cardiac related pathogenic conditions, including heart failure. It is well known that TNF-alpha inhibits myocardial contractility and induces apoptosis of adult rat cardiomyocytes via stimulation of TNF receptor 1. But pathophysiologically relevant low levels of TNF-alpha can not induce apoptosis of neonatal cardiomyocytes. So, we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of TNF-alpha in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes : apoptosis or necrosis. METHODS: Neonatal ventricular myocytes were isolated from 3-day-old rats by stepwise collagenase dissociation, and the cells were cultured for 3 days. After that, cardiomyocytes were treated with low(25 ng/mL) and high(250 ng/mL) concentration of TNF-alpha for 48 hours. Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transfer-mediated end labelling(TUNEL) staining, and cell viability was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) measurements using cell culture supernatants. RESULTS: Low dose TNF-alpha did not induce apoptosis compared with controls(10.5 +/- 3.5% : 10.4 +/- 4.3%). And high dose TNF-alpha also did not induce significant apoptosis(10.2 +/- 3.6% : 10.4 +/- 4.3%). There was no detectable morphological changes of cardiomyocytes after low and high concentration of TNF-alpha treatment. LDH levels after TNF-alpha treatment was not significant compared with control(control : low : high, 3.2 +/- 0.1% : 3.1 +/- 0.2% : 3.3 +/- 0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that high concentration of TNF-alpha alone can not induce apoptosis and significant cytotoxicity in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Survival ; Collagenases ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Muscle Cells ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Necrosis ; Rats* ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

In the present studies, changes of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in the astrocytes of the rat hippocampal formation were examined in response to the bilateral carotid artery occlusion for 10 minutes along with a decrease of mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) to 50 mmHg. Their relations to neuronal viability were also studied by H&E staining. In early postischemic period, mild increase of the GFAP expression was observed and this was not only confined to the mild-necrotic (CA3 and dentate gyrus) regions but also in the non-necrotic regions (CA1 and subiculum) at postischemic 8 h. This suggest that astrocytosis during early postischemic period may be resulted from nonspecific reaction associated with changes in brain environment. In contrast, in late phase of the postischemia, a marked increase of the GFAP expression was observed at day 4. Moreover, cell bodies were significantly larger and many prominent and numerous processes were observed, suggesting that this may also contribute to the significant increase in the GFAP expression. Importantly, these cellular changes were only confined to the regions of massive necrosis such as subiculum and inner granular cell layer of dentate gyrus and were not observed in the non-necrotic regions (except CA1). In contrast, the GFAP expression in astrocytes were returned to control levels in mildly damaged CA3 region by 4 days. Thus reactive astrocytosis with upregulation of the GFAP in the late postischemic period with structural transformation in the regions of massive necrosis may contribute to the damages in the neighboring neurons.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Astrocytes ; Brain ; Carotid Arteries ; Dentate Gyrus ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Gliosis* ; Hippocampus* ; Necrosis ; Neurons ; Rats* ; Up-Regulation

No abstract available.
Aeromonas hydrophila* ; Aeromonas* ; Animals ; Histamine Release* ; Histamine* ; Mast Cells* ; Rats*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Recent reports showed that plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) could be a useful biomarker of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) unresponsiveness and coronary artery lesion (CAL) development in Kawasaki disease (KD). The levels of these peptides are critically influenced by age; hence, the normal range and upper limits for infants and children are different. We performed an age-adjusted analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level to validate its clinical use in the diagnosis of KD. METHODS: The data of 131 patients with KD were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups—group I (high NT-proBNP group) and group II (normal NT-proBNP group)—comprising patients with NT-proBNP concentrations higher and lower than the 95th percentile of the reference value, respectively. We compared the laboratory data, responsiveness to IVIG, and the risk of CAL in both groups. RESULTS: Group I showed significantly higher white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, C-reactive protein level, aspartate aminotransferase level, and troponin-I level than group II (P<0.05). The risk of CAL was also significantly higher in group I (odds ratio, 5.78; P=0.012). IVIG unresponsiveness in group I was three times that in group II (odds ratio, 3.35; P=0.005). CONCLUSION: Age-adjusted analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level could be helpful in predicting IVIG unresponsiveness and risk of CAL development in patients with KD.
Aspartate Aminotransferases ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Infant ; Leukocyte Count ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Neutrophils ; Peptides ; Plasma* ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Troponin I

Purpose: Delta neutrophil index (DNI) indicates immature granulocytes in peripheral blood and has been confirmed to be effective as a prognostic factor for neonatal sepsis. Also, it has been reported to have diagnostic value in acute pyelonephritis and in predicting vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the infant. We conducted the study to verify whether DNI is also helpful in the entire pediatric age group with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods: Medical records of children hospitalized for febrile UTIs were analyzed retrospectively. All subjects underwent kidney ultrasound and voiding cystourethrography. In the group with and without VUR, we compared sex and age, and the following laboratory values: the white blood cell count, neutrophil, polymorphonuclear leucocyte, eosinophil, hemoglobin, platelet count, C-reactive protein, DNI value, and the finding of ultrasound. Results: A total of 315 patients (163 males and 152 females; range, 0–127 months) were eligible, and 41 patients (13%) had VUR. As a result of univariate analysis, the white blood cell count, neutrophil, DNI, and ultrasonic abnormalities were high in the reflux group, and the hemoglobin and lymphocyte fraction values were low. The value of DNI and the abnormal ultrasound were significantly higher in the reflux group on the multivariate analysis. The area under the curve value of the receiver operating curve was higher in DNI (0.640; 95% confidence interval, 0.536–0.744; P=0.004), and the DNI cutoff value for VUR prediction was 1.85%. Conclusions We identified that ultrasound findings and DNI values were helpful predictors of VUR in pediatric febrile UTIs.