The context of specific criteria for the recognition of occupational diseases (ODs) due to physical agents in the Enforcement Decree of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (ED-IACIA) and the Labor Standard Act (LSA) does not describe definite disease along with the agents but listed symptoms or obscure clinical conditions. Moreover, the needs for an amendment of these Acts have recently attracted renewed interest. To establish agreed criteria for compensable ODs due to physical agents, we reviewed the criteria for recognizing ODs on the basis of International Labor Organization (ILO) documents and European Union (EU) guideline. After providing a brief review of the history of OD outbreaks due to physical exposure in South Korea and the responses to them, we describe the basis for the recent amendments to the IACI Act and LSA and assess their appropriateness. On the basis of these findings, this study could be helpful for determining and compensating process of ODs. However, further work is required to ascertain the scientific relationship between diseases caused by physical agents and the exposure criteria.
Accidents, Occupational ; Humans ; Male ; Noise/*adverse effects ; Occupational Diseases/*economics ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects ; Radiation Injuries/*economics ; Republic of Korea ; Vibration/*adverse effects ; Workers' Compensation/*economics

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of ego-resilience and self-efficacy on satisfaction in major of nursing student. METHOD: Data were collected from 275 nursing students by means of self reported questionnaires about ego-resilience, self-efficacy and satisfaction in major from December 3 to 20, 2012. RESULTS: There were positive correlations between ego-resilience, self-efficacy and satisfaction in major. The optimistic attitude in ego-resilience (beta=.56, p<.001), an associate's degree (beta=.38, p<.001), suitable to aptitude (beta=.17, p<.001), social self-efficacy (beta=.14, p=.039) and high employment rate (beta=.12, p=.033) were significant predictors of satisfaction in major. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop an effective intervention program to improve nursing student's ego-resilience, self-efficacy and satisfaction in major of nursing student.
Aptitude ; Employment ; Humans ; Nursing ; Personal Satisfaction ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Efficacy ; Self Report ; Students, Nursing*

OBJECTIVES: Cancer has attracted worldwide attention. The incidence and prevalence are increasing, and it is the main cause of death. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of hospitalized cancer patients. METHODS: This study is a secondary data study using the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey Data conducted annually by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using these data, we extracted inpatients who principal diagnosis is cancer for nine years from 2005 to 2013. RESULTS: According to the analysis, the annual trend of cancer inpatients is steadily increasing. In 2025, it is expected to increase to about 670,000 inpatients. A cancer diagnosis created a change in medical utilization depending on the characteristics of patients and hospital. Men are more at risk of cancer than women. The number of hospital beds and hospital days were inversely proportional to cancer inpatients. There was also a difference in the equity of medical utilization by region. Other cancer management policies should be based on sex. CONCLUSION: Populations between the ages of 45 and 64 years should be a priority in cancer policy. Because of the long-term hospitalization of patients with death as the outcome, a terminal cancer patient care facility is needed. These conclusions can provide a basis for various health policies.
Cause of Death ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Health Policy ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients* ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mortality ; Patient Care ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the stages of exercise behaviors changes of low back pain patients. METHODS: The participants in this study were 220 low back pain patients who have been treated by therapeutic exercise or had the exercise treatment under the doctor's advice. The tools used for this study were the stages of exercise behavior change, intrinsic motivation questionnaires, and physical activity social support scale (PASS). RESULTS: The group that did exercise (preparation stage, maintenance stage, action stage) was 75.9% but the group that did not exercise (precontemplation stage, contemplation stage) was 24.1%. Social supports from family members and friends and motivation affected the exercise behaviors changes. And 34.6% of the exercise behavior change can be explained by the social support (family, friend) and motivation. CONCLUSION: There were two recommendations for maintaining the exercise behaviors of low back pain patients based on theoretical background. First, we recommended more exercise programs which reinforce social supports from family and friend for constant exercise behaviors of low back pain patients. Second, more exercise programs for the low back pain patients who have similar health goals or problems were needed for motivating them to join the exercise programs.
Friends ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Motivation ; Motor Activity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Platelet antigen and antibody tests have been used in platelet immunological disorders, such as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) and post-transfusion purpura (PTP). Mixed passive hemagglutination (MPHA) method has several advantages, including frozen preservation of platelets, ability to differentiate between anti-HLA and platelet-specific antibodies, and quick and easy interpretation without expensive equipment. In this study, we intended to develop the MPHA method using indicator cells of anti-Rh(D) sensitized group O, Rh+ RBCs. METHODS: We made indicator cells sensitized with anti-Rh(D) with various strengths (1:32 to 1:256) and determined the optimal strength. We determined the sensitivity of the MPHA and compared the results using flow cytometry. We observed the changes of the reaction according to the storage time of indicator cells. RESULTS: The optimal sensitization strengths of the indicator cells were 1:192 and 1:256. MPHA showed strong positive results with 1:8,192 diluted positive control, while the detection limit of flow cytometry was 1:128. Until the second week (mean 16 days), the indicator cells showed good results comparable to those of fresh ones. CONCLUSION: We developed the MPHA method using indicator cells of anti-Rh(D) sensitized group O, Rh+ RBCs. We produced the indicator cells in our own laboratory and obtained platelet panels with rare antigen typing using frozen-stored platelets. This technology will be used effectively for detection of platelet antigens and identification of platelet antibodies and also for platelet crossmatching.
Antibodies ; Blood Platelets* ; Flow Cytometry ; Hemagglutination* ; Limit of Detection ; Purpura ; Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune

BACKGROUND: The serologic tests for syphilis infection have been performed manually, but the procedures are time-consuming and interpretations may be subjective. Recently, automated assays were developed for rapid and efficient testing for syphilis infection. In this study, we evaluated the performances of IMMUNOTICLES Auto3 RPR and Auto3TP (A&T Corporation, Japan) using latex agglutination turbidimetry method. METHODS: Using 236 serum samples referred for syphilis at Ewha Womans University, Mokdong Hospital, between March 2004 and April 2007, we evaluated precision, linearity, detection limit and compared with the results of manual serologic tests, RPR (RPR card test, ASAN Pharmaceutical, Korea) and TPHA (ASAN-TPHA, ASAN Pharmaceutical). RESULTS: The within-run and between day precisions of Auto3RPR and Auto3TP were from 2.1% to 4.8%. The linearity was good up to 5.0 RU for Auto3RPR and to 250 TU for Auto3TP. Agreement of Auto3RPR with RPR was 65.7% (155/236) and 32.6% of patients (77/236) were RPR positive and Auto3RPR negative. RPR titers were less than 1:8 in 99% of these discrepant samples (76/77) and 65% (50/77) were latent infection and the others were false positive (32%, 27/77). Agreement of Auto3TP with TPHA was 97.1%. CONCLUSIONS: IMMUNOTICLES Auto3RPR and Auto3TP may be useful for rapid and efficient testing for syphilis. However, discrepant results were present in patients with low titer RPR positivity and method of reporting shoud be considered in individual clinical situation. In addition, linear range was not wide and further study is needed for reporting of quantitative results.
Agglutination ; Automation ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Female ; Humans ; Latex ; Limit of Detection ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*

This case report describes the immediate loading of narrow diameter implants in the mandibular incisor area using full-digital flow. The 3-dimensional position of the implants was planned using digital software, and the corresponding surgical template was fabricated. The implants were inserted immediately after extraction and on the same day, the interim abutment and bridge were placed. At 8 weeks after surgery, the stability of the implants was measured and a digital impression was made using a scan body. Customized titanium abutments and a cementtype full zirconia bridge were delivered. At 36 weeks’ follow-up, no clinical or radiographic complications were detected, and the patient was satisfied with the results.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the level of professional self-concept, self-efficacy and job satisfaction among nurses who work at hemodialysis units. METHODS: With convenience sampling, 128 nurses working at hemodialysis settings in Chungcheong Province were participated in this study. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 14.0 with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The mean scores were 2.68 for professional self-concept, 3.65 for self efficacy and 3.14 for job satisfaction. There were significant differences in professional self-concept according to age, religion, position and clinical experience. There was statistically significant difference in self-efficacy according to age. Also, there was statistically significant difference in job satisfaction according to age, marital status, hospital type, position, clinical experience, and the number of patients per nurse. Job satisfaction was positively correlated with professional self-concept and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: These findings provided that interventions to enhance professional self-concept as well as the strategies to improve self-efficacy are very important.
Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Marital Status ; Renal Dialysis ; Self Efficacy

BACKGROUND: Protein S deficiency is a common cause of thrombophilia. Free protein S has been suggested as one of the best screening tests for this deficiency. We evaluated an immunoturbidimetric free protein S reagent, INNOVANCE Free Protein S Antigen (Free PS Ag; Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Germany), using a CS-5100 coagulation analyzer (Sysmex, Japan). METHODS: The performance of INNOVANCE Free PS Ag was evaluated according to the CLSI guidelines. Precision, linearity, and verification of reference intervals were examined. The INNOVANCE Free PS Ag was also compared by the STA-Liatest Free Protein S immunoturbidimetric assay (Diagnostica Stago, France). RESULTS: The repeatability and within-laboratory imprecision of INNOVANCE Free PS Ag were 0.8% CV and 2.0% CV at the normal level, and 1.3% CV and 2.3% CV at the abnormally low level, respectively. This assay showed linearity from 4.0% to 151.9% (correlation coefficient r=1, P < 0.0001). Reference intervals for males and females were verified as acceptable. INNOVANCE Free PS Ag was comparable with STA-Liatest Free Protein S with a very high correlation (r=0.935, P < 0.0001). The results for the INNOVANCE antigen were higher. CONCLUSIONS: The INNOVANCE Free PS Ag on a Sysmex CS-5100 coagulation analyzer has excellent analytical performance and is comparable with the STA-Liatest Free Protein S assay.
Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Protein S Deficiency ; Protein S* ; Thrombophilia

Awareness during general anesthesia occurs in approximately 0.1–0.2% of cases; nevertheless, particular attention is required because it can lead to critical complications including insomnia, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To prevent these complications, bispectral index (BIS) and end-tidal anesthetic gas (ETAG) concentration monitoring are commonly used to examine patient consciousness during surgery. In the present case, an 80-year-old man was scheduled for total gastrectomy. Anesthesia was maintained using desflurane 4.0–5.0% vol, oxygen, and nitrous oxide. The authors simultaneously monitored BIS, which was maintained between 37 and 43, and ETAG, which was maintained between 0.9 and 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). After the operation, however, the authors were surprised to learn that the patient complained of awareness during anesthesia. Although BIS and ETAG concentration monitoring are useful in preventing awareness during anesthesia, they cannot be completely trusted. Even though BIS was maintained at approximately 40 and ETAG at 0.7–1.3 MAC, awareness during anesthesia occurred.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety ; Consciousness ; Consciousness Monitors ; Depression ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Intraoperative Awareness ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic