PURPOSE: This cross-sectional survey research was undertaken to identify the factors influencing time from onset to hospital arrival of stroke patients and to provide basic information for the development of intervention programs for stroke patients. METHODS: The data were collected using a convenient sampling method from three hospitals in Inchon. The subjects were 78 patients who were diagnosed as stroke by doctor and they voluntarily participated in the study. RESULTS: On the average, subjects arrived at the hospitals by 16.72 hours after the onset of stroke events with the range from 0.17 hours to 72 hours. Thirty-four(43.6%) subjects arrived within 3 hours which can maximize treatment effects. There was significant difference in hospital presentation time according to the level of knowledge(chi-square=18.629, p=.0003). A negative correlation was found between the hospital presentation time and self-efficacy (r= -.320, p=.004). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor was self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, the level of knowledge and physical symptoms were significant factors and accounted for 21.7% of the variance of hospital presentation time in stroke patients. CONCLUSION: According to the results, self-efficacy is a useful concept for reducing the hospital presentation time from onset of attack in stroke patients. Therefore, nurses should consider educational programs which include not only a knowledge of stroke and recurrence prevention but also the concept of self-efficacy.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Incheon ; Recurrence ; Stroke*

To analyzed the progression of white matter maturation and white matter pathology, MR imaging of the brain was obtained in 38 children with delayed development. Children with developmental delay showed a high incidence of MR abnormalities(34/38, 89.5%). Delayed pattern of myelination and gray-white matter differentiation was seen in 13 patients. Twenty-two patients had white matter patholgy, including 14 with white matter hypoplasia, seven with focal small infarction, five with periventricular leukomalacia, and three with high signal intensities on T2 weighted image. Associated structural abnormalities were also evaluated. The most common lesions in decreasing frequency were cerebral atrophy and dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, pachygyria and/or polymicrogyria, porencephalic cyst and Leigh's disease. Twenty-three of 34 children had multiple abnormalities on MRI. The MRI was useful in depicting the progression of myelination and other white matter lesions, and serial follow-up MR is recommended for patients with delayed or lack of myelination and gray-white matter differentiation.
Abnormalities, Multiple ; Atrophy ; Brain* ; Child* ; Corpus Callosum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infarction ; Leigh Disease ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Lissencephaly ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myelin Sheath ; Pathology ; Polymicrogyria ; White Matter*

The purpose of this study was to analyse the various patterns of calcification demonstrated in the anteriorand lateral neck roentgenograms of 213 unselected patients with thyroid enlargement. The patterns of thyroidcalcifications were correlated with clinical, surgical and histological findings. The results were as follows: 1.Of 213 cases of thyroid enlargement, 180 cases were benign and 168 cases were female. 2. The calcification ratewas high in the chronic thyroid enlargement. 3. The incidence of calcification was 30.2% in the malignancy and17.2% in the benign disease. There was no clacification in the Hashimoto's disease. 4. The nodular calcificationwas demonstrated in the both benign and malignant disease but curvilinear calcifiation was predominantly seen inbenign disease.
Female ; Hashimoto Disease ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neck ; Thyroid Gland

Since early 1980's high resolution CT has been used for detection of intrathoracic pathologic condition suchas superior vena cava syndrome. Authors retrospectively analysed CT findings of 18 cases of proven SVC syndrme.The results were as follows: 1. The mean age was 50-year-old, and 14 cases were male. 2. Of 18 cases of SVCsyndrome, 8 cases had confirmed to be lung cancers, malignant thymoma and teratoma were respectively each 2 cases,and malignant lymphoma, mediastinal abscess, thyroid adenoma and metastatic tumor were 1 case. 3. CT findings wereA. Abnormal SVC consisited of compression with displacement(44.4%), intarluminal thrombus(27.8%), andencasement(27.8%). B. The collateral pathways were the azygos-hemiazygos(88.8%), vertebral(50%), internalmammary(44.4%), and lateral thoracic route(33.3%).
Abscess ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome ; Teratoma ; Thymoma ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Vena Cava, Superior

In view of the problems with infection, traditional orthopedic teaching has held that the use of metalic fixation in open fractures is contraindicated. But the bone shortening and internal fixation of amputated limb is a principle for replantation. The authors experienced 23 patients of replanted limbs including femur, tibia, humerus, radius and ulnar among total 142 replantations and also analysed them in the respect of the relationship among soft tissue injury, fixatives, bone union and infection rate from February, 1975 to July, 1981 in this department. The rate of delayed union, nonunion and infection were 22.6%, 6.5% and 25.8% respectively. It seems that the union process of bone in replanted limbs is similar to that of the open fracture and also rigid internal fixation is the most useful for bony union.
Extremities ; Femur ; Fixatives ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Humerus ; Orthopedics ; Radius ; Replantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tibia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop visions of nursing service, nursing strategies and key performance indicators (KPIs) for an intensive care unit (ICU) based on a Balanced Scorecard (BSC). METHODS: This study was undertaken by using methodological research. The development process consisted of four phases; the first phase was to develop the vision of nursing in ICUs. The second phase was to develop strategies according to 4 perspectives of a BSC. The third phase was to develop KPIs according to the 4 perspectives of BSC and the final phase was to combine the nursing visions, strategies and KPIs of ICUs. RESULTS: Two main visions of nursing service for ICUs were established. These were 'realization of harmonized professional nursing with human respect' and 'recovery of health through specialized nursing' respectively. In order to reach the aim of developing nursing visions, thirteen practical strategies and nineteen KPIs were developed by four perspectives of the BSC. CONCLUSION: The results will be used as objective fundamental data to attain business outcomes for the achievement of nursing visions and strategies of ICUs.
Adult ; *Employee Performance Appraisal ; Female ; Humans ; *Intensive Care Units ; Interviews as Topic ; Middle Aged ; Models, Nursing ; Nurse Administrators/*organization & administration ; Nursing Process/*standards ; Program Development ; Quality Indicators, Health Care ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the change of stress and nursing needs in preterm labor women after hospitalization. METHOD: Forty seven women with preterm labor who were admitted in two university hospitals participated in the survey and they were completed the questionnaires on admission day and 5thday after admission. Questionnaires included in modified Antepartum Hospital Stressor Inventory (AHSI) and Nursing Needs for Preterm Labor. The collected data were analyzed by paired t-test and Pearson correlation test. RESULT: The stress level was not decreased significantly after hospitalization. Among them, the stresses about fetus and medical staff were decreased significantly after hospitalization, but those about pregnant women, husband and environment were increased significantly after hospitalization. The difference in the level of nursing needs between the two different days was not significant except the physical needs. The total level of stress and nursing needs were correlated significantly on the 5th day after hospitalization. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that stress and nursing needs of preterm labor women undergo changes after hospitalization. Therefore, development of the program being followed by stressors which change from day to day and further studies are required in order to examine the decreasing of the stress.
Female ; Fetus ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Spouses

No abstract available.
Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atrial fibrillation(AF) is the most frequently encountered arrhythmia in clinical practice. Pharmacologic therapy has been advocated for both immediate restoration of sinus rhythm and prevention of recurrent AF. Because conventional antiarrhythmic therapy is often ineffective in maintaining sinus rhythm or is associated with adverse side effects in patients with AF, recent interest has focused on the use of class III antiarrhythmic agents. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of sotalol and amiodarone for conversion of chronic AF and prevention of recurrent AF. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty six patients with AF were firstly received sotalol by prospective study protocol. The patients were classified as having paroxysmal AF(PAF, N=2) or chronic AF(CAF, N=4) based on AF pattern. If the patients with CAF did not convert to sinus rhythm or the patients with PAF recurred in AF, the patients were received second agents(amiodarone). Patients were followed up for one year. RESULTS: Among the 12 patients with PAF receiving sotalol, 10(83.3%) patients remained in normal sinus rhythm for average 9.4+/-3.6 months. Sotalol was replaced by amiodarone in the remaing 2 patients with arrhythmia recurrence and 1 of the 2 patients remained in sinus rhythm during the follow-up period. In the case of 24 patients with CAF, conversion to sinus rhythm was achieved in 5(20.8%) patients with sotalol. Among the patients with CAF who were not respond to sotalol, 17 patients received amiodarone subsquently and 3 patients successfully converted to sinus rhythm. There were no proarrhythmic effects related to both agents during the study period. CONCLUSION: Both sotalol and amiodarone appear to be less effective in the termination of CAF, but sequential use of these two agents seem to be very effective for the prevention of recurrence of PAF.
Amiodarone* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Sotalol*

Background: This study investigated the effect of intrathecal Sec-O-glucosylhamaudol (SOG) on the p38/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-related inflammatory responses, and autophagy in a spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced neuropathic pain model. Methods: The continuous administration of intrathecal SOG via an osmotic pump was performed on male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 50) with SNL-induced neuropathic pain. Rats were randomized into four groups after the 7th day following SNL and treated for 2 weeks as follows (each n = 10): Group S, sham-operated; Group D, 70% dimethylsulfoxide; Group SOG96, SOG at 96 μg/day; and Group SOG192, SOG at 192 μg/day. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) test was performed to assess neuropathic pain. Western blotting of the spinal cord (L5) was performed to measure changes in the expression of signaling pathway components, cytokines, and autophagy. Additional studies with naloxone challenge (n = 10) and cells were carried out to evaluate the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of SOG. Results: Continuous intrathecal SOG administration increased the PWT with p38/JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition, which induced a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines with the concomitant downregulation of autophagy. Conclusions SOG alleviates mechanical allodynia, and its mechanism is thought to be related to the regulation of p38/JNK MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, associated with autophagy during neuroinflammatory processes after SNL.