PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify influencing factors on service quality provided by care helpers working for the elderly in long term care. METHODS: The data were collected using self-reported questionnaire from 221 care helpers working in long-term care facility or home care service center. The data were analyzed using multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in service quality depending on the health status, intimacy level, pleasure level, job education, and turnover intention. Factors influencing service quality were gender, intimacy level with elderly, type of working place and job satisfaction with R2 value of 17.3%. The most influencing factor was intimacy level (beta=.249), followed by job satisfaction (beta=.208), gender (beta=.170), and type of working place (beta=.146). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the effort to improve the service quality of care helper should be focused on helping intimacy building between the elderly and the care helper. Also, a more effective way to improve service quality would be intervening for care helpers providing institutional care.
Aged ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Intention ; Job Satisfaction ; Long-Term Care ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pleasure ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify influencing factors on service quality provided by care helpers working for the elderly in long term care. METHODS: The data were collected using self-reported questionnaire from 221 care helpers working in long-term care facility or home care service center. The data were analyzed using multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in service quality depending on the health status, intimacy level, pleasure level, job education, and turnover intention. Factors influencing service quality were gender, intimacy level with elderly, type of working place and job satisfaction with R2 value of 17.3%. The most influencing factor was intimacy level (beta=.249), followed by job satisfaction (beta=.208), gender (beta=.170), and type of working place (beta=.146). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the effort to improve the service quality of care helper should be focused on helping intimacy building between the elderly and the care helper. Also, a more effective way to improve service quality would be intervening for care helpers providing institutional care.
Aged ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Intention ; Job Satisfaction ; Long-Term Care ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pleasure ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Recently, the molecular pathologic investigation for clonality in lymphomas has been introduced and has gained a role in the diagnosis of lymphomas. In fact, the clonality test using TCRGR phenomenon has been done by Southern blot analysis (SBA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for molecular pathologic diagnosis of T cell lymphomas. However, it is difficult to perform SBA with paraffin embedded specimens or with samples of small skin biopsies. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy of PCR amplification of TCR gene in paraffin em-bedded cutaneous T cell lymphomas. METHODS: Iii this study, the clonality was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of T cell receptor gamma (TCR) gene from the DNA extracts obtained from paraffin em-bedded tissues (PET) of malignant T cells, B cell lymphomas, and benign cutaneous T cell proliferative disorders. Heteroduple-x-analyses were also performed to rule out the false positives. RESULTS: Among the total of 62 cases analyzed, monoclonality was observed in 4 out of 10 mycosis fungoides, 7 out of 9 cutaneous T cell lymphomas excluding mycosis fungoides, 1 out of 3 angiocentric lymphomas, 2 out of 2 lymphomatosis papulosis, 1 out of 7 large plaque parapsoriasis, and 1 out of 2 T cell lymphomas in other organs. No monoclonality was observed in 9 inflammatory cutaneous diseases, 5 small plaque parapsoriasis, 4 cutaneous B cell lymphomas, and 11 B cell lymphomas in lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the PCR method and heteroduplex analysis used in this study were not only practical but also efficacious for the diagnosis of cutaneous T cell lymphomas using tissues embedded in paraffins.
Biopsy ; Blotting, Southern ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Gene Rearrangement* ; Genes, T-Cell Receptor ; Heteroduplex Analysis* ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Paraffin ; Parapsoriasis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell* ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

Total ankle arthroplasty has become a viable motion-preserving alternative to ankle arthrodesis, especially in the last two decades. Recent improvements have been achieved in the strength of implant design and surgical technique. Nevertheless, addressing preoperative deformities is essential for successful outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty. Residual malalignment can produce instability and edge loading, causing acceleration of polyethylene wear, followed by osteolysis and an increased risk of revision surgery. Therefore, the accompanying deformities and their correction techniques need to be comprehensively elucidated and understood. In this article, we provide a review of the application of total ankle arthroplasty in arthritis with coronal plane varus and valgus deformities.

No abstract available.
Lymphangioma* ; Mediastinal Cyst*

BACKGROUND: Melanocytes grown in pure monolayer culure lack many of the cellular interactions that exist in vivo. This can be partially overcome by growing melanocytes together with other epidermal cells in skin equivalent models. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to grow human melanocytes in human epidermis reconstructed on dermal substrates in vitro and to examine their response to UV radiation. METHODS: The skin equivalents were prepared by seeding cultured human keratinocytes together with cultured human melanocytes(in a ratio of 5%) onto de-epidermized dermis. After 7 days of culture, they were exposed to UVB irradiation(total 150m J/cm over 5days). On day 12 of air exposure the sections of the skin equivalents were prepared for histology. The structure of the skin equivalents was studied following staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Melanocytes were characterized by DOPA staining and by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Melanocytes were localized singly within the basal layer of the reconstructs. Melanin was also visible both in the melanocytes and in neighboring keratinocytes. There was an increase in melanocyte size and dendricity following UV irradiation. Melanocytes became positive to staining with HMB-45 antibody following UV irradiation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that melanocytes grown in reconstructed human epidermis are functional and capable of responding to UV irradiation.
Dermis ; Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epidermis* ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Skin

PURPOSE: Many doctors have difficulty in deciding the treatment duration in trauma patients to write in the casualty medical certificate. We tried to find a solution for this problem by using abbreviated injury scale (AIS). METHODS: A total of 39 patients treated in our regional trauma center who requested an author to write treatment duration on casualty medical certificate from January 2014 to April 2017 were included. And the treatment duration was decided based on the PARK Formula (AIS). PARK Formula (AIS)=(AIS×2) ~ ([AIS×2]+2) RESULTS: Among 39 patients included and 36 (92.3%) had treatment duration on casualty medical certificate within the range of treatment duration calculated by PARK Formula (AIS). Compared to the PARK Formula (AIS), the mean value was 0.13 week (0.90 day) smaller. Comparing the treatment duration between Korean Medical Association (KMA) guideline and PARK Formula (AIS), only 22 patients (56.4%) showed agreement. The mean value was 1.02 week (7.18 days) smaller in KMA guideline. CONCLUSIONS For the decision of the treatment duration in trauma patients, utilizing worldwide used AIS scoring system is very efficient. Using PARK Formula (AIS), doctors can document the treatment duration in the casualty medical certificate with ease. KMA should provide more practical ‘treatment duration of each diagnosis in writing casualty medial certificate’ for the doctors. We recommend PARK Formula (AIS) as a good alternative for KMA guide.

Recently, devices using radiofrequency energy have been developed for arthroscopic soft tissue ablation and shrinkage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of radiofrequency energy on the biomechanical competence of thermal shrinkage of anterior cruciate ligament and was to demonstrate a new approach for radiofrequency energy, applying to ligamentous tissue in a dynamic fashion. Twelve New Zealand White rabbits, were divided into two experimental groups by right and left hindlimbs. Thermal shrinkage of the anterior cruciate ligament of rabbits produced using radiofrequency energy generator(N=12, group I). And untreated control group(N=12, group II). The percent shrinkage was calculated from the change of length of anterior cruciate ligament after radiofrequency energyinduced thermal shrinkage. The maximal tensile stress and linear stiffness of anterior cruciate ligament as biomechanical competence were assessed. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In the group I the percentage of shrinkage was 29.50Fo on the average. 2. The average of maximal tensile stress to failure was 271.24 kN in group I and 283.50 kN in group II. There was no significant difference(p=0.24) in the maximal tensile stress between two groups. 3. The average of linear stiffness in group I(179.16kN/mm) was higher than that of group II(148.20kN/mm). But there was no significant difference(p=0.078) between two groups. This study shows that radiofrequency energy appears to be safe to use on therma1 shrinkage of anterior cruciate ligament, which necessitate a mechanical tensile strength.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Hindlimb ; Ligaments ; Mental Competency ; Rabbits ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility of microporous, spherical biphasic calcium phosphate(BCP) ceramics with a 60/40 hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate weight ratio for application as a bone graft substitute. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microporous, spherical BCP granules(MGSB) were prepared and their basic characteristics were compared with commercially available BCP(MBCP; Biomatlante, France) and deproteinized bovine bone mineral(Bio-Oss; Geistlich-Pharma, Switzerland, BBP; Oscotec, Korea). Their physicochemical properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Cell viability and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells on different graft materials were evaluated. RESULTS: MGSB granules showed a chemical composition and crystallinity similar with those in MBCP, they showed surface structure characteristic of three dimensionally, well-interconnected micropores. The results of MTT assay showed increases in cell viablity with increasing incubation times. At 4d of incubation, MGSB, MBCP and BBP showed similar values in optical density, but Bio-Oss exhibited significantly lower optical density compared to other bone substitutes(p < 0.05). MGSB showed significantly greater cell number compared to other bone substitutes at 3, 5, and 7d of incubation(p < 0.05), which were similar with those in polystyrene culture plates. CONCLUSION: These results indicated the suitable physicochemical properties of MGSB granules for application as an effective bone graft substitute, which provided compatible environment for osteoblast cell growth. However, further detailed studies are needed to confirm its biological effects on bone formation in vivo.
Bone Substitutes ; Calcium* ; Cell Count ; Cell Survival ; Ceramics* ; Crystallins ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Plasma ; Polystyrenes ; Spectrum Analysis ; Switzerland ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Titanium*