No abstract available.
Twins, Conjoined*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence the clinical practice of nursing students and to identify the mediating effects of spiritual well-being in the relation between stress of clinical practice and burnout caused by clinical practice. METHODS: Data were collected by self-report questionnaires targeting 420 nursing students in three nursing colleges located in Gyeonggi and Chungnam province. RESULTS: Burnout of clinical practice according to general characteristics of the study subjects showed significant difference in religion (t=1.895, p=.049). Stress of clinical practice and burnout of clinical practice showed positive correlation (r=.42, p<.001), existential spiritual well-being showed negative correlation between stress of clinical practice (r=-.17, p<.001) and burnout of clinical practice (r=-.47, p<.001). In addition, religious spiritual well-being in spiritual well-being showed no mediating effects and existential spiritual well-being showed mediating effects between burnout in clinical practice stress. CONCLUSION: In order to alleviate the stress of clinical practice for burnout of clinical practice prevention of nursing students, solutions to improve the existential spiritual well-being will be required in the future.
Burnout, Professional ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Negotiating* ; Nursing* ; Spirituality ; Stress, Psychological ; Students, Nursing*

3T3-L1 adipocytes express the B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) and three different BAFF receptors (BAFF-Rs). Furthermore, BAFF expression is regulated by inflammatory modulators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and rosiglitazone. Here we investigated the function of BAFF in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages. We examined adipokine expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with 10 ng ml-1 BAFF. We also examined inflammatory molecule expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages treated with 10 or 100 ng ml-1 BAFF. We examined BAFF expression in the coculture of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages, as well as in white adipose tissue (WAT) of diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. We found that BAFF decreases leptin and adiponectin expression, but increases the expression of proinflammatory adipokines monocyte chemotactic protein-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and haptoglobin. Coculturing the two cell types resulted in increased BAFF mRNA and protein expression, as well as modulation of BAFF-R mRNA expression in both cell types. These data indicate that BAFF might mediate adipocyte and macrophage interaction. When RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with BAFF, BAFF-R expression was modulated as in coculture, and nitric oxide synthase and IL-6 expression increased. BAFF expression also increased in WAT of DIO mice. We propose that BAFF can regulate adipokine expression and possibly mediate adipocyte and macrophage interaction.
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes/drug effects/*metabolism ; Adipokines/genetics/*metabolism ; Adiponectin/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; B-Cell Activating Factor/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Chemokine CCL2/genetics/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Haptoglobins/genetics/metabolism ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Interleukin-6/genetics/metabolism ; Leptin/genetics/metabolism ; Macrophages/drug effects/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Obese ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism

Anaphylaxis is a life - threatening syndrome elicited in a hypersensitive individual on subsequent exposure to a sensitizing antigen with, reactions ranging widely in severity from mild pruritus and criteria to shock and death. Anaphylaxis occurs in the United States at rates estimated to be as high as one in every 3000 inpatients and may account for more than 500 deaths annually. Preparations of kelp Laminaria digitata are used as tents in gynecologic procedures to dilate the cervix, and the kelp consists principally of a glucagon carbohydrate called laminarin. Laminarin is thought to function as the active ingredient in dilatation by changing osmotic pressure or uterine prostaglandin metabolism. The tent is inserted into the cervix several hours before the procedure. As the cervix desiccates and dilates, the tent develops an hourglass shape. Recently, we experienced one patient with anaphylaxis to laminaria diagnosed by skin test and showing good response to treatment.
Anaphylaxis* ; Cervix Uteri ; Dilatation ; Female ; Glucagon ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Kelp ; Laminaria* ; Metabolism ; Osmotic Pressure ; Pruritus ; Shock ; Skin Tests ; United States

Benign solitary schwannoma of the chest wall is a rare disease of nerve sheath origin A 43-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital for right upper quandrant pain Chest X-ray shows nonspecific finding, ultrasonography & CT scan revealed a solid tumor on the right lateral chest wall. On aspiration needle biopsy, this mass was turned out to be a schwannoma of the right lateral chest wall. This mass was excised surgically in an encapsulated state by right lateral thoracotomy. Histological section revealed a typical schwannoma, which is characterized by Antoni A and Antoni B tissues of high & low cellularity.
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Neurilemmoma* ; Rare Diseases ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Background: Recent studies have shown that oral administration of probiotics may improve the immune imbalance caused by dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in atopic dermatitis (AD). This study aimed to investigate the clinical and immunological effects of Lactobacillus pentosus in children with mild to moderate AD. Methods: Children aged 2–13 years with AD were randomized to receive either 1.0 × 1010 colony-forming units of L. pentosus or placebo, daily, for 12 weeks. The clinical severity of AD and transepidermal water loss were evaluated. Blood eosinophil counts, serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and cytokine levels were measured. The diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were also analyzed. Results: Eighty-two children were recruited, and 41 were assigned to the probiotics intervention group. The mean scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) indices at baseline were 30.4 and 34.3 for the probiotics and placebo groups, respectively. At week 12, the mean indices were 23.6 and 23.1 for the probiotics and placebo groups, respectively. Clinical severity decreased significantly over time in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups. In both groups, there were no significant differences in cytokine levels, microbial diversity, or the relative abundance of the gut microbiota at week 12 compared with the corresponding baseline values. The mean subjective scores of SCORAD indices after intervention for the probiotics group were significantly lower than those for the placebo group in IgE sensitized AD (P = 0.019). Conclusion Our results show improved symptoms in the probiotics and placebo groups, and we could not find additional effects of L. pentosus in AD. However, the mean subjective scores of SCORAD indices for the probiotics group are significantly improved compared with those for the placebo group in allergen-sensitized AD.

PURPOSE: Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that rhinitis and asthma commonly coexist in the same patients and that a temporary relationship exists between the onset of rhinitis and asthma, with rhinitis frequently preceeding the development of asthma. Despite the compelling evidence that rhinitis has a remarkable impact on asthma, it has been controversial how the presence of rhinitis causes asthma to be worsen. We studied to know the effect of coexistence of allergic rhinitis on lower airway eosinophilic inflammation in mild persistent bronchial asthma. METHODS: A total of 129 mild persistent asthmatics were enrolled and divided into three different groups as follows: 37 cases with asthma only; 40 cases with mild allergic rhinitis; and 52 cases with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Methacholine challage test and sputum induction were performed and sputum ECP, sputum eosinophils and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) were compared in each group. RESULTS: In mild asthmatics with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis, the BHR to methacholine increased compared to those with mild or no allergic rhinitis. Eosinophils and ECP in induced sputum were significantly higher in more severe allergic rhinitis groups. We also found a significant correlation between BR index and sputum eosinophils. (gamma=0.578, P< 0.05) CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that the severity of allergic rhinitis was related to lower airway eosinophilic inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in mild persistent asthmatics with allergic rhinitis.
Asthma* ; Child ; Eosinophils* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Respiratory System ; Rhinitis* ; Sputum

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis*

The objectives of this study are to investigate the prevalence of occupation related carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) among workers in a condom industry; to analyse the sensitivity and specificity of clinical signs or symptoms such as hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign in carpal tunnel syndrome; and to test vibration threshold test using audiometry as a technically easy and noninvasive method in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in stead of nerve conduction velocity(NCV). The study group was divided into exposed group(39 cases)and non-exposed group(48 cases) based on whether or not excessive use of wrist movements exist. 1. There are statistically significant differences in symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome such as hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign between exposed and non-exposed group(p<0.05). 2. Six cases(9 hands) were confirmed as carpal tunnel syndrome by NCV. Five cases(7 hands) belonged to exposed group, 1 case(2 hands) to nonexposed group. As there are significant differences in prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome between two groups(p<0.05), excessive use of wrist in occupation is a risk factor of carpal tunnel syndrome. 3. When we use NCV as a gold standard in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, sensitivity and specificity of hand diagram, Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign is as followed; hand diagram; sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 84.2%. Tinel's sign; sensitivity 55.6%, specificity 72.8%. Phalen's sign; sensitivity 14.3%, specificity 88.4%. Among above clinical signs and symptoms, hand diagram is the best clinical screening test. 4. The differences of vibration threshold between median and ulnar nerve at the same time are useful in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome but the time change of vibration threshold of median nerve over time are not sensitive enough. It is concluded that vibration threshold between median and ulnar nerve at the same time can be used as a supplementary or alternative criterion to indicate that the nerve dysfunction is located in the carpal tunnel.
Audiometry ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Condoms* ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Mass Screening ; Median Nerve ; Neural Conduction ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ulnar Nerve ; Vibration ; Wrist

PURPOSE: The inverted nipple presents many problems in both cosmetic and functional aspects. The histopathologic features of inverted nipple are that inverted nipple has less fibromuscular tissue than normal nipple, short lactiferous duct and dense fibrous tissue. Many papers have been reported for correction of the inverted nipple, however not many medical literatures has specifically described about traction method. Although traditional traction methods were using half of urine cup or lid of bottle, they were uncomfortable and incapable for wearing brassiere. METHODS: We invented a simple and more natural method using a dome-shape plastic disposable lid of take-out cup. We applied new device for three patients after corrective surgery. RESULTS: For long term follow up, all patients satisfied their postoperative status and they were comportable with the lids. CONCLUSION: This new method is very simple, comfortable, and effective method for traction. It also allows patients to wear the brassiere.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nipples* ; Plastics ; Traction*