PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify the influence of job stress and empowerment on nursing performance of clinical nurses working in small and medium hospital. METHODS: The empirical data were collected from a self-administered survey using a structured questionnaire with 404 nurses working in 4 medium-sized hospitals (less than 300 beds), located in I-city. The data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in nursing performance depending on general characteristics (age, marital status, religion, shift work, education level, position, clinical experience, department, and monthly salary). Empowerment correlated with nursing performance. Factors influencing on nursing performance were empowerment, clinical experience, job stress, and marital status with R2 value of 36.3%. The most influencing factor was empowerment (beta=.47), followed by clinical experience (beta=.24), job stress (beta=.20), and marriage (beta=.12). CONCLUSION: It is needed to implement specific empowerment strategy, control job stress, and reward experienced and married nurses working in medium-sized hospital for improving nursing task performance.
Marital Status ; Marriage ; Power (Psychology) ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reward ; Task Performance and Analysis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of self-esteem improvement program on self-esteem, depression, and interpersonal relationship in chronic schizophrenia patients living in the community. METHODS: The research design was a non-equivalent pre and post control group design. One of two community mental health centers was randomly assigned to receive the intervention and the other served as a control. Eight patients in the intervention group and ten in the control group participated. For the intervention group, the self-esteem improvement program was provided in 60-minute session once a week for 12-weeks. Measurements were Korean version of self-esteem scale (SES-K), Korean version of beck depression inventory (BDI-K), and Korean version of interpersonal relationships (IR-K). RESULTS: The only statistically significant difference between the experimental and control group was for interpersonal relationships. For the experimental group, there were statistically significant differences in self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that this type of program has a positive effect on self-esteem and interpersonal relationships and can be a feasible type of intervention program for community dwelling patients with chronic schizophrenia.
Community Mental Health Centers ; Depression* ; Humans ; Research Design ; Schizophrenia*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of food habits on blood components level(blood glucose, uric acid, hemoglobin, some lipids levels) and health condition in Taejon. The study was conducted with 250 subjects (male 130, female120) who cisited in a general hospital from May to June in 1997. Questionaires were used for food habits. The data were analyzed by using chi-square-test, t-test, ANOVA and multiple range test. Reuults were summerized s follow ; mean of Broca Index were 110.0+/-13.7% in male, 110.6+/-16.6% in female. Mean values of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were 130.9+/-17.6mmHg, 76.2+/-12.6mmHg, respectively. The systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in man than woman, Mean serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were 202.8+/-0.2, 121.1+/-5.5, 50.3+/-2.9, 157.1+/-12.6mg/dl, repectively. Triglyceride level was significantly higher in man than woman. But HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in man than woman. And also, the value of LPH and AI were higher in man. So Man has more risk of atherogenesis than woman. Mean values of blood sugar, uric acid and hemoglobin was 102.7+/-.36mg/dl and 14.1+/-.56g/dl were higher in man than woman except blood sugar. Food habit of woman were better than it of man. The levels of education and income did not affect to food habit score. The most problem of habits were intake od salty food and lack of exercise. The intake of nutrients were higher as food habit score was higher. Intakes of energy, Ca, vitamin A and vitamin B1 were lower htan RDa's of nutrients in bad food habit group. This result did not show that blood components level and health condition were significantly different by food habits. But Broca Index and triglyceride levels were higher in bad food habit group than other groups, but not statistically significant. By this result, it is more needed food habit education to man and yong people. The education of food habits will include the real methods of weight control, low intak of salt and exercise to bad food habit group.
Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Daejeon ; Education ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Glucose ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Thiamine ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin A

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Maxillary Sinusitis*

We report an unusual case of ectopic pancreas that appeared on radiologic images as a lobulated, submucosal mass enclosed by fat component in the gastric lower body. Although, ectopic pancreas including fat component is extremely rare, in the setting of gastric submucosal mass with containing perilesional fat, these findings should be considered in ectopic pancreas as part of the differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Pancreas ; Stomach

Primary aldosteronism is characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, low plasma renin activity, elevated plasma aldosterone level and can be suspected in the patients with hypertension and unexplained hypokalemia. Small adrenal cortical adenomas are responsible for this syndrome in most cases. The incidence of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis ranges from 1.9 to 6.2 % in Japan. Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis usually subsides following treatment of hyperthyroidism and has good prognosis. A 56 year-old man presented with hyperthyroidism, hypertension and recurrent hypokalemia. During the treatment of hyperthyroidism, he repeatedly experienced weakness of both lower extremities. Hormonal evaluation was performed and he was found to have a 2*2*1.5 cm sized right adrenal tumor by abdominal computerized topography(CT). After right adrenalectomy, hypokalemic periodic paralysis was improved. Both thyroid and adrenal function should be comprehensively investigated in periodic paralysis. In conclusion, physicians must be aware of the possibility of primary aldosteronism in hyperthyroid patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis. We report a case of aldosteronoma complicated with hyperthyroidism and literatures are reviewed.
Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; Aldosterone ; Alkalosis ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Hypokalemia ; Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis ; Incidence ; Japan ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Paralysis ; Plasma ; Prognosis ; Renin ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: Aspirin(acetylsalicylic acid) has been used to treat unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction in adults and Kawasaki disease in children. The antithrombotic effect of aspirin was attributed to its ability to inhibit platelet aggregation by inhibiting platelet cyclooxygenase, which leads to decreased thromboxane synthesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect on the platelet aggregation by low dose aspirin in Kawasaki patients and to learn the side effects of low-dose aspirin. METHODS: Fifty patients with Kawasaki disease who were treated with low-dose aspirin, and 22 normal children were studied from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1997. The platelet count, bleeding time, clotting time, platelet aggregation test(induced by ADP, epinephrine, collagen and ristocetin) and blood aspirin level by colorimetric method were checked. RESULTS: The platelet count, bleeding time, and clotting time in the patient group were not significantly different from the control group. The mean maximum platelet aggregation was 54.4+/-12.8% induced by ADP, 15.9+/-11.7% by epinephrine, 55.5+/-23.8% by collagen, 52.6+/-32.2% by ristocetin in the patient group. It was significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05). The mean blood aspirin level in the patient group was 5.4+/-3.7mg/dl. Side effects of low-dose aspirin were bruise, epistaxis and hematuria. CONCLUSION: Low-dose aspirin therapy in patients with Kawasaki disease inhibited platelet aggregation, but attention would be needed because of the tendency to bleed in these patients. Further investigations should be focused on the subject such as the onset of the maximal antiplatelet effect and time needed for the recovery of platelet function.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; Adult ; Angina, Unstable ; Aspirin* ; Bleeding Time ; Blood Platelets* ; Child ; Collagen ; Contusions ; Epinephrine ; Epistaxis ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Platelet Aggregation* ; Platelet Count ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Ristocetin

This study was undertaken to investigate the change of ear swelling response (ESR) of the mice according to repetitive ultraviolet radiation. 100mJ/crn of UVB was irradiated daily for 4 weeks, and a total of 25 C57BL mice were used as subjects. The results were as follows : 1. After 1 day, 2 days and 3 days irradiation of UVB, ESR reached 21.3+/-1.5, 22.3+/-1.1 and 24.3+/-1.6 respectively with increasing tendency, but there was no statistical significance (Wilcoxon rank sum test p>0.05). 2. ESR reached at maximum, 78.0+/-1.8, after 1 week(p<0.01), thereafter ESR decreased gradually with reparative process. 3. Inspite of continued irradiation, ESR decreased gradually after 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks irradiation, ESR decreased to 51.6+/-11.8, 45.1+/- 3.3 and 42.8+/-6.8 respectively, but, there were still increment of ESR (p<0.01).
Animals ; Ear* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of Doppler parameters in transplanted kidney function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Doppler parameters, including resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were measured in the interlobar artery of 55 transplant recipients. Patients were grouped according to glomerular filtration rate (GFR): Group A (GFR < 30 ml / min / 1.73 m2, n = 27) and group B (GFR > or = 30 ml / min / 1.73 m2, n = 28). Doppler parameters were compared between groups and correlated with the GFR. RESULTS: GFR (40.1 +/- 26.9) showed a significant negative correlation with RI (0.69 +/- .08) (p = .002, r = -.414). RI (0.72 vs. 0.67), PI (1.42 vs. 1.23), and EDV (10.5 vs. 15.3) differed significantly between groups (p < .05), however, PSV was not (36.9 vs. 47.1). Patients in group A (n = 11) with a lower RI than the mean had significantly lower PSV (31.7 vs. 45.1; p = .027) and EDV (11.1 vs. 16.7; p = .017), compared with such patients in group B (n = 21). CONCLUSIONS: Doppler parameters are useful for evaluation of function of transplanted kidney. Even if the RI is normal, PSV and EDV may be used as hemodynamic indicators.
Arteries ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Transplants