Purpose: Interpersonal competence, a key competence for patient-centered care by nurses, should be understood. Therefore, factors influencing the interpersonal competence of nursing students should be identified to explore and enhance their interpersonal relationships during the undergraduate educational curriculum for nursing educators. In this study factors influencing interpersonal competence, especially on self-assertiveness and empathy in nursing students were identified and analysed. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used for the study in two Korean nursing colleges with similar baccalaureate nursing curricula. A total of 251 nursing students from freshman to senior year completed a questionnaire to measure related factors that were assumed to influence nursing students’ interpersonal competence. Data were collected from October 11~31, 2016. Study variables included self-assertiveness, empathy, interpersonal competence, and socio-demographic status. Multiple regression analysis was used for data analysis. Results: Nursing students’ interpersonal competence was explained by personality (β=.22), self-assertiveness (β=.16) and empathy (β=.38). The explanatory power of these predictors was 26.8% (p<.001). Conclusions Nursing students’ interpersonal competence during the undergraduate nursing years can be enhanced by educational strategies that improve their interpersonal relationship as patient-centered care providers. Simultaneously, the attitude of the nurse educator is also important for nursing students who are to be treated as valuable learners and to improve students' empathy and self-assertiveness ability.

BACKGROUND: Ionotropic glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) type are expressed on keratinocytes and play a role in the proliferation, differentiation, and cornification of keratinocytes. However, the expression profile of NMDAR and its role in cutaneous malignancy is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the expression of NMDAR-1 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and investigated the relationship between NMDAR-1 expression and clinicopathological parameters. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with biopsy-proven cutaneous SCC were enrolled in this study. Each patient was analyzed for tumor diameter, location, local recurrence, and metastasis by conducting a chart review. The SCC specimens were histologically divided into differentiated and undifferentiated groups based on Broders' system. NMDAR-1 expression was examined by performing immunohistochemistry, and the relative staining intensity in the SCCs was graded into 5 levels. According to the staining intensity of NMDAR-1, the specimens were categorized into two groups: the higher group and the lower group. RESULTS: Fifteen (88%) of 17 tumors in the higher group were differentiated SCC, whereas 14 (93%) of 15 tumors in the lower group were undifferentiated SCC. In addition, NMDAR-1 expression was inversely correlated with metastasis (p=0.049). Local recurrence was associated with a lower staining intensity, but the results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that NMDAR-1 expression in cutaneous SCC is significantly correlated with its differentiation and metastasis. Therefore, it may be a prognostic indicator for cutaneous SCC.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate ; Recurrence

Fesoterodine, an antimuscarinic drug, is widely used to treat overactive bladder syndrome. However, there is little information about its effects on vascular K+ channels. In this study, voltage-dependent K+ (Kv) channel inhibition by fesoterodine was investigated using the patch-clamp technique in rabbit coronary artery. In whole-cell patches, the addition of fesoterodine to the bath inhibited the Kv currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 3.19 ± 0.91 μM and a Hill coefficient of 0.56 ± 0.03. Although the drug did not alter the voltage-dependence of steady-state activation, it shifted the steady-state inactivation curve to a more negative potential, suggesting that fesoterodine affects the voltage-sensor of the Kv channel. Inhibition by fesoterodine was significantly enhanced by repetitive train pulses (1 or 2 Hz). Furthermore, it significantly increased the recovery time constant from inactivation, suggesting that the Kv channel inhibition by fesoterodine is use (state)-dependent. Its inhibitory effect disappeared by pretreatment with a Kv 1.5 inhibitor. However, pretreatment with Kv2.1 or Kv7 inhibitors did not affect the inhibitory effects on Kv channels. Based on these results, we conclude that fesoterodine inhibits vascular Kv channels (mainly the Kv1.5 subtype) in a concentration- and use (state)-dependent manner, independent of muscarinic receptor antagonism.

Cerebral intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an extremely rare complication of carotid artery stenting (CAS). Fully dilated terminal arteries of a chronic, severely stenosed proximal artery could be ruptured by impaired autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. Hyperperfusion syndrome can occur even if there is no blood pressure fluctuation during the CAS. We report a case of an isolated IVH that occurred hours after CAS.

Cerebral intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an extremely rare complication of carotid artery stenting (CAS). Fully dilated terminal arteries of a chronic, severely stenosed proximal artery could be ruptured by impaired autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. Hyperperfusion syndrome can occur even if there is no blood pressure fluctuation during the CAS. We report a case of an isolated IVH that occurred hours after CAS.

Sialylated N-glycan isomers with α2-3 or 42-6 linkage(s)have distinctive roles in glycoproteins,but are difficult to distinguish.Wild-type(WT)and glycoengineered(mutant)therapeutic glycoproteins,cyto-toxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4-immunoglobulin(CTLA4-Ig),were produced in Chinese ham-ster ovary cell lines:however,their linkage isomers have not been reported.In this study,N-glycans of CTLA4-Igs were released,labeled with procainamide,and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(MS/MS)to identify and quantify sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers.The linkage isomers were distinguished by comparison of 1)intensity of the N-acetylglucosamine ion to the sialic acid ion(Ln/Nn)using different fragmentation stability in MS/MS spectra and 2)retention time-shift for a selective m/z value in the extracted ion chromatogram.Each isomer was distinctively identified,and each quantity(＞0.1％)was obtained relative to the total N-glycans(100％)for all observed ionization states.Twenty sialylated N-glycan isomers with only α2-3 linkage(s)in WT were identified,and each isomer's sum of quantities was 50.4％.Furthermore,39 sialylated N-glycan isomers(58.8％)in mono-(3 N-glycans;0.9％),bi-(18;48.3％),tri-(14;8.9％),and tetra-(4;0.7％)antennary structures of mutant were obtained,which comprised mono-(15 N-glycans;25.4％),di-(15;28.4％),tri-(8;4.8％),and tetra-(1;0.2％)sialy-lation,respectively,with only α2-3(10 N-glycans;4.8％),both α2-3 and α2-6(14;18.4％),and only α2-6(15;35.6％)linkage(s).These results are consistent with those for α2-3 neuraminidase-treated N-glycans.This study generated a novel plot of Ln/Nn versus retention time to distinguish sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers in glycoprotein.