PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a short message service intervention on adherence to maximal barrier precautions (MBP) and catheter-related blood stream infections. METHOD: The data were collected from March to September, 2008, at an 826-bed university-affiliated hospital in Daejeon. The study participants were 24 physicians who were inserting central catheters and 133 patients (control group 78 and intervention group 55) with central catheter insertions. The researcher sent the message (adherence to MBP and optimal recommendations) to each internal medicine doctor using the short message service (SMS) for cellular phones. Messages were sent monthly for 3 months. Data were analyzed by chi-square test and t-test using SPSS 12.0 windows program. RESULT: Adherence to maximal barrier precautions was significantly increased from 44.9% to 69.1% (p=.006) after the SMS intervention. But changes in the rate of CRBSI (catheter related blood stream infection) between the intervention group (1.89) and the control group (4.45) were not significant (p=.323). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the SMS intervention is effective in increasing the adherence to maximal barrier precautions and the SMS intervention can be recommended for utilization in infection control nursing practice.
Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Cellular Phone ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Internal Medicine ; Rivers ; Text Messaging

A case of gouty polyarthropathy accompanied with carpal tunnel syndrom is reporte, in a 70 year old man. The patient was treated by removal of tophaceous materials surgically in both knee and right wrist joints for the relief of pain. There was a relatively good result postoperatively in the aspect of pain free motion of joints, but he was died of the complication of gouty nephropathy 4 months later after discharge.
Arthritis ; Gout ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Wrist ; Wrist Joint

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of intrauterine insemination (IUI) according to the catheter used. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From March 1998 to September 1998, total 95 infertile patients were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to TomCat group (n = 39) and Mackler group (n = 56) according to the catheter for insemination. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using luteal long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) was used in all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test, and x2 test as appropriate. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The total dose and duration of exogeneous gonadotropin required were similar between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in serum estradiol (E2) level, endometrial thickness and texture on the day of hCG administration between the two groups. However, the percentage of uterine souding due to failure of initial approach was significantly higher in TomCat group compared to Mackler group (23.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). The percentage of bleeding after IUI in TomCat group seemed to be higher than that in Mackler group (15.4% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.06), although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate per patient between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that using Mackler catheter might be effective for IUI, especially for the patients with cervical factor infertility.
Catheters* ; Estradiol ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Pregnancy Rate

True cysts of the pancreas are rare, and enterogeous (duplication) cysts are extremely rare. We describe a case of enterogenous cyst of the pancreas located in the retroperitoneum, in which homogenous low attenua-tion, multiloculation, internal septation and cyst wall calcification were noted.
Pancreas*

No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Tuberculosis, Spinal*

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Polyps*

The present study was intended to examine the effect of sodium vanadate on contractility of vascular smooth muscle. Aortic ring preparations were made from the rabbit thoracic aorta and endothelial cells were removed from the ring. The contractility of the aortic ring was measured under various conditions. The results were summarized as follows; 1) Sodium vanadate induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle in a dose-dependent fashion. 2) The contractile effects were not blocked by treatments with adrenergic blocking agent(phentolamine) and indomethacin, indicating the direct action of the drug on vascular smooth muscle. 3) In the presence of ouabain, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, sodium vanadate still increased the contractility of vascular smooth muscle. 4) Treatment with 4.4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2.2'-disulfonic acid(DIDS) blocked completely the contractile effects of sodium vanadate. 5) In the presence of verapamil, lanthanum and ryanodine, the contractility of the vascular smooth muscle by sodium vanadate was decreased. From the above results. it was suggested that sodium vanadate acts directly on vascular smooth muscle and causes contraction. It was probably due to inhibition of Ca(++)-ATPase in plasma membrane as well as increasing the release of Ca(++) from sarcoplasmic reticulum and Ca(++) influx across the plasma membrane, but not inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Cell Membrane ; Endothelial Cells ; Indomethacin ; Lanthanum ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Ouabain ; Ryanodine ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; Sodium* ; Vanadates* ; Verapamil

Caffeine has been known to induce the contraction of rabbit aortic ring resulting from Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores. But in contrast, contraction of aortic ring induced by depolarizing agents or agonist was reported to be suppressed by caffeine. The present study was intended to examine the effect of caffeine on Ca2+ movement across the plasma membrane and actomyosin ATPase activity of vascular smooth muscle to elucidate the modes of action of caffeine on the vascular smooth muscle. Aortic ring preparation were made from the rabbit thoracic aorta and the endothelial cells were removed from the ring by gentle rubbing. The contractilty of the aortic ring was measured under varying conditions, and Ca2+ influx across the membranes of the aortic ring was measured with Ca2+ sensitive electrode with and without caffeine and the effect of caffeine on actomyosin ATPase activity were measured by modified Hartshrone's method. 45Ca wash out curves with and without caffeine were studied by Richard's method. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Caffeine inhibited the contractilty induced by norepinephrine. high K+, and histamine. but caffeine alone induced a transient contraction of vascular smooth muscle. The caffeine induced contraction was demonstrable even in the absence of external Ca2+. 2) Caffeine increased 45Ca efflux from vascular smooth muscle. 3) In the presence of propranolol, the inhibitory effect of caffeine on epinephrine induced contraction still persisted. 4) Caffeine decreased norepinephrine induced Ca2+ influx through the plasma membranes of aortic ring. 5) Caffeine decreased the actomyosin ATPase activity of vascular smooth muscle. From the above results, it is suggested that caffeine induces the contraction of vascular smooth muscle by release of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stone, but inhibits drug-induced contraction by decrease of Ca2+ influx across the plasma membranes and a decreased Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile protein in vascular smooth muscle.
Actomyosin* ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Caffeine* ; Cell Membrane ; Electrodes ; Endothelial Cells ; Epinephrine ; Histamine ; Membranes ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myosins* ; Norepinephrine ; Propranolol

PURPOSE: This study investigates nurses' organizational commitment, internal marketing, and occupational satisfaction depending on their age, martial status, clinical experience and income. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 350 nurses from six hospitals in Jeolla-do. The t-tests were used to analyze the differences in internal marketing, occupational satisfaction, and organizational commitment depending on their age, marital status, career, and income. The relationships among internal marketing, occupational satisfaction, and organizational commitment were analyzed by the path analysis. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that organizational commitment was correlated with age, clinical experiences, and income, but not significantly associated with martial status. Education and training policy, benefit system, and fairness of the internal marketing were influencing factors on occupational satisfaction. These factors were correlated with organizational commitment through occupational satisfaction. CONCLUSION: This study addressed the relationships among nurses' internal marketing, occupational satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Based on the results, it is suggested that hospital organizations introduce more diverse incentive policies to enhance nurses' occupational satisfaction and organizational commitment.
Marital Status ; Marketing ; Motivation

PURPOSE:To evaluate the role of unenhanced CT in diagnosing the acute appendicitis. METHOD AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed conventional contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans of 197 normal patients and barium enemas of 26 out of the 197 patients. Additional unenhanced CT scans of right lower abdomen were performed on 30 patients who were suspected of having acute appendicitis;barium enema was performed in 26 patients. RESULTS: in the analysis of the conventional CT scans, we could detect 132(67%) normal appendicies. On barium enema of 26 out of 197 patients, abruptly narrowed appendix was visualized in 5 cases and luminal irregularity in 4 cases but all 26 cases showed normal appendix on CT. In the 30 cases of unenhanced CT, all appendicies were visualized. Among 12 Cases which were proved as acute appendicitis, barium enenma was done in 10 case;abruptly narrowed appendix was shown in 3 and luminal irregularity in 1. Among 18 cases which were diagnosed as normal appendix, nonvisualization of appendix' was in 1 case, abruptly narrowed lumen in 3, and luminal irregularity in 9. CONCLUSION:Unenhanced CT in the area of the cecum may be an effective and safe diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis.
Abdomen ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Barium* ; Cecum ; Enema* ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed