PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to propose and test a predictive model that could explain and predict the core competencies of nursing students. METHODS: A survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted with 361 nursing students. The data was analyzed using SPSS Windows 21.0 and AMOS 21.0. RESULTS: The elements that directly influence the core competencies of nursing students were satisfaction with their academic discipline (nursing) and critical thinking disposition in which the disposition toward critical thinking directly influenced their satisfaction with nursing as an academic discipline and clinical practice. Conversely, satisfaction with clinical practice indirectly influenced core competencies through critical thinking disposition. CONCLUSION: This result provides the basic data for a competence-based curriculum intent on strengthening the core competencies (communication, problem-solving, and self-directed learning) by improving satisfaction with both clinical practice with their major and disposition toward critical thinking on the part of nursing students.
Curriculum ; Humans ; Learning ; Nursing ; Problem Solving ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Nursing* ; Thinking

Neutrophils are important effector cells against protozoan extracellular parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic colitis and liver abscess in human beings. Apoptotic cell death of neutrophils is an important event in the resolution of inflammation and parasite's survival in vivo. This study was undertaken to investigate the ultrastructural aspects of apoptotic cells during neutrophil death triggered by Entamoeba histolytica. Isolated human neutrophils from the peripheral blood were incubated with or without live trophozoites of E. histolytica and examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Neutrophils incubated with E. histolytica were observed to show apoptotic characteristics, such as compaction of the nuclear chromatin and swelling of the nuclear envelop. In contrast, neutrophils incubated in the absence of the amoeba had many protrusions of irregular cell surfaces and heterogenous nuclear chromatin. Therefore, it is suggested that Entamoeba-induced neutrophil apoptosis contribute to prevent unwanted tissue inflammation and damage in the amoeba-invaded lesions in vivo.
Animals ; Apoptosis/*physiology ; Entamoeba histolytica/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Relations/physiology ; Humans ; In Vitro ; Neutrophils/physiology/*ultrastructure ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

A 25 year old male was admitted for the reduction of right side mandible fracture. The patient was injured during a fight with someone under the influence of liquor. Nine days after the halothane anesthesia, the patient began to suffer from acute hepatitis with symptoms of fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice. The patient was cared for at the department of internal medicine and discharged after 49 day's hospitalization. The exact causes of the acute hepatitis were still unknown.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Halothane* ; Hepatitis* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Jaundice ; Male ; Mandible ; Nausea ; Vomiting

E.S.T. is performed not only for the treatment but also for the diagnosis of biliary tract diseases. E.S.T. serves as a diagnostic aid for some of biliary tract diseases which require such procedures as a peroral cholangioscopy or biopsy of the biliary duct for precise diagnosis and further differential diagnosis. The diseases of our patients were diagnosed by clinical findings and such diagnostic maneuvers as abdominal ultrasonography, intravenous cholangiography, percutaneous transhepatic chorangiography(P.T.C.), endoscopic retrograde chorangiopancreatography(E.R.C.P.), In all the two cases, abdominal ultrasonography revealed dilated extrahepatic duct, but biliary trees were not visualized at E.R.C.P. In one of the two cases, P.T.C. revealed a filling defect with dilated common bile ducts(CBD) but we could not make a differential diagnosis of CBD stone from CBD cancer. In another of the two cases, on which intravenous cholangiography was done, we could not see CBD. For the purpuse of precise diagnosis and further differential diagnosis, we performed EST and then ERCP thraugh widened papillae. With those procedures, CBD stones were shown.
Bile ; Biliary Tract Diseases ; Biopsy ; Cholangiography ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The fruit of Cydonia oblonga Miller (COM) is used traditionally in Mediterranean region medicine to prevent or treat obesity, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. Beyond a demonstrated anti-obesity effect, the fruit was tested for the mechanism of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured for 8 days with COM fruit extract (COME) at different concentrations (0–600 µg/mL) with adipocyte differentiation medium. The cell viability was measured using an MTT assay; triglyceride (TG) was stained with Oil Red O. The expression levels of the adipogenesis-related genes and protein expression were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: COME inhibited intracellular TG accumulation during adipogenesis. A COME treatment in 3T3-L1 cells induced upregulation of the adenosine monophosphateactivated protein kinase (AMPK)α phosphorylation and downregulation of the adipogenic transcription factors, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α. The COME treatment reduced the mRNA expression of fatty acyl synthetase, adenosine triphosphatecitrate lyase, adipocyte protein 2, and lipoprotein lipase. It increased the mRNA expression of hormone-sensitive lipase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I in 3T3-L1 cells. CONCLUSIONS COME inhibits adipogenesis via the AMPK signaling pathways. COME may be used to prevent and treat obesity.

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated lumen-dwelling extracellular protozoan parasite that causes human trichomoniasis via sexual intercourse. Human neutrophils play a crucial role in acute tissue inflammatory responses in T. vaginalis infection. In this study, we investigated the signaling mechanism of neutrophil responses when stimulated with T. vaginalis-derived secretory products (TvSP), which were collected from 1x10(7) live trichomonads. Incubation of human neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood with TvSP induced up-regulation of IL-8 protein secretion. In addition, stimulation with TvSP induced phosphorylation of NF-kappaB and CREB in neutrophils. Moreover, TvSP-induced IL-8 production was also significantly inhibited by pretreatment of neutrophils with ikappaB inhibitor or CREB inhibitor. These results suggest that transcription factors NF-kappaB and CREB are involved in IL-8 production in human neutrophils induced by stimulation with T. vaginalis infection.
Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein/*metabolism ; Human Experimentation ; Humans ; Interleukin-8/*metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B/*metabolism ; Neutrophils/*immunology ; Phosphorylation ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*immunology

Foreign body accidents in the air and food passages are common problem encountered in the ENT field. Especially the foreign body accidents in the air passage in the children are serious and urgent. They are influenced by mode of living, customs, habits and environment1). We have clinico-statistically analysed 83 cases removal of foreign bodies in air and food passages under general anesthesia from January 1979 to March 1991 in Korea Univer- sity Hospital. The results are as follows: 1) Of the total 83 cases,64 cases(77.1%) were in food passage and 19 cases(22.9%) were in air passage. 2) Peanuts and beans were the most common intruders of air passage(79%). In the food passage coins enjoyed the greatest popularity(31.3%) and bones, Badook stones, and meats follow in order of frequency. 3) In the age distribution, 42.1% of foreign bodies in food passage and 78.9% of foreign bodies in air passage were under 5 years. 4) Of the total numbers of foreign body cases, 61.4% of the patients were male and 38.6 % were female. 5) In duration of lodgement, 44 cases(68.8) of foreign bodies in food passage and 6 cases(31.6%) in air passage were removed within 24 hours. 6) In food passage, 56 cases(87.5%) of all were diagnosed initially by chest P-A but 9 cases(47%) were diagnosed initially in air passage.
Age Distribution ; Anesthesia, General* ; Arachis ; Child ; Esophagus ; Fabaceae ; Female ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Meat ; Numismatics ; Thorax ; Trachea

We performed radionuclide ventriculography before and within 1 week after percutaneous mirtal valvuloplasty(PMV) to evaluate left ventricular(LV) function in 20 patients(3 males and 17 females, mean age of 38±10 years) who were pure mitral stenosis before PMV and less than grade 1 mitral regurgitation developed after PMV. 9 out of 20 patients had atrial fibrillation and 3 patients developed a small left-to-right shunt(Qp/Qs<1.5)after PMV using double-balloon technique resulted in a increase in mitral valve area(0.9±0.3 to 2.1±0.8mm
Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiac Output ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Radionuclide Ventriculography ; Stroke Volume

Background/Aims: Periampuilary diverticulum has been known to be associated with various bilio-pancreatic diseases such as choledocholithiasis and disturbs performing selective cannuiation of ERCP and EST. This present study aims to investigate anatomical morphology of periampullary diverticulum and to determine whether periampullary diverticulurn influences difficulty and complication performing of ERCP and to analyse the relationship between periampullary diverticulum and choledocholithiasis. Methods: We reviewed records of chart and diverticular pictures in 1389 cases of underwent ERCP and evaluated the incidence, size, direction, location of periampullary diverticulum and its influence against performing of ERCP and investigated its relationship with bilio-pancreatic diseases such as choledocholithiasis.(continue..)
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledocholithiasis ; Diverticulum* ; Incidence

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the usefulness of perfusion CT for the diagnosis of progressive massive fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the perfusion CT images of 20 lesions that showed progressive massive fibrosis in 13 patients. Using 16 channel multi-detector CT, a dynamic study was performed with the multiple spiral acquisition technique at 0 (precontrast), 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 300 seconds after contrast injection. The perfusion image was reformatted using these source images; it was scored on the volume map and washout map by visual inspection and then compared with 20 lesions of lung cancer. RESULTS: The volume map showed either middle or low perfusion for 19 among the 20 lesions. The washout map also showed a weak or moderate washout pattern. The kappa values (>0.818) for the inter-reader agreement reached statistical significance (p<0.01). High perfusion on the volume map was seen in 1 case (5%) in the PMF group and in 19 cases (95%) in the lung cancer group. Intense washout on the washout map was seen in 1 case (5%) in the PMF group and in 14 cases (70%) in the lung cancer group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (x2=32.129, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Perfusion CT consisting of the volume map and washout map can be a useful method for the differential diagnosis between PMF and lung cancer.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Perfusion* ; Pneumoconiosis ; Retrospective Studies