OBJECTIVE: To examine the synergistic effects of both computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (CACR) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive function in patients with stroke. METHODS: The current double-blind, sham-controlled study enrolled a total of 11 patients who were newly diagnosed with stroke. The patients of the tDCS group (n=6) completed sessions of the Korean computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation program five times a week for 30 minutes a session during a mean period of 18.5 days concomitantly with the anodal tDCS over the bilateral prefrontal cortex combined with the CACR. The patients of the control group (n=5) also completed sessions of the sham stimulation during a mean period of 17.8 days. Anodal tDCS over bilateral prefrontal cortex (F3 and F4 in 10-20 EEG system) was delivered for 30 minutes at an intensity of 2 mA. Cathode electrodes were applied to the non-dominant arm. All the patients were evaluated using the Seoul Computerized Neuropsychological Test (SCNT) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS: Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant difference between the two groups. The patients of the tDCS group achieved a significant improvement in the post/pre ratio of auditory continuous performance test and visual continuous performance test on the SCNT items. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the concomitant use of the tDCS with CACR to the prefrontal cortex may provide additional beneficial effects in improving the cognitive dysfunction for patients with stroke.
Arm ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Pilot Projects* ; Prefrontal Cortex* ; Rehabilitation* ; Seoul ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: The aim of this research was to identify the relationships between occupational stress, ethical dilemma, burnout and turnover intention and the factors influencing turnover intention in hospital nurses. METHODS: The participants, 215 nurses, were recruited from two university hospitals located in two provinces of Korea. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 22.0. RESULTS: Participants' scores for occupational stress, ethical dilemma, burnout and turnover intention were 3.96±0.45, 2.60±0.39, 3.71±0.70, and 3.50±0.90 respectively. The results show that the higher the score for occupational stress, ethical dilemma, and burnout the higher the score for turnover intention. The most important factor influencing turnover intention was burnout (β=.42, p < .001), followed by position (β=.21, p=.001), educational level (β=.21, p=.007), ethical dilemma (β=.13, p=.020) in that order. These factors explained 43.5% of total variance in turnover intention (F=19.34, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Changes in hospital structural management systems and support strategies should be developed and operated, taking into account burnout, ethical dilemma, and personal characteristics of clinical nurses in order to reduce turnover.
Ethics ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Personnel Turnover

Plasmodium vivax malaria re-emerged in South Korea in 1993, and epidemics continue since then. We examined genetic variation in the region encompassing the apical membrane antigen-1 (PvAMA-1) of the parasites by DNA sequencing of the 22 re-emerging P. vivax isolates. The genotype of the PvAMA-1, which was based on sequence data previously reported for the polymorphic regions, showed that two haplotypes were present at one polymorphic site. Compared with reported data, the two types, SKOR type I and type II, were similar to Chinese CH-10A and CH-05A isolates, respectively. Thus, the present study showed that two genotypes of AMA-1 genes coexist in the re-emerging Korean P. vivax.
Adult ; Aged ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; *Antigens, Protozoan ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Female ; Genotype ; Human ; Korea ; Malaria, Vivax/*genetics ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism (Genetics) ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Halo nevus clinically presents as a nevus with a surrounding ring of depigmentation that histopathologically demonstrates a dense lymphocytic reaction to the melanocytic component of the epidermis. While melanocytic nevi with halo phenomena are common, a halo reaction is uncommon in Spitz nevus. When a halo reaction develops around a Spitz nevus, differential diagnosis from melanoma arising from pre-existing nevus is difficult due to the presence of dense inflammatory components. A halo reaction itself can increase the cytologic atypia of melanocytes and can obscure nest maturation. Herein, we report rare cases of Spitz nevus combined with a halo reaction. It is important to note that the halo phenomenon can occur without a clinically evident white patch and that the architectural features of the nevus components can be used to distinguish Spitz nevus from malignant melanoma.

Dermal melanocytosis is characterized by an increased number of ovoid to elongated melanocytes situated between collagen fibers in the dermis, including blue nevus, Mongolian spots, nevus of Ota and Ito and dermal melanocyte hamartoma. Herein, we present a rare case of a 15-year-old boy presented with both dermal melanocyte hamartoma and Becker's nevus in conjunction with neurofibromatosis. A shared pathophysiologic mechanism between neurofibromatosis and other nevi in the context of organoid hamartoma has been reviewed.

We report a case of SLE with antiphospholipid antibodies presented initially with severe bleeding. A six-year-old boy was admitted due to severe nasal bleeding for 2 months. The boy showed typical malar rash. The laboratory tests indicated that his platelet count was 80,000/mm3 and the PT and the aPTT were markedly prolonged. A number of clotting factors were decreased, including factorsll<12%, Vll: 42%, lX : 38%, Xl: 41%, and Xll: 16%. Urinalysis showed hematuria and proteinuria, and 24-hour urine protein was 1.37g/day. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test was false positive, Coombs test, lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG and IgM) were positive. His symptoms and laboratory tests fulfilled the criteria of SLE with antiphospholipid antibody. Renal pathology showed lupus nepritis (diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, class lV). After steroid therapy, his nasal bleeding stopped immediately, and laboratory findings became normalized. This case showed the tendency of paradoxic bleeding, instead of the expected thrombosis which can be found in this type of patient. We anticipate it is mainly due to pronounced prothrombin deficiency.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid* ; Anticoagulants ; Coombs Test ; Epistaxis ; Exanthema ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypoprothrombinemias ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Male ; Pathology ; Platelet Count ; Proteinuria ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Thrombosis ; Urinalysis

We report a case of SLE with antiphospholipid antibodies presented initially with severe bleeding. A six-year-old boy was admitted due to severe nasal bleeding for 2 months. The boy showed typical malar rash. The laboratory tests indicated that his platelet count was 80,000/mm3 and the PT and the aPTT were markedly prolonged. A number of clotting factors were decreased, including factorsll<12%, Vll: 42%, lX : 38%, Xl: 41%, and Xll: 16%. Urinalysis showed hematuria and proteinuria, and 24-hour urine protein was 1.37g/day. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test was false positive, Coombs test, lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG and IgM) were positive. His symptoms and laboratory tests fulfilled the criteria of SLE with antiphospholipid antibody. Renal pathology showed lupus nepritis (diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, class lV). After steroid therapy, his nasal bleeding stopped immediately, and laboratory findings became normalized. This case showed the tendency of paradoxic bleeding, instead of the expected thrombosis which can be found in this type of patient. We anticipate it is mainly due to pronounced prothrombin deficiency.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid* ; Anticoagulants ; Coombs Test ; Epistaxis ; Exanthema ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypoprothrombinemias ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Male ; Pathology ; Platelet Count ; Proteinuria ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Thrombosis ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Infectious* ; Hip Joint* ; Hip*

Cervical pregnancy is a rare and dangerous form of ectopic pregnancy in which the blastocyst implants within the cervical canal below the internal os of the uterine cervix. The characteristic clinical sign is a severe asymptomatic uterine bleeding in early pregnancy or during curettage. Most cervical pregnancies result in early spontaneous abortion, complicated by severe hemorrhage from the eroded blood vessels within the cervical tissue. Because of uncontrolled profuse vaginal bleeding, total hysterectomy has been the mostly necessitated to control life-threatening bleeding. Transvaginal sonography allows early diagnosis, and conservative treatment (two-time treatment : first treatement with systemic or intraamnionic methotrexate, secondly with curettage or ligature of the uterine arteries) improves the patient's fertility. Successful treatment is defined as elimination of the cervical pregnancy with preservation of the uterus. We report two cases of cervical pregnancy managed, successfully with methotrexate, leucovorin and curettage.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Blastocyst ; Blood Vessels ; Cervix Uteri ; Curettage ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fertility ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leucovorin ; Ligation ; Methotrexate ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus

We report a case of recurrent low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma in the right ureter in 64 years old female with review of literature.
Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal* ; Ureter*