PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify emotional labor, nursing work environment, self-efficacy and happiness index and address factors associated with happiness index to provide basic resources for national psychiatric hospital nurses' happiness at work. METHODS: Participants were 249 nurses working in 5 national psychiatric hospitals. They participated in the survey and data were collected from May 16 to July 30, 2016. Data were analysed using SPSS/WIN 22.0. RESULTS: Mean scores were nurses' emotional labor, 3.89, nursing work environment, 2.77, self-efficacy, 3.77, and happiness index, 3.52. There were significant differences on the happiness index for: department, type of work, career length, position and payment. Happiness index was influenced by self-efficacy, work environment and emotional labor. Explanatory power of these variables was 36.9%. CONCLUSION: These results show that self-efficacy and work environment are important factors related to the happiness of the national psychiatric hospital nurses. Additionally, developing an effective program to facilitate self-efficacy of nurses and research studies to identify effects of such a program are required.
Happiness* ; Hospitals, Psychiatric* ; Korea* ; Nursing*

No abstract available.
Acromegaly* ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic*

Minor ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 were isolated from Korean red ginseng and reported to have various biological effects on anti-inflammatory and anti-stress activities. However, the effects of Rh1 and Rg2 on antioxidant activity and their regulatory effects on the antioxidant enzymes have not been studied. Since oxidative stress is one of the major toxic inflammatory responses stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the present study investigated the role of minor ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 on antioxidant effects in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. In this study, we found that treatment with ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 strongly inhibited LPS-stimulated intracellular ROS production in cells. Luciferase assay showed that treatment with LPS reduced antioxidant response element (ARE) encoding the pARE-luc promoter activity, while ginsenosides inhibited the pARE-luc promoter activity. Moreover, ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 exhibited anti-oxidative activity in LPS-induced cells by upregulating antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Our results suggest that minor ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 may be potential bio-active compounds for antioxidative effects by inhibiting the generation of ROS in RAW 264.7 cells.
Antioxidant Response Elements ; Antioxidants ; Catalase ; Ginsenosides* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Luciferases ; Oxidative Stress* ; Panax ; RAW 264.7 Cells* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxide Dismutase

In this article, it has been stated that this study was supported by SMtech Development Program (#2018-0006-01) and Research Fund of Chungnam National University (#2017-1794-01). This information has now been corrected as follows: This research was supported by Research Fund of Chungnam National University (#2017-1794-01).

BACKGROUND: Nefopam has shown an analgesic effect on acute pain including postoperative pain. The reuptake of monoamines including serotonin and noradrenaline has been proposed as the mechanism of the analgesic action of nefopam, but it remains unclear. Although alpha-adrenergic agents are being widely used in the perioperative period, the role of noradrenergic modulation in the analgesic effect of nefopam has not been fully addressed. METHODS: Changes in the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal (i.t.) nefopam against formalin-elicited flinching responses were explored in Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with i.t. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which depletes spinal noradrenaline. In addition, antagonism to the effect of nefopam by prazosin and yohimbine was evaluated to further elucidate the antinociceptive mechanism of i.t. nefopam. RESULTS: Pretreatment with i.t. 6-OHDA alone did not alter the flinching responses in either phase of the formalin test, while it attenuated the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam significantly during phase 1, but not phase 2. The antagonist of the alpha-2 receptor, but not the alpha-1 receptor, reduced partially, but significantly, the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam during phase 1, but not during phase 2. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that spinal noradrenergic modulation plays an important role in the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam against formalin-elicited acute initial pain, but not facilitated pain, and this action involves the spinal alpha-2 but not the alpha-1 receptor.
Acute Pain ; Formaldehyde* ; Nefopam* ; Norepinephrine ; Oxidopamine ; Pain Measurement* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Perioperative Period ; Prazosin ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; Spinal Cord ; Yohimbine

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate appropriate contrast reference values (CRVs) by comparing the contrast in phantom and clinical images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phantom contrast was measured using two methods: (1) counting the number of visible pits of different depths in an aluminum plate, and (2) obtaining the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for 5 tissue-equivalent materials (porcelain, aluminum, polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE], polyoxymethylene [POM], and polymethylmethacrylate [PMMA]). Four panoramic radiographs of the contrast phantom, embedded in the 4 different regions of the arch-form stand, and 1 real skull phantom image were obtained, post-processed, and compared. The clinical image quality evaluation chart was used to obtain the cut-off values of the phantom CRV corresponding to the criterion of being adequate for diagnosis. RESULTS: The CRVs were obtained using 4 aluminum pits in the incisor and premolar region, 5 aluminum pits in the molar region, and 2 aluminum pits in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region. The CRVs obtained based on the CNR measured in the anterior region were: porcelain, 13.95; aluminum, 9.68; PTFE, 6.71; and POM, 1.79. The corresponding values in the premolar region were: porcelain, 14.22; aluminum, 8.82; PTFE, 5.95; and POM, 2.30. In the molar region, the following values were obtained: porcelain, 7.40; aluminum, 3.68; PTFE, 1.27; and POM, - 0.18. The CRVs for the TMJ region were: porcelain, 3.60; aluminum, 2.04; PTFE, 0.48; and POM, - 0.43. CONCLUSION: CRVs were determined for each part of the jaw using the CNR value and the number of pits observed in phantom images.
Aluminum ; Bicuspid ; Dental Porcelain ; Diagnosis ; Incisor ; Jaw ; Molar ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Reference Values* ; Skull ; Temporomandibular Joint

PURPOSE: Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is increasingly being detected in recent years with the more frequent use of computerized tomography (CT). The present study was performed to evaluate the clinico-radiologic characteristic presentation of PI and to determine the prognostic factors for mortality. METHODS: Fifteen patients who were diagnosed with PI on CT between June 2000 and May 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, sex, location of PI, presence of portal vein gas, time to diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), acidosis, shock, and other associated findings were analyzed for their association with outcome. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (7 males and 8 females, average age, 60.3 years) were diagnosed with PI. Mortality rate was 47% (7 patients). The mortality rate in patients with septic shock, APACHE II score (18), acidosis (pH<7.36) were all 100%, 87%, 100%, respectively (P<0.05). Age, sex, location of PI, portal vein gas, time to diagnosis, ASA classification, associated findings did not show statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Shock, APACHE II score (18) and acidosis were associated with high mortality in patients with PI. So, more intensive management and interest are recommended in patients with shock, APACHE II score (18), and acidosis due to PI.
Acidosis ; APACHE ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Shock, Septic

PURPOSE: This study was performed to analyze human maxillary and mandibular trabecular bone using the data acquired from micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and to characterize the site-specific microstructures of trabeculae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine cylindrical bone specimens were prepared from the mandible and maxilla. They were divided into 5 groups by region: the anterior maxilla, posterior maxilla, anterior mandible, posterior mandible, and mandibular condyle. After the specimens were scanned using a micro-CT system, three-dimensional microstructural parameters such as the percent bone volume, bone specific surface, trabecular thickness, trabecular separation, trabecular number, structure model index, and degrees of anisotropy were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the regions other than the condylar area, the anterior mandibular region showed the highest trabecular thickness and the lowest value for the bone specific surface. On the other hand, the posterior maxilla region showed the lowest trabecular thickness and the highest value for the bone specific surface. The degree of anisotropy was lowest at the anterior mandible. The condyle showed thinner trabeculae with a more anisotropic arrangement than the other mandibular regions. CONCLUSION: There were microstructural differences between the regions of the maxilla and mandible. These results suggested that different mechanisms of external force might exist at each site.
Anisotropy ; Hand ; Humans* ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Jaw* ; Mandible ; Mandibular Condyle ; Maxilla

PURPOSE: Congenital hypopituitarism is caused by mutations in pituitary transcription factors involved in the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Mutation frequencies of genes involved in congenital hypopituitarism are extremely low and vary substantially between ethnicities. This study was undertaken to compare the clinical, endocrinological, and radiological features of patients with an isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) or combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 27 patients with sporadic IGHD and CPHD. A mutation analysis of the POU1F1, PROP1, LHX3, LHX4, and HESX1 genes was performed using genomic DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes. RESULTS: IGHD and CPHD were observed in 4 and 23 patients, respectively. Mean age at diagnosis was 8.28±7.25 years for IGHD and 13.48±10.46 years for CPHD (p=0.37). Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and peak growth hormone (GH) levels following GH stimulation tests were significantly lower in patients with CPHD than in those with IGHD (p<0.05). Sellar MRI findings revealed structural abnormalities in 3 patients with IGHD (75%) and 21 patients with CPHD (91.3%) (p=0.62). A mutation analysis identified homozygous p.R109Q mutations in HESX1 in a patient with CPHD. Patients with CPHD had more severe GHD than those with IGHD. CONCLUSION: The frequency of defects in the genes encoding pituitary transcription factors was extremely low in Korean patients with congenital hypopituitarism. Environmental factors and the impact of other causative genes may contribute to this clinical phenotype.
Diagnosis ; DNA ; Dwarfism, Pituitary ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Korea* ; Leukocytes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mutation Rate ; Phenotype ; Transcription Factors*

OBJECTIVE: Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is a distinct clinical syndrome that is characterized by the acute onset of shoulder and arm pain, weakness, and sensory loss. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics of NA and to determine appropriate diagnostic modalities. METHODS: We reviewed the medical and radiologic records of 10 patients diagnosed with NA retrospectively. Neurophysiologic studies were performed in all patients and magnetic resonance neurography was performed in the last three patients. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients were enrolled in our study. All patients had clinical findings compatible with NA. The most common clinical presentation was severe shoulder pain and weakness in seven patients (70%). Neurophysiologic study results were abnormal in all patients. Brachial plexus magnetic resonance neurography showed that the affected brachial plexus showed a thickened and hyper-intense trunk. All patients were managed conservatively with analgesics and physical therapy. The pain and paralysis of all patients improved clinically within 6 months of the initiation of treatment. CONCLUSION: NA is a rare disease but the symptoms of NA can mimic those of other diseases. Neurophysiologic studies and magnetic resonance neurography are extremely useful tools for the diagnosis of NA.
Analgesics ; Arm ; Brachial Plexus ; Brachial Plexus Neuritis ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Neurophysiology ; Paralysis ; Rare Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain