PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the factors influencing the quality of life among the patients with Crohn's disease. METHOD: Data were collected from 97 Crohn's disease patients between September 17 and October 20 in 2009. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the participants' quality of life depending on their age, economic status, pain, diarrhea, weight loss, Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI), and use of medications such as antidiarrhotica, steroid, and analgesics. The results also showed the correlations between the participants' qualities of life and thier pain, CDAI, anxiety, depression, perceived health condition, and of body image. Finally, the factors affecting the quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease included anxiety, perceived health state, pain, and CDAI. The explanatory power of these factors was 79.5%. CONCLUSION: The results imply that controlling the patients' pain and providing emotional support for anxiety reduction are crucial. In a similar vein, tailored nursing interventions considering individual patients' conditions are believed to help the patients positively perceive their disease. A future research, can conduct further investigations of these factors from more diverse perspectives, which is expected to promote more effective nursing strategies for Crohn's disease patients.
Analgesics ; Anxiety ; Body Image ; Crohn Disease ; Depression ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Veins ; Weight Loss

Pallister-Killian syndrome (PKS) is a rare multisystem disorder characterized by isochromosome 12p and tissue-limited mosaic tetrasomy 12p. In this study, we diagnosed three pediatric patients who were suspicious of having PKS using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) and FISH analyses performed on peripheral lymphocytes. Patients 1 and 2 presented with craniofacial dysmorphic features, hypotonia, and a developmental delay. Array CGH revealed two to three copies of 12p in patient 1 and three copies in patient 2. FISH analysis showed trisomy or tetrasomy 12p. Patient 3, who had clinical features comparable to those of patients 1 and 2, was diagnosed by using FISH analysis alone. Here, we report three patients with mosaic tetrasomy 12p. There have been only reported cases diagnosed by chromosome analysis and FISH analysis on skin fibroblast or amniotic fluid. To our knowledge, patient 1 was the first case diagnosed by using array CGH performed on peripheral lymphocytes in Korea.
Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Disorders/*diagnosis ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infant ; Male ; Tetrasomy

The fate of testicular salvage in spermatic cord torsion depends on the duration of ischemia and the degree of torsion. Even though spermatic cord torsion (SCT) can occur at any age, it is rarely reported in older patients. If the physician does not pay close attention to this unusual situation, the lack of suspicion for SCT may result in a missed or delayed diagnosis. We report a very uncommon case of missed SCT occurring in a 63-year-old man.
Delayed Diagnosis ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Middle Aged ; Spermatic Cord ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Testis

PURPOSE: This research was a descriptive study of nursing activities observed in nursing simulation during a senior nursing student practicum. Content and frequencies of nursing activities during the simulation practice were identified. METHODS: Thirty-six episodes of pediatric nursing simulation were videotaped. Both verbalizations and descriptions of nonverbal behaviors were recorded from the videotapes. The data were coded and analyzed. The coded nursing activities were evaluated for frequency and purpose of interaction. RESULTS: Average time per simulation episodes was 27 minutes and ranged from 3.30 to 32.54 minutes. Nursing activities in these simulation episodes included nursing assessments such as vital sign measurement, associated symptom assessment, and check of patient condition, nursing interventions such as medication, tepid water massage, fluid therapy, provision of oxygen, suctioning, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia management, communication such as parent education, procedure guidance, and communication among providers. Activities in assessment were most frequent, and among them, vital sign measurement and check of patient condition were more frequent than others. CONCLUSION: Students showed enhanced nursing activities such as more frequent nursing assessment, communication and interventions in their simulation experience. Therefore simulation experience can be considered as one strategies to provide nursing students with better and more intense practicum experience.
Education, Nursing ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Massage ; Nursing Assessment ; Oxygen ; Parents ; Patient Simulation ; Pediatric Nursing ; Students, Nursing ; Suction ; Symptom Assessment ; Videotape Recording ; Vital Signs

In the oral cavity, complex microbial community is shaped by various host and environmental factors. Extensive literature describing the oral microbiome in the context of oral health and disease is available. Advances in DNA sequencing technologies and data analysis have drastically improved the analysis of the oral microbiome. For microbiome study, bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplification and sequencing is often employed owing to the cost-effective and fast nature of the method. In this review, practical considerations for performing a microbiome study, including experimental design, molecular analysis technology, and general data analysis, will be discussed.

Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that inhibits the growth of oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans. In this study, we tested xylitol sensitivity among the oral streptococci. We also compared nucleotide homology of putative fructose phosphotransferase system (PTS) and xylitol sensitivity, since xylitol is transported via the fructose PTS. Among the tested Streptococci, S. pneumonia showed the highest resistance to xylitol while S. gordonii and S. sanguinis showed the most sensitive growth inhibition. These streptococci could be grouped according to their xylitol sensitivity. S. mutans and S. salivarius showed similar bacterial growth inhibition by xylitol. S. mitis, S. oralis, S. pneumonia, S. intermedius and S. anginosus showed relatively low sensitivity to xylitol. When the genetic homologies of five fructose PTSs were compared among the tested streptococci, closely related streptococci showed similar sensitivity to xylitol. Taken together, fructose PTSs may mediate the sensitivity to xylitol in oral streptococci.
Fructose ; Pneumonia ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus mutans ; Xylitol*

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the malignancy risk and diagnostic value of various types of nonshadowing echogenic foci (NEF) in the risk stratification of thyroid nodules. Methods: A total of 1,018 consecutive thyroid nodules (≥1 cm) with final diagnoses were included. The presence of NEF was determined and types of NEF were classified according to the presence of a comet tail artifact (CTA), location, and size through a prospective evaluation. The associations with malignancy, malignancy risk, and diagnostic value of various types of NEF were assessed. Results: Intrasolid punctate NEF without CTA was the only type of NEF that was an independent predictor of malignancy (P<0.001). The malignancy risk of intrasolid punctate NEF without CTA was substantially higher in solid hypoechoic nodules than in isoechoic or nonsolid nodules (71.3% vs. 9.2%, P<0.001). In solid hypoechoic nodules, slightly increased sensitivity (70.8% vs. 67.9%) for malignancy and a similar malignancy risk (71.4% vs. 71.3%) were observed for intrasolid punctate NEF (with or without CTA) and intrasolid punctate NEF without CTA, respectively. NEF with CTA at the margin of the cystic component was not associated with malignancy or benignity in nonsolid nodules (P>0.05). Conclusion Intrasolid punctate NEF without CTA was the only independent predictor of malignancy. However, solid hypoechoic nodules with intrasolid punctate NEF should be classified as high-suspicion nodules regardless of coexisting CTA. Other types of NEF had no added value for detecting malignancy compared to intrasolid punctate NEF without CTA.

This study is an attempt to provide fundamental information on how to manage menstruation discomforts by surveying the subjective viewpoints on menstruation from female college students. Utilizing 40 Q-samples in Seoul between May 1 and June 30, 2001, data has been collected from 30 randomized P-samples. Data analysis involves the PC QUANL Program, Q-factor analysis, and Principal Component Analysis. The result of the data analysis gives four types of categorization as follows: The first is the "inconvenience-recognizing" type that includes 10 subjects out of 30. During menstruation, this type of subject usually complained of physical discomfort such as pain in the lower back and abdomen. Even though they considered menstruation to be troublesome, they did nothing about the inconvenience. The second is the "positively-accepting" type that includes 7 subjects out of 30. This type of subject takes menstruation as natural and even a privilege for a woman. They think they are blessed to conceive a new life through their biological cycle. Therefore unlike other types, they rarely complained of any physical and psychological discomfort caused by menstruation. The third is the "destined course" type that includes 6 subjects out of 30. This type of subject endures the discomfort caused by menstruation without any medication or medical treatment. They appeared to take menstruation as fate without having any specially negative or positive attitude. The fourth is the "negatively-accepting" type that includes 7 out 30. This type of subject takes menstruation as negative, even if it is unavoidable for a woman. Menstruation, very negatively taken, felt uncomfortable and caused them to have pain in the lower back and abdomen and an oversensitive nervous system. The four types of attitude towards menstruation show their own characteristic features in dealing with menstruation. Understanding these features in detail will enhance nursing implementation which is related to menstruation. This study is intended to provide fundamental information with which nurses can deal with menstruation problems by investigating subjective viewpoints about menstruation. This study is a stepping stone on which further study on this subject can build to develop an effective and efficient way to deal with menstruation discomforts.
Abdomen ; Female* ; Humans ; Menstruation* ; Nervous System ; Nursing ; Principal Component Analysis ; Seoul ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive dysfunction is an important factor on functional recovery after stroke. This study investigated the relationship between functional outcome and cognitive status during rehabilitation after stroke. METHOD: This retrospective study included 80 patients with rehabilitation program after first-ever stroke. The independent variables were mini-mental status examination (MMSE) and computerized neurocognitive function test (CNT). The dependent variables were modified Barthel index (MBI), Berg balance scale (BBS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and discharge destination. The correlation analysis was applied. RESULTS: Mean interval from onset to rehabilitation program was 29.5 days and duration of inpatient rehabilitation program was 31.1 days. Mean score of initial MMSE was 20.5 and CNT showed abnormal performance in at least one of the domain specific tests in all patients. The scores of MMSE, MBI, NIHSS and BBS were improved after rehabilitation program (p<0.05). Cognitive improvement contributing to the functional recovery were significant in the early participants in rehabilitation and in older patients (p<0.05). The home-discharge group demonstrated higher scores in executive function tests (p<0.001). Visual attention, visual working memory and reasoning revealed significant correlation with the MBI score at discharge. CONCLUSION: The results of present study suggest that cognitive function, especially attention and working memory, is a predictor of functional outcome after stroke rehabilitation.
Cognition ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Memory, Short-Term ; Recovery of Function ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke

Cowden's syndrome is a harmatomatous polyposis syndrome with characteristic mucocutaneous lesions and among the spectra of clinical disorders that has been attributed to germline mutations in the PTEN gene. Although Cowden's syndrome has rarely been reported, immunologic studies have revealed that patients with this syndrome have humoral and/or cellular immune abnormalities. We recently identified a 21-year-old woman with Cowden's syndrome who was diagnosed with candida esophagitis without a history of diabetes, carcinoma, or steroid therapy. We report the immunologic status of this patient and the relationship with candida esophagitis on the basis of a literature review.
Candida ; Esophagitis ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple ; Humans ; Young Adult