PURPOSE: In this study an examination was done of nursing students' knowledge, awareness and performance of standard precaution guidelines designed to prevent medical-related infections. METHODS: Participants in this study were 184 junior and senior college nursing students who completed a clinical practice. Data collection was done from December 3 to 21, 2016 and was analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: The mean score for awareness of standard precautions was 4.77±0.35, and the mean score for performance of standard precautions was 4.45±0.41. Performance was lower than awareness. Knowledge of standard precautions had a positive correlation with performance of standard precautions (r=.23, p=.002). There was also a positive correlation between awareness and performance of standard precautions (r=.49, p<.001). Stepwise regression analysis showed that the factors affecting the performance of standard precaution totaled 27.3% of determination coefficient due to the degree of observation and knowledge, awareness of standard precautions. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that factors influencing performance of standard precautions are the degree of observation of the students themselves and their knowledge and awareness of standard precautions and also provide basic data necessary to develop education programs for nursing students to improve their performance of standard precautions.
Data Collection ; Education ; Humans ; Infection Control* ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate healthcare consumers’ interest in patient safety on social media using structural topic modeling (STM) and to identify changes in interest over time. Methods: Analyzing 105,727 posts from Naver news comments, blogs, internet cafés, and Twitter between 2010 and 2022, this study deployed a Python script for data collection and preprocessing. STM analysis was conducted using R, with the documents’ publication years serving as metadata to trace the evolution of discussions on patient safety. Results: The analysis identified a total of 13 distinct topics, organized into three primary communities: (1) “Demand for systemic improvement of medical accidents,” underscoring the need for legal and regulatory reform to enhance accountability; (2) “Efforts of the government and organizations for safety management,” highlighting proactive risk mitigation strategies; and (3) “Medical accidents exposed in the media,” reflecting widespread concerns over medical negligence and its repercussions. These findings indicate pervasive concerns regarding medical accountability and transparency among healthcare consumers. Conclusion The findings emphasize the importance of transparent healthcare policies and practices that openly address patient safety incidents. There is clear advocacy for policy reforms aimed at increasing the accountability and transparency of healthcare providers. Moreover, this study highlights the significance of educational and engagement initiatives involving healthcare consumers in fostering a culture of patient safety. Integrating consumer perspectives into patient safety strategies is crucial for developing a robust safety culture in healthcare.

The third-stage larvae (L3) of the parasitic nematode, Anisakis simplex, have been implicated in the induction of hyperimmune allergic reactions in orally infected humans. In this work, we have conducted a review of an investigation into immune reactions occurring in animals experimentally infected with A. simplex L3. The patterns of serum antibody productions in the experimental animals against excretory-secretory products (ESP) of A. simplex L3 contributed to our current knowledge regarding specific humoral immune reactions in humans. In our review, we were able to determine that L3 infection of experimental animals may constitute a good model system for further exploration of immune mechanisms and allergy in anisakiasis of humans.
Rats ; Mice ; Larva/immunology ; Immunoglobulin E/blood ; Hypersensitivity/*etiology/immunology ; Humans ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Disease Models, Animal ; Antigens, Helminth/immunology ; Anisakis/growth & development/*immunology ; Anisakiasis/immunology ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: The video head impulse test (vHIT) is useful for evaluation of high frequency vestibulo-ocular reflex. There are a few reports regarding the recovery of head impulse test in vestibular neuritis (VN) but the factors for the recovery were not studied. The study aimed to identify the recovery patterns of vHIT in VN and the factors influencing the recovery. METHODS: Among 31 patients with acute VN, 18 patients with identified recovery pattern were selected. We conducted serial checks of subjective vertigo and spontaneous nystagmus until discharged (1-8 days), and scheduled vHITs. We found three patterns in serial vHITs during follow-ups and analyzed the relationship of initial vestibular function tests, serial check-ups of subjective vertigo, bedside neuro-otologic tests, and vHITs. RESULTS: Five patients showed normal vHIT gain in acute stage (non-damaged pattern) and 8 patients' gains were recovered after 30 days after symptom onset (early recovered pattern). Poor recovery pattern was found in 5 patients (poorly recovered pattern). There were relationship between vHIT recovery patterns and the severity of vestibular dysfunctions. Duration of spontaneous nystagmus (until grade 1), degree of subjective visual vertical tilt, ocular vestibular myogenic potential abnormalities, and abnormality of rotatory chair test were all related to poorly recovered vHIT patterns. All poor recovery patients had residual symptom at 30 days after symptom onset. CONCLUSION: The vHIT may give clinicians useful hints in predicting prognosis in VN, and the recovery of vHIT would be delayed if the damage were more extensive.
Follow-Up Studies ; Head Impulse Test ; Head ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Reflex ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Vestibular Neuronitis

The association between celebrity suicide and subsequent increase in suicide rates among the general population has been suggested. Previous studies primarily focused on celebrity suicides in the 2000s. To better understand the association, this study examined the impacts of celebrity suicides on subsequent suicide rates using the data of Korean celebrity suicides between 1990 and 2010. Nine celebrity suicides were selected by an investigation of media reports of suicide deaths published in three major newspapers in Korea between 1990 and 2010. Suicide mortality data were obtained from the National Statistical Office of Korea. Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models with intervention analysis were used to test the impacts of celebrity suicides, controlling for seasonality. Six of the 9 celebrity suicides had significant impacts on suicide rates both in the total population and in the same gender- or the same age-subgroups. The incident that occurred in the 1990s had no significant impact on the overall suicide rates, whereas the majority of the incidents in the 2000s had significant influences for 30 or 60 days following each incident. The influence of celebrity suicide was shown to reach its peak following the suicide death of a renowned actress in 2008. The findings may suggest a link between media coverage and the impact of celebrity suicide. Future studies should focus more on the underlying processes and confounding factors that may contribute to the impact of celebrity suicide on subsequent suicide rates.
Adult ; Aged ; *Famous Persons ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Newspapers as Topic ; Republic of Korea ; Suicide/psychology/*statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

There have been several studies supporting a possible relationship between high suicide rate and high altitude. However socioeconomic status may confound this association because low socioeconomic status, which is known to be related to a high suicide rate, is also associated with living at high altitude. This study aims to explore whether the relationship between high altitude and high suicide rate remains after adjusting for socioeconomic status in South Korea. We collected demographic data of completed suicides, the mean altitude of the district where each suicide took place, and the mean income of each district. We analyzed the data using regression analysis before and after adjustment for mean income. We found that there is a positive correlation between altitude and suicide rate, even after adjustment for mean income. Thus, altitude appears to be an independent risk factor for suicide.
Altitude* ; Korea ; Risk Factors ; Social Class* ; Suicide*

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the perceptions of healthcare staff of the health risks of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). METHODS: In total, 328 healthcare workers (e.g., physicians, nurses, medical students, and paramedics) completed a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed the following: risk perceptions of 17 environmental factors as potential health threats; EMF sources; information for the potential risks of EMF; and thoughts on how to protect the public from potential EMF-related health risks. RESULTS: Of the included environmental factors, high-tension power lines and mobile phone handsets were ranked as the second and fourth lowest perceived risk, respectively. Approximately 60% of respondents were concerned about the potential health risks of EMF and dissatisfied with the information they received. The main reason for dissatisfaction was insufficient information. The most frequently cited action was that the government should review the available scientific evidence on potential EMF-related health risks. CONCLUSIONS: Having scientific basis through well-designed researches and providing accurate information to the public on the potential health risks of EMF will be important in the future.
Cellular Phone ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Electromagnetic Fields* ; Humans ; Students, Medical

BACKGROUND: Implantation of xenogenic chromaffin cells into the spinal subarachnoid space can produce analgesia in neuropathic pain models. However, transplantation of xenogeneic chromaffin cell has a potential risk of viral or bacterial infections from animals to humans including encephalopathy due to prion transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of developing a homogeneic source of therapeutic chromaffin cells. METHODS: Anti-allodynic effects of human chromaffin cells (HCCs) were evaluated in a neuropathic pain model in rats induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. HCCs encapsulated with alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate were intrathecally implanted into rats (n = 10), while empty capsules were intrathecally implanted as a control (n = 8). Levels of norepinephrine from encapsulated HCCs before and after nicotinic stimulation were measured. We then perfomed a behavior test (cold allodynia) with acetone. In addition, to assess the potential contribution to pain reduction of opioid peptides released from the HCCs, all animals were injected with naloxone. RESULTS: The concentration of norepinephrine after nicotine stimulation was significantly increased compared to basal levels. Intrathecal implantation of encapsulated HCCs, significantly reduced cold allodynia as compared to rats receiving empty capsules (P < 0.05). Fifteen minutes after the injection of naloxone, cold allodynia significantly decreased in rats with HCCs (P < 0.05), while the degree of cold allodynia in control animals was unaltered. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it appears that HCCs have a possibility as an analgesic source for transplants delivering pain-reducing neuroactive substances.
Acetone ; Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Animals ; Bacterial Infections ; Capsules ; Chromaffin Cells ; Cold Temperature ; Constriction ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Naloxone ; Neuralgia ; Nicotine ; Norepinephrine ; Opioid Peptides ; Rats ; Sciatic Nerve ; Subarachnoid Space ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Rat mast cells were regarded as a good model for mast cell function in immune response. METHODS: Rat bone marrow mast cells (BMMC) were prepared both by recombinant rat IL-3 (rrIL-3) and by recombinant mouse stem cell factor (rmSCF), and investigated for both proliferation and differentiation in time course. Rat BMMC was induced by culture of rat bone marrow cells (BMCs) in the presence of both rrIL-3 (5 ng/ml) and rmSCF (5 ng/ml). Culture media were changed 2 times per week with the cell number condition of 5x10(4)/ml in 6 well plate. Proliferation was analyzed by cell number and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and differentiation was by rat mast cell protease (RMCP) II and histamine. RESULTS: Cell proliferation rates reached a maximum at 8 or 11 days of culture and decreased thereafter. However, both RMCP II production and histamine synthesis peaked after 11 days of culture. By real time RT-PCR, the level of histidine decarboxylase mRNA was more than 500 times higher on culture day 11 than on culture day 5. By transmission electron microscopy, the cells were heterogeneous in size and contained cytoplasmic granules. Using gated flow cytometry, we showed that cultured BMCs expressed high levels of FcepsilonRI and the mast cell antigen, ganglioside, on culture day 11. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that rat BMMCs were generated by culturing BMCs in the presence of rrIL-3 and rmSCF and that the BMMCs have the characteristics of mucosal mast cells.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Culture Media ; Cytoplasmic Granules ; Flow Cytometry ; Histamine ; Histidine Decarboxylase ; Interleukin-3 ; Kinetics ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phenotype ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Stem Cell Factor

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the pattern of physical restraints used in ICUs and to identify influencing factors of application and removal of restraints. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 90 restrained patients out of 215 patients over 6 years old who were admitted to 6 ICUs in SMC during a 2 weeks period. The data was collected through a questionnaire of characte-ristics, guidelines and nursing care of restraint uses. The data were analyzed by non-parametric statistic with the use of the SAS program. RESULTS: The restraints were applied to 31.4% of subjects. Mean time of physical restraint was 36.76 55.7 hours. There were significant difference with mean time and frequency according to duty shift. GCS, restless behavior and discomfort factors, medical devices, and life sustaining devices had significant relation with application of restraints. In addition, the mean time of restraints used were related significantly with GCS, restless behavior, and discomfort factors. CONCLUSION: The used of restraints were dependent on mainly the nurses' decision. Thus ICU nurses have to develop the guidelines to applying restraints and removal of restraints in regard to patients rights and ethics. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of application of the restraints is essential in professional nursing.
Child ; Ethics ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Patient Rights ; Restraint, Physical* ; Surveys and Questionnaires