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*

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial in regulating cellular biology by playing key roles in processes such as the rapid on and off switching of signaling network and the regulation of enzymatic activities without affecting gene expressions. PTMs lead to conformational changes in the tertiary structure of protein and resultant regulation of protein function such as activation, inhibition, or signaling roles. PTMs such as phosphorylation, acetylation, and S-nitrosylation of specific sites in proteins have key roles in regulation of mitochondrial functions, thereby contributing to the progression to heart failure. Despite the extensive study of PTMs in mitochondrial proteins much remains unclear. Further research is yet to be undertaken to elucidate how changes in the proteins may lead to cardiovascular and metabolic disease progression in particular. We aimed to summarize the various types of PTMs that occur in mitochondrial proteins, which might be associated with heart failure. This study will increase the understanding of cardiovascular diseases through PTM.
Acetylation ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Gene Expression ; Heart Failure ; Metabolic Diseases ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Proteins* ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational*

This study was performed in order to investigate dietary habits, health related lifestyle and blood cadmium and lead levels in female college students. 80 college students (43 males and 37 females) participated in the survey questionnaires. Body weight and height, blood pressure, and body composition were measured. The systolic blood pressure of male and female students were 128.9 +/- 13.9 and 109.8 +/- 12.0, respectively. The diastolic blood pressure of male and female students were 77.1 +/- 10.3 and 66.0 +/- 6.9, respectively, showing that male students had significantly higher blood pressure than female students (P < 0.001). The BMI of male and female students were 23.4 +/- 3.3 and 20.2 +/- 2.3, respectively. Most male students were in the range of being overweight. The dietary habits score of female students was significantly higher than that of male students (P < 0.01).The blood cadmium level of male and female students were 0.54 +/- 0.23 and 0.52 +/- 0.36, respectively. There was no significant difference between male and female students. The blood lead level of male and female students were 1.09 +/- 0.49 and 0.59 +/- 0.45, respectively. The blood lead level of male students was significantly higher than that of female students (P < 0.001). The blood cadmium level of smokers and nonsmokers were 0.69 +/- 0.29 and 0.49 +/- 0.29 respectively (P < 0.05). The blood cadmium level of smokers was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (P < 0.05). The blood lead level of smokers and nonsmokers were 1.09 +/- 0.43 and 0.80 +/- 0.54, respectively. The blood lead level of smokers was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (P < 0.05). Therefore, proper nutritional education programs are required for college students in order to improve their dietary and health related living habits.
Blood Pressure ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Cadmium ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Overweight ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.

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