Neural tube defects are reported one of the important congenital malformation in the world, with an incidence of 1.4 to 2 per 1000 pregnancies. Maternal serum AFP at the second trimester is used as screening test. But this is associated with numerous causes, including twins, fetal death, misdated pregnancies, cystic hygromas, teratomas, renal abnormalities, esophageal atresia and aberrations in the placenta. If the AFP level was elevated, targeted ultrasonography should be evaluated for confirming the gestational age and fetal viability, fetal number. Then if the ultrasonographic examination is nondiagnostic, or if an NTD is suspected, amniotic fluid AFP should be measured with acetylcholinesterase. But the false positive rate of the AF-AFP is high, and there is 0.3% of the false positive rate in amniotic acetylcholinesterase. This time the women with normal ultrasonographic examination continue the pregnancy after counseling of family history, past history with follow up of ultrasonography. We report a case with elevated second trimester MS-AFP, AF-AFP and positive amniotic acetylcholinesterase, but in which repeated sonographic findings were normal and result in delivery of a healthy baby without anomalies.
Acetylcholinesterase* ; Amniotic Fluid ; Counseling ; Esophageal Atresia ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetal Viability ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Mass Screening ; Neural Tube Defects ; Placenta ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy* ; Teratoma ; Ultrasonography

Background: This study investigates changes in infection control organizations and the roles of infection control nurses in healthcare institutions during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to provide evidence for preparing effective responses to future emerging infectious diseases. Methods: A survey was conducted from August 9 to 27, 2021, targeting infection control nurses working in infection control departments of general hospitals in South Korea with more than 100 beds. Results: A total of 118 (38.3%) healthcare institutions responded, and 113 questionnaires ultimately analyzed. Changes in infection control organizations observed during the COVID-19 pandemic included alterations in infection control department staffing (34.5%), work arrangements (92.0%), IT systems development (45.1%), facilities and equipment (92.9%), and systems for responding to emerging infectious diseases (99.1%). Over 50% of infection control tasks were performed either frequently or daily during the pandemic, with the most significant workload increase observed in epidemiological investigations (77.9%). The most challenging task for infection control nurses was establishing and operating epidemic management systems (82.3%). Among personal factors hindering their work, a sense of responsibility for their duties scored the highest (mean 4.73/5 points). The primary structural and environmental barrier was insufficient staffing (mean 4.36/5 points). The most critical need for improving infection control efforts was increased staffing in infection control departments and enhanced administrative support (mean 4.63/5 points). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to infection control organizations and the roles of infection control nurses. Based on the lessons learned, healthcare institutions must systematically restructure infection control organizations and enhance the expertise of infection control nurses to respond effectively to future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

Background: This study investigates changes in infection control organizations and the roles of infection control nurses in healthcare institutions during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to provide evidence for preparing effective responses to future emerging infectious diseases. Methods: A survey was conducted from August 9 to 27, 2021, targeting infection control nurses working in infection control departments of general hospitals in South Korea with more than 100 beds. Results: A total of 118 (38.3%) healthcare institutions responded, and 113 questionnaires ultimately analyzed. Changes in infection control organizations observed during the COVID-19 pandemic included alterations in infection control department staffing (34.5%), work arrangements (92.0%), IT systems development (45.1%), facilities and equipment (92.9%), and systems for responding to emerging infectious diseases (99.1%). Over 50% of infection control tasks were performed either frequently or daily during the pandemic, with the most significant workload increase observed in epidemiological investigations (77.9%). The most challenging task for infection control nurses was establishing and operating epidemic management systems (82.3%). Among personal factors hindering their work, a sense of responsibility for their duties scored the highest (mean 4.73/5 points). The primary structural and environmental barrier was insufficient staffing (mean 4.36/5 points). The most critical need for improving infection control efforts was increased staffing in infection control departments and enhanced administrative support (mean 4.63/5 points). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to infection control organizations and the roles of infection control nurses. Based on the lessons learned, healthcare institutions must systematically restructure infection control organizations and enhance the expertise of infection control nurses to respond effectively to future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

Background: This study investigates changes in infection control organizations and the roles of infection control nurses in healthcare institutions during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to provide evidence for preparing effective responses to future emerging infectious diseases. Methods: A survey was conducted from August 9 to 27, 2021, targeting infection control nurses working in infection control departments of general hospitals in South Korea with more than 100 beds. Results: A total of 118 (38.3%) healthcare institutions responded, and 113 questionnaires ultimately analyzed. Changes in infection control organizations observed during the COVID-19 pandemic included alterations in infection control department staffing (34.5%), work arrangements (92.0%), IT systems development (45.1%), facilities and equipment (92.9%), and systems for responding to emerging infectious diseases (99.1%). Over 50% of infection control tasks were performed either frequently or daily during the pandemic, with the most significant workload increase observed in epidemiological investigations (77.9%). The most challenging task for infection control nurses was establishing and operating epidemic management systems (82.3%). Among personal factors hindering their work, a sense of responsibility for their duties scored the highest (mean 4.73/5 points). The primary structural and environmental barrier was insufficient staffing (mean 4.36/5 points). The most critical need for improving infection control efforts was increased staffing in infection control departments and enhanced administrative support (mean 4.63/5 points). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to infection control organizations and the roles of infection control nurses. Based on the lessons learned, healthcare institutions must systematically restructure infection control organizations and enhance the expertise of infection control nurses to respond effectively to future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

Background: This study investigates changes in infection control organizations and the roles of infection control nurses in healthcare institutions during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to provide evidence for preparing effective responses to future emerging infectious diseases. Methods: A survey was conducted from August 9 to 27, 2021, targeting infection control nurses working in infection control departments of general hospitals in South Korea with more than 100 beds. Results: A total of 118 (38.3%) healthcare institutions responded, and 113 questionnaires ultimately analyzed. Changes in infection control organizations observed during the COVID-19 pandemic included alterations in infection control department staffing (34.5%), work arrangements (92.0%), IT systems development (45.1%), facilities and equipment (92.9%), and systems for responding to emerging infectious diseases (99.1%). Over 50% of infection control tasks were performed either frequently or daily during the pandemic, with the most significant workload increase observed in epidemiological investigations (77.9%). The most challenging task for infection control nurses was establishing and operating epidemic management systems (82.3%). Among personal factors hindering their work, a sense of responsibility for their duties scored the highest (mean 4.73/5 points). The primary structural and environmental barrier was insufficient staffing (mean 4.36/5 points). The most critical need for improving infection control efforts was increased staffing in infection control departments and enhanced administrative support (mean 4.63/5 points). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to infection control organizations and the roles of infection control nurses. Based on the lessons learned, healthcare institutions must systematically restructure infection control organizations and enhance the expertise of infection control nurses to respond effectively to future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

No abstract available.
Keratitis*

With the number of long-term care facilities in Korea increasing substantially, their quality and evaluation system has been an issue of concern. Policy makers need to consider critical aspects relating to health outcomes and client satisfaction when evaluating quality in long-term care. This requires a substantial amount of information gathered from a system of inspection, survey, data, and feedback. This study reviews the characteristics of Online Survey Certification and Reporting system (OSCAR) and the survey instrument used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the U.S. and introduces the history of the U.S. nursing home (NH) inspection/survey system. OSCAR is administered by state agencies that contract with CMS and collect data through onsite inspections of facilities approximately once per year. The major components of OSCAR data are facility characteristics, resident characteristics, and survey deficiencies including scope and severity. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of OSCAR, the primary source of information on the performance of all Medicare/Medicaid certified facilities, including a comparison of resident health outcome evaluation measurement between Korea's assessment tool and OSCAR. Introduction of a data collection system that includes a periodic survey process similar to OSCAR may help policy makers gain a better understanding of the NH industry in Korea and address shortcomings of the system.
Administrative Personnel ; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (U.S.) ; Certification ; Contracts ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Korea ; Long-Term Care ; Nursing Homes ; United States

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of precocious puberty and elucidate the distinct characteristics of each type of perception related to precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone treatment for the condition. Methods: This study applied the Q methodology to identify and classify the perceptions of precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone treatment for the condition. The analysis involved 34 questions from the Q sample and data from 35 individuals in the P sample, using the PC-QUANL Program for analysis. Results: The perceptions of precocious puberty among school-aged children who had undergone precocious puberty treatment were classified into the following four types: "shyness - passive self-management," "resentment - suppression," "anxiety - fear," and "adaptation - acceptance." Conclusion This study investigated the experiences and perceptions of children who have undergone treatment for precocious puberty. Through the identification of four types of perceptions, we can see that there is a need to develop an intervention program for nursing that is tailored to the specific type of precocious puberty.

No abstract available.
Epilepsy ; Humans ; Ophthalmoplegia

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) is a complicated procedure with a high incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Previous studies indicate that even transient or mild post-LT AKI can result in critical conditions, including prolonged stays in hospitals and intensive care units and increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and occurrence of AKI in LT recipients. METHODS: Medical data from 203 patients who received LT surgery from January 2010 to August 2016 in a single university hospital setting were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Patients were classified as either underweight (BMI <20 kg/m²) or normal weight (20 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m²). Demographic data, anesthetic methods, complications, and perioperative laboratory test values of each patient were assessed. Propensity analyses and logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between BMI and post-LT AKI. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in occurrence of post-LT AKI between underweight and normal weight patients. The underweight patient group had significantly longer hospital stay compared with the normal weight patient group (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: BMI classification was neither a positive nor negative predictor of postoperative AKI occurrence. However, patients with lower BMI had significantly longer hospital stay compared with their counterparts. Although our study was limited by its retrospective design, our observations suggest that lower BMI might play a role in post-LT AKI.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Body Mass Index* ; Classification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies* ; Thinness