Sinus venosus is a rare cardiac defect, which may lead to an interatrial shunt. Diagnosis on echocardiography may be difficult requiring an evaluation by a board-certified cardiologist. We report a case of a 41 year-old male who presented with recurrent episodes of hemiparesis (first left sided, second right sided). Surgical correction of sinus venosus led to resolution of his symptoms.
Heart Septal Defects, Atrial

Subcutaneous emphysema is a complication of the pneumoperitoneum necessary to perform laparoscopy and will be seen more often as laparoscopic techniques are applied to a growing number of intraabdominal procedures. We report a case of subcutaneous emphysema and hypercarbia without pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which was treated by multiple puncture with 18G needle on emphysematous site. The suspected cause is inadvertent subcutaneous insufflation of carbon dioxide through the trocar sites by increased intra-abdominal pressure for the establishment of pneumoperitoneum. Immediate recognition, evaluation, and treatment of subcutaneous emphysema is necessary since this can be life-threatening complication.
Carbon Dioxide ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Insufflation ; Laparoscopy ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Needles ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Pneumothorax ; Punctures ; Subcutaneous Emphysema* ; Surgical Instruments

BACKGROUND: Endobroncheal intubation or extubation may occur accidentally when the patient's neck is flexed or extended even in the appropriate endotracheal intubation. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of fixation or unfixation of the endotracheal tube at the teeth level on the displacement of its distal end when the patient's neck is extended or flexed. METHODS: This study was conducted in 37 patients who underwent endotracheal general anesthesia. The patients with the evidence of pathology in head, neck and chest were excluded from the study. Individual patient's displacement in endotracheal tube tip compared unfixed cases with fixed cases when the change of neck position. The moved distance was measured by fiberoptic bronchoscope. The data were statistically analyzed by Student's paired t-test. RESULTS: The endotracheal tube moved away from the carina when the patient's neck was extended, while it moved toward the carina when flexed in all cases. When the patient's neck was extended the average distance displaced 1.2 0.7 cm in fixed cases and 1.1 0.9 cm in unfixed cases. when the neck was flexed, they were 1.2 0.5 cm and 1.0 0.8 cm respectively. There were not statistically significant between the fixed and the unfixed cases. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the displacement of the endotracheal tube is not related to its fixation or unfixation at the teeth level and therefore, unfixation does not provide any benefits in terms of the displacement of the distal end of the tube in adult trachea.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Bronchoscopes ; Head ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Neck* ; Pathology ; Thorax ; Tooth ; Trachea

OBJECTIVES: Considering large diversity of clinical presentation of schizophrenia, it is important to identify valid clinical subtypes or dimensions that might have homogeneous biological underpinning. The current study aimed to explore lifetime symptom-based dimensional phenotypes in patients with chronic schizophrenia, and to investigate their correlation with cognitive functions and other clinical characteristics. METHODS: Lifetime-based symptoms and additional clinical variables were measured using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies and the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome in 315 clinically stable patients with chronic schizophrenia. Through principal components factor analysis, eight dimensional phenotypes were obtained. Comprehensive neuropsychological tests were administered for 103 out of 315 patients, and domain scores were calculated for cognitive domains defined in the MATRICS consensus battery. RESULTS: 'Non-paranoid delusion factor' including delusions of grandiose or religious nature, showed significant negative correlation with processing speed, working memory, attention/vigilance, and general cognitive ability, and positive correlation with intra-individual variability. 'Negative symptom factor' showed significant negative correlation only with general cognitive ability. Those two factors were also negatively correlated with function levels measured by Global Assessment Scale (GAS), and associated with poor treatment responses. CONCLUSION: Symptom-based dimensional phenotypes of schizophrenia measured on a lifetime basis showed discriminative correlation with cognitive function domains, global functioning level, and overall treatment responses, indicating their possibility as valid phenotype axes of schizophrenia having homogeneous biologic basis.
Appointments and Schedules ; Cognition ; Consensus ; Delusions ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Phenotype ; Schizophrenia*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the degree of dry mouth and oral health-related quality of life and to identify factors contributing to oral health-related quality of life for community-dwelling elders. METHODS: A descriptive correlational study design was used. Participants were 156 older adults from two senior welfare centers. Data were collected on February 21, 22 and 29, 30, 2009 using structured questionnaires. Enter type multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing oral health-related quality of life according to general and oral health characteristics. RESULTS: There were significant differences in oral health-related quality of life according to living arrangement, insurance, smoking, number of natural teeth, and denture type. The oral health-related quality of life had significant correlations with the number of chronic disease, number of medications, and dry mouth. Factors influencing oral health-related quality of life for community-dwelling older adults were dry mouth, number of chronic disease, and medical aid, which explained about 47.9% of total variance. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that in order to promote oral health-related quality of life for older adults, prevention or management of chronic diseases as well as oral health and dry mouth are needed for this population, and especially economically poor elders.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dentures ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oral Health ; Personal Satisfaction ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Smoking ; Xerostomia/*psychology

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the effect of direct practice of newborn health assessment on nursing student's clinical competence and self-efficacy and to propose effective strategies for clinical education on newborn care. METHODS: Design was a nonequivalent control group quasi-experimental study. The direct practice program was composed of a lecture, demonstration, drill and feedback using a manikin, and repeated direct practice regarding newborn health assessment. Participants were 65 student nurses taking the pediatric nursing practicum in the nursery room at M hospital. The experimental group (n=33) participated in the direct practice program for newborn health assessment and the control group (n=32) received the traditional practice method. Nursing clinical competence was assessed by two nurse investigators and structured questionnaires were used to measure self-efficacy. RESULTS: The experimental group's clinical competence was significantly higher than that of the control group (t=-4.82, p=.000). However no significant difference was found between the two groups for self-efficacy (t=1.264, p=.211). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the direct practice program is effective in improving nursing student's clinical competence, but it was not effective in increasing self-efficacy. Direct practice in various clinical education settings is recommended and longitudinal effects be evaluated.
Clinical Competence* ; Education ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Manikins ; Nurseries ; Nursing* ; Pediatric Nursing ; Research Personnel

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of immunosuppressants on in-hospital mortality from sepsis. METHODS: Using data of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, we collected data from patients who were admitted to the hospital due to sepsis from 2009 to 2013. Based on drugs commonly used for immunosuppression caused by various diseases, patients were divided into three groups; immunosuppressant group, steroid-only group, and control group. Patients with no history of immunosuppressants or steroids were assigned to the control group. To identify risk factors of in-hospital mortality in sepsis, we compared differences in patient characteristics, comorbidities, intensive care unit (ICU) care requirements, and immunodeficiency profiles. Subgroup analysis according to age was also performed. RESULTS: Of the 185,671 included patients, 13,935 (7.5%) were in the steroid-only group and 2,771 patients (1.5%) were in the immunosuppressant group. The overall in-hospital mortality was 38.9% and showed an increasing trend with age. The steroid-only group showed the lowest in-hospital mortality among the three groups except the patients younger than 30 years. The steroid-only group and immunosuppressant group received ICU treatment more frequently (p < 0.001), stayed longer in the hospital (p < 0.001), and showed higher medical expenditure (p < 0.001) compared to the normal group. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that age, male gender, comorbidities (especially malignancy), and ICU treatment had a significant effect on in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Despite longer hospital length of stay and more frequent need for ICU care, the in-hospital mortality was lower in patients taking immunosuppressive drugs than in patients not taking immunosuppressive drugs.
Comorbidity ; Health Expenditures ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Insurance* ; Insurance, Health ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis* ; Steroids

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe current status in management of children with atopic dermatitis and to examine knowledge and care practices of preschool teachers. METHODS: A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted. Knowledge and practice were measured with the questionnaire by Park (2011). Data were analysed using SPSS.WIN 20.0. RESULTS: Of the teachers, 81.3% managed children with atopic dermatitis depending on parents' needs and 58.9% reported difficulties due to limited knowledge and expressed a need for continuing education and provision of educational guidelines. Preschool teachers had a mean score for knowledge about atopic dermatitis of .75 out of 1 point. Among three domains of knowledge, signs & symptoms had the highest score and management, the lowest. The mean score for care practices for children with atopic dermatitis was 3.4 out of 4 points. Among the four domains of care practices, food had the highest score and dress & bedclothes, the lowest. Knowledge and practice of the teachers were different according to responsibility in management and educational need. The correlation between knowledge and practice was not significant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that educational programs and strategies should be developed to increase preschool teachers' knowledge and improve care practice for children with atopic dermatitis.
Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Education, Continuing ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A 31-year-old female with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) presented with left hemiparesis. One year prior to this presentation she had been diagnosed with bihemispheric cerebral infarctions associated with moyamoya syndrome. During her current presentation, MRI revealed acute infarction of the right hemisphere and MRA revealed occlusion of the right internal carotid artery (ICA), and aggravation of the preexisting stenosis of the contralateral ICA and ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery compared to the previous MRA. We report herein a case of progressive moyamoya syndrome associated with PNH.
Adult ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Paresis ; Posterior Cerebral Artery

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the factors contributing to sleep disorders in patients on hemodialysis. Methods: A descriptive correlational study design was used. The participants were 135 patients on hemodialysis in hemodialysis clinics. Data were collected from March to May 2007 using structured questionnaires and hematologic sample. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify factors influencing sleep disorders among the demographic-clinical factors, depression and fatigue. RESULTS: About 69% of the patients had a sleep disorders. There were significant differences in sleep disorders according to marital status, caregiver, religion, economic level, insurance, erythropoietin, somnifacient, and antihypertensive agents. But there were no differences according to age, gender, dialysis period, or antidepressants. Their sleep disorders had significant correlations with depression, and fatigue, and a significant negative correlation with Protein, Albumin, Phosphate and BUN. But there were no correlations with hematocrit, hemoglobin, creatinine, sodium, potassium, or calcium. Depression and fatigue were factors influencing sleep disorders. They accounted for 43.8% of the variance in sleep disorders in these patients. CONCLUSION: Findings provide an understanding of sleep disorders and the factors that are an influence in patients on hemodialysis. To promote sleep in these patients, nursing interventions to manage depression and fatigue are needed.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Calcium ; Caregivers ; Creatinine ; Depression ; Dialysis ; Erythropoietin ; Fatigue ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Insurance ; Marital Status ; Potassium ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Renal Dialysis ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sodium