BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate nurses' clinical competence and its relationship with perception of and compliance with standard precautions. METHODS: From January 12 to January 20, 2011, a total of 134 nurses working at a university hospital in Gyeonggi province completed a structured questionnaire on clinical competence and perception of and compliance with standard precautions. The data were analyzed with independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: The mean score for clinical competence was 3.53, and showed significant differences according to age, gender, education level, marital status, monthly income, and years of experience. The mean scores for perception of and compliance with standard precautions were 4.67 and 4.00 respectively. Perception of standard precautions showed a significant difference according to years of experience. There were significant positive correlations among clinical competence and perception (r=0.234, P=0.007), clinical competence and compliance (r=0.363, P<0.001), and perception and compliance (r=0.406, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: To improve nurses' compliance with standard precautions educational and administrative policies to improve clinical competence should be considered.
Clinical Competence ; Compliance ; Infection Control ; Marital Status

No abstract available.
Angiofibroma* ; Estrogens* ; Progesterone* ; Receptors, Progesterone*

No abstract available.
Granuloma, Lethal Midline*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Nasal polyps are also prominent features of cystic fibrosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the CFTR expression and CF mutation genes in nasal polyps to verify genetic influence in the nasal polyp formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have evaluated 30 nasal polyps, 10 recurrent nasal polyps, and 10 inferior turbinates. RT-PCR was done for the CFTR mRNA expression and mutaion genes were studied by RFLP. Immunohistochemical study and western blotting were done for CFTR expression. RESULTS: RT-PCR revealed no differences in the expressions of CFTR transcripts between nasal polyps and nasal turbinates. The expression of CFTR protein was localized on apical portion of some ciliated cells on immunohistochemistry, and western blotting showed no differences in expression levels of CFTR protein. Three different mutations (deltaF508, 591 del 18, G551D) were analysed. One case of deltaF508 was detected in the samples. CONCLUSIONS: The expression levels of CFTR mRNA and CFTR protein may not be associated with the pathogenesis of nasal polyps, but it needs to be studied further on the physiological base. We also need to study further regarding the relation between CFTR mutaion genes and the development of nasal polyps with more mutaional screenings in cDNA levels.
Blotting, Western ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; Cystic Fibrosis* ; DNA, Complementary ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mass Screening ; Nasal Polyps* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Messenger ; Turbinates

We present a case of Hashimoto's thyroiditis accompanied by chronic daily headache which was relieved by levothyroxine therapy. A 12-year-old girl was referred to our hospital complaining of continuous, bilateral, and non-pulsatile headache which had begun 9 months before. After 2 weeks of appropriate levothyroxine therapy, headache markedly improved. After 4 months of follow-up, she had no new episode of headache.
Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Headache Disorders* ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis* ; Thyroxine

The anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of Angelica gigas (EAG) were investigated in vitro and in vivo using croton oil-induced inflammation models. Croton oil (20 microgram/mL) up-regulated mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-I and COX-II in the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, resulting in the release of high concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). EAG (1~10 microgram/mL) markedly suppressed croton oil-induced COX-II mRNA expression and PGE2 production. Application of croton oil (5% in acetone) to mouse ears caused severe local erythema, edema and vascular leakage, which were significantly attenuated by oral pre-treatment with EAG (50~500 mg/kg). Croton oil dramatically increased blood levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and PGE2 without affecting tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) levels. EAG pre-treatment remarkably lowered IL-6 and PGE2, but did not alter TNF-alpha or NO concentrations. These results indicate that EAG attenuates inflammatory responses in part by blocking the COX-PGE2 pathway. Therefore, EAG could be a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Angelica/*immunology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 1/genetics/*immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics/*immunology ; Dinoprostone/genetics/immunology ; Inflammation/drug therapy/enzymology/*immunology ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Macrophages ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide/blood ; Phytotherapy/*methods ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Plant Roots/immunology ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood

The most cornmon obstruction of left ventricular outflow in childhood is produced either by a fibrous ring below the aortic valve, or by localized or diffuse muscular hypertrophy of the inter-ventricular septum. Cardiac tumors causing subaortic stenosis in the newborn infant are extremely rare. This report describes two cases of subaortic stenosis caused by a tumor of the left ventricle in newborn infants, both diagnosed by 2-dimensional echocardiography. In one patient, the obstructive portion of the tumor was successfully resected from its attachment to the ventricular septum by aortotomy on day 5. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of rhabdomyoma. This patient developed cutaneous, neurologic and radiologic abnormalities of tuberous sclerosis during the follow-up of 42 months.
Aortic Valve ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Infant, Newborn* ; Rhabdomyoma ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Ventricular Septum

OBJECTIVE: To localize the site of motor points within human biceps brachii muscles through surface mapping using electrophysiological method. METHOD: We recorded the compound muscle action potentials of each lattice of the biceps brachii in 40 healthy subjects. Standardized reference lines were made as the following: 1) a horizontal reference line (elbow crease) and 2) a vertical reference line connecting coracoid process and mid-point of the horizontal reference line. The Compound muscle action potentials were mapped in reference to the standardized reference lines. The locations of motor points were mapped to the skin surface, in the ratio to the length of the vertical and the half of the horizontal reference lines. RESULTS: The motor point of the short head of biceps was located at 69.0+/-4.9% distal and 19.1+/-9.5% medial to the mid-point of horizontal reference line. The location of the motor point of the long head of the biceps was 67.3+/-4.3% distal and 21.4+/-8.7% lateral. The motor point of the short head of the biceps was located more medially and distally in the male subjects compared to that in the female (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed electrophysiological motor points of the biceps brachii muscles through surface mapping. This data might improve the clinical efficacy and the feasibility of motor point targeting, when injecting botulinum neurotoxin in biceps brachii.
Action Potentials ; Botulinum Toxins ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Skin

OBJECTIVE: To localize the site of motor points within human biceps brachii muscles through surface mapping using electrophysiological method. METHOD: We recorded the compound muscle action potentials of each lattice of the biceps brachii in 40 healthy subjects. Standardized reference lines were made as the following: 1) a horizontal reference line (elbow crease) and 2) a vertical reference line connecting coracoid process and mid-point of the horizontal reference line. The Compound muscle action potentials were mapped in reference to the standardized reference lines. The locations of motor points were mapped to the skin surface, in the ratio to the length of the vertical and the half of the horizontal reference lines. RESULTS: The motor point of the short head of biceps was located at 69.0+/-4.9% distal and 19.1+/-9.5% medial to the mid-point of horizontal reference line. The location of the motor point of the long head of the biceps was 67.3+/-4.3% distal and 21.4+/-8.7% lateral. The motor point of the short head of the biceps was located more medially and distally in the male subjects compared to that in the female (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed electrophysiological motor points of the biceps brachii muscles through surface mapping. This data might improve the clinical efficacy and the feasibility of motor point targeting, when injecting botulinum neurotoxin in biceps brachii.
Action Potentials ; Botulinum Toxins ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Skin

About a third of the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis have reduced arterial oxygen saturation and are sometimes cyanosed in the absence of any apparent lung or heart disease; There is a reduction of diffusing capacity without a restrictive ventilatory defect. The aim of this study was to determine diffusing capacities in patients with chronic liver- diseases. The diffusing capacities and arterial oxygen saturations were measured in 25 patients with chronic active hepatitis(CAH), 9 early cirrhotics (early LC), 36 cirrhotics(Child's class A) and 11 cirrhotics(Child's class B). The anterior tibial area was observed for pitting edema, and Thallium-201 test per rectum(shunt index) was done. Hypoxemia was not observed in all subjects. The number of cases with decreased pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLco) is 3/25(12.0%) for CAH, 3/9(33.3%) for CAH with early liver cirrhosis(LC), 17/36(47.2%) for LC(Child's class A) and 6/11(54.5%) for LC(Child's class B). The mean+/-standard deviation of Dlco(% predicred) are 93.1+/-12.1 for CAH, 85.7+/-12.3 for CAH with early LC, 82.2+/-14.7 for LC(Child's class A) and 80.4+/-6.9 for LC(Child's class B), There is a significant difference between DLco in CAH and that in LC(Child's class A)(p<0.01). Patients with higher shunt index(>0.3) had significantly lower DLco than these with lower shunt index(<0.3)(76.4+/-9.7% vs. 89.3+/-13.3%)(p<0.01). The DLco was also lower in patients with pitting edema(77.3+/-10.2%) than in those without pitting edema(85.5+/-13.8%) (p<0.01). These results summarized that the DLco was low in patients with cirrhosis and with higher shunt index(>0.3) or pitting edema. This may be due to an increased systemic blood flow shunt and an increased generalized interstitial edema. Pulmonary function tests including diffusing capacity may be useful as prognostic parameters in patients with chronic liver disease, especially in those with CAH or early LC.
Anoxia ; Edema ; Fibrosis ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity* ; Respiratory Function Tests