PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify an adequate chest compression site with measurement of the sternal length of young Korean adults. METHODS: We measured the distance from the suprasternal notch to the lower end of the sternum by palpation and width of heel above the carpal bone end 1 cm (H1), 2 cm (H2) in young Korean adults. We also measured weight, height, and BMI of participants. We then compared correlation of each collected variant to sternal length and heel length. RESULTS: A total of 200 young adults (100 men, 100 women) were enrolled. In measurement of the mean sternal length (SL), no difference was observed between men (19.9 cm) and women (19.6 cm) (p<0.05). However, height, weight, and BMI showed positive correlation with SL (R2 value, BMI=6.7, height=9.2, weight=10.4). After participants were divided into four groups based on gender and mean height, we calculated mean H2 and SL/2 of each group. The mean H2 and SL/2 of the group composed of men above mean height was 8.5 cm and 10.2 cm. The same value for the group of men below mean height was 8.5 cm and 9.7 cm. The mean H2 and SL/2 of the group composed of women above mean height was 7.5 cm and 10.1 cm. The same values for the group of women below mean height were 7.3 cm and 9.6 cm. The mean SL/2 was always higher than the mean H2 in different height groups. CONCLUSION: Compression just above the lower end of the sternum by heel on the hand is appropriate in men. In contrast, when performing chest compression in women, chest compression at the level of the sternum away from the width of the index finger of the sternal end is recommended.
Adult* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Carpal Bones ; Female ; Fingers ; Hand ; Heel ; Humans ; Male ; Palpation ; Sternum ; Thorax* ; Young Adult

Purpose: Nurses’ burnout is at risk due to increased of respiratory infections and their high demand and expectations. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence burnout among nurses caring for patients with respiratory infections. Methods: A total of 196 nurses caring for patients with respiratory infections from nine hospitals in Korea participated in this study. Data were collected through a structured, self-administered survey that included general characteristics, risk perception of respiratory infections, infection control fatigue, positive psychological capital, and burnout. Results: Burnout was significantly positively correlated with infection control fatigue and significantly negatively correlated with positive psychological capital; burnout was not significantly related to risk perception of respiratory infections. Infection control fatigue, positive psychological capital and total career significantly influenced burnout. These variables accounted for 38% of the burnout among nurses caring for patients with respiratory infections. Conclusion Evidence-based guidelines are needed to support the ability of nurses with little experience in responding to infectious diseases and reducing infection control fatigue and providing effective educational programs at institutions that can improve the positive psychological capital of individual nurses.

Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene has been widely used for the classification of microorganisms. However, we have been unable to clearly identify five Flavobacterium species isolated from a freshwater by using the gene as a single marker, because the evolutionary history is incomplete and the pace of DNA substitutions is relatively rapid in the bacteria. In this study, we tried to classify Flavobacterium species through multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), which is a practical and reliable technique for the identification or classification of bacteria. The five Flavobacterium species isolated from freshwater and 37 other strains were classified based on six housekeeping genes: gyrB, dnaK, tuf, murG, atpA, and glyA. The genes were amplified by PCR and subjected to DNA sequencing. Based on the combined DNA sequence (4,412 bp) of the six housekeeping genes, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationship among the Flavobacterium species. The results indicated that MLSA, based on the six housekeeping genes, is a trustworthy method for the identification of closely related Flavobacterium species.
Bacteria ; Base Sequence ; Classification ; DNA ; Flavobacterium ; Fresh Water* ; Genes, Essential ; Genes, rRNA ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder caused by monosomy of the X chromosome, with complete or partial absence of the second sex chromosome. Anomalies of root morphology have been found to occur more often in patients with TS, which make endodontic treatment challenging and requires special handling. The patients with TS may also have systematic problems such as cardiac or renal malformations, so in treating these patients it is important for clinicians not only to be aware of the characteristic intraoral findings, but also to make the patients have regular dental check-ups to prevent oral complications in advance.An 12-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with TS at the age of 10 years was referred due to discomfort in the bilateral mandibular premolar regions. Dens evaginatus and taurodontism were detected in all the mandibular premolars characteristically. The bilateral mandibular first premolars had three roots and the bilateral mandibular second premolars had periapical lesion with two roots. Due to the complexity of the root canal anatomy, root canal treatment were completed with a dental microscope to ensure adequate visualization. After 2 years of regular follow-up examinations, there were no clinical sign or symptom associated with the teeth, and no periapical lesion, was found.This case report describes the characteristic oral features and dental management of TS patients.
Bicuspid ; Child ; Chromosome Disorders ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Monosomy ; Sex Chromosomes ; Tooth ; Turner Syndrome ; X Chromosome

Objectives: This study was conducted to explore recent trends in the prevalence of pediatric elevated blood pressure and hypertension (HTN) in Korea and the United States, applying the new HTN reference values for adolescents. Methods: This study analyzed 17 339 (8755 Korean and 8584 American) adolescents aged 10 to 17 who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, respectively, between 2005 and 2016. HTN was defined using percentile-based reference values for non-overweight adolescents from 7 nations, and obesity was defined by body mass index (BMI) based on country-specific growth charts. All analyses were stratified by sex and year-over-year changes were evaluated by calculating the p for trend. Results: Systolic blood pressure showed a statistically meaningful upward trend in Korean boys and girls, while diastolic blood pressure did not show any significant changes. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels declined among United States boys and girls. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure and HTN remained similar in Korean adolescents, but declined in both sexes among United States adolescents. BMI increased in both sexes among Korean adolescents, although the overweight and obesity rates stayed the same. No significant trends were found in any obesity indices among United States adolescents. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure and HTN by obesity level was higher among Korean adolescents than among their United States peers in both sexes, and the gap became higher at more severe levels of obesity. Conclusions Despite the strong correlation between obesity and HTN, recent trends in the prevalence of HTN and obesity among Korean and United States adolescents were strikingly different. Follow-up studies are necessary to determine why the prevalence of HTN was more than twice as high among Korean adolescents than among their United States counterparts.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at finding out the exposure level of bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disruptor, in relation to dietary factors using a data representing the Korean general population. METHODS: This study was performed on 5402 adults aged 19 years and older based on the Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS 2012–2014). The data analyzed urinary BPA concentration in relation to socio-demographic variables, health behavior-related variables, and dietary factor-related variables. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated through a logistic regression analysis after dividing the participants into high BPA exposure group and low BPA exposure group based on the top 75 percentile concentration. The logistic regression analysis was carried out considering the appropriate sample weight, stratification, and clustering of the second KoNEHS sample design. RESULTS: The group drinking bottled water at home and the group using zip-top bags/plastic bags showed significantly higher urinary BPA concentration in female. OR tends to increase as the intake frequency of frozen food increased and OR of frozen food consumption of more than once a week was 1.48 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–2.24) for male and the group drinking bottled water showed significantly higher OR of 1.45 (95% CI 1.06–2.17) after adjusting the related factors for female. CONCLUSIONS: BPA levels were high in female using bottled water and in male consuming frozen food, and therefore bottled water and frozen food need to be avoided to reduce BPA levels.
Adult ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Environmental Health* ; Female ; Frozen Foods ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the discomfort and factors influencing the discomfort of cancer patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a tertiary university-based hospital in Seoul in 2013. Subjects were eligible if patients were diagnosed with cancer and four weeks had passed since the PICC was inserted. Anxiety was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and discomfort was assessed with 8 questions developed through qualitative interviews and a literature review. Questions were about pain, interruption of daily activity or leisure, satisfaction, usefulness and feelings towards the PICC. RESULTS: Total 111 patients participated in the study. Over 75% of patients reported annoyance with PICC line. There was low positive correlation between discomfort due to PICC and anxiety. In anxious patients, patients discomfort was significantly higher than that of non-anxious patients. Significant factors influencing discomfort were gender, age, education level, PICC complications and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Patient engagement in selecting the type of catheter and individualized care considering the level of anxiety and patient demographics might help to reduce discomfort in cancer patients.
Anxiety ; Catheters* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Leisure Activities ; Patient Participation ; Seoul ; Vascular Access Devices

A 70-year-old man was transferred to our center due to severe epigastric and back pain with the impression of a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm. Six months previously, he had undergone insertion of stent graft into the descending thoracic aorta at another hospital. The findings of the computed tomographic scan suggested a rapidly growing malignant mediastinal tumor rather than a ruptured aneurysm. Exploratory thoracotomy confirmed the diagnosis and the tumor was resected along with the portion of the aorta contained in it. This exemplary case should raise the concern against overzealous application of endovascular aortic repair.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Back Pain ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Sarcoma ; Stents ; Thoracotomy ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze environmental tobacco smoking exposure in female nonsmokers by public transportation mode using representative data of Koreans. METHODS: Data from the Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014) were analyzed. Urine cotinine was analyzed by public transport behavior, secondhand smoke exposure, socioeconomic factors, and health-related factors. Participants were 1322 adult females; those with the top 75% urine cotinine concentrations were assigned to the high exposure group. A logistic regression analysis was performed considering appropriate weights and stratification according to the sample design of the Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey. RESULTS: The geometric mean of urine cotinine concentrations differed according to public transportation modes: subway (1.66 μg/g creatinine) bus (1.77 μg/g creatinine), and taxi (1.94 μg/g creatinine). The odds ratio [OR] was calculated for the high exposure group. The OR of the taxi (2.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–5.69) was statistically significantly higher than the subway value (reference), and marginally significant after adjusted with life style, sociodemographic factors and involuntary smoking frequency (2.42, 95% confidence interval, 0.97–6.04). CONCLUSIONS: The odds ratio of passengers who mainly used taxis was marginally significantly higher than those of passengers who used subways and buses after adjusted with life style and sociodemographic factors. Implementation of supplementary measures and further studies on exposure to environmental tobacco smoking in taxis are warranted.
Adult ; Cotinine ; Environmental Health ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Motor Vehicles ; Odds Ratio ; Railroads ; Smoking ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Tobacco ; Transportation ; Weights and Measures

To promote the adoption of healthier eating patterns, this study was aimed to develop and evaluate alternative front of pack nutrition signposting concepts. Based on previous research, we developed two signposting concepts, Multiple Traffic Light (MTL) and Multiple Traffic Light with % Daily Value (MTL-%DV). The signposts featured three key nutrients, total sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. Actual food packaging with no front of pack signposting (NoSP) was included in the evaluation to act as a benchmark against which to compare the performance of the different signposting options. Using an interviewer administered method, we assessed the degree of understanding and time to interpret on a total of 534 subjects (194 elementary, 108 middle, and 103 high schoolers, 128 adults). In the individual product evaluations, MTL (87.0%) obtained the highest level of correct responses, followed by MTL-%DV (83.1%) and NoSP (52.2%). Except for signposting concepts, age, gender and living area were not associated with the degree of correct responses in multivariate analyses. When used to compare products with different colors of nutrient contents, correct responses were more than 90% for MTL-%DV (91.5%) and MTL (90.3%). The middle and high schoolers revealed the lower likelihood of correct response compared to the other two groups. In case of comparing products with same colors of nutrient contents, the proportion of correct responses was the highest in NoSP (90%), followed by MTL%DV (77.4%) and MTL (48.5%). In terms of time to interpret, MTL-%DV and MTL performed better than NoSP in the individual product evaluation and the comparison of two products with different colors of nutrient contents. NoSP performed the best in the comparison of two products with same colors of nutrient contents. A majority of the participants preferred MTL-%DV (78%) most and thought it the most useful in helping them make healthier food choices. Based on these findings, MTL-%DV was considered to most closely meet the objectives of the initiatives.
Adoption ; Eating ; Food Labeling ; Food Packaging ; Light ; Multivariate Analysis ; Sodium