OBJECTIVES: Insomnia is significantly influenced by the pre-sleep arousal, self efficacy, sleep hygiene, depression and anxiety. The authors tried to explore how these factors are related with the clinical features of sleep. METHODS: Fifty three patients diagnosed as insomnia by DSM-IV criteria were studied. They filled up the pre-sleep arousal scale(PSAS), sleep efficacy scale(SES), sleep hygiene awareness and practice scale, BDI, and state and trait anxiety scales. RESULTS: 1) The mean values of sleep-related variables were as follows : Sleep latency,136.89 minutes ; frequences of awakening during a night, 2.28 ; minutes to get back to sleep, 42.70 ; total sleep time, 180.19 minutes ; duration of illness, 72.00 months. 2) The mean scores of scales were as follows : PSAS(cognitive), 22.40 ; PSAS (somatic), 17.32 ; SES, 20.16 ; sleep hygiene knowledge, 25.96 ; caffeine knowledge, 59.78 ; sleep hygiene practice, 42.12 ; BDI 18.2 ; state anxiety, 41.24 ; trait anxiety ; 44.50. 3) In the subjects with superimposed depression, the mean frequency of awakening during a night and the mean pre-sleep arousal scale score were higher than in those without depression. 4) Frequency of awakening were correlated positively with a PSAS(a tight tense feeling in your muscle) and sleep hygiene awareness. PSAS(cognitive) were correlated positively with a PSAS(somatic). BDI correlated positively with a PSAS item(a jittery, nervous feeling in your body)and a SES item(not allow a poor night's sleep to interfere with daily activities). Anxiety scales were correlated positively with sleep hygiene practice scale sleep and PSAS were correlated negatively with SES. CONCLUSIONS: The mean scores of PSAS, SES, sleep hygiene awareness and practice scale, BDI, state and trait anxiety scales of insomniacs were correlated either positively or negatively in insomnia patients. These factors seem to contribute to the development and maintenance of insomnia.
Anxiety* ; Arousal* ; Caffeine ; Depression* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Hygiene* ; Self Efficacy* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the structural model on the Nursing Task Performance of Hospital Nurses. METHODS: Data collection was done by the 200 hospital nurses from May 1st to May 20th, 2013 in Seoul city. The sample variance-covariance matrix was analyzed using AMOS 19.0 and the maximum likelihood minimization function. The goodness of fit was evaluated using the SRMR, RMSEA and its 90% confidence interval, CFI, and TLI. RESULTS: First, hospital nurses' organizational justice and empowerment was not found to have a significant direct effect on nursing task performance. Second, organizational justice and empowerment had a direct effect on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Third, organizational commitment was found to have a significant direct effect on nursing task performance. Forth, hospital nurses' empowerment was found to have a significant direct effect on nursing task performance. CONCLUSION: Nurses' nursing task performance was influenced by organizational justice, empowerment, and organizational commitment. In order to increase the degree of nursing task performance in hospital nurse, it is necessary to develop the nursing program and its application considering hospital nurses' organizational justice and empowerment and organizational commitment.
Data Collection ; Job Satisfaction* ; Models, Structural ; Negotiating* ; Nursing* ; Power (Psychology)* ; Seoul ; Social Justice* ; Task Performance and Analysis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of balloon catheter dilatation in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients(three males and four females) with esopha-geal achalasia were treated with balloon catheter dilatation. Balloon catheters of variable sizes were used depending on patient's conditions. The patients were followed up over a period of 12-39months. RESULTS: Balloon catheter dilatation in esophageal achalasia was successful in all patients without esophageal perforation. All patients were relieved from dysphagia. Recurrence was not found in 5 patients on long term follow-up study, but was seen in 2 patients after 18 and 21 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Balloon catheter dilatation was a safe and effective method in the treatment of esophageal achalasia with low recurrence rate of 29% on follow-up study.
Catheters* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation* ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophageal Perforation ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the CT features and pathogenesis of the electric brain injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the CT scans of 3 patients injured by high-voltage electricity. We evaluated the findings early and delayed periods in each patients. RESULTS: The early CT findings were diffuse brain edema, scalp swelling, and focal hemorrhagic contusion. The findings of delayed period were cerebral infarction, pneumocephalus, brain abscess, and pneumatocele. CONCLUSION: CT was useful to correlate the pathogenesis and variable features of electric brain injuries.
Brain Abscess ; Brain Edema ; Brain Injuries ; Brain* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Contusions ; Electric Injuries* ; Electricity ; Humans ; Pneumocephalus ; Scalp ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Radionuclide Imaging*

Pemphigua foliaceus is a rare, relatively mild and chronic variety of pemphigus which is characterized by superficial flaccid bullae which show acantholytic changes in the upper part of the epidermis histopathologically. We report herein five cases of pemphigus foliaceus. The patients had erythematous and crusted patches chiefly on face, chest and back areas, except for case 2 who had flaccid bullae on the upper extrimities. The diagnosis of all these patients were confirmed by immunofluorescence studies. Among these five patients, one was recognized as a rifampicin induced pemphigus foliaceus, and the other one revealed concurrent lesions of psoriasis.
Diagnosis ; Epidermis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Pemphigus* ; Psoriasis ; Rifampin ; Thorax

The survey was undertaken among the 105 ostomates who attended the 2nd Workshop for Stoma Rehabilitation on Aug. 30th, 1997 by the Department of Surgery, Kyung-Hee University Hospital to assess the physical, psychosocial and sexual problems with a stoma. The 97% of ostomates had permanent colostomies following abdominoperineal resection. The 67% of ostomates had one or more physical problems caused by stoma. Frequent bowel movement (94.3%), impairment of irrigation (64.6%), unpleasant odor (27.3%), and urinary frequency (21.3%) were common problems encountered by ostomates. Concerning the psychosocial problems, 3.8% of them suffered from profound restriction of social activities and 1.9% of them had psychologic problems such as depression. 42 of 58 ostomates (72.4%) who were employed before operation returned to their work. Among 71 men, 44 (62%) were impaired by sexual function. Most ostomates suffered physical, social, psychologic and sexual problems in their daily life and needed helps of experts such colorectal surgeons, enterostomal therapists, and ostomy association. Attention is needed more to improve the quality of life for the ostomates.
Colostomy ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Male ; Odors ; Ostomy ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation

PURPOSE: Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors increase matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production by inhibiting re-uptake of adenosine and may potentiate nitric oxide (NO) activity. This study was performed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of PDE inhibitors on trabecular outflow in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs). METHODS: Primary HTMC cultures were exposed to 0, 20, and 50 µM dipyridamole (DPD) or theophylline (TPN). Permeability through the HTMC monolayer was assessed using carboxyfluorescein. The production of NO was assessed using the Griess assay and MMP-2 levels were measured via Western blotting. RESULTS: DPD significantly increased permeability accompanied with increased nitrite concentration and MMP-2 levels (all p < 0.05). TPN increased nitrite but did not affect permeability or MMP-2 levels significantly (p > 0.05). When treated with DPD and TPN together, both permeability and nitrite production were increased; however, MMP-2 levels showed no difference compared to DPD exposure alone (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DPD increased trabecular permeability accompanied with increased nitrite production and MMP-2 levels. PDE inhibitors may increase trabecular outflow by increasing MMP-2 levels and by potentiating NO activity through cyclic GMP in HTMC.
Adenosine ; Blotting, Western ; Cyclic GMP ; Dipyridamole ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Nitric Oxide ; Permeability ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; Theophylline ; Trabecular Meshwork

Primary bronchial neoplasms in children, especially malignant lesions, are extremely rare. We report a case of a 10-year old boy with intermediate-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the right intermediate bronchus, presenting as collapse and bronchiectasis after pneumonia. He was diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy. The lobectomy was performed. The patient is in good condition 1 year after operation. All reported cases of bronchial mucoepidermoid tumors in children had histologically low or intermediate grade(well differentiated) variety with a benign clinical course. The optimal surgical therapy for bronchial mucoepidermoid tumors is identical. There must be total removal of either mass with the sacrifice of as little normal lung as possible.
Biopsy ; Bronchi* ; Bronchiectasis ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid* ; Child ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Mucoepidermoid Tumor ; Pneumonia

PURPOSE: Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) considered as a key factor of localized aggressive periodontitis, endocarditis, meningitis, and osteomyelitis is composed of five open reading frames (ORFs). Among of them, the individual role of CdtA and CdtC is not clear; several reports presents that CDT is an AB2 toxin and they enters the host cell via clathrin-coated pits or through the interaction with GM3 ganglioside. So, CdtA, CdtC, or both seem to be required for the delivery of the CdtB protein into the host cell. Moreover, recombinant CDT was suggested as good vaccine material and antibody against CDT can be used for neutralization or for a detection kit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We constructed the pET28a-cdtC plasmid from Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Y4 by genomic DNA PCR and expressed in BL21 (DE3) Escherichia coli system. We obtained the antibody against the recombinant CdtC in mice system. Using the anti-CdtC antibody, we test the native CdtC detection by ELISA and Western Blotting and confirm the expression time of native CdtC protein during the growth phase of A. actinomycetemcomitans. RESULTS: In this study we reconstructed CdtC subunit of A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 and generated the anti CdtC antibody against recombinant CdtC subunit expressed in E. coli system. Our anti CdtC antibody can be interacting with recombinant CdtC and native CDT in ELISA and Western system. Also, CDT holotoxin existed at 24h but not at 48h meaning that CDT holotoxin was assembled at specific time during the bacterial growth. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we thought that our anti CdtC antibody could be used mucosal adjuvant or detection kit development, because it could interact with native CDT holotoxin.
Aggressive Periodontitis ; Animals ; Bacterial Toxins ; Blotting, Western ; DNA ; Edetic Acid ; Endocarditis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Escherichia coli ; Meningitis ; Mice ; Open Reading Frames ; Osteomyelitis ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction