Purpose: This study investigated knowledge, attitudes, and nursing stress related to lifesustaining treatment among oncology nurses. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected through a survey from April 1 to May 31, 2022. The participants were 132 nurses working in the oncology ward of a tertiary hospital in Seoul. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 program with descriptive statics, the independent t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: The average scores for knowledge, attitudes, and nursing stress related to life-sustaining treatment were 14.42, 3.29, and 3.96, respectively. Significant differences in knowledge about life-sustaining treatment were observed based on clinical experience (P=0.029) and education about life-sustaining treatment (P=0.044). Attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment varied significantly with education about life-sustaining treatment (P=0.014), while stress levels differed significantly across working units (P=0.004). A positive correlation was found between the dilemma of extending or stopping life-sustaining treatment (a subdomain of nursing stress) and attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment (r=0.260, P=0.003). Conclusion There was no significant correlation between the nursing stress experienced by oncology nurses and their knowledge and attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment. However, a more positive experience with life-sustaining treatment education was associated with higher stress levels related to the dilemma of extending or stopping life-sustaining treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to develop strategies to manage this dilemma and reduce stress in the field.

Objective: Autophagy is highly active in ovariectomized mice experiencing hormone deprivation, especially in the uterine mesenchyme. Autophagy is responsible for the turnover of vasoactive factors in the uterus, which was demonstrated in anti-Müllerian hormone receptor type 2 receptor (Amhr2)-Cre-driven autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7) knockout (Amhr-Cre/Atg7f/f mice). In that study, we uncovered a striking difference in the amount of sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) accumulation between virgin mice and breeder mice with the same genotype. Herein, we aimed to determine whether repeated breeding changed the composition of mesenchymal cell populations in the uterine stroma. Methods: All female mice used in this study were of the same genotype. Atg7 was deleted by Amhr2 promoter-driven Cre recombinase in the uterine stroma and myometrium, except for a triangular stromal region on the mesometrial side. Amhr-Cre/Atg7f/f female mice were divided into two groups: virgin mice with no mating history and aged between 11 and 12 months, and breeder mice with at least 6-month breeding cycles with multiple pregnancies and aged around 12 months. The uteri were used for Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Results: SQSTM1 accumulation, representing Atg7 deletion and halted autophagy, was much higher in virgin mice than in breeders. Breeders showed reduced accumulation of several vasoconstrictive factors, which are potential autophagy targets, in the uterus, suggesting that the uterine stroma was repopulated with autophagy-intact cells during repeated pregnancies. Conclusion Multiple pregnancies seem to have improved the uterine environment by replacing autophagy-deficient cells with autophagy-intact cells, providing evidence of cell mixing.

Non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism (NTPE) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of filler injections. It can result not only from direct intravascular injection but also from the migration of fillers into veins due to local pressure. Here, we report the autopsy findings of two deaths resulting from NTPE following vaginal filler injections. The first case involved a 38-year-old woman who lost consciousness 20-40 minutes after receiving an injection of 15 mL of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler. A large amount of filler was observed in the vagina with gross embolization of the paravaginal vessels. Microscopic examination revealed HA embolism in the lungs. Despite treatment, the patient died 10 days after the procedure. The second case involved a 35-year-old woman who experienced desaturation and cardiac arrest 4 minutes after receiving a collagen filler and a hybrid filler consisting of HA and polylactic acid. An autopsy revealed NTPE and systemic embolism of the collagen filler. She died 1 month after treatment in the intensive care unit. The vagina poses a significant risk for filler injections owing to its rich venous plexus. Doctors should be fully aware of this risk, and a complete autopsy should be performed in such cases.

Non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism (NTPE) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of filler injections. It can result not only from direct intravascular injection but also from the migration of fillers into veins due to local pressure. Here, we report the autopsy findings of two deaths resulting from NTPE following vaginal filler injections. The first case involved a 38-year-old woman who lost consciousness 20-40 minutes after receiving an injection of 15 mL of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler. A large amount of filler was observed in the vagina with gross embolization of the paravaginal vessels. Microscopic examination revealed HA embolism in the lungs. Despite treatment, the patient died 10 days after the procedure. The second case involved a 35-year-old woman who experienced desaturation and cardiac arrest 4 minutes after receiving a collagen filler and a hybrid filler consisting of HA and polylactic acid. An autopsy revealed NTPE and systemic embolism of the collagen filler. She died 1 month after treatment in the intensive care unit. The vagina poses a significant risk for filler injections owing to its rich venous plexus. Doctors should be fully aware of this risk, and a complete autopsy should be performed in such cases.

Non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism (NTPE) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of filler injections. It can result not only from direct intravascular injection but also from the migration of fillers into veins due to local pressure. Here, we report the autopsy findings of two deaths resulting from NTPE following vaginal filler injections. The first case involved a 38-year-old woman who lost consciousness 20-40 minutes after receiving an injection of 15 mL of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler. A large amount of filler was observed in the vagina with gross embolization of the paravaginal vessels. Microscopic examination revealed HA embolism in the lungs. Despite treatment, the patient died 10 days after the procedure. The second case involved a 35-year-old woman who experienced desaturation and cardiac arrest 4 minutes after receiving a collagen filler and a hybrid filler consisting of HA and polylactic acid. An autopsy revealed NTPE and systemic embolism of the collagen filler. She died 1 month after treatment in the intensive care unit. The vagina poses a significant risk for filler injections owing to its rich venous plexus. Doctors should be fully aware of this risk, and a complete autopsy should be performed in such cases.

Non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism (NTPE) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of filler injections. It can result not only from direct intravascular injection but also from the migration of fillers into veins due to local pressure. Here, we report the autopsy findings of two deaths resulting from NTPE following vaginal filler injections. The first case involved a 38-year-old woman who lost consciousness 20-40 minutes after receiving an injection of 15 mL of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler. A large amount of filler was observed in the vagina with gross embolization of the paravaginal vessels. Microscopic examination revealed HA embolism in the lungs. Despite treatment, the patient died 10 days after the procedure. The second case involved a 35-year-old woman who experienced desaturation and cardiac arrest 4 minutes after receiving a collagen filler and a hybrid filler consisting of HA and polylactic acid. An autopsy revealed NTPE and systemic embolism of the collagen filler. She died 1 month after treatment in the intensive care unit. The vagina poses a significant risk for filler injections owing to its rich venous plexus. Doctors should be fully aware of this risk, and a complete autopsy should be performed in such cases.

The maturation process of mammalian oocytes accompanies an extensive rearrangement of the cytoskeleton and associated proteins. As this process requires a delicate interplay between the cytoskeleton and its regulators, it is often targeted by various external and internal adversaries that affect the congression and/or segregation of chromosomes. Asymmetric cell division in oocytes also requires specific regulators of the cytoskeleton, including formin-2 and small GTPases. Recent literature providing clues regarding how actin filaments and microtubules interact during spindle migration in mouse oocytes are highlighted in this review.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Animals ; Asymmetric Cell Division ; Cytoskeleton ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; Humans ; Mice ; Microtubules ; Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Oocytes ; Proteins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vitamin D modulates innate and adaptive immune responses, and vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality in hospitalized patients with pneumonia. We evaluated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its effect on the clinical outcomes of ARDS. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 108 patients who had a measured serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) at the time of diagnosis with ARDS. The clinical outcomes were evaluated based on 25(OH)D3 levels of 20 ng/mL and stratified by quartiles of 25(OH)D3 levels. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 59.4 years old; 77 (71.3%) were male. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 103 patients (95.4%). The mean 25(OH)D3 level was 8.3 ± 7.0 ng/mL. Neither in-hospital mortality (40.0% vs. 68.0%) nor 6-month mortality (40.0% vs. 71.8%) significantly differed between groups. There were no significant differences in 25(OH)D3 level between survivors (8.1 ± 7.6 ng/mL) and non-survivors (8.5 ± 6.8 ng/mL, p = 0.765). There were no trends toward a difference in mortality among quartiles of 25(OH)D3 levels. However, 25(OH)D3 levels were inversely related with length of hospital stay and intensive care unit stay among in-hospital survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in Korean patients with ARDS. However, levels of vitamin D were not associated with mortality. A large, prospective study is needed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D deficiency on clinical outcomes of ARDS.
Cholecalciferol ; Diagnosis ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survivors ; Vitamin D Deficiency* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

There is a spelling mistake of an author's name, and the authors want to change to Min Gee Lee from Min Gi Lee.