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.

Gastrointestinal (GI) leakage, fistulae, and perforations can be serious and life threatening. There has been a paradigm shift in the management approach of these conditions, from surgical to conservative, including endoscopic management. Here, we report two cases of endoscopic closure of a GI fistula and perforation using polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets with fibrin glue. The first case is of an anastomotic leak detected after subtotal gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy. After failed application of endoclips, a PGA sheet was applied, and the fistula was successfully closed. The second case was of a 15-mm large perforated gastric ulcer, which was also successfully closed with a PGA sheet. This is the first case report that PGA sheet was used for the treatment of overt perforation. The outcome of these cases suggest that endoscopic closure using PGA sheets can be considered as a useful alternative for the management of GI leakage, fistulae, and perforations.
Anastomotic Leak ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Fistula ; Gastrectomy ; Polyglycolic Acid* ; Stomach Ulcer

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of dancing (using the Feldenkrais method) on motor and non-motor symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and objective parameters of gait at the time of intervention and at the end of the 1-year study period. Methods: This was a single-arm study in which 12 subjects with Parkinson’s disease (PD) received dance intervention during a 6-month period. Objective motor scales, gait analysis, and questionnaires on non-motor symptoms were evaluated at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: Dance intervention decreased motor scale (Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and Tinetti scale) scores and improved gait disturbance (gait velocity and step length) without increasing levodopa equivalent dose. Furthermore, dancing decreased non-motor scale (Non-Motor Symptoms Scale and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) scores and improved QoL. Conclusion Our findings suggest that dance intervention can be a complementary management method for PD patients.

Secondary systemic (AA) amyloidosis is a severe complication of progressed Crohn disease (CD) characterized by the deposition of amyloid A in body organs and tissues. Various therapeutic approaches have been recommended, however there is still no effective treatment. Recently, several case reports have demonstrated the effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy in patients with AA amyloidosis associated with CD. We report on a 35-year-old female patient with CD complicated by AA amyloidosis in the gastrointestinal tract and renal involvement, who was treated with infliximab. The infliximab therapy improved the gastrointestinal symptoms and decreased the serum creatinine.
Adult ; Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Creatinine ; Crohn Disease* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Infliximab

Abalone is popular seafood in Asia; however, allergy to abalone was rarely reported. We report a case of anaphylaxis after consumption of abalone. A 24-year-old female visited an Emergency Department, complaining of cough, dyspnea, rhinorrhea, generalized urticaria, facial edema, and wheezing that had developed 1 hour after consumption of abalone. She was discharged when her symptoms subsided after antihistamine and dexamethasone were given. One month later, she was referred to our outpatient clinic. We performed skin prick tests, measurement of serum specific IgE antibody level, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with IgE immunoblotting. Both skin prick and specific IgE antibody tests were positive for abalone crude extract. In SDS-PAGE with IgE immunoblotting, we identified possible antigens sized 55, 100, and 25 kDa, respectively. This is the first case of abalone-induced anaphylaxis in Korea.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anaphylaxis* ; Asia ; Cough ; Dexamethasone ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea ; Respiratory Sounds ; Seafood ; Shellfish ; Skin ; Sodium ; Urticaria ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Veterinary researchers are exposed to variable animal allergens. However, sensitization to them and allergic symptoms during exposure to them in this group are not sufficiently evaluated worldwide, especially in Korea. The objective of this study is to evaluate sensitization to animal allergens and allergic symptoms during exposure to them in Korean veterinary researchers. METHODS: Thirty-two veterinary researchers who participated in the 2016 annual symposium of the Korean Society of Veterinary Science were asked to answer questionnaires regarding allergic symptoms during animal exposure and underwent skin prick tests for animal allergens. Animal allergens consisted of chicken feather and 10 mammals, epithelia as well as cow's milk, hen's egg, and 7 animal types of meat. RESULTS: There were 13 subjects who complained of allergic symptoms during exposure to certain animal epithelia and 19 who did not. Between the 2 groups, there were no differences in age, sex, underlying allergic disease, family history of allergy, current occupation and its duration, numbers and specie of contact animals, or daily contact time. Meanwhile, the sensitization rates to mouse, horse, rabbit, and guinea pig were significantly higher in the symptomatic group. Rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms were the most common allergic symptoms related to animal exposure were most common followed by dermatologic symptom, and symptom of lower respiratory tract. CONCLUSION: We found that sensitizations to some animal epithelia were more frequent in Korean veterinary researchers with allergic symptoms during exposure to animal compared to those without it, and their most common symptoms were rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms.
Allergens* ; Animals* ; Chickens ; Feathers ; Guinea Pigs ; Horses ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Mammals ; Meat ; Mice ; Milk ; Occupations ; Ovum ; Respiratory System ; Skin

A tunneled hemodialysis (HD) catheter is preferred due to its lower incidence of infection and malfunction than non-tunneled ones. For safer insertion, fluoroscopic guidance is desirable. However, if the patient is unstable, transfer to the fluoroscopy may be impossible or inappropriate. Methods: From June 2019 to September 2022, 81 tunneled HD catheter insertion cases performed under ultrasound guidance without fluoroscopy and 474 cases with fluoroscopy in our institutional HD catheter cohort were retrospectively compared. Results: Immediate complications, later catheter-associated problems, including infections and catheter dysfunction, were comparable between the two groups (p = 0.20 and p = 0.37, respectively). The patency of tunneled catheters inserted without fluoroscopy was comparable to the patency of tunneled catheters inserted with fluoroscopic guidance (p = 0.90). Conclusion: Tunneled HD catheter insertion without fluoroscopy can be performed safely and has durable patency compared to the insertion with fluoroscopy. Therefore, this method can be considered for the selected unstable patients (e.g., ventilator care) in the intensive care unit.

The use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) increases a patient's risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). There is no consensus on whether restarting a TNFi after treating an active TB infection caused by previous TNFi exposure is safe. We report the first case of TB recurrence after recommencing a TNFi in a 37-year-old woman with a history of active TB infection caused by previous TNFi treatment.
Adult ; Consensus ; Crohn Disease* ; Female ; Humans ; Recurrence* ; Tuberculosis* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

A solitary skin metastasis is a rare manifestation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A 55-year-old woman presented with a movable subcutaneous nodule in her anterior neck for several months. Three years ago, she underwent total thyroidectomy and remnant ablation for classical PTC (pT3N0M0) and was under thyroxine suppression therapy without any evidence of recurrent disease. The subcutaneous nodule was 0.4 cm in size, firm, and movable without any change in the overlying skin. Recurrent PTC was confirmed after excision biopsy. Eight months after, she got a new nodule along the previous excision site. After punch biopsy, metastatic PTC was confirmed in the deep dermis and was re-excised with a clear resection margin. This is the first report of a case of solitary skin metastasis of PTC in Korea. Although solitary skin metastasis of PTC is rare, it should be considered in patients with a skin nodule.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Skin* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroxine