PURPOSE: In this study, we performed a comparative analysis on the quality of life (QoL) in male and female chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients based on the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV) from 2007 to 2010. METHODS: We extracted the socio-demographic and clinical data of 1,218 COPD patients including 874 men and 344 women from the KNHANES IV database. Descriptive statistics and correlation test were used to analyze the data. In order to find factors associated with QoL of COPD patients, we conducted multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Infrequency analysis, the educational level and income were lower in the female COPD patients than in the male ones. The QoL indexes including mobility, self-care, activities of daily living, discomfort, anxiety, and depression were significantly worse in the female of COPD patients than in the male ones (p<.01). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that QoL of female COPD patients should be improved on the educational, economic, and healthcare aspects.
Activities of Daily Living ; Anxiety ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Quality of Life* ; Self Care

In Korea, female workforce has reached more than 40% of total working population but the effects of work on spontaneous abortion are yet to be examined. This study was conducted to investigate the occupational effects on spontaneous abortion. Medical insurance claim data were used to examine the effects of the employment status and industry of employment on spontaneous abortion The study population was composed of females, aged 15~44, who were the beneficiary of medical insurance in the month of June, 1993. The working females covered by medical insurance for industrial workers, hand the highest age-adjusted Spontaneous Abortion rate(SAB rate=claim frequency of spontaneous abortion/claim frequency of complication of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium), 6.65% whereas female dependants of medical insurance for industrial workers had the lowest age-adjusted SAB rate, 4.54%. Among industrial workers, the workers in manufacturing industry had the highest age-adjusted Spontaneous Abortion ratio(SAB ratio=claim frequency of spontaneous abortion/claim frequency of completely normal delivery), 43.2/100 whereas those in financing and service industry had age-adjusted SAB ratio, 16.2/100 and 20.5/100, respectively. The results of the study suggest the adverse effect of manufacturing industry on reproduction. Work environment such as chemical exposures, overwork, awkward posture, and job stress should be further studied for their effects on reproductive functions of female.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Employment* ; Female ; Female* ; Hand ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Parturition ; Posture ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction

PURPOSE: Long-term survival of biliary atresia patients after Kasai's portoenterostomy is being increasingly reported. Although extended survival has been achieved for many patients, factors influencing outcome have not been defined clearly. The authors investigated 5-year survival rates and prognostic factors for survival after Kasai's portoenterostomy using univariate and multivariable methods. METHODS: The authors analyzed 5-year survival rates and prognostic factors in 56 patients who underwent Kasai's portoenterostomy during the period from 1991 to 2005 by the Kaplan-Meier model and Cox proportional hazards model, respectively. Both clinical factors and histological features of the liver and periportal fibrous mass were analyzed as prognostic factors. RESULTS: Younger ages of less than 90 days at surgery, clearance of jaundice and absence of post-Kasai cholangitis in 6 months were predictive of a favorable outcome. A significant difference between the live and the dead was found with regard to an average of 7 or more bile ductules in periportal fibrous mass in 200 HPF (P=0.013). The external diameter of the longest bile ductule in the periportal fibrous mass is not correlated to the prognosis (P=0.49). Independent factors for good prognosis were jaundice-free in 6 months and over 7 bile ductules density in periportal fibrous mass. CONCLUSION: Favorable outcome after Kasai's portoenterostomy for biliary atresia is determined by bilirubin clearance in 6 months after Kasai operation and seven or more bile ductules in periportal fibrous mass. The 5-year post-Kasai survival rate is 77.2%.
Bile ; Biliary Atresia ; Bilirubin ; Cholangitis ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate

This study was designed to analyze the nursing curricula in graduate programs and suggest the direction of future nursing curricula. Thirty-two nursing curricula for a master's degree and fifteen curricula for a doctoral degree from general graduate programs, fifteen nursing curricula for a master's degree from fifteen educational graduate programs, eight nursing curricula for master degree from eight out of twelve public health graduate programs, three nursing curricula for a master's degree from three administrative graduate programs, and four nursing curricula for a master's degree from four clinical nursing graduate programs, were analyzed. Consequently, It was hard to find a clear difference between the educational goals and objectives, the subjects open in nursing curricula for a master's degree and those for a doctoral degree of graduate programs. The educational graduate programs, public health graduate programs, administrative graduate programs, and clinical nursing graduate programs, each program showed ittle diffrent in each educational goal and objective. However, because the various kinds of subjects open in each program were not based on the core curricula, the quality of the nursing curricula need to be evaluated and develope the curricula to difference are the goal and objective. Accordingly, future studies need to be focused on developing core nursing curricula reflecting the characteristics of each graduate program.
Curriculum* ; Korea* ; Nursing* ; Public Health

Background: Most unintentional injuries that occur at home are preventable. However, it may be difficult to sufficiently reduce the number of falls occurring at home by only identifying risk factors focused on specific age groups. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the risk factors (especially age and places where injuries occurred at home) for intracranial injury (ICI) caused by unintentional falls at home. Methods: Using the Emergency Department (ED)-Based Injury In-depth Surveillance, we analyzed the data of patients who visited the ED due to unintentional falls at home. Risk factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression according to age groups and interactions between place of injury occurrence and age groups, and sex and age groups were assessed. Results: In total, 232,124 patients were included in the analysis; older adults had a higher adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 14.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.74–15.49) of ICI than infants. The corridor was associated with ICI in the male pediatric group (aOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.08–6.84) and the balcony with the female pediatric group (aOR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.03–4.04). In the adult group, aOR of kitchen was 1.38 (95% CI, 1.02–1.88) in females and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.48–0.66) in males. Conclusion In this study, we identified the risk factors of ICI caused by falls at home using ED-based injury surveillance data. The risk of ICI was different among places of occurrence in the home depending on the age groups and sex.

Background: Most unintentional injuries that occur at home are preventable. However, it may be difficult to sufficiently reduce the number of falls occurring at home by only identifying risk factors focused on specific age groups. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the risk factors (especially age and places where injuries occurred at home) for intracranial injury (ICI) caused by unintentional falls at home. Methods: Using the Emergency Department (ED)-Based Injury In-depth Surveillance, we analyzed the data of patients who visited the ED due to unintentional falls at home. Risk factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression according to age groups and interactions between place of injury occurrence and age groups, and sex and age groups were assessed. Results: In total, 232,124 patients were included in the analysis; older adults had a higher adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 14.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.74–15.49) of ICI than infants. The corridor was associated with ICI in the male pediatric group (aOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.08–6.84) and the balcony with the female pediatric group (aOR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.03–4.04). In the adult group, aOR of kitchen was 1.38 (95% CI, 1.02–1.88) in females and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.48–0.66) in males. Conclusion In this study, we identified the risk factors of ICI caused by falls at home using ED-based injury surveillance data. The risk of ICI was different among places of occurrence in the home depending on the age groups and sex.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition delivery is frequently interrupted or delayed by physicians' ordering patterns. We conducted this study to investigate the effect of physician compliance with tube feeding (TF) protocol on the nutritional and clinical outcomes in acute lung injury (ALI) patients. METHODS: After implementing a TF protocol, 71 ALI patients with mechanical ventilation (MV) for > or = 7 days were observed. A dietician assessed the nutritional status of the patients and established individualized nutrition plans according to the protocol. If the physicians followed the dietician's recommendation within 48 hours, the patients were classified under the compliant group (Group 1). RESULTS: Forty patients (56.3%) were classified into Group 1. Prealbumin was comparable in both groups at ICU admission but higher in Group 1 at the time of discharge from the ICU (228 +/- 81 vs 157 +/- 77 mg/dl, p = 0.025). Nitrogen balance was only improved in Group 1. The time to reach calorie goal was shorter and non-feeding days were reduced in Group 1. The proportion of parenteral nutrition to nutritional support days was lower and delivered calories on the 4th and 7th day of TF were higher in Group 1 (p < 0.001). ICU mortality/stay and hospital mortality failed to show differences but hospital stay was prolonged in the noncompliant group (Group 2) (p = 0.023). Arterial oxygen tension and PaO2/FiO2 were maintained during the 1st week of ICU stay in Group 1 but were decreased in Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians' compliance with the TF protocol contributed to the likelihood of nutritional improvement and a shorter hospital stay in ALI patients with prolonged MV.
Acute Lung Injury ; Compliance ; Enteral Nutrition ; Guideline Adherence ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Nitrogen ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Oxygen ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Prealbumin ; Respiration, Artificial

Purpose: This study aims to describe and identify in-depth the breastfeeding experience of primiparas for more than one year using a phenomenological research method and to raise the understanding of the primiparas’ subjective experiences during the breastfeeding process to contribute to the improving and maintaining maternal and child health. Methods: This research was a phenomenological and qualitative study conducted on 5 primiparas who continued breastfeeding for more than 12 months. Data was collected through individual in-depth interviews from November 1, 2021 to March 20, 2022, and it was analyzed through the sixth stage of phenomenological research analysis presented by Colaizzi. Results: The study consisted of 10 theme clusters and 26 themes from meaningful statements about the breastfeeding success experiences of primiparas for more than one year. The 10 theme collections were "Planning breastfeeding during pregnancy," "Commitment to breastfeeding through information and education," "Challenges faced during breastfeeding," "Continuous hard work," "Continued conflict over breastfeeding amid confusion," "Connects with experts who lead the way," "Establishes one's own standards and direction," "Peace after hard work," "Solid and firm confidence," and "Deep-rooted beliefs brestfeeding serve as reminders." Conclusion It is expected that this study will help to understand the individual difficulties and problems experienced by primiparas during breastfeeding, the importance of breastfeeding education, the role of medical personnel in the early stage of childbirth, social and environmental support, and the importance of an active window for information exchange. By identifying these factors, this study can serve as basic data for nursing practice to promote successful breastfeeding.

PURPOSE: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is the most common and benign systemic vasculitis in children. Few reports have focused on worse outcomes of HSP in adults. The age of onset is suggested as a main risk factor. We assessed the characteristics of adolescent-onset HSP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 205 cases presented from Aug. 1993 to Oct. 2003. Patients were classified as children (< 10 years of age), adolescents (10-20 years of age), and adults (> 20 years of age). RESULTS: The mean age was 5.7+/-1.8 years in 149 children, 13.5+/-2.4 years in 38 adolescents, and 44.9+/-14.5 years in 18 adults. The male to female ratio was 1.2: 1 in children and adolescents, and 2: 1 in adults. Previous upper respiratory infections were found in 53.4 percent of children, 32.4 percent of adolescents, and 33.3 percent of adults. Positivity of stool occult blood was more frequent in adults (50.5 percent) than in children (23.0 percent) (P< 0.05). Renal involvement was found in 46 cases (30.9 percent) of children, 23 cases (60.5 percent) of adolescents, and 15 cases (83.3 percent) of adults. Recurrences occurred in 23 cases (15.4 percent) of children, nine cases (23.7 percent) of adolescents, and three cases (16.7 percent) of adults. Among the cases with renal involvement, 97.8 percent of children and 87.0 percent of adolescents improved to normal or asymptomatic urinary abnormalities. 60.0 percent of adults persisted with severe nephropathy and 13.3 percent progressed to renal insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Although the outcome of adolescent HSP was as good as children, the clinical manifestations were similar to those of adults. Adolescents had the highest rate of recurrences. Thus long term observations may be needed in adolescent onset HSP.
Child ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Risk Factors

Pseudoaneurysm of thoracic aorta is very rare but potentially fatal in hemodialysis patients. It results from blunt trauma, cardiovascular surgery, infection, and severe atherosclerosis. Here, we report a case of asymptomatic pseudoaneurysm of thoracic aorta in a hemodialysis patient with sepsis. A 58-year-old man was admitted with a week history of low grade fever and general weakness. He had experienced staphylococcus aureus sepsis with graft infection 6 month ago. Chest X-ray showed severe wall calcification of thoracic aorta and a newly developing round opacity in retrocardiac region. Blood culture demonstrated staphylococcus aureus. Chest computed tomography revealed a large pseudoaneurysm of descending thoracic aorta with disrupted wall calcification.
Aneurysm, False* ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Atherosclerosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis* ; Sepsis* ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Thorax ; Transplants