PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the mediating effect of self-efficacy on the relationships between calling and nursing professionalism for nurses in general hospitals. METHODS: Participants were 119 nurses in general hospitals. A survey was used and data were collected in April 2018. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS/WIN 22.0 program. RESULTS: The significant predictors for the nursing professionalism of nurses were self-efficacy (β=.61) and clinical career in current hospital (β=−.21). These variables explained 42% of the variance in nursing professionalism of nurses. Also, self-efficacy had a total mediating effect on the relationship between calling and nursing professionalism. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that calling and self-efficacy are important factors for nursing professionalism of nurses in general hospitals.
Hospitals, General ; Negotiating ; Nursing ; Professionalism

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between nurse's character and happiness for nurses in general hospitals. METHODS: Participants were 139 nurses working in general hospitals. A survey was used and data were collected in April 2019. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS/WIN 22.0 program. RESULTS: The significant predictors for the happiness of nurses were nurse's character (β=.56) and resilience (β=.80). These variables explained 67% of the variance in happiness of nurses. Also, resilience had a total mediating effect on the relationship between nurse's character and happiness. CONCLUSION Findings indicate that nurse's character and resilience are important factors for the happiness of nurses in general hospitals.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe nurses’ perceived needs and barriers to pediatric palliative care (PPC). Methods: Mixed methods with an embedded design were applied. An online survey was conducted for nurses who participated in the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium- Pediatric Palliative Care (ELNEC-PPC) train-the-trainer program, of whom 63 responded. Quantitative data were collected with a survey questionnaire developed through the Delphi method. The 47 items for needs and 15 items for barriers to PPC were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were collected through openended questions and analyzed with topic modeling techniques. Results: The mean scores of most subdomains of the PPC needs were 3.5 or higher out of 4, and those of PPC barriers ranged from 3.22 to 3.56, indicating the items in the questionnaire developed in this study properly reflect each factor. The needs for PPC were divided into 4 categories: “children and adolescents,” “families,” “PPC management system,” and “community-based PPC.” Meanwhile, PPC barriers were divided into 3 categories: “healthcare delivery system,” “healthcare provider,” and “client.” The keywords derived from the topic modeling were perception, palliative, children, and education for necessities and lack, perception, medical care, professional care providers, service, and system for barriers to PPC. Conclusion In this study, by using mixed-methods, items of nurses’ perceived needs and barriers to PPC were identified, categorized, and weighted, and their meanings were explored. For the stable establishment of PPC, the priority should be given to improving perceptions of PPC, establishing an appropriate system, and training professional care providers.

Leukotriene receptor antagonists, which are generally considered safe with a few adverse drug reactions, are increasingly used in the treatment of various allergic diseases, including asthma and allergic rhinitis. Although a few anaphylactic reactions to montelukast have been reported worldwide, there is still a lack of reports about severe adverse drug reactions associated with pranlukast. Here, we report a case of severe hypersensitivity reaction associated with pranlukast. A 65-year-old woman developed anaphylactic shock that presented as generalized urticaria, angioedema, collapse, and loss of consciousness after receiving pranlukast. A positive response to oral challenge and skin prick testing with pranlukast was observed in the patient. In this case, it was demonstrated that pranlukast can induce anaphylaxis, possibly mediated by the IgE-dependent pathway.
Aged ; Anaphylaxis* ; Angioedema ; Asthma ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; Rhinitis ; Skin ; Unconsciousness ; Urticaria

BACKGROUND: IgG-mediated anaphylaxis occurs after infusion of certain monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics. New in vitro tests are urgently needed to diagnose such reactions. We investigated whether allergens trigger neutrophil oxidative burst (OB) and if neutrophil OB occurs due to allergen-specific IgG (sIgG). METHODS: Neutrophil OB was measured by dihydrorhodamine 123 flow cytometry using a leukocyte suspension spiked with a very small patch of the allergen crude extract, Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f). The mean fluorescence intensity ratio of stimulated to unstimulated samples was calculated as the neutrophil oxidative index (NOI). RESULTS: The Der f-specific NOI (Der f-sNOI) showed a time-dependent increase after Der f extract addition. At 15 min activation, higher Der f-sIgG levels were associated with lower Der f-sNOI values in 31 subjects (P < 0.05). This inverse relationship occurs due to the initial blocking effect of free Der f-sIgG. Additionally, neutrophil OB was nearly absent (Der f-sNOI of −1) in two cases: a subject with undetectable Der f-sIgG levels and washed leukocyte suspensions deprived of Der f-sIgG. CONCLUSION: Allergens can trigger neutrophil OB via preexisting allergen-sIgG. Neutrophil OB can be easily measured in a leukocyte suspension spiked with the allergen. This assay can be used to diagnose IgG-mediated anaphylaxis.
Allergens ; Anaphylaxis* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescence ; Immunoglobulin G ; In Vitro Techniques ; Leukocytes ; Neutrophils* ; Respiratory Burst* ; Suspensions

Asthma and other eosinophilic allergic diseases are heterogeneous syndromes encompassing various endotypes and phenotypic characteristics. The recent development of several targeted biological products has enabled the personalized treatment for heterogeneous pathophysiology in these diseases.Current Concepts: Biological products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for such diseases primarily comprise monoclonal antibodies that block the pathway of type 2 inflammation, such as immunoglobulin E, interleukin (IL)-5, IL-5 receptor, IL-4α receptor, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin. A practical strategy for selecting the optimal biological products for patients with severe eosinophilic allergic diseases is a shared decision-making process between the patient and physician on the basis of measurable biomarkers, co-morbidity, and patient preferences considering drug characteristics and costs.Discussion and Conclusion: The emergence of biological products in chronic eosinophilic allergic diseases has not only heralded an era of precise treatment but has also improved our understanding of the endogenous types through various treatment responses for each patient. The development of new biological products that affect various pathways and the discovery of novel biomarkers will facilitate the provision of optimized precision medicine to patients with severe uncontrolled diseases.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to examine the correlation between physical activity and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Korean adults.METHODS: We selected 6,546 adults aged >19 years from among the participants of the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured using the global physical activity questionnaires developed by the World Health Organization. eGFR was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. After adjustment for covariates (age, marital status, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, drinking, smoking, total cholesterol level, body mass index, and C-reactive protein level), the correlations among physical activity, sedentary time, and eGFR were analyzed using multivariate linear regression analysis.RESULTS: No correlation was found between physical activity level and eGFR. However, sedentary time was significantly correlated with eGFR. The result showed that eGFR increased as sedentary time decreased.CONCLUSION: No correlation was found between physical activity level and eGFR in adults aged >19 years, but sedentary time was significantly correlated with eGFR. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between physical activity and eGFR, using other physical activity indicators and changing the physical activity criteria.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Drinking ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Linear Models ; Marital Status ; Motor Activity ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nutrition Surveys ; Smoke ; Smoking ; World Health Organization

Phacoemulsification of cataracts with small pupils would induce serious complications in some instance, but we could perform phacoemulsification and IOL implantation in the posterior chamber without any serious complications.We did not need any iris retractors or adjacent iris surgery.Thirty-one eyes of 28 patients with a pupil diameter equal to or less than 4 mm at the beginning of the procedure were reviewed.We analyzed them in the preoperative ocular problems, the size of pupil and the method of enlargement, the technique of nucleus removal, complications, and vision after six months follow-up.Preoperative pupillary diameter was less than 3 mm in 26 cases (83.9%), the most frequent preoperative ocular problem was uveitis with 19 eyes (61.36%).Removing pupillary membrane, releasing of synechiae and mechanical pupillary stretch followed by viscoelastic injection were effective in pupillary expansion.Central phaco chop technique was effective in small pupil cases.In complications, focal corneal edema in 7 eyes and mild iris damage in 6 eyes during surgery.Postoperatively, fibrinous reaction developed in 8 eyes.Postoperative corrected vision of 0.5 or better was in 15 eyes (48.4%), and 22 eyes (71%)had visual increment by 2 lines or more in the Hann's vision chart.In conclusion, phacoemulsification of cataracts with small pupils could be performed safely without serious complications, even with no iris retractor or iris surgery).
Cataract ; Corneal Edema ; Fibrin ; Humans ; Iris ; Membranes ; Miosis* ; Phacoemulsification* ; Pupil ; Uveitis

Background: Dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids have been suggested for their protective role against cardiovascular disease. However, findings from recent studies have been inconsistent. Thus, we investigated the association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: We analyzed data from 17,390 adults who were aged 30–64 years and free of CVD using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2012–2016. Dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was calculated by using food-frequency questionnaire, and the 10 year risk of CVD was calculated by Framingham general cardiovascular disease risk score (2008) model. We analyzed the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from logistic regression to evaluate the association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of CVD. Results: Logistic regression anlaysis showed that dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was not significantly associated with the 10-year risk of CVD, after adjusting for confounders (OR=0.91; 95% CI, 0.77–1.07). But higher dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was associated with reduced the 10-year risk of CVD for the female (OR=0.74; 95% CI, 0.58–0.95). Conclusion Our research indicated no significant association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of CVD. But the inverse association was observed in the female.

BACKGROUND: The medial vestibular nucleus is the largest one among the vestibular nuclei and known to play important roles not only in normal vestibular information processing but also in vestibular compensation. Glutamate is known to have a key role in vestibular compensation via long term potentiation and depression. But the action of nitric oxide related with glutamate is poorly studied. This experiment was designed to explore the effects of nitric oxide on the neuronal activity of a rat medial vestibular nuclear neuron using a nitric oxide enhancing drug, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). METHODS: Experiments were carried out on Sprague-Dawley rats aged 14 to 17 days. Neurons of MVN were obtained via enzymatic dissociation of a microtomized rat brainstem. Whole-cell membrane potentials were recorded at room temperature by using standard patch-clamp techniques. Action potentials were obtained after administration of SNAP. Changes of potassium currents were recorded using SNAP and ODQ (1H-[1, 2, 4] oxadiazolo [4, 3-a] quinozalin-1-one), an inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase. RESULTS: The mean spike frequency of action potentials was increased by adding SNAP. The mean amplitude of afterhyperpolarization was decreased by adding SNAP. The mean potassium current of medial vestibular nuclear neurons was decreased by SNAP. ODQ inhibited the SNAP-induced potassium currents. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that nitric oxide increases the neuronal activity of rat medial vestibular nuclear neurons by inhibiting potassium currents via a cGMP dependent mechanism.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Automatic Data Processing ; Brain Stem ; Compensation and Redress ; Depression ; Glutamic Acid ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Membrane Potentials ; Neurons* ; Nitric Oxide ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine* ; Vestibular Nuclei