PURPOSE: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion is an important treatment modality in children with hydrocephalus. VP shunt infection is a major complication and an important factor that determines the surgery outcome. This 15-year study was performed to evaluate the epidemiology of VP shunt infections in pediatric patients treated at our center. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was performed in patients 18 years old or younger who underwent VP shunt insertion surgery from April 1995 to June 2010. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-seven VP shunt surgeries were performed in a total of 190 pediatric patients (83 females, 107 males). The median age of the patients was 2.4 years (range, 0.02-17.9 years). Having a malignant brain tumor was the most frequent cause for VP shunt insertion. The shunt infection rate was 6.7% (22/327) per 100 operations and 9.5% (18/190) per 100 patients, and the incidence rate was 0.45 infection cases per 100 shunt operations-year. The most common pathogen was coagulase-negative staphylococcus (n=7) followed by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (n=1). Ten cases were treated with vancomycin and beta-lactam antibiotic (cephalosporin or carbapenem) combination therapy and 7 cases were treated with vancomycin monotherapy. The median duration of antibiotic treatment was 26 days (range, 7 to 58 days). Surgical intervention was performed in 18 cases (18/22, 81.8%). CONCLUSION: Epidemiologic information regarding VP shunt infections in pediatric patients is valuable that will help guide proper antibiotic management. Additional studies on the risk factors for developing VP shunt infections are also warranted.
Brain Neoplasms ; Child ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Methicillin Resistance ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Vancomycin ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen free radicals have been implicated as an important factor in the development of ischemia-reperfusion injury of heart. Captopril, a SH-containing angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitor has been reported to provide the protective effect in different models of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury of animal hearts. It is postulated that the myocardial protective effect may be related to a potential anti-free radical effect independent of ACE inhibition. The present study was designed to elucidate the myocardial protective mechanism of Captopril by investigating the drug effect on the experimentally induced oxygen free radical-mediated myocardial injury in isolated hearts of rats. METHODS: The heart isolated from rat was perfused retrogradly by Langendorff method. Myocardial dysfuntion was induced by oxygen free radicals generated by electrolysis of the perfusing solution(Kreb-Henseleit) with 2mA direct current for 45 sec. The cardiac functions(left ventricular pressure, dP/dt, heart rate, coronary flow) and the ventricular content of a lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde(MDA) were measured under presence of absence of Captopril and the compairing drugs(enalaprilat, cysteine and dithiothreitol). RESULTS: Electrolysis of oxygen-saturated Krebs-Henseleit perfusing solution led to the production of superoxide anion increasingly with intensity and duration of the applied electric current. The hearts perfused with the electroyzed solution demonstrated significant decrease in left ventricular pressure, dp/dt, heart rate, coronary folw and increase in myocardial MDA content. The depression of myocardial function as well as the increase of MDA content and oxygen radical production were reversed by Captopril(0.75~2mM) dose-dependently. Enalaprilat, a non-SH containing ACE inhibitor, however, showed no protective effect at all. Cysteine and dithiothreitol, the SH-containing agents without ACE inhibitory action showed also protective effects on the myocardial depression induced by electrolysis. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that Captopril may exert protective effect on oxygen radical-mediaed myocardial injury probably by its antioxidative and anti-free radical mechanism related to SH-group.
Angiotensins ; Animals ; Captopril* ; Cysteine ; Depression ; Dithiothreitol ; Electrolysis ; Enalaprilat ; Free Radicals ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Oxygen ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; Superoxides ; Ventricular Pressure

No abstract available.
Humans ; Mothers*

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of the GEAP on pain, fatigue, self-esteem, perceived health status and self-efficacy in patients with chronic arthritis. METHODS: One group pre- & post-test design was used. Outcome domains included pain, number of painful joints, fatigue, self-esteem, perceived health status and self-efficacy. Thirty-four patients were recruited over four times from a rheumatic clinic affiliated to a university medical center in Seoul, Korea. The GEAP is an exercise program modified by the investigators from PACE program which developed by Arthritis Foundation. The program duration is about 60 minutes, three times a week for 6 weeks. Participants were predominantly women (68%); on average 57.3 years old; and diagnossed with RA (58.8), osteoarthritis (29.4) or other (11.8). RESULTS: After completing the GEAP, subjects showed significant improvement in pain (p=0.02), number of painful joints (p=0.04), fatigue (p=0.0001), and perceived health status (p=0.006). There were no improvements in self-esteem and self-efficacy score for adults with chronic rheumatic diseases. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the GEAP is an effective exercise intervention for improving outcomes for patients with chronic arthritis. More sample and research are needed to 1) accurately evaluate on self-esteem and self-efficacy; 2) understand and improve adherence. And also a longer follow up period is recommended to evaluate long-term effects of the PACE program.
Academic Medical Centers ; Adult ; Arthritis* ; Fatigue* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Osteoarthritis ; Research Personnel ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between variables of spiritual well-being, self esteem and attitude to death among nursing students. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 259 college students. The data was collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire from September 25 to October 2, 2008. The data were analysed in frequency, percentage, means, and the pearson correlation coefficients utilizing the SPSS computer program. RESULTS: The mean scores of the spiritual well-being, self esteem, and attitude to death were 52.62 (SD=9.24), 29.61 (SD=4.75), and 52.42 (SD=8.88) respectively. There were significant positive correlations between the spiritual well-being and self esteem (r=.543, p=.000). CONCLUSION: The study results show that spiritual well-being and self esteem were a bit positively correlated.
Attitude to Death ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Concept ; Software ; Spirituality ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate perceived family support and quality of life in patients with cancer. METHOD: Data were collected from 83 cancer patients in the 3 cities of Korea. Family support was measured using the Tae's Family Support Scale and quality of life was measured using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). RESULTS: The mean scores of family support and quality of life were 30.48 and 53.04 respectively. Family support was significantly different according to marital status, education level, income, living together, helper, type of treatment, and weight change. Quality of life was significantly different according to the purpose of treatment, weight change, performance status, exercise, and sleep. There was a positive correlation between family support and quality of life (r=0.499, p<0.000). CONCLUSION: The study results underscore the importance of family support in improving the quality of life of patients with cancer.
Humans ; Korea ; Marital Status ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was secondary analysis to explore about risk factors with breast cancer on a basis of primary literature. METHODS: This study was searched articles by using CINAHL, MEDLINE, Riss4u, Internet website regarding breast cancer. This study searched for the journal published in Korea and foreign countries from 2000 to 2008, about risk factors of breast cancer. This study was reviewed 42 articles (5 experimental study, 35 survey, 1 qualitative study, 1 report) suitable for the research objectives. RESULTS: Magnitude of risk breast cancer (++) was age, geographic region, family history, mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2 genes and in other penetrance genes, radiation, history of benign breast disease, late age of menopause, early age of menarch, nulliparity and older age at first birth, high mammographic breast density, high insulin-like growth factor 1 level. Magnitude of risk factor (+) was hormone replacement therapy, oral contraceptives use, obesity, tall stature, alcohol consumption, high prolactin level, high saturated fat and well-done meat intake, polymorphisms in low penetrance gene, high socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: A breast cancer screening protocol according to magnitude of risk factors is needed for disease prevention. The nurses need to educate and counsel women with risk factors of breast cancer.
Alcohol Drinking ; Birth Order ; Breast ; Breast Diseases ; Breast Neoplasms ; Contraceptives, Oral ; Female ; Genes, BRCA2 ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Meat ; Menopause ; Obesity ; Parity ; Penetrance ; Prolactin ; Risk Factors ; Social Class

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between fatigue and quality of life (QOL) of Korean cancer inpatients. METHODS: The data were collected from May to August 2007. Study subjects were recruited at D, Y and A university hospitals in Daegu and Kyungpook, Korea. The research instruments utilized in this study were fatigue (FACT-F) and quality of life (FACT-G) in Korean version 4. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation using SPSS Win 12.0 program. RESULTS: Fatigue of subjects showed a significant difference according to the type of treatment, change in weight, performance status, exercise, and sleep. The QOL of subjects showed a significant difference according to the purpose of treatment, change in weight, performance status, exercise, and sleep. The mean score of fatigue was 22.48 and the mean score of QOL was 55.52. The fatigue was negatively related to QOL, physical well-being, emotional well-being, and functional well-being. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the needs for intervention in order to reduce fatigue and to improve QOL of cancer inpatients.
Fatigue ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an exercise program on physical function and quality of life of mastectomy patients. METHOD: This study was conducted from October, 2004 to June, 2005. The subjects consisted of 60 patients with breast cancer(30 each in the experimental and control groups). The subjects in the experimental group participated in an exercise program for 16 weeks. Evaluation was performed four times in both the experimental and control group. RESULTS: The results revealed an increase in physical function in the experimental group including wrist circumstance, function of shoulder joint, stretching, and upper endurance. Also, an increase in function scales in quality of life were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. In addition subjective comments on how they felt after participating in the exercise program were good in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The 16-week exercise program showed a large positive effect on physical function and quality of life of breast cancer patients after a mastectomy.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Mastectomy* ; Quality of Life* ; Shoulder Joint ; Weights and Measures ; Wrist

PURPOSE: Acquisition of varicella by the neonate as a result of congenital varicella-zoster infection or exposure during delivery is well known. And it generaly believed that infants under 6 months of age may acquire varicella more frequently than other viral infections such as measles. However, little if known about immune mechanism of varicella-zoster infection. Transfer maternal antibodies to this virus through the placenta and their persistence in the newborn sera has not yet been studied in healthy mother and children. METHODS: We estimated VZV antibody titer in 62pairs of maternal and cord blood by IAHA, FAMA and ELISA methods. The purpose of study was to evaluate sensitivity of methods and determine the level of VZV antibody in neonates. The results were as follows. RESULTS: 1) The titration of antibody of VZV was performed by IAHA, FAMA and ELISA mothods. There is no different significance by each methods and linear correlation among IAHA, FAMA and ELISA mothod is significant. 2) The VZV antibody titer of neonates is no significant according to sex and birth weight. 3) By the FAMA method, the VZV antibody titer of fullterm neonates is significantly higher than preterm. 4) The titer of VZV antibody is elevated to increse with gestational age, but there is no significant difference. 5) The mean ratio of cord/maternal sera level of VZV antibody titer is no significance according to gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Further epidemiologic study of VZV infection showed be investigated in Korea.
Antibodies ; Birth Weight ; Chickenpox ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fetal Blood ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Korea ; Measles ; Mothers ; Placenta