Erythropoietin is the major hormonal regulator of erythropoiesis. It is controlled by many factors inducing hypoxia in tissue. The serum erythropoietin levels of neonates have shown gradual dccrease until 1 month of age, which they are reactivated in the period of physiologic anemia. This change is exaggerated if the meonates are born prematurely, and the levels of erythropoietin respond to lower hemoglobin are lower than those of term neonates and adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the values of erythropoietin levels to compare hemoglobin on the preterm and term neonates until 1 month of age. The results were as follows: 1) At birth mean erythropoietin values of preterm and term neonates were 16.5+/-1.4mU/ml, 16.5+/-1.7mU/ml respectively, there was no significant difference. Also erythropoietin values in preterm and term neonates were 23.6+/-13.3mU/ml, 10.9+/-1.5mU/ml respectively. Resticulocyte counts in preterm and term neonates were 10.7+/-3.3%, 5.7+/-2.9% respectively, so they were significantly higher in preterm than in term neonates. 2) The changes of mean hemoglobin, reticulocyte counts and erythropoietin according to postnatal ages were that those of reticulocyte counts and erythropoietin were significantly increased about 1 month of age. 3) At the 1 month of age, mean erythropoietin values in preterm neonates were lower than those of term neonates and adults, despite of the lowest hemoblobin. This results showed that erythropoietin values in preterm neonates during the physilolgic anemia were lower values than those of term neonates and adults in spite of the lowest hemoglobin.
Adult ; Anemia ; Anoxia ; Erythropoiesis ; Erythropoietin* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Parturition ; Reticulocyte Count

BACKGROUND: This study was to identify factors affecting the job satisfaction of pediatric nurse.METHODS: The participants were the 190 nurses who worked in five pediatric ward and hospital in G city. Data were collected using structured questionnaires from August 1 to August 31 2014, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Tukey, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear analysis with the SPSS PC+ 21.0 program.RESULTS: The variables that affect job satisfaction of pediatric nurses were nurse-parent partnership(β=.30, p<.001), Nursing duty(β=−.24, p=.006), Lack of professional knowledge and skills(β=−.24, p=.002), treatment of nurses(β=−.22, p=.014). These factors accounted for 31.0% of the variance in the job satisfaction.CONCLUSION: This study shows that the methods for increasing nurse-parent partnership and reducing job stress are needed, so as to enhance job satisfaction of nurses who are working pediatric ward.
Job Satisfaction ; Nursing

No abstract available.
Incontinentia Pigmenti*

No abstract available.
Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Critical Illness* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Oxygen*

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Phospholipase A (PLAq) is an rate-limiting enzyme hydrolyzing arachidonic acid from the sn-2 position of membrane phospholipids. In vitro studies demonstrated that the enzyme could be secreted into extracellular mileu by pro-inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin which were reported to have important roles in chronic liver diseases. This study was performed to know whether the enzyme is involved in the pathophysiology of the diseases. METHODS: The subjects were composed of 24 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 26 patients with liver cirrhosis and 14 healthy individuals. The PLAp activities wem measured in the sera of the subjects by detecting radioactivity of "C-fatty acid hydrolyzed from "C-labeled phosphotadylethanolamine by the enzyme. RESULTS: The activities of PLA were increased in the patients with chronic liver diseases, especially in the chronic hepatitis B patients with acute exacerbation and in the decompensated cirrhosis patients. Furthermore, their activities were closely related with the levels of transaminase in hepatitis group and with the levels of serum albumin in cirrhosis group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that extracellular PLA might be involved in the exacerbution and progression of the chronic liver diseases.
Arachidonic Acid ; Cytokines ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Membranes ; Phospholipases A2* ; Phospholipases* ; Phospholipids ; Radioactivity ; Serum Albumin

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the whole spine of the patients with chronic low back pain. METHOD: The cervico-thoraco-lumbar spine were evaluated in 128 patients with chronic low back pain. We analyzed radiologic and clinical findings of the cervico-lumbar spine and electrodiagnostic findings. RESULTS: Most of all cases showed abnormal findings in plain radiography and electrodiagnostic study. The radiologic findings were as follow: cervical X-ray with straightening of cervical lordotic curve in 85 cases; thoracic X-ray with scoliosis in 55 cases; lumbar X-ray with disc space narrowing in 85 cases. The electrodiagnostic study revealed lumbosacral radiculopathy in 87 cases. There were significant positive relationship between increased lumbosacral angle and straightening of cervical lordotic curve, and between lumbar scoliosis and thoracic scoliosis. CONCLUSION: Cervico-thoracic spinal abnormalities were shown in most of the patients with chronic low back pain. Therefore, The evaluation of whole spine would be needed comprehensive rehabilitation approach for the patients with chronic low back pain.
Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Radiculopathy ; Radiography ; Rehabilitation ; Scoliosis ; Spine*

PURPOSE: To describe the appearance and average thickness of the internal anal sphincter with anal endosonography in healthy Korean adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 184 subjects(male: 96, female: 88) with no history of anorectal disease or surgery were studied with anal endosonography. The average thickness of internal sphincter was meas ured at the mid-anal canal. For the internal sphincter, which is often asymmetric, the thickness of each 4 part(12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock direction) were measured in left lateral decubitus position. RESULTS: The anal wall was well visualized in 5 layers(mucosa, submucosa, internal anal sphincter, intersphincteric plane, external anal sphincter) with anal endosonography. The anal endosonogram showed the internal anal sphincter as a homogenous, well-defined, hypoechoic, circular band, and slightly asymmetric. The average thickness of the internal anal sphincter in the area of mid-anal portion was 2.0 0.3 mm(range: 1~3 mm). There was no sexual difference; however, a significant positive correlation with age was found in average thickness of the internal anal sphincter. The correlation with lean body mass was not found. CONCLUSION: The internal anal sphincter is well-visualized, best defined structure by anal endosonography. Average thickeness of the sphincter in Korean appeared to be the same as in the Western.
Adult* ; Anal Canal* ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Cholesteatoma* ; Semicircular Canals* ; Temporal Bone* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of regular stretching exercise for 1 year on health related fitness of the elderly women. We also determined whether the weekly stretching exercise sessions followed by intensive stretching exercise program was beneficial to maintain the altered health related fitness status. The thirty elderly women (F, 80.1+/-6.6 yr) were participated in this study. Subjects had no serious orthopedic problems. During the study period, they did not perform any regular physical activity beside the stretching exercise. The 1 year stretching exercise programs included 3 days/week stretching exercise session for the first 12 weeks followed by 1 day/week stretching exercise for rest of the study period. The subjects were tested 6 categories of health related fitness factors which included % body fat, flexibility, hand grips, back strength, balance, and agility. The summary of the results of this study were as followed: 1) There were significant increase in FFM and slightly decrease in %BF and WHR after the 3 days/wk stretching exercise program. However, there were significant decrease in FFM and WHR after the 1 day/wk stretching exercise program (p<.05). 2) There were significant increase in flexibility, hand grip strength (Rt.) and balance after the 3 days/wk stretching exercise (p<.05) while hand grip strength (Lt.) and back strength were slightly increase after the exercise. However, there were significant decrease in hand grip strength (both) and reaction time after 1 day/wk stretching exercise program while flexibility, back strength, and balance were slighly decrease after the program. In conclusion, this study showed that the 3 days/wk stretching exercise for 12 weeks result in significant increase of all health related fitness factors (p<.05). However, it showed that some of the HRF factors were decreased after the weekly stretching exercise unexpectedly.
Adipose Tissue ; Aged* ; Female ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Orthopedics ; Pliability ; Reaction Time

PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify meaningful themes related to the recognition of lifestyle risk factors and barriers in seeking treatment following an acute event of first-time acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: A methodological mixed method of thematic content analysis and a quantitative analysis was used. The sample consisted of 120 male patients < 65 years of age who agreed to be in the study were interviewed using a semi-structured during 2008-2009. Data were analyzed according to the procedure of thematic content analysis and the meaningful themes were coded into SPSS data for quantitative analysis. RESULTS: Pre-hospital delay greater than three hours reported by 58.3% (n=70) of the sample and similarly 63.3% had no recognition about their symptoms as cardiac in origin. The mean number of risk factors was 3.9+/-1.8 out of 11 when lifestyle and psychosocial factors were included. From the interview data among the 70 patients delayed greater than three hours, thirty-five themes categorized into 12 main themes influenced the delayed decision which was identified according to personal-cognitive, socio-cultural, and contextual factors. CONCLUSION: Health care providers should consider these themes in designing individual interventions to make lifestyle changes and to facilitate more prompt decisions to seek care.
Health Personnel ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Risk Factors