The purposes of this study were to develop an in vitro co-culture model of epithelial tissue with dermal equivalent, cultured at an air-liquid interface, and to evaluate the effects of extracellular matrix and concentration of calcium and fetal bovine serum in medium to find optimized culture condition. Oral keratinizing epithelial cells in monolayer culture were grown in Mitomycin-treated 3T3 feeder. Primary cultured oral epithelial cells were reconstituted onto the dermal equivalents consisting of 3T3 fibroblast and type I collagen, and co-culture was grown at the air-liquid interface. The histomorphological development of reconstituted oral epithelium in vitro for 21 days revealed 10~12 layered statified epithelium, closely similar to the parakeratinized gingival epithelium. Neither laminin nor type IV collagen was able to induce keratinocyte differentiation. But a mixture of laminin and type IV collagen induced well-polarized keratinizing tissue with anchoring structure of basal cells. When the reconstituted oral epithelium was incubated in 1.0% and 0.5% serum-containing medium, the granular cell layers with orthokeratinization developed. The reconstituted epidermis generated in serum-free keratinocyte growth medium (KGM)-containing pituitary extract showed features of incomplete differentiation. The present study shows that the dermal equivalents containing fibroblasts will support epidermal morphogenesis and differentiation. And these results suggest that extracellular matrix and calcium concentration are important factors during the reconstitution of keratinizing epithelium in vitro.
Calcium ; Coculture Techniques ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Keratinocytes* ; Laminin ; Morphogenesis ; Population Characteristics*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a vital signs e-book for undergraduate student nurses and evaluate the content, system and student satisfaction. METHOD: This study was done in three stages, the development of a vital signs e-book, implementation and evaluation. The subjects were 73 undergraduate student nurses in Y university. RESULT: Thirty one learning objectives were used to create the contents. A set of 5 chapters and 18 subsections were defined after validation from nurse educators. The e-book is available at http://123.134.207.23/ebook/vitalsigns. Analysis of the questionnaires showed a mean score for content, system and students satisfaction of 3.17 +/- .73, 3.11 +/-.79, and 2.96 +/-.74 respectively out of a possible 4 points. CONCLUSION: Nurse educators should provide quality and effective web-based courses that meet undergraduate student nurses' learning needs and they should incorporate web-based learning into traditional teaching to meet the demands of nursing education.
Respiration ; Pulse ; *Physical Examination ; *Internet ; *Education, Nursing ; *Computer-Assisted Instruction

Objective: This study aims to determine the effects of online mindful somatic psychoeducation program (o-MSP) on mental health in female university students during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods: Thirty-eight female university students were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG, n=19) or a control group (CG, n=19). IG received o-MSP for 2-hours per session, twice weekly for 4-weeks; CG maintained their usual daily routine for 4-weeks. Measurements were performed pre- and post-intervention to assess stress, anxiety, and social connectedness using Perceived Stress Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Social Connectedness Scale. A qualitative analysis of changes in soma and social connectedness, subjectification of the soma, and mind–body integration was conducted through online interviews. Results: Regarding stress and social connectedness, there were no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). However, significant differences were observed in the main effect of time of measurement and time×group interaction, with IG showing significant improvement post-intervention, unlike CG (p<0.05). Regarding anxiety, there were significant differences in the main effect of time of measurement, time×group interaction, and group factor (p<0.05). Post-intervention, CG did not show a significant change, while IG showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). Qualitative analysis revealed that participants experienced “changes in soma and social connectedness,” “subjectification of soma–body,” and “embodiment of mind–body integration,” and reported improved mental health. Conclusion The o-MSP effectively reduced stress and anxiety in female university students and improved social connectedness. This suggests that o-MSP can be used to manage the mental health of university students in various settings.

In 25 aortic regurgitation patients relationship between degree of aortic regurgitation graded by 2-D color Doppler echocardiography and diastolic fluttering of anterior mitral leaflet on M-mode echocardiography was evaluated. The results were that all 13 aortic regurgitation patients, not associated with mitral stenosis, showed diastolic fluttering of anterior mitral leaflet; but only 3 patients among 12 patients (25%), associated with mitral stenosis, had characteristic mitral fluttering. On the whole, regardless of associated mitral stenosis, the sensitivity was 64%. In severe aortic regurgitation (Grade 3, 4 group) 12/13 patients revealed diastolic fluttering of anterior mitral leaflet (sensitivity of 92%); in mild to moderate aortic regurgitation (Grade 1, 2 group), only 4/12 patients (sensitivity of 33%). In conclusion, 2-D color Doppler echocardiography is a very useful method for detection of aortic regurgitation without difficulty. And in aortic regurgitation, not associated with mitral stenosis, fine fluttering of anterior mitral leaflet is a very sensitive sign of existence of aortic regurgitation, though there may be some false positive findings in normal individuals.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate self-study learning achievement in undergraduate nursing students who used a web-based wound care e-book. METHODS: The web-based wound care e-book was applied to 80 nursing students at Y university. The students studied the wound care e-book for four weeks and practiced wound dressing by themselves in open laboratory. Learning achievement was evaluated according to achievement of unit objectives and performance of an actual wound dressing. RESULTS: 1. The total mean score for achievement of unit objectives was 3.06 (+/-0.41) and the total mean score on the performance of the wound dressing was 89.40 (+/-5.47). 2. There was no difference between the scores in the performance test (F=1.012, p=.366) for students who used self-study and those who were given a lecture. 3. A positive correlation was found between achievement of unit objectives and performance of the wound dressing (r=0.306, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The web-based wound care e-book was effective in facilitating self-study for nursing students, and there is a need to continuously develop and up-date web-based nursing education e-books to facilitate self-study.
Bandages ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Internet ; Learning* ; Students, Nursing ; Wounds and Injuries*

PURPOSE: To determine the postnatal changes in aldosterone action on the renal tubular reabsorption in low birth weight(LBW) infants, we assessed the relation of the aldosterone concentrations to renal parameters during the first 10 days of life. METHODS: Twenty LBW infants were evaluated and their gestational ages ranged from 32.4 to 39.3 weeks and their birth weights ranged from 1,440 to 2,500 g. Estimated glomerular filtration rate, fractional excretion of sodium(FENa) and potassium(FEK), and plasma aldosterone concentrations were analyzed according to the postnatal age and the conceptional age(CA). RESULTS: Glomerular functions were improved after birth and were correlated with CA. FENa and FEK decreased after birth and correlated with CA. Plasma aldosterone concentrations increased to 318.6 +/- 147.2 ng/dL at 48 hours and then decreased to 162.0 +/- 72.2 ng/dL at 10 days after birth. Plasma aldosterone concentrations of infants less than 38th week of CA were higher than that of infants more than 38th week. There was a significant negative correlation coefficient between plasma aldosterone concentrations and FENa in infants more than 34th week of CA, but not in that of less than 34th week. CONCLUSIONS: LBW infants have higher plasma aldosterone concentrations, but a poor correlation between plasma aldosterone concentration and urinary sodium excretion for the first few days of life and in lower chronologic aged infants. These results show that the renal tubule reabsorption of sodium is less responsive to plasma aldosterone in these infants and, therefore, the careful management of fluid and electrolyte balance is mandatory.
Aldosterone* ; Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition ; Plasma ; Sodium ; Water-Electrolyte Balance

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources on the improvement of quality of sleep, mood symptoms, and cognitive function in Korean female emotional labor workers. METHODS: Twelve female workers who experienced excess emotional labor participated at the training camp program for five days in Danghangpo-ocean park, Goseung-gun, Gyeongnam Province in South Korea. Participant sleep quality, mood symptoms, and cognitive functioning before, after, and 1.5 months later were evaluated and analyzed. RESULTS: After participating in the marine resource program, participants reported significantly decreased sleep latency. Global sleep quality, cognitive functions (attention, flexibility, and inhibition control), and mood states, including depression, tension, anger, fatigue, were also improved. These effects were generally maintained after 1. 5 months (PSQI t = 2.63, p = 0.02 ; HAM-D t = 5.92, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources was effective in relaxing emotion-related tension and improving cognitive function. To advance this pilot study, it is necessary to carry out further research to investigate the use of marine resources in mental health interventions.
Anger ; Cognition ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Pilot Projects ; Pliability

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of meaning centered and mindfulnessbased stress management program with using marine resources on positive changes in mood, sleep, quality of life and cognitive function. METHODS: Nine family caregivers of patients with severe disability experienced meaning centered and mindfulness-based stress management program for four-days in marine areas near Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do in South Korea. Subjective questionnaires and objective assessments were conducted and statistically analyzed to examine changes in mood, sleep, quality of life, and cognitive function before, after, and after 6 weeks of participation. RESULTS: After participating in the program, moods including depression improved significantly. This effect lasted until 6 weeks. Participants' sleep quality, quality of life and cognitive function improved significantly after 6 weeks of program participation. CONCLUSIONS This new specialized stress management program using marine resources for family caregivers of patients with severe disability is expected to be used effectively in terms of improving their overall quality of life, mental health status and cognitive efficiency.

Pheochromocytoma, the catecholamine-producing tumor of chromaffin tissue, is associated with a curable form of hypertension. Recently we report the case of a 59 year-old male admitted for an acute myocardial infarction and who subsequently developed late recurrent severe ventricular arrhythmia coincident with transient hypertensive episodes. A pheochromocytoma was diagnosed on the basis of the urinary concentration of catecholamines and computerized tomography of the adrenal glands. After stabilization of his cardiac rhythm and blood pressure with alpha adrenergic blockade, the left adrenal gland, which contained the tumor, was subsequently resected. The diagnosis of a pheochromocytoma should be considered when recurrent ventricular arrhythmia are associated with intermittent hypertension after acute myocardial infarction.
Adrenal Glands ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Catecholamines ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Pheochromocytoma*