PURPOSE: This study evaluated the nutritional status and effect of nutritional support team (NST) management in critically ill patients.METHOD: From January 2015 to August 2017, the study retrospectively investigated 128 patients aged above 19 years admitted to a medical intensive care unit (MICU). The patients were divided into two groups: NST (n=65) and non-NST (n=63) groups. Nutritional status, classification of bedsore risks, incidence rate of bedsore and clinical outcomes were compared.RESULTS: The study found a higher rate of the use of enteral nutrition in the NST group (χ²=45.60, p < .001). The prescription rate of parenteral nutrition (PN) was found to be lower in the NST group (4.6%) compared to the non-NST group (60.3%). There was a higher PN of total delivered/required caloric ratio in the NST, compared to the non-NST, group (χ²=3.33, p=.025). There were significant differences for higher albumin levels (t=2.50, p=.014), higher total protein levels (t=2.94, p =.004), and higher proportion of discharge with survival rates (χ²=18.26, p < .001) in the NST group.CONCLUSION: Providing NST management to critically ill patients showed an increase in the nutrition support. Further, to achieve effective clinical outcomes, measures such as nutrition education and continuous monitoring and management for the provision of nutritional support by the systemic administration of a nutritional support team should be considered.
Classification ; Critical Care ; Critical Illness ; Education ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Methods ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Prescriptions ; Pressure Ulcer ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Voltage dependent calcium channels mediate wide variety of physiological functions including neurotransmitter release, neurite outgrowth, and gene expression in neurons. omega-Conotoxin-sensitive N-type calcium channels are exclusively expressed in nervous system and involved in the control of neurotransmitter release from neurons. In this experiment, I have investigated human chromosomal location and rat neuronal distribution of N-type voltage dependent calcium channel alpha1, subunit [alpha1B]. I have localized human alpha1B subunit gene to the long arm of chromosome 9[9q34] by fluorescent in situ hybridization. The distribution of rat alphaB1 subunit mRNA has been examined in the rat brain by in situ hybridization histochemistry and high level of alpha1B subunit mRNA has been observed in olfactory bulb, anterior olfactory nucleus, cerebral cortex, piriform cortex, hippocampus, dentate gyrus, parabrachial nucleus, and cerebellum and low level of expression was also found in other areas of rat brain.
Animals ; Arm ; Brain* ; Calcium Channels* ; Calcium Channels, N-Type ; Calcium* ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Cortex ; Dentate Gyrus ; Gene Expression ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Nervous System ; Neurites ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Olfactory Bulb ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger

In the 1960s, Sir John Charnley introduced to clinical practice his concept of low-friction total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although early designs were plagued by poor performance and even failure, there have been steady advances in implant designs, biomaterials, surgical techniques and an understanding of the biomechanical restoration of the hip; these advances have contributed to improvements in implant survival and clinical outcomes of THA in the past three decades. With improved wear resistance and mechanical reliability, a potential to last for at least 25 to 30 years are now available for THA. In this review, we focus on the evolution of THA and review current controversies and future directions of this procedure based on a single surgeon's 29-year of experience at a single institution.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Biocompatible Materials ; Hip

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to describe our group counseling methods for medical students with drop-out experiences. METHODS: Group counseling was offered to 11 medical students with drop-out experiences in their previous second semester. All subjects provided written informed consent before participating and completed a 2-day group counseling program using the Gestalt approach. The self-assertiveness training group counseling program consisted of 6 sessions, each of which lasted 90 minutes. Experience reports by participants after the program and data from semi-structured qualitative interviews were qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: Program participants reported that they were moderately satisfied with the program regarding its usefulness and helpfulness on self-awareness, understanding, and reminding them of attempts to change behavior. Most students showed heightened levels of sincerity perceptions and positive attitudes in every session. The results demonstrated significant changes in experience in self-esteem, self-recognition, and interpersonal relationships. CONCLUSION: A group counseling program using the Gestalt approach could help medical students with drop-out experiences to adjust with 1 year their juniors, enhance their self-esteem, contribute to their psychological well-being, and prevent student re-failure through effective stress management and improved interpersonal relationships.
Counseling ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether lipoic acid as antioxidant could inhibit expression of VEGF and STAT3 in experimental diabetic rat retina. METHODS: Diabetes was induced chemically by injection of streptozotocin in 12 rats of 18 Sprague-Dawley rats. After induction of diabetes, lipoic acid was injected into the peritonium in 6 rats. So all rats were divided into 3 groups, normal group (n=6), diabetes mellitus (DM) group (n=6), lipoic acid treated group (n=6). The ocular tissue of the rats were collected on 8 weeks after diabetes induction. Difference of VEGF and STAT3 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, western blot. The change of VEGF and STAT3 in lipoic acid treated group were evaluated in these experimental model. RESULTS: The VEGF and STAT3 expression was elevated in diabetic rat retina. The active form STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3 was also elevated. The VEGF and STAT3 expression in lipoic acid treated group was lower than DM group. CONCLUSIONS: The lipoic acid could inhibit the VEGF and STAT3 expression in diabetic rat retina.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Models, Theoretical ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina* ; Streptozocin ; Thioctic Acid* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a rare inherited disorder of the connective tissue that is characterized by hyperextensible skin, hypermobile joints and abnormalities of the cardiovascular system. A 15-year-old girl with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome underwent thoracolumbar surgery for deformity correction. After surgery, an abdominal aortic rupture occurred, and she complained of abdominal distension had an abdominal circumference of 80 cm. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a pseudoaneurysm and a large hematoma at the retroperitoneum. She died of a massive hemorrhage during subsequent abdominal aortic surgery.
Adolescent ; Aneurysm, False ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Rupture ; Cardiovascular System ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Connective Tissue ; Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Joints ; Rupture ; Skin ; Spine

No abstract available.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Choristoma/*complications/radiography ; Escherichia coli Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Female ; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital/*complications/radiography ; Humans ; *Kidney ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pyelonephritis/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Thoracic Diseases/*complications/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Arthritis ; Bacteremia* ; Female* ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Listeria monocytogenes* ; Listeria*

In the article cited above, upper part page in title page has an error. Ending page of the article should be 268, not 269.

BACKGROUND: Although neuromuscular blockade can influence the bispectral index (BIS) during anesthesia, there have been contradictory reports regarding its effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a muscle relaxant affected the level of BIS during propofol anesthesia. METHODS: Forty-eight healthy patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blind study. All patients received an effect-site targeted concentration of propofol via a TCI system that was titrated until loss of consciousness occurred. The patients then received either an injection of vecuronium (relaxant group, n = 24) or normal saline as a placebo (placebo group, n = 24) at 3 minutes after loss of consciousness. The BIS and electromyogram (EMG) activity were recorded from anesthetic induction to 4 minutes after injection of the vecuronium or placebo. RESULTS: The BIS significantly decreased after injection in both groups (P < 0.05), however, the decrease in the BIS was larger in the relaxant group than in the placebo group (P < 0.05). The decrease of EMG activity was not significantly different between the two groups after administration of vecuronium or placebo. CONCLUSIONS: During propofol induction of anesthesia, a muscle relaxant decreased BIS significantly without decreasing the EMG activity.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Muscles ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Propofol ; Prospective Studies ; Unconsciousness ; Vecuronium Bromide