Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder and is often accompanied by alteration in the gut microbiota. Recently, several studies have disclosed its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the general population. Despite the high prevalence of constipation, data on the clinical impact of constipation in patients with chronic kidney disease are limited. We aimed to explore the prevalence of constipation and its association with cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease using a nationally representative cohort of hemodialysis patients. Methods: This study used hemodialysis quality assessment and health insurance claims data from patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in South Korea. Chronic constipation was defined using the total number of laxatives prescribed during the 1-year baseline period. The primary outcome was a composite of acute ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, or all-cause death. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the primary outcome. Results: Among 35,230 patients on hemodialysis, 9,133 (25.9%) were identified as having constipation. During a median follow-up of 5.4 years, patients with constipation had a 15% higher incidence of the composite outcome, 16% higher incidence of ischemic stroke, and 14% higher all-cause mortality, after multivariate adjustment. Conclusion: Chronic constipation requiring laxatives was associated with a higher risk of the composite outcome of cardiovascular events or all-cause death in patients on hemodialysis. Further studies are needed to confirm whether constipation is an independent predictor or a possible causal factor of cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: : Nursing record is a critical competency that directly impacts nurses’ professionalism and patient safety, requiring accuracy and objectivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the “Nurse records Room of Error (ROE)” program, developed to enhance nursing students’ confidence in nursing record, critical thinking disposition, and nursing records knowledge. The study also seeks to propose an effective educational strategy to strengthen practical competencies in nursing education. Methods: : A one-group pretest-posttest design was employed in this study. The Nurse records ROE program was implemented for 54 second-year nursing students at a university in City D. The program consisted of theoretical lectures and simulation activities. Confidence in nursing record (VAS), critical thinking disposition, and nursing records knowledge were assessed before and after the program. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Results: : After implementing the Nurse records ROE program, nursing students’ confidence in record significantly improved from 3.61±1.88 to 5.25±1.50 (t=-5.415, p <.001), critical thinking disposition increased from 94.43±9.39 to 104.09±15.71 (t=-4.012, p <.001), and nursing records knowledge rose from 53.17±5.22 to 57.06±3.60 (t=-5.095, p <.001). Conclusion : The Nurse records ROE program was found to be an effective educational tool for improving nursing students’ record competencies. This program underscores the necessity of simulation-based learning in nursing education, offering students opportunities to enhance practical skills in a safe environment, ultimately contributing to patient safety and quality of care. Future studies should include controlled designs and evaluate the program’s applicability in diverse clinical settings.

Primary aldosteronism is a group of disorders in which the autonomous secretion of aldosterone is associated with hypertension and hypokalemia. It is crucial to determine the laterality of aldosterone hypersecretion because treatment options differ accordingly. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is considered the most reliable method for assessing the laterality of primary aldosteronism. This procedure is often technically challenging because of the small size and varied locations of the adrenal veins. A better understanding of anatomical variations and careful review of imaging studies would improve sampling success. This report presents three cases of anatomical variations encountered during AVS.

Purpose: : This study is a descriptive research study to identify factors that influence the career preparation behavior of nursing students. Methods: : The subjects were 153 students attending nursing school. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics 25.0 program with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test and Pearson’s correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: : The degree of career preparation behavior of the subjects differed depending on their interpersonal relationships(F=3.093, p=.029). The subject’s career preparation behavior had a positive correlation with nursing professionalism and self-efficacy. As a result of stepwise regression analysis, factors related to the subject’s career preparation behavior were found to be in the order of self-efficacy and nursing professionalism. These variables were found to explain 14.7% of career preparation behavior (F=12.903, p<.001). Nursing professionalism (t=3.283, p=.001), professor trust (t=2.148, p=.033), and self-efficacy (t=2.745, p=.007) of subjects with high career preparation behavior scores were higher than those of subjects with low career preparation behavior scores. Conclusion : It was found that nursing students’ nursing professional intuition and self-efficacy influenced career preparation behavior. In addition, nursing students with a high level of career preparation behavior were found to have higher nursing professional intuition, trust in professors, and self-efficacy than nursing students with a low level of career preparation behavior. Based on the results of this study, efforts are needed to improve nursing professional intuition and self-efficacy in order to promote career preparation behavior among nursing students.

Primary aldosteronism is a group of disorders in which the autonomous secretion of aldosterone is associated with hypertension and hypokalemia. It is crucial to determine the laterality of aldosterone hypersecretion because treatment options differ accordingly. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is considered the most reliable method for assessing the laterality of primary aldosteronism. This procedure is often technically challenging because of the small size and varied locations of the adrenal veins. A better understanding of anatomical variations and careful review of imaging studies would improve sampling success. This report presents three cases of anatomical variations encountered during AVS.

Purpose: : This study is a descriptive research study to identify factors that influence the career preparation behavior of nursing students. Methods: : The subjects were 153 students attending nursing school. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics 25.0 program with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test and Pearson’s correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: : The degree of career preparation behavior of the subjects differed depending on their interpersonal relationships(F=3.093, p=.029). The subject’s career preparation behavior had a positive correlation with nursing professionalism and self-efficacy. As a result of stepwise regression analysis, factors related to the subject’s career preparation behavior were found to be in the order of self-efficacy and nursing professionalism. These variables were found to explain 14.7% of career preparation behavior (F=12.903, p<.001). Nursing professionalism (t=3.283, p=.001), professor trust (t=2.148, p=.033), and self-efficacy (t=2.745, p=.007) of subjects with high career preparation behavior scores were higher than those of subjects with low career preparation behavior scores. Conclusion : It was found that nursing students’ nursing professional intuition and self-efficacy influenced career preparation behavior. In addition, nursing students with a high level of career preparation behavior were found to have higher nursing professional intuition, trust in professors, and self-efficacy than nursing students with a low level of career preparation behavior. Based on the results of this study, efforts are needed to improve nursing professional intuition and self-efficacy in order to promote career preparation behavior among nursing students.

Primary aldosteronism is a group of disorders in which the autonomous secretion of aldosterone is associated with hypertension and hypokalemia. It is crucial to determine the laterality of aldosterone hypersecretion because treatment options differ accordingly. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is considered the most reliable method for assessing the laterality of primary aldosteronism. This procedure is often technically challenging because of the small size and varied locations of the adrenal veins. A better understanding of anatomical variations and careful review of imaging studies would improve sampling success. This report presents three cases of anatomical variations encountered during AVS.

Purpose: : This study is a descriptive research study to identify factors that influence the career preparation behavior of nursing students. Methods: : The subjects were 153 students attending nursing school. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics 25.0 program with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test and Pearson’s correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: : The degree of career preparation behavior of the subjects differed depending on their interpersonal relationships(F=3.093, p=.029). The subject’s career preparation behavior had a positive correlation with nursing professionalism and self-efficacy. As a result of stepwise regression analysis, factors related to the subject’s career preparation behavior were found to be in the order of self-efficacy and nursing professionalism. These variables were found to explain 14.7% of career preparation behavior (F=12.903, p<.001). Nursing professionalism (t=3.283, p=.001), professor trust (t=2.148, p=.033), and self-efficacy (t=2.745, p=.007) of subjects with high career preparation behavior scores were higher than those of subjects with low career preparation behavior scores. Conclusion : It was found that nursing students’ nursing professional intuition and self-efficacy influenced career preparation behavior. In addition, nursing students with a high level of career preparation behavior were found to have higher nursing professional intuition, trust in professors, and self-efficacy than nursing students with a low level of career preparation behavior. Based on the results of this study, efforts are needed to improve nursing professional intuition and self-efficacy in order to promote career preparation behavior among nursing students.

Objectives: The number of reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in the Republic of Korea surged nationally in 2016; however, in 2022, this number was higher in Jeju Province than the previous national peak. A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted to analyze trends in the incidence of reported LD cases in Jeju Island from 2015 to 2022. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from case reports submitted to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency through its Disease and Health Integrated Management System. The selection criteria were cases or suspected cases of LD reported among Jejuresidents between 2015 and 2022. The 95% confidence interval of the crude incidence rate wascalculated using the Poisson distribution. Results: Since 2020, the incidence rate of LD in Jeju has risen sharply, showing a statistically significant difference from the national incidence rate. A particular medical institution in Jeju reported a significant number of LD cases. Screening with the urine antigen test (UAT) also increased significantly. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the rapid increase in cases of LD in Jeju Province since 2020 was due to the characteristics of medical-care use among Jeju residents, which were focused on a specific medical institution. According to their clinical practice guidelines, this medical institution conducted UATs to screen patients suspected of pneumonia.