OBJECTIVEChinese allergic subjects have high levels of sensitization to house dust mite (HDM) and other indoor allergens. This study quantifies common indoor allergen levels in Chinese households.

METHODSDust samples were collected from nine cities. Major allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and specific antigens of Blomia tropicalis, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Acarus siro, and cockroach species Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana were measured by ELISA.

RESULTSHDM allergens were found in dust samples from bedding in 95% of the Chinese households. The median levels varied from <0.006 to 9.2 µg/g of dust, depending on the city. The percentages of households having HDM allergen levels associated with the risk of developing allergy sensitization and asthma were 65% and 25%, respectively. Specific antigens of the storage mite and cockroach were only found in samples from the southern and tropical regions of China. Levels of mite allergens were generally higher in samples from bedding compared to samples from the living room, even for storage mites, whereas levels of cockroach antigens were higher in the living room samples.

CONCLUSIONHDM allergens are present in bedding dust samples from most Chinese households. Cities in southern and central China have relatively high levels of HDM major allergens compared to cities in northern and western China. Antigens of storage mites and cockroaches are not as common as HDM allergens.

Air Pollution, Indoor ; statistics & numerical data ; Allergens ; chemistry ; Animals ; Bedding and Linens ; China ; Cockroaches ; Dust ; analysis ; Housing ; Pyroglyphidae ; Seasons

PURPOSE: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals interfere with the endocrine system and therefore affect growth and pubertal progression. The study aim was to compare the growth and pubertal progression in wild-type female rats with different bedding types. METHODS: Twenty 5-week-old female wild-type Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two groups with different bedding types: one group received wood shaving bedding, while a second group received corncob bedding. We determined crown-rump length and body weight as anthropometric measurements and assessed the serum growth hormone (GH) and estradiol levels. The gh1 mRNA expression levels were compared using quantitative real time transcription polymerase chain reaction. The estrous cycle was evaluated by vaginal smear. RESULTS: The anthropometric measurements were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean relative expression of the gh1 gene was lower in the corncob bedding group than that in the wood shaving group (P=0.768). Meanwhile serum GH and estradiol were increased in the wood shaving bedding group; however this difference was not statistically significant. The time to first estrus and the length of the estrous cycle were increased in the corncob bedding group; the proportion of normal estrous cycles was also decreased. These findings indicate irregularities in the estrous cycle. CONCLUSION: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in corncob bedding might be associated with time to first estrus and length of the estrous cycle. Therefore, the type of bedding should be considered as a factor affecting pubertal progression in rodents.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Bedding and Linens ; Body Weight ; Crown-Rump Length ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Endocrine System ; Estradiol ; Estrous Cycle ; Estrus ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Puberty ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Rodentia ; Vaginal Smears ; Wood

OBJECTIVE: To observe the household environment dust mites allergens content distribution characteristics and influence factors of children with allergic rhinitis to dust mites in Wuhu. METHOD: Collect the surface dust in bedroom and living room floor, mattresses, pillows, sofa of 102 children with allergic rhinitis families. Dust mite allergen components 1 (Der f1) and house dust mites allergens 1 components (Der p1) of the dust samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULT: One hundred and twenty samples were collected . In a domestic dust mites samples, with a median of M (Min and Max) said dust mite allergen levels, Der f1 and Der p1 content was 2.66 (0.03, 26.63), 3.48 (0, 03, 33.68), respectively. Der f1 was significantly less than Der p1, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). According to the classification of urban and township, there were 68 cases and 34 cases. Der f1 content in the samples was 2.91 (0.31, 26.63), 2.40 (0.08, 16.02), respectively. Der p1 content was 4.28 (0.03, 20.77), 3.88 (0.14, 33.68), respectively. The dust mites content of urban was significantly more than that of villages and towns, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Samples were also classified by gender. The dust mites allergens content in either boy's or girl's family were similar, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The household dust mites of children allergic rhinitisin Wuhu area is given priority to with Der p1, and urban dust mites are significantly more than village's and town's. Enhancing health education, controlling dust mites allergens contamination inside the bedroom, especially urban areas, are positive differences for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis in children.
Allergens ; analysis ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; analysis ; Arthropod Proteins ; analysis ; Bedding and Linens ; Child ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; analysis ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; epidemiology

Noncontact electrosurgical ground is recently developed to provide adequate electrical return to electric surgical unit without direct contact to the patient. It provides full and safe electrical return without direct contact of patient due to oscillating, high frequency nature of the current flow and large surface of pad. It is useful in burn surgery and effective to prevent burn by improper placements of the grounding pad. But it can induce current to conducting object with direct contact. Current induced in conductive materials can produce heat to make burns. We present a patient with full-thickness burn in left third finger which was resulted from current through stainless steel tube tree on the operating table during surgery. The stainless tube tree was placed on noncontact electrosurgical ground which was covered with plastic sheet and linen sheet. Staff in operating room should be educated and remain vigilant for electrical burns caused by metallic object on noncontact grounding pad.
Bedding and Linens ; Burns* ; Electrosurgery ; Fingers ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Operating Rooms ; Operating Tables ; Plastics ; Stainless Steel

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify pediatric nurses' attitudes to, and compliance with, standard precautions in the prevention of hospital infections by enhancing their practice of standard precautions. METHODS: The participants were 206 nurses who worked in pediatric nursing departments of a general medical institution in Seoul. The questionnaire was a modification of Kim (2008) and consisted of 18 questions about hand washing, personal protective equipment, sharps, linen and patient care equipment. Collected data were processed using SPSS 15.0 WIN. RESULTS: Mean scores for attitudes to standard precautions and for compliance with standard precautions were 4.43 (+/-0.83) and 4.22 (+/-0.44) respectively. This difference was statistically significant (t=3.368, p=.001). The nurses' compliance with standard precautions differed significantly according to the general characteristics of age (F=8.705, p<.001), total clinical experience (F=9.426, p<.001), current department experience (F=6.555, p<.001), and education experience (t=0.616, p<.043). There was a positive correlation between attitudes to, and compliance with, standard precautions (r=.156, p=.025). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that educational programs and policy on infection control and standard precautions for pediatric nurses are needed. Also these results should contribute to baseline data for establishing appropriate clinical policy on infection control.
Bedding and Linens ; Compliance ; Cross Infection ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Patient Care ; Pediatric Nursing ; Universal Precautions ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Healthcare workers are exposed to a variety of chemical agents used in many different areas and purposes. The chemicals could cause health problems to healthcare workers using them. Glutaraldehyde is a kind of disinfectant and used for endoscopes, catheters, and many kinds of operating apparatus. It may cause allergic contact dermatitis. Formaldehyde is another disinfectant and can be used for fixing tissues. Formaldehyde was classified to a Group 1 carcinogen by IARC and it may cause lung or nasal cancer. Ethylene Oxide gas is the most popular disinfectant these days and may be applied to many health care sets or linens. EO gas may cause allergic contact dermatitis and breast cancer or leukemia. It is also classified as Group 1 carcinogen despite limited evidence for human cancers. Anesthetics are related to genotoxicities, sister chromatid exchange, and might be related to spontaneous abortion, stillbirth or birth defects. Some of the anti-neoplastic drugs such as Busulfan, Chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, melphalan are Group 1 carcinogens. They could cause nausea, pruritus, or decreasing leukocytes or platelets. Other miscellaneous chemical agents are heavy metals such as elementary mercury or lead and organic solvents such as toluene, xylene and acetone. Although some of these chemical agents including EO gas have occasionally exceeded to permissible level, air levels of most above chemicals in Korean hospitals were relatively low. However, we have to make every effort to reduce the exposure level of these chemicals.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Acetone ; Anesthetics ; Bedding and Linens ; Blood Platelets ; Breast Neoplasms ; Busulfan ; Carcinogens ; Catheters ; Chlorambucil ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cyclophosphamide ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Endoscopes ; Ethylene Oxide ; Ethylenes ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Leukocytes ; Lung ; Melphalan ; Metals, Heavy ; Nausea ; Nose Neoplasms ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Sister Chromatid Exchange ; Solvents ; Stillbirth ; Toluene ; Xylenes

BACKGROUND: Norwegian scabies is a highly infectious disease characterized by crust formation, different from ordinary scabies, and is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. After the patient in our case was diagnosed with Norwegian scabies, active measures were taken to prevent its transmission within the hospital. Methods: A 66-year-old female patient was admitted to the general ward of a university hospital on January 23rd, 2008 and 6 days later, she was found to have been infected with Norwegian scabies all over the body. For epidemiological investigation, those who had been in contact with the patient were identified and interviewed. The patient was advised to follow the contact precaution, and linen the patient used was cleaned thoroughly. The surrounding environment was decontaminated by applying surface disinfectant. Preventive cream against the Norwegian scabies was distributed to staff members and patients who had been exposed to the patient, and appointed a dermatologist to educate them on how to use of medicine, what the mechanism of the disease is, what cautions must be taken, and how to write an ex post facto report. RESULTS: After the confirmation of the 1st case, no additional cases have been reported in the hospital during the ensuing 2 months. Therefore, prompt prevention and infection control activities against Norwegian scabies can be thought to have been successful. CONCLUSION: Whena patient with an uncertain skin disease is admitted, pertinent measures must be taken from the moment the patient is admitted and contact precaution should be applied both to the patients and the staff members. When a scabies patient is detected in an institution, the medical staff must enforce as much active preventive measures as possible, and by doing so, there will be a better chance to prevent the outbreak of scabies in the hospital.
Aged ; Bedding and Linens ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection ; Female ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Staff ; Patients' Rooms ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin Diseases

House dust mites produce inhalant allergens of importance to allergic patients. We measured the major group 1 allergens, Der p 1 and Der f 1, from the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farina, respectively in 100 randomly selected domestic homes from Cheonan, Korea. Dust samples were collected by vacuuming from the living room floor and 1 mattress in each home. Der p 1 and Der f 1 were measured by double monoclonal ELISA. Der p 1 levels were very low, with geometric mean levels for floors and mattresses being 0.11 microgram/g (range: 0.01-4.05) and 0.14 microgram/g (range: 0.01-30.0), respectively. Corresponding levels of Der f 1 were higher, 7.46 microgram/g (range: 0.01-262.9) and 10.2 microgram/g (range: 0.01-230.9) for floors and mattresses, respectively. D. farinae appears to be the dominant house dust mite in Cheonan.
Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Bedding and Linens ; Dust/analysis ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Housing ; Humans ; Korea ; Pyroglyphidae/*immunology

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare sleep patterns, factors of sleep disturbance and sleep enhancement behaviors between sleep disturbance and non-sleep disturbance elderly patients. METHOD: The participants were 117 patients over 65 years old who were hospitalized at 5 general hospitals in Seoul. There were 83 patients in the good sleeper group and 34 in the poor sleeper group. The survey questionnaires included questions on general characteristics, sleep patterns, sleep disturbing factors, and sleep enhancement behaviors of the patients. RESULTS: For sleep patterns and environmental factors of sleep disturbance, the poor sleepers was significantly higher than that of the good sleepers. Significant differences between good sleepers and poor sleepers were also found on the following variables: Environmental factors of sleep disturbance -'Sound of other patient's or care-giver's', 'Discomfort of bed, linen, pillow and patient's gown', 'Light in the room', 'Emergency situations', 'Temperature of patients rooms too hot or too cold'. The significant physical factor of sleep disturbance was 'Hard to breath even without moving' and for sleep enhancement behaviors: 'Use of ear plugs or eye covers'. CONCLUSION: Consequently it is necessary to develop positive and differentiated programs for sleep enhancement for the inactive and poor sleeper among the elderly patients.
Aged ; Bedding and Linens ; Ear ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Patients' Rooms ; Questionnaires ; Seoul

PURPOSE: To find the factors of subjective musculoskeletal symptoms associated with the general characteristics and tasks of operating room nurses (OR nurses) and then to use the factors as basic information for preventing and managing musculoskeletal symptoms in OR nurses. METHOD: This study was an exploratory research. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire from OR nurses working at 8 polyclinics in Korea during the period from July 26 2004 to August 19 2004. The questionnaire contains 7 questions on general characteristics and 18 questions on tasks in the operating room. RESULT: 187 (75.1%) nurses said they 'had' subjective musculoskeletal symptoms. Statistically significant differences were observed according to clinical career, career as an OR nurse, skillfulness, satisfaction with tasks in the operating room, perception on suitable treatment, care of symptoms by the hospital. weight of hospital linen and weight of a basic operation set (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal symptoms complained of by OR nurses were significant. This may cause difficulties in nursing tasks in the operating room. Thus, various arrangements should be made for OR nurse with subjective musculoskeletal symptoms at the early stage.
Bedding and Linens ; Korea ; Nursing ; Operating Rooms* ; Surveys and Questionnaires