Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Purpose: : This study aimed to explore the essence and meaning of light sedation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: : Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients receiving light sedation therapy in the cardiac ICU of a university hospital in South Korea. The content of the interviews was analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’s inductive content analysis method. Data collection and analysis were performed iteratively to enable a continuous comparative analysis. Results: : The main category derived from the analysis was the “coexistence of partial consciousness and discomfort.” Three general categories were identified: (1) the state of being neither asleep nor awake, (2) persistent discomfort, and (3) ambivalence toward consciousness. The subcategories included a fragmented memory, disorientation, surreal experiences, brain fog, half-heard noises, physical discomfort, mental distress, preference for sleep, and preference for being awake. Conclusion : Patients in the ICU under light sedation experienced an incomplete state of consciousness while experiencing various types of discomfort. Nurses should understand the patients’ subjective experiences with light sedation to provide patient-centered care. Based on these findings, further research is required to develop and apply nursing interventions for patients under light sedation.

Purpose: : This study aimed to explore the essence and meaning of light sedation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: : Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients receiving light sedation therapy in the cardiac ICU of a university hospital in South Korea. The content of the interviews was analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’s inductive content analysis method. Data collection and analysis were performed iteratively to enable a continuous comparative analysis. Results: : The main category derived from the analysis was the “coexistence of partial consciousness and discomfort.” Three general categories were identified: (1) the state of being neither asleep nor awake, (2) persistent discomfort, and (3) ambivalence toward consciousness. The subcategories included a fragmented memory, disorientation, surreal experiences, brain fog, half-heard noises, physical discomfort, mental distress, preference for sleep, and preference for being awake. Conclusion : Patients in the ICU under light sedation experienced an incomplete state of consciousness while experiencing various types of discomfort. Nurses should understand the patients’ subjective experiences with light sedation to provide patient-centered care. Based on these findings, further research is required to develop and apply nursing interventions for patients under light sedation.

Linxian County in Henan Province, Northern China is known as the region with the highest incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer worldwide. Since 1959, the Henan medical team has conducted field work on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian. Through three generations of effort exerted by oncologists over 65 years of research on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian, the incidence rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in this area has dropped by nearly 50%, and the 5-year survival rate has increased to 40%, reaching the international leading level. This article aims to summarize the history, present opportunities and new challenges, and explore the experience of esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian (referred to as the “Linxian experience”), providing reference and guidance to cancer prevention and treatment research in China.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Purpose: : This study aimed to explore the essence and meaning of light sedation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: : Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients receiving light sedation therapy in the cardiac ICU of a university hospital in South Korea. The content of the interviews was analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’s inductive content analysis method. Data collection and analysis were performed iteratively to enable a continuous comparative analysis. Results: : The main category derived from the analysis was the “coexistence of partial consciousness and discomfort.” Three general categories were identified: (1) the state of being neither asleep nor awake, (2) persistent discomfort, and (3) ambivalence toward consciousness. The subcategories included a fragmented memory, disorientation, surreal experiences, brain fog, half-heard noises, physical discomfort, mental distress, preference for sleep, and preference for being awake. Conclusion : Patients in the ICU under light sedation experienced an incomplete state of consciousness while experiencing various types of discomfort. Nurses should understand the patients’ subjective experiences with light sedation to provide patient-centered care. Based on these findings, further research is required to develop and apply nursing interventions for patients under light sedation.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Purpose: : This study aimed to explore the essence and meaning of light sedation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: : Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients receiving light sedation therapy in the cardiac ICU of a university hospital in South Korea. The content of the interviews was analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’s inductive content analysis method. Data collection and analysis were performed iteratively to enable a continuous comparative analysis. Results: : The main category derived from the analysis was the “coexistence of partial consciousness and discomfort.” Three general categories were identified: (1) the state of being neither asleep nor awake, (2) persistent discomfort, and (3) ambivalence toward consciousness. The subcategories included a fragmented memory, disorientation, surreal experiences, brain fog, half-heard noises, physical discomfort, mental distress, preference for sleep, and preference for being awake. Conclusion : Patients in the ICU under light sedation experienced an incomplete state of consciousness while experiencing various types of discomfort. Nurses should understand the patients’ subjective experiences with light sedation to provide patient-centered care. Based on these findings, further research is required to develop and apply nursing interventions for patients under light sedation.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.