PURPOSE: This study compared the effects of robotic single-port cholecystectomy (RC) and 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) on patients' surgical pain, postoperative complications, and satisfaction. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients with gallbladder disease scheduled for either LC or RC were recruited. Each patient was followed up for 1 week after hospital discharge. RESULTS: Time stayed in operating room was longer in patients with RC, however their hospital stay was shorter than those with LC (t = 3.01, P = 0.003). Since patients with RC received more analgesics during the surgery (t = 3.98, P < 0.001), all participants' surgical pain level were analyzed by using analysis of covariance. Patients who underwent RC reported less surgical pain consistently at 6 hours and first day after surgery and 2 days and 1 week later than patients in the LC. Repeated measure analysis of variance also demonstrated that the RC with single-port might cause less pain throughout the postoperative period (F = 25.68, P < 0.001). Participants' conditions appeared stable without complications such as infection or bleeding regardless of the surgical type however, overall satisfaction with RC showed significantly higher than those with LC except for one item, “the cost of surgery.” CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the RC might be a better choice for people who concern about surgical pain and early hospital discharge. Since there were no differences in postoperative health status between the 2 groups, health care providers as an advocate can provide more reliable information to their patients.

In the original publication, The authors found a mistake in funding statement. Also in the title page (1st affiliation) and main text, the authots would like to revise the affiliation name.

PURPOSE: This methodological study was conducted to develop and psychometrically test the Transcultural Self-efficacy scale (TCSEscale) for nurses. METHODS: Initial 41 items for the TCSE-scale were generated based on extensive literature reviews and in-depth interviews with 18 nurses who had experience in caring for foreign patients. Cultural Competence and Confidence model was used as a conceptual framework. Content validity was evaluated by an expert panel. Psychometric testing was performed with a convenience sample of 242 nurses recruited from four general hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gyeonggi-do province of South Korea. To evaluate the reliability of TCSE-scale, a test-retest reliability and an internal consistency reliability were analyzed. Construct validity, concurrent validity, criterion validity, convergent validity and discriminative validity were used to evaluate the validity. RESULTS: The 25-item TCSE-scale was found to have three subscales-Cognitive, Practical, and Affective domain-explaining 91.5% of the total variance. TCSE-scale also demonstrated a concurrent validity with the Cultural Competence Scale. Criterion-related validity was supported by known-group comparison. Reliability analysis showed an acceptable-to-high Cronbach's alpha-.88 in total, and subscales ranged from .76 to .87. The ICC was .90, indicating that the TCSE-scale has internal consistency and stability of reliability. CONCLUSION: This preliminary evaluation of the psychometric scale properties demonstrated an acceptable validity and reliability. The TCSE-scale is able to contribute to building up empirical and evidence based on data collection regarding the transcultural self-efficacy of clinical nurses. We suggest further testing of the applicability of TCSE-scale in different settings and community contexts.
Cultural Competency ; Cultural Diversity ; Data Collection ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Psychometrics* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self Efficacy ; Seoul

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric schwannoma (GS), a rare neurogenic mesenchymal tumor, is usually benign, slow-growing, and asymptomatic. However, GS is often misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) on endoscopic and radiological examinations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate EUS characteristics of GS distinguished from GIST. METHODS: A total of 119 gastric subepithelial lesions, including 31 GSs and 88 GISTs, who were histologically identified and underwent EUS, were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the EUS characteristics, including location, size, gross morphology, mucosal lesion, layer of origin, border, echogenic pattern, marginal halo, and presence of an internal echoic lesion by retrospective review of the medical records. RESULTS: GS patients comprised nine males and 22 females, indicating female predominance. In the gross morphology according to Yamada's classification, type I was predominant in GS and type III was predominant in GIST. In location, GSs were predominantly located in the gastric body and GISTs were predominantly located in the cardia or fundus. The frequency of 4th layer origin and isoechogenicity as compared to the echogenicity of proper muscle layer was significantly more common in GS than GIST. Although not statistically significant, marginal halo was more frequent in GS than GIST. The presence of an internal echoic lesion was significantly more common in GIST than GS. CONCLUSIONS: The EUS characteristics, including tumor location, gross morphology, layer of origin, echogenicity in comparison with the normal muscle layer, and presence of an internal echoic lesion may be useful in distinguishing between GS and GIST.
Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endosonography ; Female ; Gastric Fundus/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neurilemmoma/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe the parenting experience of parents of children with chronic illness in Korea. METHODS: A conventional contents analysis was used for the study. Twelve mothers of chronically ill children participated in the study. Qualitative data were analyzed using the Morse and Field method. RESULTS: Four categories, 10 subcategories and 42 codes emerged from the data on the parenting experience of parents of children with chronic illness. The four categories were 'Sacrifice and full-engagement within self-mortification', 'Renormalization of collapsed daily life', 'Paving a new way for independence' and 'Growing together of myself and the family'. CONCLUSION: Parents of children with chronic illness experienced not only negative aspects such as a confusion but also re-normalization and growing together. Based on the results, health professionals need to develop effective nursing interventions toward positive parenting for these parents and their children with chronic illnesses.
Child* ; Chronic Disease* ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Korea ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Parenting* ; Parents* ; Qualitative Research

This study was performed to examine the role of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). C57BL/6 mice were divided into six experimental groups: 1) control group; 2) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group; 3) lung protective ventilation (LPV) group; 4) VILI group; 5) VILI with cystamine, a TG2 inhibitor, pretreatment (Cyst+VILI) group; and 6) LPV with cystamine pretreatment (Cyst+LPV) group. Acute lung injury (ALI) score, TG2 activity and gene expression, inflammatory cytokines, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity were measured. TG2 activity and gene expression were significantly increased in the VILI group (P < 0.05). Cystamine pretreatment significantly decreased TG2 activity and gene expression in the Cyst+VILI group (P < 0.05). Inflammatory cytokines were higher in the VILI group than in the LPS and LPV groups (P < 0.05), and significantly lower in the Cyst+VILI group than the VILI group (P < 0.05). NF-kappaB activity was increased in the VILI group compared with the LPS and LPV groups (P < 0.05), and significantly decreased in the Cyst+VILI group compared to the VILI group (P = 0.029). The ALI score of the Cyst+VILI group was lower than the VILI group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.105). These results suggest potential roles of TG2 in the pathogenesis of VILI.
Acute Lung Injury/pathology ; Animals ; Cystamine/therapeutic use ; Cytokines/analysis ; Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; GTP-Binding Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Respiration, Artificial ; Transglutaminases/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury/*enzymology/pathology/prevention & control

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify and explain the essences and structures of maternal conflicts in Vietnamese married immigrant women in Korea. METHODS: A phenomenological methodology was used for the study. Eleven Vietnamese married immigrant women participated in the study. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. RESULTS: Four categories, 10 clusters and 26 themes emerged from the data for the experience in maternal conflicts of Vietnamese married immigrant women. The four categories were 'An unprepared young motherhood in another culture', 'Feeling left out of the mother's place along the bands of Nap tai tradition', 'My image is like not-being able to stand alone/be independent' and 'Finding hope in motherhood despite of conflicts and stigmas'. CONCLUSION: Vietnamese married immigrant women experienced not only the negative aspects but also sublimation of maternal conflicts. Based on the results, health professionals need to develop effective nursing interventions toward a positive maternal identity and approach with interculturalism for the Vietnamese married immigrant women in Korea.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Communication Barriers ; Emigrants and Immigrants/*psychology ; Family/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Marriage ; Maternal Behavior/*psychology ; Pregnancy ; Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Vietnam

The foreign bodies in vagina cause intense inflammation. Genital complaints in patients could indicate the presence of a vaginal foreign object. Vaginal bleeding and blood-stained, foul-smelling discharge are considered to be the main clinical manifestations of vaginal foreign bodies, and toilet tissue reported as the most commonly found foreign body. The insertion of foreign bodies into the vagina is not uncommon but presentation as lower abdominal pain in an gynaecological clinic is rare. The causes of insertion are sexual stimulation, sexual abuse, accident of post-surgery and most cases find a solution after vaginal speculum examination. We describe a case of foreign body in the vagina of a patient presenting with chronic lower abdominal pain but undetectable and unrecognized in general examination.
Abdominal Pain ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Sex Offenses ; Surgical Instruments ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic kidney disease is recognized as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. It is unknown whether renal function predicts clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke. The present study was aimed at examining the correlation between the degree of renal dysfunction and stroke outcome. METHODS: Our retrospective study included 282 consecutive patients hospitalized due to acute ischemic stroke. Renal function was assessed by the estimated Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), using two METHODS: Cockcroft-Gault equation and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Each of the estimated GFRs were categorized into three groups (Group I: > or = 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, Group II: 45~59 mL/min/1.73 m2, Group III: 15~44 mL/min/1.73 m2). From collected patient databases, we compared mortality and rate of hospitalization to GFR at 1 month and 12 months follow up. RESULTS: Our study found that, based on the GFR, the 1 year mortality, using the Cockcroft-Gault equation, was 6.0% in group I, 20.3% in group II and 21.1% in group III and, using the MDRD equation, 9.1%, 12.5% and 37.5%, respectively. Patients with lower GFRs exhibited an increased odds ratio for 1 year mortality when estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation: 3.97 (1.7~9.2, 95% CI) in group II and 4.16 (1.2~14.5, 95% CI) in group III. Based on the MDRD equation, patients with lower GFRs also exhibited an increased odds ratio for 1-year mortality: 1.43 (0.5~4.4, 95% CI) in group II and 6.00 (1.3~26.8, 95% CI) in group III. The adjusted odds ratio for 1-year mortality also increased based on our analysis using either equation. CONCLUSIONS: Decline of GFR and severity of chronic kidney disease are associated with poor clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Diet ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing. Accordingly, hospitalization and mortalities associated with CKD also have increased. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of CKD, and explore the causative risk factors. METHODS: One thousand one hundred and forty-seven patients who underwent the mass health screening test at Chonnam National University Hospital between July 2007 and December 2007 were studied. The prevalence of CKD and possible risk factors such as gender, previous history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, smoker status (current and ex-smoker), BMI, increased LDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol level and anemia were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 631 male and 616 female subjects. Mean age was 48.6 years and mean glomerular filtration rate was 117.2+/-28.7 ml/min/1.73m2. The prevalence of CKD was 10.3%, and the prevalence of advanced CKD (CKD stage 3-5) was 0.5%. The prevalence of advanced CKD was higher in subjects with diabetes. The awareness of CKD was very low. Factors independently associated with CKD were sex favoring men (odd ratio [OR], 2.106; 95% CI, 1.436-3.090), smoker (OR, 0.575; 95% CI, 0.382-0.867), DM (OR, 2.395; 95% CI, 1.338-4.286), inadequate blood sugar (OR, 2.536; 95% CI, 1.267-5.077), HDL<40 mg/dL (OR, 0.418; 95% CI, 0.191-0.915) in a univariate analysis. With a multivariate analysis, female gender (OR, 2.123; 95% CI, 1.209-3.730) was the only independent risk factor for CKD. CONCLUSION: Since the CKD is a public health burden, closer attention is needed to prevent the CKD in the high-risk group.
Anemia ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney Diseases ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors