The integrated cell culture-PCR (ICC-PCR) method has been suggested as an improved method for detection of viruses in water environments. We tested 57 source waters including finished water samples in Gyeonggi-do for enteric viral contamination using total culturable virus assay (TCVA) using BGMK cells and ICC-PCR. Nineteen of the 57 source water samples (33.3%) exhibited the cytopathic effect (CPE) on BGMK cells and no finished water did exhibited CPE. Nineteen samples (33.3%) of the 57 were positive for reoviruses. For the enteroviruses, only 3 samples (5.3%) of the 57 samples showed positive results. By using ICC-PCR method, 202 flasks from source water samples were positive for enteroviruses and reoviruses. Three samples from source water were positive for both viruses. However, any flasks tested was not co-infected with two types of viruses. While the enteric viral frequencies in TCVA and ICC-PCR were similar, the viral frequency for reoviruses at first passage in two type of method was higher in ICC-PCR (94.7%) than TCVA (56.9%).
Enterovirus ; Viruses ; Water

BACKGROUND: Cerebral blood vessels are innervated by sympathetic nerves from the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block in rats subjected to permanent focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (270-320 g) were randomly assigned to one of three groups (control, lidocaine and ropivacaine). A brain injury was induced in all rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion with a nylon thread. The animals of the local anesthetic group received 30 microl of 2% lidocaine or 0.75% ropivacaine in the SCG. Neurologic scores were assessed 24 hours after brain injury. Brain samples were then collected. The infarct and edema ratios were measured by 2.3.5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. RESULTS: There were no differences in the death rates, neurologic scores, or infarction and edema ratios between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block may not influence the brain damage induced by permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
Amides ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Brain Ischemia ; Edema ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Humans ; Infarction ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Nylons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superior Cervical Ganglion

PURPOSE: Ego-integrity in older adults is the central concept related to quality of life in later life. Therefore, for effective interventions to enhance the quality of later life, a scale to measure ego-integrity in older adults is necessary. This study was carried out to develop a scale to measure ego-integrity in older adults. METHODS: This study utilized cronbach's alpha in analyzing the reliability of the collected data and expert group, and factor analysis and item analysis to analyze validity. RESULTS: Seventeen items were selected from a total of 21 items. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was .88 for the 17 items of ego-integrity in the older adults scale. Three factors evolved by factor analysis, which explained 50.71% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: The scale for measuring ego-integrity in Korean older adults in this study was evaluated as a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Ego ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Self Concept

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the knowledge level and assessment experience of nurses in regards to delirium, and to utilize the study results as baseline data for planning delirium education programs for nurses. METHODS: Subjects were 465 nurses who were working in a general hospital. A 'delirium related knowledge and assessment experience' questionnaire was used to collect data. RESULTS: Knowledge levels regarding delirium averaged 70 out of 100, and at each domain, they scored 87 for etiology of delirium, 62 for symptoms, and 69 for nursing management. The knowledge level of delirium was significantly different according to educational level (F=3.851, p=.022), past education related to geriatrics(t=2.471, p=.014), and awareness of need for in-service education on geriatric nursing(F=2.663, p=.032). About 85% of nurses had past experience of dealing with delirious patients and only 7.7% of nurses used delirious state assessment tools. CONCLUSION: According to the above results, it is necessary, not only to provide delirium related educational programs for nurses, but also to emphasize the usefulness of applying the assessment tool.
Delirium* ; Education ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the current attitudes and knowledge toward Koryo Hand Therapy(KHT) by the experienced people. METHOD: The Subjects for this study included 3,351 people living in Korea who experienced KHT. The data were collected from April 6 to November 25, 2004 using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed through the SAS 8.1 Windows Program using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The results of the study are as follows: 1) Families and relatives were a main source of information about Koryo Hand Therapy. The subjects were very satisfied with therapeutic and preventive effects of the therapy. Sujichim was the most preferable choice in the KHT. Most of the subjects thought that KHT could be applied to modern medicine. 2) Those who experienced KHT had a high level of knowledge and very positive attitudes toward KHT. 3) There were statistically significant differences in the attitude toward KHT according to age, gender, educational level, religion, income, place of residence, marital status and experience which studied KHT. 4) There were significant differences in the knowledge of KHT according to age, educational level, income, marital status and experience which studied KHT. 5) The data showed positive correlation between attitude and knowledge. CONCLUSION: According to the above findings, it can be concluded that KHT needs to be actively informed and more easily approached by general peoples. Nursing protocols of KHT needed to be developed.
Hand* ; History, Modern 1601- ; Humans ; Korea ; Marital Status ; Nursing Assessment ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalences of anatomical variations regarding prostate and its surrounding structures, and also the intra- and postoperative effects of such anatomical variations in performing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 156 patients who received RRP for prostate cancer was performed. Patients' records including the results preoperative radiologic evaluations were reviewed. For our analysis, patients were grouped according to the anatomical variations relevant to prostate and surrounding structures shown on preoperative radiographs. Also, patients were interviewed via telephone as needed. RESULTS: Prostate volume (mean: 41.4ml) measured from preoperative transrectal ultrasound correlated with estimated blood loss (EBL) during RRP (p=0.029). Interspinous diameter (mean: 1.69cm) measured on axial image of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was observed to be inversely correlated with operative time (p=0.010). And, patients with box-shaped deep dorsal vein (as demonstrated on axial view of MRI; 15.3%) were observed to have significantly less EBL during RRP (p=0.030). Also, EBL was significantly higher (p=0.013) for patients in which anterior portion of prostatic apex appeared to overlap and obscure membranous urethra (62.8%). Meanwhile, absence of the distal protrusion of apical region (21.8%) was observed to be associated with early (within 3 postoperative months) recovery of urinary continence (p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that various anatomical variations regarding prostate and its surrounding structure may exist as herein presented, and also that they may indeed have significant effects on both intra- and postoperative course regarding RRPs. Variations in the shape of prostatic apex may be significantly associated with recovery of continence after RRPs.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Operative Time ; Prevalence ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Telephone ; Ultrasonography ; Urethra ; Veins

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of sexual knowledge of male high school students. METHOD: The participants were 503 male students from a high school in one county of Gangwon Province. The data were collected from May 1 to May 30, 2004. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS program to investigate the responses to the structured questionnaires used in the study. RESULTS: The level of sexual knowledge of high school students was 10.25(range 0 to 17). In terms of response distribution of sexual knowledge by items, the correct response rate was highest for "wet dream is discharge of semen during sleep", and the wrong response rate was lowest in "gonorrhea occurred most frequency in 15-25 year old adolescents". General characteristics showed significant differences in sexual knowledge depending on grade(grade 3 :10.45, grade 2: 10.40, grade1: 9.88). Depend on the sexual impulse and the solutions to sex problems, there were significant differences in sexual knowledge with respect to sexual characteristics. CONCLUSION: As a whole the sexual knowledge of the male high school students was low, sexual education programs for high school students should focus on sexually transmitted diseases and contraception.
Contraception ; Dreams ; Education ; Gangwon-do* ; Humans ; Male* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; School Health Services ; Semen ; Sexuality ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases

BACKGROUND: There has been a gradual increase in the number of newly diagnosed cases of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pulmonary disease. However, the optimal therapeutic regimen for the disease has not yet established and there is no report about the treatment outcome of MAC pulmonary disease in Korea. This study examined the effect of clarithromycin-based regimen in patients with pulmonary MAC disease without a HIV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients with pulmonary MAC disease were diagnosed according to the American Thoracic Society criteria from January 2000 to December 2003 at this hospital. Of these patients, 15 were treated with clarithromycin, rifampin, and ethambutol for more than 6 months, together with streptomycin initially (first 6 months) in 8 patients. RESULTS: Six months after the treatment, the sputum cultures converted from positive to negative in 8 patients (53%) and the radiological findings improved in 10 (67%). At 12 months 4 patients (44%) achieved sputum negative conversion and 6 patients out of 9 patients (67%) who were treated for more than 12 months showed radiological improvement. Overall, the sputum findings converted to negative in nine patients (60%) who underwent medical treatment. A pulmonary resection was successfully performed in one patient. Only one patient discontinued the treatment due to side effects such as gastrointestinal intolerance and optic neuritis. CONCLUSION: A combined regimen containing clarithromycin is relatively safe and tolerable even in the elderly outpatients. However, the results of this combined chemotherapy were unsatisfactory and new companion drugs for MAC pulmonary disease are needed. A resection may be considered for localized disease.
Aged ; Clarithromycin ; Drug Therapy ; Ethambutol ; Friends ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases* ; Mycobacterium avium Complex* ; Mycobacterium avium* ; Mycobacterium* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Optic Neuritis ; Outpatients ; Rifampin ; Sputum ; Streptomycin ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Ego-integrity in Erikson's stage theory is used frequently among health team members related to the care of the elderly and has specific meanings within the context of quality of life in later life. However, the concept of ego-integrity in the elderly has not been well articulated in the literature. This study was conducted clarify and conceptualize the phenomena of ego-integrity in the elderly. METHOD: A Hybrid Model of concept development was applied to develop a concept of ego-integrity, which included a field study carried out in Seoul, South Korea using in-depth interviews with old adults who were admitted as a right person for research subject according to attributes of ego-integrity analysed in the theoretical phase. RESULTS: The concept of ego-integrity emerged as a complex phenomenon having meanings in several different dimensions which encompassed several attributes. CONCLUSIONS: Ego-integrity is a concept having needs that should be treated in a specific way and it is possible to enrich the meaning and methods to manage ego-integrity in nursing interventions for promoting quality of life so that its application may have effects that have positive impacts on the elderly's well being.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Aged/*psychology ; Aging/psychology ; *Ego ; Female ; Geriatric Nursing ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Superego

BACKGROUND: Recently the incidence of coronary artery disease has been increased rapidly in Korea. After the introduction of coronary care unit, the mortality rate of cardiovascular patients has been decreased. The predictive factors for mortality in patients admitted at Coronary Care Unit (CCU) are important in the management of acutely ill cardiovascular patients. METHODS: One thousand one hundred and thirty patients (64.8+/-14.5 years), who were admitted at CCU from January 2002 to June 2003, were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to mortality: the survived group (Group I: n=1055, 63.3+/-13.3 years) and the moribund group (Group II: n=75, 64.8+/-14.1 years). Clinical characteristics, risk factors, clinical diagnosis, laboratory, echocardiographic and coronary angiographic findings were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The overall mortality at CCU was 6.6%, 75 out of 1130 patients. Age and sex were not different between both groups. Coronary artery disease was the most common cause of admission (886 out of 1130 patients) and death (46 out of 75 patients). Coronary angiographic findings were not different between the two groups. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiogram was higher in Group I than in Group II (53.1+/-15.6% vs. 42.3+/-16.3%, p<0.05). Predictive factors for mortality by multiple logistic regression analysis were low LVEF (OR 11.4, 2.9-21.4 95%CI, p<0.001), no performance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, OR 10.8, 2.5-17.8 95%CI, p<0.001) and clinical diagnosis of aortic dissection (OR 3.8, 1.3-9.8 95%CI, p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: The predictive factors for mortality at CCU were low LVEF, no PCI and aortic dissection.
Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Care Units* ; Coronary Disease ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mortality* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Risk Factors ; Stroke Volume