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PREVALENCE OF STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS AND STREPTOCOCCUS SOBRINUS IN CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OF AGE (6세 이하의 어린이에서 Streptococcus mutans와 Streptococcus sobrinus의 분포에 관한 연구)

  • Ahn, Seung-Tae;Park, Jae-Hong;Lee, Keung-Ho
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.32 no.2
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    • pp.207-216
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    • 2005
  • Mutans streptococci have been reported to be implicated in dental caries. Of these streptococcal species, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are most commonly found in human dental caries. Prevalence of these bacterial species in dental caries is found to be varied in different races and countries. Therefore, importance of these bacteria in dental caries remains to be determined. The present study was peformed to detect S. mutans and S. sobrinus in 52 Korean children with dental caries between 2 to 6 years of age. For the study, plaque samples were collected from caries-active(CA) and caries-free(CF) teeth of each subject. DNA was extracted from the plaques and amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) using primers corresponding to dex and gtf genes. The results obtained from the study were as follows: 1. Of 52 children, 37 children (71.2%) were found to harbor S. mutans and/or S. sobrinus. 2. Of the MS-infected 37 children, 3 children (5.8%) harbored S. mutans and/or S. sobrinus in the CF plaques only, 22 children (42.3%) in the CA plaques only and 12 children (23.1%) in both CF and CA plaques. 3. S mutans and/or S. sobrinus were detected in 34 CA plaques (65.4%), while 15 in CF plaques (28.8%) 4. In the case of CF plaques, 8 plaques (15.4%) were observed to harbor S. mutans only, 6 plaques (11.5%) to harbor S. sobrinus only and 1 plaque (1.9%) to harbor both species. 5. Of CA plaques, 24 plaques (46.2%) were detected to have S. mutans only, 2 plaques (3.8%) to have S. sobrinus only and 8 plaques (15.4%) to have both species. 6. In comparison with the efficiency of two different primers for PCR, it was found that the primer based on gtf gene was more effective in detecting S. mutans, while the primer corresponding to dex gene was better for S. sobrinus. Overall results suggest that MS appears to be important in dental caries of the Korean children, and S. mutans is more closely associated with than dental caries as compared to S. sobrinus.

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The Comparative Study on Health Promoting Behaviors by Shift Pattern of Duties of Women Workers in workplace (산업장 여성근로자의 근무형태에 따른 건강증진행위 비교)

  • Jang, Hee Jung;Park, Kyung Min
    • Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.22-41
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    • 1999
  • This study intended to analyze the health promoting behaviors, compare their factors according to the shift pattern of duties of women workers who were working in the industrial workplace and present basic data in planning systematic and effective programs of health promotion for three-shift system and day-duty. Using Quota Sampling, 219 women workers were selected as subjects from 5 workshops which had 50 settled workers up to 300 and 10 factories which had more than 300 located in Taegu and Kyung-Book Province. Data were collected by means of questionnaire from September 12 to September 30, 1998. As the instruments of the study were used Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile(HPLP) which was adapted and adjusted by Seo, Y. O. for health promoting behavior, the one developed by Moon, J. S. (1990) for health-belief, the one developed by Sherer et al.(1982) and then adapted by Oh, H. S. for self-efficacy, and the one developed by Park, J. W. (1985) for social support. The analysis of data were performed with Cronbach's ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANCOVA, Kendal tau, Pearson correlation, Stepwise Multiple Regression test using SPSS program. The results of the study are as follows : 1. There was a significant difference in age(${\chi}^2=32.46$, p=0.000), career (${\chi}^2=18.47$, p=0.000), working day(t=-3.18, p=0.000) by the shift pattern of duties in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. 2. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups on the health promoting behaviors (t=2,52, p=0.012). The score of three-shift group on health promoting behaviors was 2.27, showing that it was lower by .13 than that of day-duty group(2.40). 3. ANCOVA involving age, career and working day as covariables, which had revealed significant difference before, showed that health promoting behaviors by the shift patterns of duties was significantly different(F=4.88, p=0.028). 4. In consideration of variables that have an influence on health promoting behavior by the shift pattern of duties, social support occupied 19.4% of health promoting behavior in the three-shift group and 22.5% including the sense of self-efficacy. In the day-duty group, social support occupied 34.4% of health promoting behavior. 5. The score of three-shift group(2.94) was significantly lower than that of day-duty group(3.12) in the perceived benefit of health-belief(t= -3.29, p=0.001), while the score of three-shift group (2.48) was significantly higher than that of day-duty group(2.24) in the perceived barrier (t=4.22, p=0.000). In the sense of self-efficacy(t=-4.20, p=0.000), the score of three-shift group(3.24) was significantly lower than that of day-duty group(3.53) while in social support(t=-4.56, p=0.000) the one of three-shift group(2.64) was significantly lower than that of day-duty group(2.88). The suggestions are as follows on the basis of the results of this study : 1. It is required to develop health promoting program that takes the shift pattern of duties of women workers into consideration. In addition, there are special demands on developing nursing strategies for health promoting behavior of three-shift workers. 2. It is required to develop specific strategies for social support which is the most significant factor to the health promoting behavior for women workers. 3. It is necessary to develop some programs for improving the sense of self-efficacy, social support, and health-belief of three-shift workers. To achieve these tasks, industrial nurses should play an active role and improve the ability of self-health care of women workers.

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A Pilot Study of Bone Mineral Density in Men with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (남자 만성폐쇄성폐질환 환자들의 골밀도에 대한 예비연구)

  • Bae, Yun Oh;Han, Minsoo;Lee, Seong-Kyu;Kim, Jeong Nyum;Kim, Jeong Sik;Kim, Jinho;Cho, Yongseon;Lee, Yang Deok
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.54 no.4
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    • pp.395-402
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    • 2003
  • Background : Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for osteoporosis, which has implications for mobility and even mortality. The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and risk factors for osteoporosis in a limited number of men with COPD. Methods : We checked BMD, $FEV_1$(% of predicted) and investigated risk factors for osteoporosis in 44 male patients with COPD who visited our hospital from January to August 2002. Results : Mean(${\pm}$) age was $69{\pm}9$ yrs, body mass index(BMI) $21{\pm}3kg/m^2$, $FEV_1$ $50{\pm}18%$ of predicted, lumbar spine T-score $-3.0{\pm}1.2$, lumbar spine Z-score $-2.0{\pm}1.2$, and lumbar spine BMD $0.76{\pm}0.13g/cm^2$. Osteoporosis(T-score below -2.5) was present in 27 patients(61.4%) and osteopenia(T-score between -1 and -2.5) in 17(38.6%). None of the patients had normal BMD. There was no relationship between BMD and $FEV_1$(% of predicted). There were significant differences in smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, cumulative steroid dose, BMI and BMD among the three groups according to $FEV_1$(% of predicted) (group1 : ${\geq}65%$, group2 : 50-64%, group3 : ${\leq}49%$), except age. However, there were no significant differences in these variables between the osteopenia and osteoporosis groups, except BMI. Linear Regression(Stepwise) analysis showed that lumbar BMD was correlated with BMI & exercise. Conclusion : BMD is significantly reduced in men with COPD. There was no relationship between BMD and pulmonary function.

Conservative Surgery and Primary Radiotherapy for Early Bresst Cancer: Yonsei Cancer Center Experience (조기 유방암에서 보존적 수술후 방사선치료: 연세암센터 경험)

  • Suh Chang Ok;Lee Hy De;Lee Kyung Sik;Jung Woo Hee;Oh Ki Keun;Kim Gwi Eon
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.337-347
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    • 1994
  • Breast conserving surgery and irradiation is now accepted as preferable treatment method for the patients with stage I and II breast cancer. Our institution activated team approach for breast conservation in 1991 and treated one hundred and fourty patients during the next three years. Purpose : To present our early experience with eligibility criteria, treatment techniques, and the morbidities of primary radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Sixty four patients with early stage breast cancer who received breast conserving treatment between January 1991 and December 1992 were evaluated. All patients received partial mastectomy(wide excision to quadrantectomy) and axillary node dissection followed by radiotherapy. Total dose of 4500-5040 cGy in 5-5 1/2 weeks was given to entire involved breast and boost dose of 1000-2000 cGy in 1-2 weeks was given to the primary tumor site. Linac 4 MV X-ray was used for breast irradiation and electron beam was used for boost. Thirty five Patients received chemotherapy before or after radiotherapy. Patients characteristics, treatment techniques, and treatment related morbidities were analyzed. Results : Age distribution was ranged from 23 to 59 year old with median age of 40. Twenty-seven patients had T1 lesions and 34 patients had T2 lesions. In three patients, pathologic diagnosis was ductal carcinoma in situ. Thirty-seven Patients were N0 and 27 patients were Nl. There were three recurrences, one in the breast and two distant metastases during follow-up period(6-30 months, median 14 months). Only one breast recurrence occured at undetected separate lesion with microcalcifications on initial mammogram. There was no serious side reaction which interrupted treatment courses or severe late complication. Only one symptomatic radiation pneumonitis and one asymptomatic radiation pneumonitis were noted. Conclusions: Conservative surgery and primary radiotherapy for early breast cancer is Proven to be safe and comfortable treatment method without any major complication. Long-term follow up is needed to evaluate our treatment results in terms of loco-regional control rate, survival rate, and cosmetic effect.

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Shadow of War Covering the Steam Punk Animations (스팀펑크 애니메이션에 드리운 전쟁의 그늘 -미야자키 하야오 감독의 작품을 중심으로-)

  • Oh, Jin-hee
    • Cartoon and Animation Studies
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    • s.46
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    • pp.63-84
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    • 2017
  • Overwhelming images of vividly colored aircraft flying across the blue sky and steam gushing from massive machines are reminiscent of Japanese animation films, especially of works by master director Hayao Miyazaki. By presenting together steam engines, which are mechanical devices of the Industrial Age in the past, and aircraft of the future age, the director constructs ambiguous space and time. These special time and space constitute nostalgia for past time, with devices called steam engines as a medium, and a longing for science and the future as represented by aircraft. In addition, the anticipation and disappointment, ideals and regrets of humans who see these two from the perspective of the present are projected on the works. This shares the characteristic of the steam punk genre, which seeks to return to the past rather than to face current problems. A subgenre of science fiction (henceforth "sci-fi"), steam punk reflects fundamental skepticism of science and technology and mechanized civilization, which have developed beyond human control. In addition, as works that clearly display such characteristics, director Miyazaki's and < $Nausica{\ddot{a}}$ of the Valley of Wind> can be examined. With spectacles of steam engines and aircraft, these two works enticingly visualize narratives about nature and humans and about the environment and destruction. Such attractiveness on the part of the master director's works has led to support from fans worldwide. However, often in the backgrounds of director Miyazaki's works, which have depicted ideal worlds of nature, environment, and community as highly concentrated fantasies, lie presuppositions of war and the end of the world. As works that are especially prominent in such characteristics, there are and . These two works betray the expectations of the audience by establishing the actual wartime as the temporal background and proceeding toward narratives of reality. Trapped in the ontological identity of the director himself, the war depicted by him projects a subjective and romantic attitude. Such a problem stems also from the ambiguity of the hybrid space and time, which is basic to the steam punk genre. This is because the basic characteristic of steam punk is to transplant past time, which humans were able to control, in the future from a perspective of optimism and longing via steam engines rather than to face current problems. In this respect, steam punk animation films in themselves can be seen as having significance and limitations at the same time.

A study on the change of head posture and hyoid bone position before and after rapid maxillary expansions (상악골 급속확장술식 전후 두경부 자세와 설골위치의 변화에 관한 연구)

  • Bae, Hyeon-Cheol;Lee, Jin-Woo;Cha, Kyung-Suk
    • The korean journal of orthodontics
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    • v.27 no.4 s.63
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    • pp.569-584
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    • 1997
  • The present study assessed the effects of Rapid Maxillary Expansion on head posture and hyoid bone position. For this study, 32 Angle's class III patients - hellman 3c $\~$ adult stage, mean age 12y9m - were selected and divided into two groups, A,B according to craniocervical angulation. Craniocervical angulation Increased in Group A and decreased in Group B after the therapy. And 23 Angle's class I persons $\~$ same hellman stage, mean age 12y7m $\~$ were selected (or the control group. Cephalometric analysis of skeletal pattern, pharyngeal space, head posture, hyoid bone position was performed. The results were as follows, 1. Comparison of skeletal pattern and pharyngeal space 1) All two groups(A,B) had Mandibular plane inclined inferiorly and no pharyngeal space change was obseved after RME therapy 2) Skeletal pattern and pharyngeal space of Group A, B were normal before and after treatment. 2. Comparison of head posture 1) Craniocervical angulation of Group A was increased after treatment. That of Group B was decreased and mandibular plane was inclined inferiorly after treatment. 2) Before treatment, craniocervical inclination was normal in Group A but larger than normal in Group B. After treatment, all two groups(A, B) had normal craniocervical angulation. 3. Comparison of hyoid bone position 1) After treatment, long axis of hyoid in Group A, B was not changed. Antero- posteriorly, hyoid position was changed posteriorly in Group A but no change was founded in Group B after treatment. Vertically, hyoid bone position were not changed in two groups except increase in APHFH in Group A after treatment 2) Long axis of hyoid bone was normal in Group A, B before and after treatment. Anteroposteriorly, hyoid bone position was more anterior than Group B, C before treatment but all the position of two groups had normal position after treatment. Vertical position of hyoid bone was normal in all two groups before and after treatment.

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PRESENT SITUATION AND PROSPECT OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY IN KOREA - FOCUSED ON MANAGEMENT OF DENTAL CARIES - (한국 소아치과의 현재와 전망 - 치아우식증관리 분야를 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Sang-Ho
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.39 no.2
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    • pp.206-225
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    • 2012
  • General status of pediatric dentistry in Korea is to conduct vigorous academic activities and specialized medical care centering the Korean Association of Pediatric Dentistry (KAPD) that has about 1,000 pediatric dentists as members, pediatric dentistry departments of 11 Colleges of Dentistry, numbers of pediatric dentistry training institutions and private clinics specialized in children. From 1996, the accredited pediatric dentists were produced by the KAPD and from 2008, the state began to produce the accredited pediatric dentists. Since then, doctors with expertise in pediatric care had opened private clinics in addition to the university hospitals, it became the basis of a momentum to deepen the specialty of pediatric dentistry. The Dentistry community of Korea is going through rapid and profound changes recently, and the underlying reasons for such changes can be classified largely into a few categories: (1) Decreasing population and structural changes in population (2) Increase in numbers of dentists, (3) Changes in the pattern of dental diseases and (4) Changes in medical environment. In Korea, the children population in the age range of 0 ~ 14 years old had been decreased by 2 million in 2010 compared to that of 2000 due to reduction of birth rate. The current population of children in the age range of 0 ~ 4 years old in 2010 takes up 16.2% of the total population, but it is estimated that such percentage would decrease to 8.0% by 2050. Such percentage is largely behind the estimated mean global population of 19.6% by 2050. On the other hand, the number of dentists had been largely increased from 18,000 in 2000 to 25,000 in 2010. And it is estimated that the number will be increased to 41,000 by 2030. In addition, the specialized personnel of Pediatric dentistry had been shown as increased by 2.5 times during past 10 years. For the changes in the pattern of dental diseases, including dental caries, each df rate of 5 years old children and 12 years old children had been decreased by 21.9% and 16.7% respectively in 2010 compared to 2000. Each df Index also had been decreased by 2.5 teeth and 1.2 teeth respectively. The medical expenditure of Korea is less than that of OECD and more specifically, the expenditure from the National Health Plan is less than OECD but the expenditure covered by households is larger than OECD. These facts indicate that it is considered as requiring the coverage of the national health plan to be reinforced more in the future and as such reinforcement needs continuous promotion. In medical examination pattern of Pediatric dentistry, the preventive and corrective treatment were increased whereas the restorative treatment was decreased. It is considered that such change is caused from decrease of dental caries from activation of the prevention project at national level. For the restorative treatment, the restorations in use of dental amalgam, pre-existing gold crowning and endodontic treatment had been decreased in their proportion while the restorative treatment in use of composite resin had been increased. It is considered that such changes is caused by the change of demands from patients and family or guardians as they desired more aesthetic improvement along with socio-economic growth of Korean society. Due to such changes in dentistry, the pediatric dentistry in Korea also attempts to have changes in the patterns of medical examination as follows; It tends to implement early stage treatment through early diagnosis utilizing various diagnostic tools such as FOTI or QLF. The early stage dental caries so called white spot had been included in the subjects for dental care or management and in order to do so, the medical care guidelines essentially accompanied with remineralization treatment as well as minimally invasive treatment is being generalized gradually. Also, centering the Pediatric dentists, the importance of caries risk assessment is being recognized, in addition that the management of dental caries is being changed from surgical approach to internal medicinal approach. Recently, efforts began to emerge in order to increase the target patients to be managed by dentists and to expand the application scope of Pediatric dentistry along with through such changes. The interest and activities of Pediatric dentists which had been limited to the medical examination room so far, is now being expanded externally, as they put efforts for participating in the preventive policy making process of the community or the state, and to support the political theories. And also opinions are being collected into the direction that the future- oriented strategic political tasks shall be selected and researches as well as presentations on the theoretical rationale of such tasks at the association level.

Investigation of Reliability of Automatic Cracked and Bloody Egg Detector (파각란 및 혈란 자동검란기기 검출 신뢰도 검증)

  • Noh, Jae Jung;Jeon, Seung Yeob;Park, Byeong Seck;Kim, Sun Man;Kim, Heui Soo;Kim, Hyun Joo;Jo, Cheorun
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.69-75
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    • 2013
  • This study was conducted to investigate the reliability of automatic cracked and bloody egg detector according to the age of the hens and the level of the detector. The results of this study are expected to be helpful in the implementation of the Korean egg grading system, which is expected to improve egg quality for consumers. An official egg grader randomly selected 1,000 eggs for each experiment (total 36,000 eggs), ran them through the automatic detector, and conducted labor inspection using the eggs that were classified by the detector as cracked, bloody, and normal eggs. The results showed that more cracked eggs were laid by hens aged 40-60 weeks than by hens aged 30 weeks (p<0.05). Also, when the detector level increased from four to seven (i.e., when it became less sensitive), its cracked eggs detection rate dropped, and the total rate of cracked eggs was consistent after the labor inspection of the classified eggs. The automatic detector achieved over 97 percent accuracy. The bloody eggs constituted only 0.005 percent of all the samples, and all the detector-detected eggs were bloody eggs after the labor inspection of both the bloody and normal egg lines. Therefore, it can be concluded that the automatic cracked and bloody egg detector was reliable and can be used in the egg grading system. Considering that cracked eggs should be less than 9 percent of first-grade eggs in the present egg grading system, the use of an automatic crack detector may help provide better-quality eggs to consumers by producing less than 5.5 percent cracked eggs.

An Exploratory Study about the Importance of Selected Nursing Activities during the Puerperal Period, as Viewed by Women in the Puerperal Period and by Nurses Caring for Them (산모와 간호원이 본 선택된 산욕기 간호활동의 중요도에 관한 탐색적 연구)

  • 박주봉
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.152-162
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    • 1978
  • The desire to maintain health is increasing, consequently the role of nursing which has as one chief aim the solving of man′s basic problems is more and more important. Today, in spite of a growing concern about the nursing activities which nurses provide for individual human having specific needs, clinically in fact, it is questionable that individual′s expectation of nursing activities agrees with nurse′s performance of nursing activities. In this study the importance and agreement of the importance of the nursing activities during the hospitalized puerperal period as viewed by women in the puerperal period and by nurses caring for them, were assessed. The present study was undertaken in an attempt to furnish the basic data for expediting the progress of research activities in this area and further to be helpful in planning maternity nursing practice. The study population defined and selected was nurses (13) caring for women in the puerperal period and doing duty on obstetric & gynecologic ward at Y. hospital, and the women in puerperal period (39) as sum of 3 women selected by each nurse during the period of May 13th-June 4th 1976. The study data was collected by the direct interview method based on the questionnaire which the investigator made out. The study result was analyzed by percentage, t - test. The findings can be summarized as follows: 1. General characteristics of nurses doing duty on puerperal ward: a. Nurses′average age was 24.8 years old. b. 84.6% had educational background of 4 years of college. c. 69.2% had a religion. d. 53.8% were married. e. 53.8% had clinical experience of 1 year -3 years. f, 61.5% did duty on puerperal ward during 1 year -3 years. g. 46.2% desired to do duty on obstetric ? gynecologic ward. 2. General characteristics of the women who were studied during their puerperal period: a. Women′s average age was 26.4 years old. b. 79.5% had educational background above high school. c. 56.4% had a religion. d. 84.6% had living standard above medium. e. 89.7% had no occupation. f, 53,8% had previous hospitalization experience. g. 56.4% had previous delivery experience. 3. Examining the importance of 39 nursing activities during puerperal period selected by investigator, studied group of women considered that the most important nursing activity was "Record precisely about condition, medical treatment and nursing activity results etc". Nurses considered that the most important nursing activity was "Notice whether having pain and care for that". Both groups considered that the least important nursing activity was "Talk with her about topics such as news, hobbies, other interests". 4. Examining the importance of nursing activities in 4 specific categories, studied group of women considered that the most important nursing activity in physical nursing category was "Be sure of safety measure to prevent accidents, injuries", and nurses considered that the most important nursing activity was "Make her sleep and rest sufficiently". Studied group of women considered that the most important nursing activity in psychological category was "Explain about medical treatment and nursing activity ahead of time so she knows what to expect" , and nurses considered that the most important nursing activity was "Explain about puerperal period so she understands". Studied group of women considered that the most important nursing activity in relation to medical care was "Record precisely about condition, medical treatment and nursing activity results etc.", and nurses considered that the most important nursing activity was "Observing, cleaning and protecting the perineum" Studied group of women considered that the most important nursing activity in nursing category in preparation for discharge was "Instruct about personnel hygiene during puerperal period", and nurses considered that the most important nursing activity was "Instruct self-care to protect the perineum". 5. The analysis of this study showed a significant amount of disagreement computed by subtracting the nurse′s score from the patient′s score. Studied group of women put greater importance on physical nursing category, psychological nursing category, nursing in relation to medical care, than the nurses. These results were statistically significant at 0.01 level.

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Microsatellite Alterations of Plasma DNA in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (비소세포폐암 환자의 혈장 DNA를 이용한 Microsatellite 분석)

  • Kim, Kyu-Sik;Kim, Eun-Jung;Kim, Soo-Ock;Oh, In-Jae;Park, Chang-Min;Jeong, Ju-Yeon;Kim, Yu-Il;Lim, Sung-Chul;Park, Jong-Tae;Kim, Young-Chul
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.58 no.4
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    • pp.352-358
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    • 2005
  • Microsatellites are short tandem repeated nucleotide sequences that are present throughout the human genome. Variations in the repeat number or a loss of heterozygosity around the microsatellites have been termed a microsatellite alteration (MA). A MA reflects the genetic instability caused by an impairment in the DNA mismatch repair system and is suggested to be a novel tumorigenic mechanism. A number of studies have reported that MA in the DNA extracted from the plasma occurs at varying frequencies among patients with a non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The genomic DNA from 9 subjects with a non-small cell lung cancer (squamous cell cancer 6, adenocarcinoma 2, non-small cell lung cancer1) and 9 age matched non-cancer control subjects (AMC: tuberculosis 3, other inflammatory lung disease 6) and 12 normal control subjects (NC) were extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes and plasma. Three microsatellite loci were amplified with the primers targeting the Gene Bank sequence D21S1245, D3S1300, and D3S1234. MA in the form of an allelic loss or a band shift was examined with 6% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. None (0/12) of the NC subjects less than 40 years of age showed a MA in any of the three markers, while 88.9%(8/9) of the AMC above 40 showed a MA in at least one of the three markers (p<0.05). Sixty percent(6/10) of the control subjects with a smoking history showed a MA in one of the three markers, while 9.1%(1/11) of the control subjects without smoking history showed a MA (p<0.05). However, not only did 66.7%(6/9) of lung cancer patients show a MA in at least one of the three markers but so did 88.9%(8/21) of the AMC patients (p>0.05). In conclusion, a MA in the D21S1245, D3S1300, and D3S1234 loci using DNA extracted from the plasma was detected in 66.7% of lung cancer while no MA was found in the young non-smoking control subjects. However, many of the non-cancer control subjects (aged smokers) also showed a MA, which compromised the specificity of the MA analysis as a screening test. Therefore, a further study with a larger sample size will be needed.