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Background: The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the bactericidal effects of copper, brass (copper 78%, tin 22%), and stainless steel against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREFM), and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA).Methods: The isolates (MRSA, VREFM, MRPA) used in this study were mixed wild type 3 strains isolated from patients treated at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital in 2017. These strains showed patterns of multidrug resistance. The lyophilized strains were inoculated into and incubated for 24 hr in tryptic soy broth at 35°C. The initial bacterial inoculum concentration was adjusted to 105 CFU/mL. A 100-mL bacterial suspension was incubated in containers made of brass (copper 78%, tin 22%), copper (above 99% purity), and stainless steel at 35°C. Viable counts of bacteria strains were measured for 9 days.Results: In this study, the bactericidal effects of copper and brass on MRSA, VREFM, and MRPA were verified. The bactericidal effect of stainless steel was much weaker than those of copper and brass. The bactericidal effect was stronger on MRPA than on MRSA or VREFM.Conclusion: To prevent cross infection of multidrug resistant bacteria in hospitals, further studies of longer duration are needed for testing of copper materials on objects such as door knobs, faucets, and bed rails. (Ann Clin Microbiol 2018;21:80-85)

Bilateral gluteal compartment syndrome is a rare clinical entity that can be complicated by rhabdomyolysis or acute kidney injury (AKI). We report the a case of a 30-year-old woman without any comorbid diseases who was diagnosed with bilateral gluteal compartment syndrome complicated by rhabdomyolysis and dialysis-requiring AKI, which was caused by prolonged immobilization under the influence of alcohol. Although the patient’s renal function recovered fully after 5 sessions of hemodialysis, sciatic neuropathy caused by gluteal compartment syndrome led to permanent foot drop.

The distant recurrence of intramuscular hemangiomas, especially those involving the chest wall, is extremely rare. This study reports a case of multiple distant recurrences of intramuscular hemangioma in the chest wall after the complete surgical excision of two intramuscular hemangiomas in the upper extremities. A 37-year-old woman was referred to the authors’ hospital with two masses in the left breast detected incidentally on breast ultrasonography (US). US revealed an oval, circumscribed, hypoechoic mass and a complex cystic and solid mass. She had a history of a complete surgical resection of two intramuscular hemangiomas in her left forearm ten years earlier. Recognizing the recurrence risks and multiple intramuscular hemangiomas is critical for appropriate treatment and follow-up plans. This case emphasizes the significance of US findings in assisting clinicians in the early and accurate diagnosis of distant recurrence of multiple intramuscular hemangiomas occurring at unusual sites.

Purpose To assess normal CT scans with quantitative CT (QCT) analysis based on smoking habits and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Materials and Methods From January 2013 to December 2014, 90 male patients with normal chest CT and quantification analysis results were enrolled in our study [non-COPD never-smokers (n = 38) and smokers (n = 45), COPD smokers (n = 7)]. In addition, an age-matched cohort study was performed for seven smokers with COPD. The square root of the wall area of a hypothetical bronchus of internal perimeter 10 mm (Pi10), skewness, kurtosis, mean lung attenuation (MLA), and percentage of low attenuation area (%LAA) were evaluated. Results Among patients without COPD, the Pi10 of smokers (4.176 ± 0.282) was about 0.1 mm thicker than that of never-smokers (4.070 ± 0.191, p = 0.047), and skewness and kurtosis of smokers (2.628 ± 0.484 and 6.448 ± 3.427) were lower than never-smokers (2.884 ± 0.624, p = 0.038 and 8.594 ± 4.944, p = 0.02). The Pi10 of COPD smokers (4.429 ± 0.435, n = 7) was about 0.4 mm thicker than never-smokers without COPD (3.996 ± 0.115, n = 14, p = 0.005). There were no significant differences in MLA and %LAA between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion Even on normal CT scans, QCT showed that the airway walls of smokers are thicker than never-smokers regardless of COPD and it preceded lung parenchymal changes.

Purpose: Breast cancer in young women deserves special consideration, such as dense breast, more aggressive progression, and oncoplastic surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a more recent modality than ultrasonography (US), but the role of MRI in patients with a dense breast is still controversial. This comparative study analyzed the relationship between the preoperative radiological and the postoperative pathological tumor size for young breast cancer patients.Methods : : All breast cancers diagnosed in patients 45 years or younger from January 2016 to December 2018 were reviewed. Tumor size measurements obtained on breast US and MRI were compared for accuracy with those obtained in the final pathology results. Patients with only microcalcification on imaging modalities and those who had undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded.Results : : A total of 103 breast cancer patients were included in this study. Of the 103 breast cancers with both imaging modalities performed, 86 (83.5%) were infiltrating ductal carcinomas and 17 (16.5%) were ductal carcinoma in situ. The mean tumor size measured on MRI was significantly greater than that measured on pathology (18.5 ± 11.0 mm vs. 16.6 ± 8.5 mm), whereas the sizes measured on US was not significantly different from that measured on pathology (16.5 ± 9.5 mm vs. 16.6 ± 8.5 mm). The tumor size measured on MRI was greater than that measured on US.Conclusion : : Measurements taken by US were more accurate in measuring the tumor size in patients 45 years of age or younger than MRI.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify correlates influencing cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: Study subjects consisted of 102 breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy. Subjects were the members of a breast cancer self-help group. Data were collected using structured self-reporting questionnaires including scales of cognitive impairment, physical status, fatigue, quality of life, emotional status, sleeping, family support, and menopausal symptoms. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for statistical analyses. Results: Breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy appeared to show a high level of cognitive impairment. Among demographic characteristics, the effects of economic status and family type on cognitive impairment were found to be statistically significant. Among disease related characteristics, the effect of duration of chemotherapy on cognitive impairment was statistically significant. Menopausal symptoms were positively associated with cognitive impairment. The model including postmenopausal symptoms and caregiver type explained about 66% of variability in cognitive impairment. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of contextual factors in understanding cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and can be used to develop appropriate, effective nursing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the subjective sleep quality of depressed and non-depressed mothers in the late postpartum period and to determine the relationship with their health promoting behaviors, family functioning, parenting stress. Method: A non-probability sample of 128 mothers completed a self-administered questionnaires at 4-6weeks postpartum. The Edinburgh postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to measure mother's experiences of depression symptoms and sleep. Related factors of sleep quality were measured by the Korean Family Functioning Scale, Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, and Parenting Stress Index. The data was analysed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, and the Pearson's correlation coefficients. Result: The results indicated that the depressed mothers(EPDS⩾10) had poorer sleep quality than the non-depressed mothers(EPDS<10), reported shortened sleep duration, and experienced more daytime dysfunctions. Depressed mothers who had no job, did not drink coffee, and were primipara tended to report poorer sleep quality. There were significant correlation between poorer sleep quality and lower health promoting behaviors, higher family intimacy and lower family communication, and higher parenting stress among depressed mothers. Conclusion: Our findings support the view that depressed mothers' experiences of poor sleep are much higher than non-depressed mothers and multi-faced. Nurse professionals should screen for sleep problems in the depressed mothers with a different biopsychosocial and behavioral aspect from the non-depressed mothers in the late postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate an educational effect of the mammography boot camp (MBC) for radiology residents and analyze affecting factors. Materials and Methods Between December 2014 and February 2015, radiology residents in 16 institutions performed the MBC program. We compared the educational effect (score difference between pre- and post-camp test) using 25 case series and analyzed the affecting factors including institution, grades of residents, training periods, presence of sub-specialized breast staff, breast density, and types of cases. Results The mean scores of 92 residents were 52.80 ± 18.10 and 72.50 ± 12.91 in the pre- and post-camp test, respectively (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference of educational effect according to institution (19.70 ± 16.31), grade, or training period. Although the educational effect of non-trainees was superior to that of trainees (28.10 ± 17.55 vs. 15.90 ± 14.22; p = 0.001), the scores of trainees were higher than those of non-trainees. The diagnostic accuracy showed more improvement in a fatty breast and cases with microcalcifications than compared with others. Conclusion The MBC showed an effective educational result for radiology residents when interpretating a mammography. It was helpful even for non-trainees. The institution, grades training period, and presence of sub-specialized breast staff did not affect the educational effect.

Molecular diagnostic techniques are used for the diagnosis and monitoring of viral infections. The performance of the in vitro diagnostic assays is important for an accurate and prompt diagnosis. Positive clinical samples or reference materials (RMs) are essential for the development, validation, and verification of the assays for molecular diagnostics-based virus detection. Since it is difficult to obtain positive clinical samples, the need for RMs with required properties is increasing. In this review, the types, manufacturing methods, and verification of RMs for genetic testing of virus are discussed along with the producers involved in their production, sale, and distribution.

BackgroundSecond-generation thyroglobulin immunometric assays (Tg-IMAs) have been developed with improved sensitivity. Our aim was to compare the diagnostic value of Tg-IMA measurements using a Kryptor (BRAHMS AG) kit (Tg-K) and an ACCESS (Beckman Coulter) kit (Tg-A) with that of the first-generation Tg measurement using a Tg-plus (BRAHMS AG) kit (Tg+).MethodsWe enrolled 82 differentiated thyroid cancer patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with radioactive iodine remnant ablation and who underwent diagnostic whole body scan using recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone (rhTSH). The Tg+, Tg-K, and Tg-A were measured before rhTSH administration during levothyroxine treatment (suppressed Tg) from the same sample. Serum Tg+ was measured after rhTSH stimulation (stimulated Tg).ResultsSuppressed Tg+ was more significantly correlated with suppressed Tg-K (R2=0.919, P