Understanding medical students' empathy based on Enneagram personality types / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE@#High self-awareness can promote communication and empathy. The Enneagram is a well-known personality tool to enhance self-awareness. We evaluated differences in empathy among medical students using the Enneagram typology.@*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study included first and second grade students at the Inje University College of Medicine. The Jefferson Scale of Empathy was used to measure empathy and the Korean Enneagram Personality Type Indicator was used for examining personality characteristics. Empathy scores were analyzed according to the Triads, Hornevian group, Harmonic group, and each Enneagram type.@*RESULTS@#The Instinctive triad, the Withdrawns, and the Positive outlook group were the most common, and the Feeling triad, the Assertives, and the Emotional realness group were the least common. Students in the Feeling triad and the Dutifuls had higher compassionate care (CC) scores as compared to their counterparts. Type 2 and 6 students showed the two highest empathy and CC scores. The empathy score of type 3 students was the lowest. Type 7 had the lowest CC score but the highest perspective taking score.@*CONCLUSION@#These differences in empathy according to Enneagram personality types can be applied to medical education to maintain and improve medical students' empathy.

Understanding medical students' empathy based on Enneagram personality types / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: High self-awareness can promote communication and empathy. The Enneagram is a well-known personality tool to enhance self-awareness. We evaluated differences in empathy among medical students using the Enneagram typology. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included first and second grade students at the Inje University College of Medicine. The Jefferson Scale of Empathy was used to measure empathy and the Korean Enneagram Personality Type Indicator was used for examining personality characteristics. Empathy scores were analyzed according to the Triads, Hornevian group, Harmonic group, and each Enneagram type. RESULTS: The Instinctive triad, the Withdrawns, and the Positive outlook group were the most common, and the Feeling triad, the Assertives, and the Emotional realness group were the least common. Students in the Feeling triad and the Dutifuls had higher compassionate care (CC) scores as compared to their counterparts. Type 2 and 6 students showed the two highest empathy and CC scores. The empathy score of type 3 students was the lowest. Type 7 had the lowest CC score but the highest perspective taking score. CONCLUSION: These differences in empathy according to Enneagram personality types can be applied to medical education to maintain and improve medical students' empathy.

A Case of Adult onset Bartter Syndrome with Nephrocalcinosis / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

Bartter syndrome is a renal tubular defect in electrolyte transport characterized by hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hyperreninemia, hyperaldosteronism, normal blood pressure, and other clinical symptoms. As a clinical and genetical heterogeneous disorder, this syndrome can be classified into two clinical variants, antenatal Bartter syndrome and classic Bartter syndrome according to the onset age. Nephrocalcinosis is common in antenatal Bartter syndrome, but is rare in classic Bartter syndrome. It can also be classified into five genetic subtypes by the underlying mutant gene, all of which are expressed in the tubular epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. Patients with Bartter syndrome type 1, 2 and 4 present at a younger age than classic Bartter syndrome type 3. We have experienced a case of Bartter syndrome with nephrocalcinosis in a 42-year-old woman diagnosed by biochemical and radiologic studies. We had successful response with potassium chloride and spironolactone.

Extended Spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli-related Nosocomial Peritonitis Treated Successfully with Meropenem in a Patient on Peritoneal Dialysis / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

Peritonitis is a common and potentially serious infection in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The most common organisms usually associated with CAPD peritonitis are Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Rarely, aerobic gram negative bacilli have been the causative agents of CAPD peritonitis. The treatment of CAPD peritonitis requires removal of the peritoneal catheter and treatment with parenteral antibiotics active against the causative pathogen. While hospitalized for CAPD peritonitis, a 55-year-old man on CAPD had nosocomial peritonitis secondary to infection by ESBL-producing E.coli, that was sensitive to imipenem and meropenem. He was treated successfully with a 4-week course of intraperitoneal meropenem therapy without subsequent relapse, loss of peritoneal catheter, ultrafiltration failure, or dialysis inadequacy.

A Case of Glomerulonephritis Associated with Klinefelter' Syndrome / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

Klinefelter' syndrome is a disorder of sexual differentiation in males, characterized by the presence of two or more X-chromosomes, hypogonadism, and lack of secondary sexual characteristics. The association between Klinefelter' syndrome and glomerulonephritis has been reported, while cases of glomerulonephritis associated with Klinefelter' syndrome are rare. We report the Korean case: a 31-year-old man with Klinefelter' syndrome who developed glomerulonephritis. The patient's urine analysis shows microscopic hematuria and the result of kidney biopsy was minimal change disease. The onset and course of his disease might have been influenced by the sex hormone imbalance.

A Case of Protein Loosing Enteropathy Associated with Pseudomembranous Colitis in a Patient with Peritonitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Pseudomembranous colitis can be induced by the therapeutic or prophylactic use of antibiotics, and antibiotics- induced colitis has become a severe clinical problem. Protein?loosing enteropathy is associated with an abnormal, excessive loss of serum proteins into the gastrointestinal tract, and this leads to hypoproteinemia, including hypoalbuminemia, edema and diarrhea. We present here a case of protein?loosing enteropathy that was induced by pseudomembranous colitis, and this was induced by the use of antibiotics. Patients with chronic renal disease and peritonitis show hypoalbuminemia and edema. We experienced a patient who displayed edema, hypoalbuminemia, diarrhea and a fever for several days after the use for antibiotics for treating his peritonitis. We made the diagnosis of protein-loosing enteropathy complicated by psuedomembranous colitis. In a patient with peritonitis, uncontrolled edema and diarrhea, and the patient's hypoalbuminemia is continued, we must consider the possibility that the patient has protein-loosing enteropathy, and we should examine the total protein level and the alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance.

Comparison of oral N-acetylcysteine(NAC) and prehydration for preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with renal dysfunction / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important cause of acute renal failure in patients with renal dysfunction. We investigated whether oral NAC alone was sufficient to prevent CIN to the same extent as hydration in patients with renal dysfunction, and whether these treatments resulted in diffierences in the urinary excretion of nitric oxide, a vasodilator. METHODS: A total of 27 patients with renal dysfunction, who underwent radiographic examination with nonionic and low osmolar contrast, were randomly assigned to receive either NAC (600 mg orally twice daily; N=11) or 0.45% saline hydration (1 mL/kg/Hr; N=16) 12 hours prior to and 12 hours after the contrast procedure. We measured serum creatinine (sCr), fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), creatinine clearance (CCr), and urinary nitrite before and after contrast administration. RESULTS: The mean volume of contrast used was similar in the two groups (100.9+/-54.8 mL vs 114.7+/-38 mL; p=0.43), as was baseline sCr in the two groups (2.31+/-1.59 mg/dL vs 2.18+/-1.41 mg/dL; p=0.98). Treatment did not significantly affect the incidence of CIN, with 18.2% and 12.5% in the NAC group and hydration group, respectively (p=1.0). The urinary nitrite/creatinine ratio (micro mol/mg) was 1.26+/-0.57 and 1.43+/-0.64 at baseline and 48 hours after contrast exposure in the NAC group, respectively, and 0.80+/-0.40 and 1.18+/-0.60 in the hydration group, respectively, which were not significantly different. FENa increased significantly after contrast exposure in the NAC group compared with hydration group (p=0.04) CONCLUSIONS: NAC alone may prevent CIN. When bolus hydration is contraindicated in patients with renal dysfunction, administration of NAC alone may be sufficient.

Comparison of Prevention for Acute Rejection in Renal Transplantation between Mycophenolate Mofetil(MMF) and Azathioprine / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Acute renal allograft rejection is not only risk factor of chronic rejection but is also a significant cause of graft loss and patient death. MMF has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of acute rejection. METHODS: To compare the risk of acute rejection and side effects of MMF with azathioprine(AZA), a total of 108 patients, who received living transplants, were divided in two groups : MMF(n=48) and AZA group(n=60). Cyclosporin microemulsion(Neoral) and steroid were administered concomitantly to all patients. RESULTS: The MMF group was significantly lower rate of acute rejection compared with AZA group during the first 3 months after renal transplantation(14.6% vs 30.0%, p=0.005). 54.5% of patients in the MMF group and 44% in the AZA group were treated only with steroid pulsing for acue rejection. 45.5% in the MMF group, compared to 56% in the AZA group, required OKT3 or Atgam for treatment of severe acute rejection, the difference is not significant. Treatment failure occurred among 31.3% of the MMF group compared with 55% in the AZA group(p=0.013). Serum creatinine of 6 months after transplantation was significantly lower in the MMF group than in the others(1.31+/-.27 vs 1.50+/-.28 mg/dL, p=0.017). The incidence of opportunistic infection was similar in both groups. Gastrointestinal side effects were more common in the MMF group 14.6% than in the AZA group 3.3%(p=0.035), while leukopenia was more common in the AZA group 21.7% than in the MMF group 4.3%(p=0.017). CONCLUSION: MMF reduced the incidence of acute rejection without notable side effects. Long-term follow up will be needed to establish the protective effect of MMF against immunological attack.