The influence of hospital nurses’ moral sensitivity and ethical values on their biomedical ethics awareness / 한국간호교육학회지

Purpose@#This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to examine the influence of nurses’ moral sensitivity and ethical values on their biomedical ethics awareness. @*Methods@#The study participants included 140 registered nurses working at three hospitals in Jeollabuk-do Province over six months. The data were collected from June 22 to July 3, 2020, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis with the IBM SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. @*Results@#As a result of an analysis using stepwise multiple regression, nurses’ biomedical ethics awareness was found to be significantly influenced by ethical values (β=.36, p<.001), moral sensitivity (β=.21, p=.007), and education in biomedical ethics (β=.16, p=.042) (adjusted R2=.21, p<.001). @*Conclusion@#These findings suggest that moral sensitivity and ethical values are key factors in hospital nurses’ development of biomedical ethics. Furthermore, the devising and implementing of a practical education program based on practical cases in medical situations to enhance nurses’ biomedical ethics awareness is needed.

Peripheral and Central Metabolites Affecting Depression, Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, and Anger in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Patients Using a Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated peripheral and central metabolites affecting depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and anger in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients. METHODS: Metabolite levels were determined in the right and left thalamus and insula, in 12 CRPS patients using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). RESULTS: There were positive correlations between valine (Val)/tNAA (N-acetylaspartate+N-acetylaspartylglutamate) and the anxiety, and a negative correlation between glutamine (Gln)/NAA and the depression. There were positive correlations between alanine (Ala)/Gln and the depression and suicidal ideation, between glutamate (Glu)/Gln and the depression and suicidal ideation, between N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG)/Gln and the depression. There was a positive correlation between Ala/NAAG and the trait anger and a negative correlation between creatine (Cr)/N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and the trait anger. There was a negative correlation between Cr/Glx (Glu+Gln) and the trait anger. High hemoglobin and alkaline phosphatase were associated with low pain levels, but CO2 and chloride showed positive correlations with pain levels in CRPS patients. Peripheral glucose, CO2 and chloride were associated with depression, anxiety, anger and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: The specific central and peripheral metabolites were associated with psychological disorders including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and anger in CRPS patients, showing pathological interactions between a painful body and mind.

A Case of a Child with Seizure caused by Organophosphate Poisoning / 대한소아신경학회지

Seizure is a temporary symptom or sign which is caused by an abnormal electrical stimulation of brain. Depending on whether a seizure has preceding factors or not, it can be further categorized into provoked and unprovoked seizure. In provoked seizure, it is important to find a cause for treatment. In this study, we would like to report a case of a 6 year-old male child with seizure caused by organophosphate poisoning. The patient's chief complaint was his decreased mental status accompanying seizure. Initially, status epilepticus was suspected but the response to anticonvulsants was not good, and resulted in prolonged respiratory failure. After 3 hours, the patient showed signs of cholinergic crisis. In response, atropine was administered and the condition improved. If respiratory failure or mental confusion persists even after cessation of seizure in status epilepticus, repetitive physical and neurological examinations should be carried out to find preceding factors. Even though the recent incidence of organophosphate poisoning has decreased, we would like to emphasize from our study that it should be considered as a preceding factor for seizure.