ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study aimed to compare the attitudes of nurses and physicians toward neonatal palliative care and identify the barriers to and facilitators of neonatal palliative care, with the goal of improving palliative care for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the NICUs of seven general hospitals with 112 nurses and 52 physicians participating. Data were collected using the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale questionnaire. @*Results@#Only 12.5% of nurses and 11.5% of physicians reported that they had sufficient education in neonatal palliative care. In contrast, 89.3% of the nurses and 84.6% of the physicians reported that they needed further education. The common facilitators for both nurses and physicians were: 1) agreement by all members of the department regarding the provision of palliative care and 2) informing parents about palliative care options. The common barriers for both nurses and physicians were: 1) policies or guidelines supporting palliative care were not available, 2) counseling was not available, 3) technological imperatives, and 4) parental demands for continuing life support. Insufficient resources, staff, and time were also identified as barriers for nurses, whereas these were not identified as barriers for physicians. @*Conclusion@#It is necessary to develop hospital or national guidelines and educational programs on neonatal palliative care, and it is equally necessary to spread social awareness of the importance of neonatal palliative care.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study aimed to compare the attitudes of nurses and physicians toward neonatal palliative care and identify the barriers to and facilitators of neonatal palliative care, with the goal of improving palliative care for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the NICUs of seven general hospitals with 112 nurses and 52 physicians participating. Data were collected using the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale questionnaire. @*Results@#Only 12.5% of nurses and 11.5% of physicians reported that they had sufficient education in neonatal palliative care. In contrast, 89.3% of the nurses and 84.6% of the physicians reported that they needed further education. The common facilitators for both nurses and physicians were: 1) agreement by all members of the department regarding the provision of palliative care and 2) informing parents about palliative care options. The common barriers for both nurses and physicians were: 1) policies or guidelines supporting palliative care were not available, 2) counseling was not available, 3) technological imperatives, and 4) parental demands for continuing life support. Insufficient resources, staff, and time were also identified as barriers for nurses, whereas these were not identified as barriers for physicians. @*Conclusion@#It is necessary to develop hospital or national guidelines and educational programs on neonatal palliative care, and it is equally necessary to spread social awareness of the importance of neonatal palliative care.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is known to play roles in immunity through the stimulation of Toll-like receptors, regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and increasing antimicrobial peptide production. Recent studies have revealed the role of vitamin D deficiency in the immunopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the correlation between vitamin D concentrations and the severity of AD and also elucidate the relationship between the amount of sunlight exposure and serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin (25(OH)D) levels using the sunlight exposure questionnaire. METHODS: Sixty-one Korean patients with AD and 120 healthy control patients were enrolled. We evaluated the disease severity using the SCORAD index and measured the serum levels of 25(OH)D, and total IgE levels and eosinophil counts. All patients completed a one-week recall sunlight exposure questionnaire. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the 25(OH)D levels between the two groups. Eosinophil counts (p <0.001) were significantly higher in patients with AD than in control patients. A significant inverse correlation (r= -0.309, p=0.015) was found between the SCORAD score and 25(OH)D levels. A significant positive correlation (r=0.236, p=0.001) was found between the weekly sunlight exposure score and the serum levels of 25(OH)D. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that vitamin D deficiency is related to the severity of AD and the serum 25(OH)D concentration is positively correlated with the sunlight exposure score.
Subject(s)
Humans , Dermatitis, Atopic , Eosinophils , Immunoglobulin E , Sunlight , Toll-Like Receptors , Vitamin D Deficiency , Vitamin D , VitaminsABSTRACT
Author list should be corrected.
ABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Exanthema , Leukemia , Leukemia, Myeloid, AcuteABSTRACT
Childhood granulomatous periorificial dermatitis (CGPD) is a distinctive granulomatous form of perioral dermatitis. It is characterized by papular eruptions located around the mouth, nose, and eyes, and rarely present eczematous patches or plaques. Histopathologic examination shows upper dermal and perifollicular granulomatous infiltrates. Herein, we report two cases of CGPD that were presented with erythematous plaques. One patient was treated with 0.03% topical tacrolimus and the other patient with oral metronidazole. The patients responded well to their respective therapies, showing resolution of the lesions.
Subject(s)
Humans , Dermatitis , Dermatitis, Perioral , Metronidazole , Mouth , Nose , TacrolimusABSTRACT
Childhood granulomatous periorificial dermatitis (CGPD) is a distinctive granulomatous form of perioral dermatitis. It is characterized by papular eruptions located around the mouth, nose, and eyes, and rarely present eczematous patches or plaques. Histopathologic examination shows upper dermal and perifollicular granulomatous infiltrates. Herein, we report two cases of CGPD that were presented with erythematous plaques. One patient was treated with 0.03% topical tacrolimus and the other patient with oral metronidazole. The patients responded well to their respective therapies, showing resolution of the lesions.
Subject(s)
Humans , Dermatitis , Dermatitis, Perioral , Metronidazole , Mouth , Nose , TacrolimusABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy has been suggested as a useful tool for diagnosing various skin diseases. Recently, the possibility of using dermoscopy to predict the response to treatment has emerged. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether dermoscopic findings corresponded to clinical acne scar types. This study also aimed to discover which dermoscopic findings predict the response to acne scar treatment. METHODS: The dermoscopic findings of 39 participants undergoing atrophic acne scar treatment with fractional photothermolysis were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of acne scar persistence. RESULTS: Patients with a relatively short duration of acne scar persistence usually achieved better treatment outcomes. Dermoscopic findings showed no obvious differences according to clinical acne scar type. But high hair follicle density can be considered a predictive factor of treatment effects. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that acne scar improvements can be predicted by dermoscopically observing hair follicle density.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acne Vulgaris , Cicatrix , Dermoscopy , Hair Follicle , Pilot Projects , Skin DiseasesABSTRACT
Rowell's syndrome is a rare entity consisting of lupus erythematosus with associated erythema multiforme-like lesions and characteristic immunological findings, and it was first described by Rowell et al. in 1963. Because of the clinical similarities between subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and Rowell's syndrome, it is difficult to clinically distinguish between the annular-polycyclic type of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and Rowell's syndrome. We report a case of 18-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus who presented erythema multiforme-like eruptions on both thighs. Simultaneously, she developed urticarial-like rashes on her trunk consistent with atypical skin lesion of lupus erythematosus. She also developed a positive antinuclear antibody with speckled pattern and positive anti-Ro antibody.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Antibodies, Antinuclear , Erythema , Erythema Multiforme , Exanthema , Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Skin , ThighABSTRACT
We report a case of pityriasis versicolor atrophicans in a 20-year-old woman who presented with chronic multiple brownish atrophic macules and patches on chest and back. The lesions had developed six years ago and the patient had used topical medication including steroid ointments for the last two years prior to visiting our clinic. KOH examination was positive, so skin biopsy was performed and the diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor atrophicans was made. Since our patient had applied topical steroids for some time, it was difficult to rule out steroid-induced atrophy in a common tinea versicolor. Also, differential diagnosis was performed with respect to other skin diseases manifesting with cutaneous atrophy including anetoderma.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Young Adult , Anetoderma , Atrophy , Biopsy , Diagnosis, Differential , Ointments , Pityriasis , Skin , Skin Diseases , Steroids , Thorax , Tinea VersicolorABSTRACT
This study investigated that the antioxidative effect of freeze-dried cranberry powder against protein and lipid oxidation and ameliorative effect of serum lipid profile in rat fed atherogenic diet. Six weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups: normal diet group with 5% corn oil (control), atherogenic diet group with 5% corn oil, 10% lard, 1% cholesterol, and 0.5% sodium cholate (HFC), atherogenic plus 2% cranberry powder diet group (HFC + C2), and atherogenic plus 5% cranberry powder diet group (HFC + C5), and respective diet and water were fed daily for 6 weeks. After the experimental period, the serum lipid profile, such as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), plasma phenolics content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, serum protein carbonyl and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were examined. Total phenolic compound and total flavonoid levels in freeze-dried cranberry powder were 9.94 mg/g and 8.12 mg/g, respectively. Serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were not significantly different for cranberry powder treatment, but serum HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased in HFC + C5 group compared with HFC group. Plasma FRAP value tended to be increased by cranberry powder treatment though there was no significant difference. Plasma total phenol concentrations and SOD activities were not significantly different among all groups. Serum protein carbonyl and TBARS levels were significantly decreased in HFC + C5 group compared with HFC group. Overall results suggested that freeze-dried cranberry powder might have the serum lipid improving effect, as well as antioxidative effect demonstrated by its protective effect against protein and lipid oxidation.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Biomarkers , Cholesterol , Corn Oil , Diet , Diet, Atherogenic , Dietary Fats , Oxidative Stress , Phenol , Plasma , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Sodium Cholate , Superoxide Dismutase , Thiobarbiturates , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances , Vaccinium macrocarpon , WaterABSTRACT
Recently, a lot of epidemiological studies revealed that low HDL-cholesterol level was a better predictor of risk for coronary heart disease than total cholesterol. This study investigated the anthropometric parameters, clinical blood indices, and dietary factors influencing serum HDL-cholesterol level by using a cross-sectional study for Korean female college students. The subjects were 94 female college students. They were divided into three groups according to their serum HDL-cholesterol levels, low HDL-cholesterol (< 50 mg/dL, n = 20), medium HDL-cholesterol (50< or =, < 60 mg/dL, n = 39) high serum HDL-cholesterol groups (60< or = mg/dL, n = 35). This study examined their demographic data and dietary intake throughout a questionnaire. Clinical blood indices were measured using an automatic blood chemistry analyzer (Selectra E), after 12 hours of fasting. BMI, body weight, fat mass, and waist circumferences were significantly increased according to low serum HDL-cholesterol levels. Serum lipid analysis showed a significantly higher level of TG, LDL-/HDL-Ratio, atherogenic index in the low HDL-cholesterol group. Serum levels of GPT, uric acid and alkaline phosphatase in the low HDL-cholesterol group were significantly higher than in the other group. The average consumption of energy was 1627 kcal and 77.76% of estimated energy requirement (EER). The mean ratio of calories from carbohydrate : protein : fat was 57 : 15 : 28. The low HDL-cholesterol group was significantly higher than the other groups in eggs, fat and oils consumption. Interestingly, milk and diary products consumption of low HDL-cholesterol group was half (p < 0.05) of those of the other groups. In conclusion, serum HDL-cholesterol levels appeared to be decreased by increasing BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and serum TG level. In addition, some dietary factors seemed to be related to serum HDL-cholesterol levels. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact relationship between serum HDL-cholesterol level and dietary factors.