Current Concept of Guillain-Barré Syndrome / 대한신경근육질환학회지

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is nowadays consider as an umbrella term that has heterogenous presentation depend on their subtypes. GBS is clinical diagnosis and its diagnosis can be supported by laboratory findings from cerebral spinal fluid study, nerve conduction study, anti-ganglioside antibodies, spinal magnetic resonance imaging and nerve ultrasound. Understanding atypical subtypes and GBS mimicking diseases are crucial for correct diagnosis. Both proper medical care for respiratory and autonomic dysfunction and immunotherapy are essential to improve outcome of GBS. Here, we summarized the current concept on diagnosis, immunopathophysiology and treatment of GBS.

The effects of a newsletter on bedding control on house dust mite allergen concentrations in childcare centers in Korea

OBJECTIVES: Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea. METHODS: All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children’s bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.

The effects of a newsletter on bedding control on house dust mite allergen concentrations in childcare centers in Korea

OBJECTIVES: Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea. METHODS: All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children’s bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.

Correlation Between Serum Vitamin D Level and the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis Associated With Food Sensitization

PURPOSE: A growing body of literature has linked vitamin D deficiency with allergic diseases, particularly atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we investigated the association between serum vitamin D status and the clinical manifestation of AD. We also developed an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). METHODS: This study included 157 patients (79 males and 78 females) with AD, aged 4 months to 56 years. We evaluated disease severity using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Serum levels of 25(OH)D3 were determined by LC coupled with MS/MS. Total IgE and specific IgE levels were assayed using the immunoCAP system. ANOVA was used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: We found mild, moderate, and severe AD in 30 (11.1%), 87 (55.4%), and 40 (25.5%) patients, respectively. There was no significant correlation between serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and AD severity. However, among the 36 patients with food sensitization, the mean+/-SD serum levels of 25(OH)D3 were significantly higher (P<0.05) in patients with mild disease (21.2+/-5.18 ng/mL) compared with the levels in patients with moderate (17.9+/-4.02 ng/mL) or severe AD (13.3+/-5.11 ng/mL) disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that vitamin D deficiency is related to the severity of AD associated with food sensitization. Thus, these data suggest a role for vitamin D in a select group of AD patients.

Effects of Maternal Education using Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale on the Mother-Infant Interaction and Infant Behavior / 아동간호학회지

This study was designed to investigate effects of maternal education using Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale(the following will be marked as NBAS) on the mother-infant interaction and infant behavior. The subjects of this study consisted of 48 pairs of normal mother and infant, 24 pairs for intervention group and 24 pairs for control group. The subjects were recruited from two general hospitals, and an OBGY clinic located in J city. The data were collected from July 30, 2001 to October 6, 2001. Prior to investigation and data collection, following operational hypotheses were set up in order to compare the investigative data against these operational hypotheses(H). H1: Intervention group will higher mother-infant interaction score than control group. H2: Intervention group infants will higher overall performance in infant behavior test score than control group infants. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. The mother-infant interaction score was 59.79 points in intervention group and 53.91 points in control group. The mother-infant interaction score of intervention group showed significant difference than control group. Therefore, hypothesis 1 was supported. 2. The infant behavior score of intervention group was significantly higher than control group, but partially. Therefore, hypothesis 2 was partially supported. 1) The social interaction(orientation) score was 46.58 points in intervention group and 43.50 points in control group. The orientation score of intervention group showed significant difference than control group. 2) The state regulation score was 26.79 points in intervention group and 25.33 points in control group. The state regulation score of intervention group showed significant difference than control group. In conclusion, present work demonstrated that maternal education using NBAS is an effective intervention method for promotion of mother-infant interaction and of infant behavior development. Author believes that many inexperience young mother may find NBAS-based maternal education beneficial for their nursing babies, therefore NBAS-based intervention is recommended to be adopted routinely as an integral part of neonatal nursing strategies.

The Development of Maternal Conflict Scale: for mothers whose over toddler ~below preschool child / 아동간호학회지

This study was performed to develop a scale of maternal conflict based on already established scales and the literature review. The major purpose of this study was to develop a scale of which contains difficulties which mother can feel to rearing her child and can be applied to mothers at home or employed mothers. 68 items were developed. For content validity test, the items were examined by 7 experts panel with Likert 4 scale. The 39 items were selected as high validity from 86% of the experts. The item number of each area and the misunderstanding words were corrected by advices of experts. 10 mothers again examined 39 items in order to correct the misunderstanding words and the long sentences. For reliability and factor analysis of 39 items, 496 mothers participated. 34 items were chosen because 5 items that corrected item-total correlation coefficient were lower than 0.2 were excluded by the result of reliability analysis. Factor analysis was done with 34items. 6 factors were classified higher than eigen value 1.0, 28 items were chosen because 6 items that factor loadings were lower than 0.4 were excluded. These factors were named as employment and caring for child(6 items), child education(5 items), support system for caring for child(4 items), interaction with mother and child(4 items), view of maternal role(5 items) and me as human being(4 items). Reliability analysis was done with 28 items. 1 item(36 number of factor 1) was excluded because corrected item-total correlation coefficient were lower than 0.2. Therefore, 27 items were chosen. Maternal Conflict Scale was contained 27 items. The corrected item-total correlation coefficient of 27 items were ranged from .2345 to .5240 and Cronbach alpha coefficient of those was .8207 by the results of reliability analysis. It can be evaluated that this scale had a high validity and reliability because of passing through an objective process of test.

The Study of the Validity Test on the Self-monitoring Scale / 간호학회지

The study of the validity test on the self-monitoring scale for nurses In this study. both the literary survey as well as empirical research has been executed to test the validity of the scales that measure the construct of the self-monitoring scale. The self-monitoring scale could not be classified into five factors as Snyder suggested. Many other scholars( Briggs, Cheek and Buss, 1580) suggested 3 different classifications which was accepted by Snyder and Gangestad (1986) , John, Cheek and Klohnen(1996) claimed a two -factor classification. As has been discussed. factor analysis is used to prove convergent validity within the (actor and discriminant validity between the factors. However, depending on the researchers, many variations in classification of the factors were found and a lack of content and discriminant validity were found in the previous research findings. It is also important to note that Snyder's self-monitoring scale did not factor-load at over . 30 for all 25 items, regardless of how many factors could be classified. According to findings of this study, the self-monitoring scale neither classified as five, three or two factors nor (actor loaded as hypothesized. It is also clear that Snyder's self-monitoring scale lacks convergent validity as the sub-(actors of the scale failed to prove its uni -dimensionality. The A self-monitoring scale not only fail to overcome the problems of Snyder's self-monitoring scale but even lost the attractiveness of the self-monitoring scale. In this study it was also found that the A self-monitoring scale was not classified in either in a two or three-factor classification as hypothesized. It is, of course, not desirable to use any scale that lacks convergent and discriminant validity even though it has been widely used and has held a great deal of influence on the field of social psychology. To overcome the shortcomings of Snyder's self-monitoring scale, Lennox and Wolfe(1984) suggested 13 items. This study was dedicated to test the validity and reliability of the scale, in which we found that the data presented in validity as the two factors were classified and loaded as expected. Reliability was also proven by checking Cronbach's alpha for each factor and for the total items. In addition a confirmatory factor analysis was executed for the 13items using M SREL 8.12 program to confirm convergent validity in a two-factor classification. The model was fitting and sound however, the self-monitoring scale was unfitted and not validated. Thus, it is recommended to use not the original nor the abbreviated self-monitoring scale but the 13 items in future studies. It should also be noted that items 7 and 13 should be removed to obtain better mini-dimensionality for the 13 items. These items loaded at over .30, too high for the two factors in the test results of Factor analysis. In addition. it is necessary to double-check the cause of two-hold loading at over .30 for the two factors. It could be a problem caused by data or by the scale itself. Therefore, additional studies should follow to better clarify this matter.