bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Separable mixing: The general formulation and a particular example focusing on mask efficiency
Authors: Bootsma M. C. J. , Chan K. M. D. , Diekmann O. , Inaba H.
Published: September 2023

The aim of this short note is twofold. First, we formulate the general Kermack-McKendrick epidemic model incorporating static heterogeneity and show how it simplifies to a scalar Renewal Equation (RE) when separable mixing is assumed. A key general feature is that all information about the heterogeneity is encoded in one nonlinear real valued function of a real variable. Next, we specialize the model ingredients so that we can study the efficiency of mask wearing as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to reduce the spread of an infectious disease. Our main result affirms that the best way to protect the population as a whole is to protect yourself. This qualitative insight was recently derived in the context of an SIR network model. Here, we extend the conclusion to proportionate mixing models incorporating a general function describing expected infectiousness as a function of time since infection.
Évolution des regards théoriques sur la perspective actionnelle dans l’enseignement des langues en France
Authors: Bento Margaret
Published: September 2023

Dans cet article, l’auteure met en évidence l’évolution des théories mobilisées par les didacticiens des langues pour définir la perspective actionnelle, approche d’enseignement des langues étrangères largement préconisée en France aujourd’hui. À partir de la comparaison de deux métasynthèses effectuées à 9 ans d’intervalle, l’auteure montre que les concepts mis en œuvre dans la perspective actionnelle convergent toujours vers le socioconstructivisme, mais que certaines notions font l’objet de discussions, comme l’interaction, qui ne peut être dissociée de l’intersubjectivité. Par ailleurs, la linguistique, délaissée ces dernières années, est de nouveau considérée et la question de la médiation est devenue incontournable.
Le calcul de dose médicamenteuse : analyse didactique et conceptualisation de l’activité infirmière. Le cas de l’injection de dobutamine
Authors: Benlahouès Daniel , Roditi Éric
Published: September 2023

Les recherches sur le calcul de dose médicamenteuse sont motivées par un même problème de santé publique : les événements indésirables liés au soin. Les résultats des études épidémiologiques apparaissent contrastés. Les recherches en éducation et en sciences infirmières documentent précisément les manières de calculer, mais sans traiter des raisonnements et des contextes qui organisent globalement les calculs. Notre approche, inscrite en didactique professionnelle, conduit à une organisation globale de l’activité de calcul de dose, pour le cas de la dobutamine qui est un médicament à risque utilisé en réanimation. Des perspectives didactiques sont développées pour la formation initiale et continue des infirmières et de leurs formatrices.
Les grandeurs en maternelle : émergence, autonomisation et indexation disciplinaire d’un contenu (1881-2021)
Authors: Sido Xavier , Soloch Annie
Published: September 2023

Pour la maternelle, le repérage historique dans les prescriptions des termes référés aux grandeurs depuis 1881 jusqu’à 2021 pose la double question didactique de l’existence et l’institutionnalisation des grandeurs comme objet d’enseignement et de leur inscription plus ou moins stable dans des enjeux pré-disciplinaires. L’étude de la localisation des grandeurs dans les textes ainsi que leurs désignations, les enjeux qui s’y rattachent et les finalités déclarées de l’institution montre l’existence d’un double mouvement d’émergence progressive des grandeurs comme contenu et d’indexation disciplinaire multi-référencée. Cet article s’inscrit dans un travail de thèse (Soloch, 2021) qui analyse la configuration (Lahanier-Reuter et Reuter, 2004) de l’enseignement des formes et des grandeurs.
Impact du langage probabiliste sur l'usage des tests de décision
Authors: El M’hamedi Zahid
Published: September 2023

Une littérature abondante de travaux de recherches en didactique sur les tests statistiques rapporte diverses difficultés, souvent en rapport avec des conceptions erronées, que l’on peut rencontrer à tout âge et à tout niveau d’expertise. Les conclusions de ces recherches s’accordent sur le fait qu’en général, un étudiant de niveau moyen ne peut décrire l’idée de fondement de cet outil statistique, seul un calcul mécanique est souvent restitué, basé beaucoup plus sur la mémorisation que sur la réflexion et l’interprétation. Certes, de multiples facteurs sont à l’origine de ce caractère difficile. Ainsi, nous nous sommes focalisés dans cet article sur l’exploration de l’impact du langage (ambigu) probabiliste, utilisé dans des expressions usuelles sous-jacentes à la procédure des tests de décision, sur l’interprétation des concepts véhiculés, par les étudiants. Pour ce faire, nous avons choisi un échantillon constitué de 195 individus, auquel nous avons administré un questionnaire composé de cinq questions, impliquant des expressions usuelles en tests de décision. Les résultats auxquels nous sommes arrivés ont mis en évidence plusieurs anomalies, qui peuvent être prises en considération afin d’améliorer l’apprentissage de cet outil statistique.
A Decision Framework for Assessing and Improving the Barriers of Blockchain Technology Adoption
Authors: Chen Fu-Hsiang , Hu Kuang-Hua , Lin Sin-Jin , Hsu Ming-Fu
Published: September 2023

Blockchain is regarded as a mainstream technology by corporate leaders, who believe it will drive a new generation of business models. The trends of digital innovation have accelerated corporate blockchain technology adoptions, but when it comes to its applications, numerous barriers still exist that must be carefully addressed. In contrast to past decades, data gathering with the help of information technology has switched from being an expensive to an inexpensive process. It brings users sufficient messages, but also incurs the information overload problem. To combat this, a fusion framework integrated FRST-PSO and fuzzy DEMATEL is introduced herein. It assists users in identifying essential information and depicting the opaque relationships among criteria. The findings indicate that improvement priority, which runs in the order of regulatory environment, blockchain development talent, system integration, and function and reliability based on the magnitude of the impact, serves as a reference for the blockchain technology adoption to facilitate/solidify a firm's competitive edges.
VH2+ Antigen-Experienced B Cells in the Cerebrospinal Fluid Are Expanded and Enriched in Pediatric Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
Authors: Monson Nancy , Smith Chad , Greenberg Hannah , Plumb Patricia , Guzman Alyssa , Tse Key , Chen Ding , Zhang Wei , Morgan Miles , Speed Haley , Powell Craig , Batra Sushobhna , Cowell Lindsay , Christley Scott , Vernino Steve , Blackburn Kyle , Greenberg Benjamin
Published: September 2023

Pediatric and adult autoimmune encephalitis (AE) are often associated with Abs to the NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR). Very little is known regarding the cerebrospinal fluid humoral immune profile and Ab genetics associated with pediatric anti–NMDAR-AE. Using a combination of cellular, molecular, and immunogenetics tools, we collected cerebrospinal fluid from pediatric subjects and generated 1) flow cytometry data to calculate the frequency of B cell subtypes in the cerebrospinal fluid of pediatric subjects with anti–NMDAR-AE and controls, 2) a panel of recombinant human Abs from a pediatric case of anti–NMDAR-AE that was refractory to treatment, and 3) a detailed analysis of the Ab genes that bound the NR1 subunit of the NMDAR. Ag-experienced B cells including memory cells, plasmablasts, and Ab-secreting cells were expanded in the pediatric anti–NMDAR-AE cohort, but not in the controls. These Ag-experienced B cells in the cerebrospinal fluid of a pediatric case of NMDAR-AE that was refractory to treatment had expanded use of variable H chain family 2 (VH2) genes with high somatic hypermutation that all bound to the NR1 subunit of the NMDAR. A CDR3 motif was identified in this refractory case that likely drove early stage activation and expansion of naive B cells to Ab-secreting cells, facilitating autoimmunity associated with pediatric anti–NMDAR-AE through the production of Abs that bind NR1. These features of humoral immune responses in the cerebrospinal fluid of pediatric anti–NMDAR-AE patients may be relevant for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Analysis of Menarche Experience and Raising of the Need of Menarche Education
Authors: Kim Jeong Eun
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this study was to develop concrete and in-depth knowledge about menarche and to raise the need of menstrual education. The data were collected from purposively sample 34 women from twenties to forties from April 27 to October 10, 1994. Semi-structured intensive interviews were done and these qualitative data were analysed with "Ethnograph" computer program.The results of the study were as follows : 1. The experience of menarche could be classified into two main groups, which were positive and negative response to menarche. The negative experiences were to be shameful, tearful, scared of the phenomena and thought as a kind of punishment for guilt or confused menarche with other symptoms of diseases. On the contrary, the positive experiences were to be proud of physical maturity and to think that is was wonderful, miraculous and to perceive it as a warm experience.2. The experience of menarche was influenced by various factors. They were the knowledge about menstruation, the quality and amount of informations, the time of menarche, the environmental factors, the response of significant others toward menarche. The experience of menarche could be positive or negative according to these factors.3. The previous information sources about menstruation could be significant others, school education and mass-media. The significant others were mothers, sisters, friends and the person in charge of school sex education such as school nurses, home economics, military drill and athletics of teachers. And mass-media included sex education booklets, nursery tales, TV programs, and publicity activities of sanitary napkin companies.4. The opinions of the subjects about the proper time of menarcheal education could be grossly classified into two groups. The first was active approach toward children when they were in elementary school. The second was passive approach which postponed the time until the child ask about it, because it would be awkward for them to discuss about the topic.5. The participants thought that the ideal methods of menarche education would be systematic school education programs, open discussion with daughters, audio-visual teachings, or practical education in everyday life.6. The contents of the menarche education based on the participants' opinions, would be positive details about meanings and functions of menstruation. And it would be desirable if the attitudes of the person in charge of education could be positive, open-hearted, and favorable toward menstruation.
The Evaluation of Childbirth Class and Educational Need of Pregnant Women
Authors: Park Young Sook , Kim Young Im , Park Yeon Hwan
Published: September 2023

This study was conducted to identify the educational need of pregnant women, and to evaluate the effect of the 2-hour childbirth class provided by researchers. The subjects were composed of 183 pregnant women who participated voluntarily in the 2-hour childbirth class, and the data were collected by self reporting structured questionnaire designed by researchers. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, paired t test, and McNemar test by SPSS pc program. The results were as follows ; 1. Mean age of th subjects was 27 and most subjects graduated from the high school and the college. 80.3% of the subjects had nuclear family. 82.5% of the subjects were full time housewives.2. 85.8% of the subjects were nullipara. Though 71.6% of the subjects might have antepartal care in the clinic, 67.2% of the subjects had no chance to participate in the childbirth class before this study.3. Subject's health and lifestyle, especially related to eating habits, were changed in the antepartum period. We found that the pregnancy affected positively on health and lifestyle of the women. Over 75% of the subjects became to understand the progress of labor, breath methods during the labor, and perineal exercise. Most subjects changed to think that they could control their body more actively and positively during the labor after participating in the childbirth class. 93.4% answered that 'childbirth class was necessary and important'. Most subjects wanted to be taught the contents, such as postpartum care, breast feeding, and infant care in the childbirth class. In conclusion, pregnant women to attend the childbirth educational program with their husband, and the 2-hour childbirth class provided by the researchers very effective in many aspects. Therefore we anticipated that the childbirth class on basis of pregnant women's needs will contribute to improvement of pregnant women's health and well-being during the labor.
Ethical Arguments and Problems Analysis Related to Induced Abortion
Authors: Um Young Rhan
Published: September 2023

Over one million cases of the induced abortion have been conducted annually in Korea. Among those cases, most of all were illegally done, but this has not been addressed in the literature. While Korean Nurse Association Code of Ethics presents the respect for life as one of the basic ideology, it was not dealt enough in nursing education. The purposes of the study were to activate the debate on the issues related to an induced abortion ; to introduce the related ethical theories ; and to seek the solution of the ethical problems, which will eventually result in establishing the morality of nursing practice.The ethical theories of an induced abortion have traditionally addressed two extreme perspectives ; the conservatives who emphasize the sanctity of human life and the right of life that will never ethically allow the killing fetus ; and the liberalists who insist the right to choice for women to control their body. Since these extreme theories has not been helpful to solve the ethical problems, the recent trend is leading to the modified theories both from conservative and liberal perspectives. The examples of the theories are the potentiality of fetus(Singer, 1993), the obligation of women to serve their body to fetus(Held, 1987), the Replacement theory (Callahan, 1987), and the Principle of Caring (Gilligan, 1982). The study conducted the indepth interviews with 17 women who experienced the induced abortion and the 6 cases were selected to be analyzed. The cases were analyzed and interpreted by using an integrated case method which was combined of the New Casuisty(Jonsen & Toulmin, 1988 ; Jonsen, 1991) and the Specified Principlism (Richardson, 1990 ; Degrazia, 1992).The result of analysis revealed three types of ethical problems ; (1) the responsibility of taking care of the baby to be born (2) the fear for the condition of the fetus, and (3) the choice of induced abortion as the method of birth control. The findings also revealed the related ethical principles for various situations ; the principle of caring was used for choosing an induced abortion by the subjects ; the principles of the potentiality of fetus and the obligation of women to serve their body were for the consideration for the life of fetus ; and the principle of replacement was utilized for the right to choice for women. The ethical principles related to an induced abortion introduced in the study provided the way to solve the moral problems by applying to the clinical situations for nurses. The study also revealed the possibility of modifying the current ethical theories from the method of applying the principles to the various situation in the study. The modified theories would be more useful to guide the clinical practice with similar ethical problems.
Factors influencing related Health Promoting Life-Style in Middle-aged Women
Authors: Park Myeung Hee
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this study is to provide a basis for nursing intervention strategies to enhance health promoting practice that are constructive to a healthy lifestyle. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires from 281 middle-aged women living in Seoul, Kyeung ki, Taegu, Kyeung pook, and Kyeung nam from July to September 1997. The following instruments were used in the study after some adaption : scale of perceived health status, self-esteem, perceived benefits, family hardiness index, purpose in life, Walker and other health promoting lifestyle profiles. The data were analyzed, by t-test, ANOVA Scheffe's Pearson's correlation & stepwise multiple regression, by using the SAS program. The results are as follows: 1) The average score for the health promoting lifestyle was 2.65. In the sub-categories, the highest degree of practice was self-actualization(2.91), and in the lower degree was health responsibility(2.13).2) In the relationship between social demographic and health promoting lifestyle there were significant differences in education, occupation, economic status, and type of family.3) There is a significant correlation between perceived health status, self-esteem, perceived benefits, family hardiness index, existential vacuum and total & subcategory health promoting lifestyles.4) Existential vacuum was the highest factor predicting a health promoting lifestyle for middle-aged women(38.0%).5) Existential vacuum, commitment and self-esteem accounted for 45.9% of the total variance.
Relationships between Body Shape, Body Image and Health Complaints in Women Registered at a Facility for Managing Body Shape
Authors: Choi Euy Soon , Lee Kye Eun
Published: September 2023

This study aims at examining relationships between perceived body shape, body image and health complaints among 88 women registered at a facility for managing body shape, which leads to adequate management of obesity in women for healthy lives.The survey was conducted by using a questionnaire consisted of 12 items of general characteristics and interests for weight control, 47 items of body image, and 57 items of Cornell Medical Index(CMI). The data were analyzed by using mean standard deviation, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results are following.1. The means of age, body weight, height of the women were 27.02 years, 56.02 years, 56.03kg, 161.71cm, respectively. The level of obesity by body shape was 47.7% for standard type, 26.2% for slim type, 26.1% for fat type. Those women graduated from high school or higher education institutions were 97.7%.2. More than 70% of the subjects perceived their weight as overweight, while 26.1% of the women were fat according to the level of obesity. Ninety percent of the subjects were not satisfied with their body shape.3. Body weight increased most during middle and high school days. The women became interested in weight control through talks with friends(35.2%), influence of mass communication(34.1%), and social custom(22.7%). As to the method of weight control, subject's own judgement(54.5%) revealed highest percentage, whereas only 20% of the subjects adopted prescriptions of experts for weight control or of doctors. Those who had side reactions from weight control were 30.7%. High percentages of the women reported the decrease the amount of eating(54.5%), the increase the amount of exercise(27.3%) as the effective methods of weight control.4. The score of body image differed significantly by the perceived body shape : the score was highest in the perceived standard type.5. The level of health complaints did not differ by the perceived body shape. In relation to the level of obesity, physical health complaints were high in the groups of very slim type and of very fat type, while mental health complaints were high in the groups of very slim type and of fat type.6. Very high correlations were observed between the perceived body shape and body image and between physical health complaints and mental health complaints.
A Relations of Bone Mass Promoting Behaviors for Prevention of Osteoporosis and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale Cluster
Authors: Yeoum Soon Gyo
Published: September 2023

This study was made to suggest the nursing strategies for promoting the behaviors about bone mass health behaviors in order to prevent middle aged women's osteoporosis. This study was a descriptive-correlational design that also concerned to the types which improve bone mass promoting behaviors by inspecting patterns of health locus of control method out of recognizable variables of health improving models influencing on these bone mass promoting behaviors. For these purpose, data were collected by self reported questionnaire in middle school, from 158 women living in Seoul. The measuring tools used in this study about bone mass promoting behaviors and multidimensional health locus of control, were developed by author on the basis of literature review and analyzed by SPSS-PC window, into pearson's correlation, ANOVA, multiple regression, cluster analysis.Data was analyzed as follows.1. 6 Multidimensional health locus of control scale clusters were existed. : a)cluster I (pure internal), b)cluster II(pure chance), c) cluster III(Believer in control), d), cluster IV(Type VI), e)cluster V(yea sayer), f) cluster VI(nay sayer). There were no findings of the powerful others external cluster and double external cluster.2. The higher the value of internal health locus of control was, the better the bone mass promoting behaviors were(r=.2891, p=.00**). The higher the value of chance external health locus of control was, the worse the bone mass promoting behaviors were(r=-.1367, p=.00**).3. On the basis of these relationships, 6 clusters were significantly different in the bone mass promoting behaviors(F=2.27, p=.05*). The value of bone mass promoting behaviors was ranked the order of type VI>believer in control>pure internal>yea sayer>nay sayer>pure chance external highly.4. Bone mass promoting behaviors were not significantly different as to age.Suggestion.Based on the results from the study, I would like to make some suggestions as follows.1) To delay the loss of bone mass in middle aged women, the study on the cluster of the multidimensional health locus of control should be conducted repeatedly.2) The tool of multidimensional health locus of control should be developed through a qualitative method adjusted on Korean' health culture.
Identity of Women's Health Nursing
Authors: Lee Kyung Hye
Published: September 2023

This paper describes why maternity nursing need to be extended and expanded to women's health nursing. Women's health nursing was developed and influenced by philosophical reasoning such as existentialism, feminism, and postmodernism. Also social changes accelerated to progress the maternity nursing to women's health nursing. Reproductive health is the core concept of women's health nursing as well as maternity nursing. The major content of women's health nursing includes maternity nursing area. Thus those researchers who study women's health nursing should take initiative role in multidisciplinary researches to solve health problem and improve the quality of women's life.
Study of the Validity Test on the Self-monitoring Scale for Primi-Gravida
Authors: Lee Seon Ah
Published: September 2023

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 self-monitoring scale could not be classified into five factors as Snyder suggested. Many other scholars(Briggs, Cheek and Buss, 1980) suggested 3 different classifications which was accepted by Snyder and Gangested(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 factor 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 was 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 factor loaded as hypothesized. It is also clear that Snyder's self-monitoring scale lack convergent validity as the sub-factors of the scale fail to prove its uni-dimensionality. The A self-monit oring 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 as hypothesized in either in a two or three-factor classification. It is, of course, not desirable to use any scale that lacks convergent and discriminant validity even though it has been widely used but also 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 1. 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 13 items using LISREL 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.
Predicting Quality of Life in Women Having Hysterectomies
Authors: Kim Sook Nam , Chang Soon-Bok
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this study was to provide a basis for nursing intervention to enhance quality if life in women having hysterectomies. Data was collected using a self-report questionnaire from 205 women having hysterectomies at the outpatient clinics of four general hospitals and a mail survey in Pusan City. Reliability of eight instrument's was tested with Cronbach's alpha which ranged from .601-.901. The data were analyzed by percentage, mean, SD, Pearson's Correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression by using the SPSS 7.5 WIN Program. The results are as follows: 1) The average score for the quality of life was 74.33(score range 23-92).2) There was a significant correlation between the predictive variables on quality of life. The most significant correlation was sexual identity(r=.516, p=.000).3) When quality if life score was entered into the equation as the dependent variable, 7 variables explaining 54.5% of the variation in quality if life score. Sexual identity was the main predictor of quality of life and accounted for 24.6% of the variance in quality of life.4) When physical domain score was entered into equation as the dependent variable, 5 variables explaining 29.2% of the variation in physical domain score.5) When psychological domain score was entered into the equation as the dependent variable, 5 variables explaining 46.0% of the variation in psychological domain score.6) When sexual life domain score was entered into the equation as the dependent variable, 6 variables explaining 39.4% of the variation in sexual life domain score.In conclusion, sexual identity, pre-operational symptom, sense of loss, spouse's support, age, professional support, coping behavior were identified as important variables in the quality of life in women having hysterectomies.
The Effect of a Childcare Education for First-time Mothers on Newborn Care Behavior and Confidence in Maternal Role
Authors: Lee Ja Hyung
Published: September 2023

The postpartum is a period of transition to motherhood where a childless woman transforms into a woman with children. Parents, especially mothers must perform an essential role of implementing instrumental and emotional care behaviors on part of the helpless, dependent, and immature infant. First-time mothers, however, suddenly face the responsibility of round the clock duty without neither parenting training during pregnancy, nor a time to gradually adapt to growing responsibilities after birth, with confusion and frustration as a result. Thus, after providing first-time mothers with childcare education as maternal role preparation, this study will try to examine its effects on childcare behaviors and confidence in maternal role during the early postpartum period. This quasi-experimental study using a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design, was carried out from March 1995 to May 1996 to verify the effects of a childcare education program with first-time mothers who had vaginal delivery in Ewha University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, and collected data from 60 subjects who consented to the study. The education was given in the early postpartum period(48-72 hours after delivery) and to measure its effects, a posttest was done 4 weeks later with the results analyzed by SPSS shown in the following : 1. The childcare behavior score of the experimental group that had received the newborn care education was higher than the control group(t=3.5, P=.001).2. The control group and the experimental group which had received the education showed no difference in degree of confidence in maternal role.3. The higher the childcare behavior score, the higher the degree of confidence in maternal role was among the subjects(r=.56, P=.001). The preceding results are significant in that childcare practices can be promoted by providing child-care education to first-time mothers in the early postpartum period. Thus, this education can be used as a nursing intervention strategy in the early postpartum period.
Needs Assessment for Health and Nutrition Information of Korean Women through PC Communication
Authors: Kang Nam Mi , Hyun Tai Sun , Tack Gye Rae
Published: September 2023

Although the information related to health and nutrition continues to increase at an ever-increasing rate, systematic database which is necessary for self-management of woman health over the life cycle has been rarely found. The purpose of this study was to offer valuable information on woman health and nutrition through the computer, and, therefore, to enable Korean women to manage their health by themselves according to their life cycle, Prior to constructing the information system, a survey was conducted to verify the use and usefulness of the health information currently available through the PC communication and internet, and to identify the specific topics of the health and nutrition information Korean women need. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed through PC communication. The responses of 1,117 women were analyzed. Most of the subjects(72.8%) were at the age of twenties, and 14.6% at tens, 10.7% at thirties, and only 1.9% were over forties. The educational level of the subjects was high ; 44.8% were college graduates or above, 31.4% were college students. The greatest obstacles to the use of health information appeared to be the lack of expertise of the information on the PC communication and taking too much time to get information on the internet. The extent of the interest of the specific topic was determined by a 5-point scale. out of the 22 topics of the health and nutrition information given on the questionnaire, stress management was ranked as the top over the whole range of age. The top three topics in which women had interests except stress management varied by age group ; diet for weight control and self-evaluation of the meal at the age of less than twenty-four ; health and nutrition management for preventing cancer and diet for weight control at the age of twenty-five to twenty-nine ; health and nutrition management for infants and children, and for preventing osteoporosis at the age of thirty to thirty-four ; health and nutrition management for preventing osteoporosis, and for preventing cancer at the age of over thirty-five. On the basis of these results an information system necessary to Korean women in order to manage their health by themselves according to the life cycle will be constructed through internet.
Correlation between Serum Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Levels and Thyroid Metabolic Function in Pregnant Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Authors: Zheng Haiyan , Wang Qian , Chen Feng
Published: September 2023

As previously demonstrated, serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is linked to identifying early gestational abnormalities. This research was aimed at investigating the correlation between serum β-hCG levels and thyroid metabolic function in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Ninety-one pregnant women with HG were selected as the study group and divided into early pregnancy (EP), mid-pregnancy (MP), and late pregnancy (LP) groups according to their gestational weeks, while 84 normal pregnant women were selected as the control group. Venous blood was collected from pregnant women in both groups and serum β-hCG levels were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The levels of free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb), and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) were tested by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were utilized to assess the degree of HG. Pearson analysis was implemented to measure the correlations between serum β-hCG levels and serum FT3, FT4, TSH, TPOAb, TRAb, TgAb, as well as VAS scores and the correlations between β-hCG, FT3, FT4, TSH, TPOAb, TRAb, TgAb, as well as VAS scores and gestation period. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to analyze the diagnostic values of thyroid hormones, thyroid-related antibodies, and β-hCG levels for HG. Versus those in the control group, β-hCG, FT3, FT4, TPOAb, TRAb, TgAb levels, and VAS scores were higher and TSH levels were lower in the study group. Versus those in the EP group, β-hCG, FT3, FT4, TPOAb, TRAb, TgAb levels, and VAS scores of pregnant women in the MP and LP groups were decreased, and TSH levels were increased. Serum β-hCG levels of pregnant women with HG were positively correlated with FT3, FT4, TPOAb, TRAb, TgAb, and VAS scores and negatively correlated with TSH levels. Serum β-hCG, FT3, FT4, TPOAb, TRAb, TgAb levels, and VAS scores of pregnant women with HG had a negative correlation with the gestation period, while TSH levels had a positive correlation with the gestation period. The ROC curve analysis showed that β-hCG and thyroid function-related indicators were of high clinical values in the diagnosis of HG. Collectively, our article suggests that serum β-hCG expression of pregnant women with HG is abnormally elevated and closely related to the degree of HG and hyperthyroidism. In addition, β-hCG and thyroid function-related indicators have certain diagnostic efficacy for HG.
Medial Tibia Cortex Transosseous Sling Fixation for Various Arthroscopic Procedures in the Knee: A Technical Note
Authors: Pushpasekaran Narendran , Vamsi Rachamalla Sivashanakara Krishna , Karuppanan Soundararajan , Sundaram Kandasamy Meenakshi , Manoharan Allagapuram Ellapan
Published: September 2023

The ideal fixation method in the tibia for various arthroscopic procedures in the knee remains questionable, and the authors recommend another fixation in addition to the primary. The numerous implants available have their limitations with cost, inadequate tightening, implant slippage, breakage, and pain due to prominence. In this consideration, implant-free fixations by transosseous suturing methods have been described by various authors; however, the procedural complexity, difficulty to replicate, and risk of fractures with described techniques have been the demerits in the current practice. A novel technique of transosseous fixation in the medial third of the tibia between the medial collateral ligament and tibial tuberosity is created using a 2.5-mm drill hole perpendicular to the anterior medial and posterior surfaces of the tibia. One limb of fiber wire sutures from the graft or structure repaired is shuttled through the hole around the medial border of the tibia and tied to the other limb of sutures over the medial surface of the tibia creating a sling around the medial border of the tibia. There were no neurovascular events or fractures noted. This method is safe, replicable, and adjustable to the length of grafts/tunnels, provides a stable fixation in line of pull of grafts/repaired structures, and can be used as a supplemental fixation or primary fixation for various arthroscopic/open procedures in the knee.
Does Arthroscopic Knotless Double-row Rotator Cuff Repair Yield Better Patient-reported Outcome Measures than Knotted Double-row Repair? A Prospective Comparative Interventional Study
Authors: Adil S. M. , Dev Jaidev Kailash P. , Singh Shambhu , Pushkar Akshay , Chhetri P. , Vijay Varun Kumar , Kumar G. Promod
Published: September 2023

Objective:

The objective of the study was to find out whether a significant difference exists in patient reported outcome measures (PROM) after arthroscopic knotless (KTL) versus knotted (KTT) double-row rotator cuff repair (RCR).

Materials and Methods:

A study was done on forty patients from June 2021 to December 2022 as per inclusion criteria. All patients underwent arthroscopic KTL/KTT double-row RCR with or without soft-tissue Bankart repair and/or superior labrum anterior to posterior repair by a single surgeon. Patients were followed up with University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score for a period of 12 months. Average time of surgery and complications if any were noted.

Results:

Patients in both KTL and KTT groups had mean values of 0.7 and 0.55 for VAS score and 31.25 and 30.4 for UCLA score, respectively, at the end of 12-month follow-up. Excellent UCLA score was seen in four patients (value of 34). The average time of surgery for the KTL and KTT groups was 93.25 and 113.50 min, respectively. One patient had an intraoperative complication in the form of offloading of lateral row anchor which was revised during surgery itself.

Conclusion:

No significant difference exists in PROM, in terms of UCLA score and VAS score for those treated with KTL versus KTT double-row arthroscopic RCR in a short-term follow-up of 12 months. A KTL RCR might have the advantage of ease of procedure and reduced time of surgery though.
Self-reported Computer Vision Syndrome Among Bank Workers in Onitsha, Nigeria
Authors: Uba-Obiano Chizoba U. , Onyiaorah Adaora A. , Nwosu Sabestine N.N. , Okpala Nonso E.
Published: September 2023

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine the awareness, prevalence, and pattern of ocular problems related to computer [computer vision syndrome (CVS)] use among bank workers in Onitsha, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study involving bank staff in Onitsha metropolis who were selected using a simple random technique. A validated CVS questionnaire was used to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, frequency and duration of computer use, eye symptoms, and preventive measures.

Results:

There were 150 bank staff selected: 81 (54.0%) females and 69 (46.0%) males, aged 20–49 years (mean= 33.2 ± 7.2 years). All participants used computer daily. Daily computer use was 1–16 h. Seventy-nine (53.4%) workers were aware of CVS; 127 (84.7%) used preventive measures which included anti-reflective eye glasses (12.7%) and computer screen guard (22.3%). Symptoms with computer use were reported by 103 (68.7%) participants. The prevalence of CVS was 29.3%. Headache (45.4%), itching (38.6%), photophobia (38.0%), visual blur (37.3%), and eye pains (28.0%) were the commonest symptoms. There was a trend towards CVS being commoner in female gender (P = 0.059), with prolonged computer use, and failure to use preventive measures. CVS is 6-fold more likely to occur in individuals who wear corrective lenses.

Conclusion:

CVS is common among the bank workers studied. Use of protective measures that minimize exposure to electromagnetic force radiation from computer screens is suggested. A computer screen guard is recommended as a minimum preventive measure for long-term computer users.
Parotid Gland Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma in a Three-year Old
Authors: Chiware Rumbidzai , Masege Dipuo
Published: September 2023

Salivary glands consist of parotid, submandibular, sublingual and other minor salivary glands. Tumors affecting these glands present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the pathologist and the surgeon respectively. They are not uncommon in adults but rare in children, with an annual incidence of 0.08 per 100 000. When present, older children are affected. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common cancer presenting in children with a predilection for the parotid gland. This case report describes presentation of this rare tumor in a three-year old girl with a brief review of the literature.
Prostate Cancer and Challenges in Management in a Semi-urban Centre
Authors: Okeke Chike John , Obi Anselm Okwudili , Ojewola Rufus Wale , Jeje Emmanuel Ajibola , Okorie Chukwudi Ogonnaya , Afogu Emmaunel Nwali , Ogbobe Uchechukwu Ugonna , Ulebe Augustine Obasi , Odo Chinonso , Ugwuidu Emmanuel
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

Prostate cancer (CaP) is the second most common cancer in men and the fifth most common cancer worldwide. The incidence in Nigeria is rising. Numerous challenges exist that prevent the successful management of these patients in this subregion.

Aims and Objectives:

This study aimed to report on the modes of presentation and difficulties encountered in managing patients with CaP in our environment with a view to finding solutions to these challenges.

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective study of all CaP patients who were managed in Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2021. Data were collated using a pro forma. Numerical data were summarized as means, median, and standard deviation, whereas categorical data were summarized as frequencies. Statistical significance was pegged at P < 0.05.

Results:

Seventy-three patients were analysed. The mean age of the patients was 71.48 ± 8.15 years. The three most common presenting complaints were lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) 23 (31.5%), acute urinary retention 9 (12.3%), and LUTS with low back pain 9 (12.3%). The median duration of symptoms was 6.5 months. No difference was noted among educational level, occupation, and stage of CaP, (P=0.222 and P=0.548), respectively. The median total prostate-specific antigen was 85.0 ng/mL. Sixty-seven patients (91.8%) had an abdominopelvic ultrasound scan. Fifty patients (68.5%) had stage 4 disease. Thirty-eight (52.1%) had financial constraints. Forty-nine (67.1%) patients were lost to follow-up. Bilateral orchidectomy was offered to 28 (38.4%) patients.

Conclusion:

Financial constraint was a huge barrier in the management of CaP patients in this study. Late presentation was common in this study.
Pediatric Groin Surgeries
Authors: Kalu Ukoha Agwu , Odi Temitope O. , Taiwo Jones O. , Abdur-Rahman Lukman O. , Oyewole Ezekiel O. , Ibiyeye Taiye T.
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

There is a paucity of studies in the West African sub-region which have compared both the intraoperative and postoperative analgesic effects of caudal block and inguinal field block using plain bupivacaine in groin surgeries in children. The study aimed to compare the duration of analgesia and complications of caudal block and inguinal field block in pediatric groin surgeries.

Patients and Methods:

This was a prospective, double-blind randomized study conducted at a tertiary health institution in North Central, Nigeria, over a period of 6 months. A total of 74 children scheduled for day case groin surgeries for inguinal hernia, hydrocoele and palpable undescended testis were recruited into the study. The effectiveness of the analgesic effect was assessed by measuring serum cortisol levels before surgery (i.e. baseline at 8am), 5minutes after caudal block or inguinal field block, and 1-hour after surgery. Post-operative pain was determined using FLACC score (Face, Legs, Activity, Crying and Consolability) every 15 minutes till 6 hours after surgery when the patients were discharged home and the caregivers measured the patients’ pain scores using the FLACC score every 1 hour to a maximum duration of 10 hours after surgery. Data obtained from the study was entered into the study proforma and analysed using IBM SPSS version 21.0. The P value was considered statistically significant at <0.05.

Results:

A total of 74 patients were recruited for this study, with 68 males (91.9%) and 6 females (8.1%). The children’s age range was 6 months to 7 years, with a mean age of 3.35 ± 1.90 years. The mean basal serum cortisol levels of the caudal block group and inguinal block group were 11.15 ± 5.38 µg/dL and 10.79 ± 4.92µg/d respectively (p-value = 0.767). Five minutes after caudal block, the mean serum cortisol level was 10.50 ± 5.39µg/dL while inguinal field block was 10.63 ± 4.68µg/dL (p-value = 0.288). The mean serum cortisol level obtained one hour after each procedure was 9.34 ± 4.05 µg/dL for the caudal block group and 10.00 ± 3.56 µg/dL in the inguinal field block group with p-value = 0.275. Using the FLACC score, the mean duration of analgesia in caudal block group was 372.00 ± 71.55 minutes and was inguinal field block group was 387.43 ± 62.65 minutes with a p-value = 0.116. There was no anaesthetic technique related complications that was recorded in both caudal block group and inguinal group during the study period.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that caudal block and inguinal field block using plain bupivacaine provided comparable duration of analgesia in paediatric groin surgeries. Therefore, caudal block or inguinal field block using plain bupivacaine should be recommended for both intraoperative and postoperative analgesia in elective paediatric groin surgeries.