The BRAF^V600E mutation, which accounts for about 60–80% papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC), has been identifiedas a prognostic marker for risk stratification of PTC patients. However, the BRAF^V600E mutation as a prognostic marker in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is unclear. We performed a retrospective review of 101 patients who underwent surgery for PTMC. We studied the prevalence of the BRAF^V600E mutation. The associations between the BRAF^V600E mutation and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. The BRAF^V600E mutation was observed in 72 patients (71.3%). There was no statistically significant correlation in age, gender, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, and lymph node metastasis between the BRAF^V600E mutant group and wild group. The BRAF^V600E mutation is not significantly associated with prognostic factors in PTMC.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs are important in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but vary widely in type, duration, and efficacy. This meta-analysis investigated the effect of PR programs on respiratory muscle strength in patients with COPD. PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL were searched. The primary outcome variables were maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). The secondary outcome variables were the modified Borg score after the 6-min walking test, percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%pred), and percent FEV1/forced volume capacity (FVC). Comprehensive Meta-Analysis, version 3.0, was used to analyze the data. The effect size was calculated using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Twenty randomized controlled trials (with 992 participants) were included in the analysis. The PR programs had a significant effect on the MEP (SMD, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.42-1.32; p < .001), MIP (SMD, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.13-0.93; p = .009), and modified Borg score (SMD, -0.37; 95% CI, -0.52 to -0.22; p < .001) in patients with COPD. There was no effect on FEV1%pred (SMD, 0.09; 95% CI, -0.12 to 0.30; p = .406) or FEV1/FVC% (SMD, 0.04; 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.26; p = .702). PR programs improve respiratory muscle strength in patients with COPD. Strategies for selecting a suitable PR program need to be developed, and future studies should evaluate the long-term effects of such programs on pulmonary function.

Tai chi exercise has been recommended as suitable for the improvement of health in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tai chi on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), quality of life (QoL), and sex hormone levels in patients with benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). The elderly patients with BPH were randomized to receive tai chi or usual care. Fifty-six participants were randomized into either the tai chi group (n=28) or the control group (n=28). After 12 weeks of treatment, the tai chi group showed significant improvement in LUTS and QoL. There was a significant effect of tai chi on testosterone but no significant effect on insulin or glucose. No serious adverse events were observed during the study period. In conclusion, our results suggest that 12 weeks of tai chi may improve LUTS and QoL in elderly patients with BPH.

Park JH, et al. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2019 Oct;49(5):631-642. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2019.49.5.631

Implementing person-centred care is often considered difficult in congested emergency rooms. The purpose of this study was to understand person-centred care experienced by emergency room nurses in depth and examine the essence of emergency room nurses’ lived experience of the person- centred care. Eight nurses working in the emergency room of a large hospital in South Korea and who had over six months of experience were surveyed via semi-structured interviews in February 2019. The data were transcribed and analysed using Colaizzi’s framework. The major findings related to person-centred care experiences among emergency room nurses were: (1) feeling distanced from patients; (2) guilt and frustration; (3) accepting patients’ symptoms and emotions as they are; (4) person-centred care as a domain of nursing that cannot be replaced by machines; and (5) nursing as an art wherein the minutest details make a difference. Providing person-centred practice in the emergency room is difficult, but it will not only improve the quality of patient care but also increase the job satisfaction of nurses. Based on an in-depth understanding of person-centred care experienced by emergency nurses, it will contribute to enhancing the quality of nursing care in the emergency room.

This study aimed to identify the effect of parity and breastfeeding duration and the occurrence of lumbar vertebral and femoral neck osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women. This study analyzed the data of 1,770 women based on the 2010-2011 results of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Extracted data concerning bone density included variables known to be associated with osteoporosis. Complex sample multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine whether parity and breastfeeding duration were associated with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Parity was not associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis in the femoral neck or lumbar vertebrae; however, the risk of femoral neck osteopenia was significantly higher in women with a history of 12-24 months of breastfeeding than in women who breastfed for less than 12 months (odds ratio = 2.12, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-4.21). In women who breastfed for 24 months or longer, the risk of lumbar vertebral osteoporosis was significantly higher than in those who breastfed for less than 12 months (odds ratio = 2.73, 95% confidence interval = 1.18-6.32). Breastfeeding duration may affect the occurrence of lumbar vertebral or femoral neck osteopenia or osteoporosis. Therefore, women who breastfeed for one year or more require education on the risk of bone loss and the need for preventive measures such as adequate calcium intake and physical exercise.