• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.232-242
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• 2008

- Abstract - Objectives: We examined the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) case management program developed by National Health Insurance Corporation in Korea. Methods: One trained nurse performed the case management for 30 DM patients recruited through the reimbursement information of National Health Insurance in a rural community. The case manager had four home visits and two telephone calls for 12 weeks. We evaluated the effectiveness of the program in terms of self-efficacy, self-care behaviors and glyco-metabolic control. Results: The self-efficacy score was significantly increased from 70.0 of pre-intervention to 80.5 of post-intervention (p<0.001). The self-care score was also significantly increased from 2.86 to 3.60 (p<0.001). The scores of its components such as nutritional care, self-test of sugar level, foot care, oral care, and aerobic exercise were significantly improved (p<0.001). However, the improvement of score in medication management was statistically marginal (p=0.071). The fasting blood sugar level and HbA1c level was significantly decreased from 128.6 mg/dl to 114.5 mg/dl (p<0.001) and from 6.78 % to 6.54 % (p<0.001) respectively. Conclusions: The case management program was effective to improve the self-efficacy and self-care behaviors, and to control blood sugar level in DM patients.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of the old Achilles tendon rupture treated with modified flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon transfer. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients with old Achilles tendon rupture treated with modified FHL tendon transfer between March 2004 and February 2008 were enrolled in this study. Technically FHL was pass through the distal portion of the ruptured tendon instead of the drilled hole made on the calcaneus. The mean age of the patients was 37 years (range, 22~67 years), mean follow-up period was 28 months (range, 12~30 months). Patients' subjective satisfaction, calf circumferential diameter, range of motion of ankle and AOFAS ankle-hind foot score and Arner-Lidholm score was evaluated. Results: The average gap between the ruptured tendon was 52 mm (range, 47~56 mm). The AOFAS score improved from 47 pre-operatively to 91 points at the last follow-up. Sixteen patients were satisfied with the result free from discomfort, a patient had mild discomfort who had DM. fourteen patients had decreased range of motion less than 5 degrees while 2 patients had more than 7 degrees decrease compared to the intact side but had no discomfort in daily activities. Nine patients had less than 1 cm calf circumferential diameter difference and 7 patients had 1 to 3 cm diameter difference compared to the intact side. One who had more than 3 cm diameter difference had deteriorated muscle strength. Conclusion: Modified FHL tendon transfer can be a useful technique for the treatment of old Achilles tendon rupture when the gap is with large gap placed too proximal.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2002

Pressure sores are an ulceration and necrosis of the skin and underlying tissue usually occur after prolonged or repeated pressure by interruption of blood flow from the small. vessels to the skin and deep tissue. The management of pressure sores is mostly difficult and requires prolonged hospitalization or repeated surgical interventions with a high recurrence rate. In this article we reviewed 14 cases of National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Pannel staging III, IV over the lateral malleolar area of the ankle in 2 years period from January 1999 to October 2001. The pressure over lateral malleolar area was mainly due to unique Korean sitting position with cross legs at flexed hips and knees or supine position of patient with external rotation of low extremity. Male to female ratio was 11: 3 and ages were between 36 and 83 (mean age: 67.1 years). Associated diseases were DM(7 cases), Hemiparesis caused by CVA(2 cases), Liver cirrhosis(2 cases), disarticulation of opposite hip due to squamous cell ca.(1 case), Intertrochanteric Fx.(1 case). Wound cultures reported Staphylococus, Pseudomonas and others. Abnormally elevated ESR and CRP were seen in 6 cases. Operative treatments were irrigation and debridement, direct closure with gravity drainage and skin grafting. The most important aspect of pressure sore treatment is pressure relief of the lateral malleolar area. Pressure-relieving Cast or Brace was helpful for local management and preventing recurrence.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2002

Purpose: This study is to assess the involvement of vessels in lower extremity in diabetics, using color doppler ultrasonogram. Materials and Methods: Arteries of both lower extremities were divided into 3 groups-large vessel (above-knee arteries), popliteal vessel, and small vessel(below-knee arteries) -, and evaluated using color doppler ultrasonogram in 60 diabetics. In color doppler ultrasonogram, the wave forms of all vessels were divided into 5 grades; grade I was triphasic wave form, grade II was spectral broadening form, grade III was monophasic wave form, grade IV was pulsus tardus et parvus form, grade V was absence of wave. Grade III, IV, V were grouped into vessel obstruction. We reviewed the correlationships among the degree of the peripheral vascular involvement, duration of dibetes, existence of bilaterality, types of dibetes. Results: Bilateral involvement was high in both lower extremity. Luminal stenosis, vascular calcification and vessel obstruction were high incidence in the patients over ten years of diabetic duration. Prevalence of vascular calcification and vessel obstruction were high in the small vessel of ankle level. But, insulin injection was not related to the incidence of vascular abnormality. Conclusion: Color doppler ultrasonogram seems to be useful for evaluation of peripheral vascular status, decision making for necessity of additional test, periodic follow -up tool in diabetes patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.95-107
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical nurses' knowledge of DM and diabetes patient education aptitude so as to provide a basis for clinical nurse training with respect to diabetes patient education program. The data has been collected through the questionnaires of 42 items from the Knowledge on DM and each 16 item from the Importance on the elements of diabetes patient and the Recognition for clinical nurses, respectfully. 166 nurses from a general hospital who had participated in clinical nurse training in Sep. 28 and Oct. 4, 2001 were subject to respond the questionnaires. Analysis has been done by using statistical method such as percentage, average, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test and Pearson correlation coefficients. The findings are as follows: 1. Clinical nurses' knowledge levels of diabetes 1) The average level of nurses' knowledge about diabetes is 29.37 (right answer- finding rate: 70%), which is intermediate. 2) Amongst the nurses classified by their knowledge levels about diabetes, the group with less than one year career and that with more than 5 year careers are found to have higher knowledge levels. The item with the highest right answer-finding rate was 'Please find the wrong out of the following examples about foot care'. Meanwhile, the item with highest incorrect answer-finding rate was 'what does blood sugar control aims for amongst gestational diabetes?'. 2. Clinical nurses' importance and perception levels of educational training about diabetes 1) There were no differences amongst nurses' importance level about diabetes. 2) Nurses usually had high scores(4.30) in terms of the items related to the importances about educational training. 3) There were quite high recognitions of general characteristics and symptoms about diabetes, amongst the nurse cohorts working more than one year and less than 5 years, and over 5 years, the group belonging to the internal department, that having the previous experiences of dealing with diabetes, and that having their diabetic relatives and other close people. Meanwhile, strangely, the group who identified themselves as 'not good at treating diabetes' had a high recognition level of educational training about diabetes. 3. Relationship between knowledge levels and importance & perception levels of diabetes 1) The higher knowledge about diabetes nurses had, the more importance they recognized. 2) It is found that there was no relationship between knowledge and perception of diabetes. 3) The more importance about diabetes nurses had, the higher perception they obtained. In conclusion, there is an urgent need for systematic educational programs about diabetes including technical aspects, in order to upgrade and improve nurses knowledge levels. In addition, re-educational training should be provided at regular intervals. Further, we believe the nurses with high knowledge about diabetes and interests in the provision of educations for patients can be far more confident, and in return, patients can have better self-management about diabetes obtained through educations. Based on the above-mentioned findings, we would like to make the suggestion: re-evaluation about nurses' knowledge and cognition levels should be carried out after job training programs about diabetes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.754-762
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• 2000

Objectives : The surgical results of 80 patients with growth hormone(GH)-producing pituitary adenoma were analyzed retrospectively to evaluate the clinical manifestations and to determine which preoperative factors significantly influenced the surgical outcome. Patients and Methods : The patients consisted of 39 men and 41 women and the age of patients at the time of initial operation ranged from 17 to 67 years(mean age, 40.5 years) Between January 1990 and June 1996, 77 patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery and 3 patients underwent craniotomy for GH-producing pituitary adenoma at our institution. Preoperative administration of octreotide was performed in 18 patients. Surgical control was defined as a postoperative serum basal level of GH less than 5ng/ml. A logistic regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Probability value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results : The most common presenting symptom was acromegaly, followed by headache, visual disturbance, and fatigability. Visual symptoms were present in 39% of the patients. Diabetes mellitus was associated in 24 patients and hypertension in 12. Preoperative mean basal level of GH was 93.2ng/ml(range 72-500ng/ml) which was closely related with tumor size(p<0.05). Grade II by Hardy's classification was the most common radiological type. Preoperative octreotide treatment significantly reduced the level of GH(p<0.05), but not enough to induce endocrinological remission. One patient died of cerebral infarction after craniotomy. The most common surgical complication was transient diabetes insipidus. The symptom of the earliest improvement after surgery was paresthesia and tightness of the hand and foot, followed by headache and easy fatigability. The preoperative visual symptom was improved in all patients. The patients who had hypertension or DM experienced alleviated symptoms in 67% and 92%, respectively. The overall rate of endocrinological remission was 44%. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the size of tumor, extrasellar extension, and extent of removal were significant prognostic factors for endocrinologial remission. Conclusion : Early detection of a small tumor without extrasellar extension followed by a complete resection is highly recommended in order to achieve endocrinological cure of GH-producing pituitary adenomas.