• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.458-467
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• 2014

Pain is one of the most common and painful symptoms that cancer patients suffer from. Pain seriously affects 30-50% of the patients at the early cancer diagnosis stage or who receive active anticancer treatments, 60-70% of the patients with progressive cancer, and 80-90% of the patients at the late stage of cancer. However, there is no systematic and easy pain control program for the cancer patients. In this study, an algorithm is proposed to provide quick pain relief service upon the occurrence of sudden pain, for the purpose of controlling the sudden pain that cancer operation survivors experience. In developing the algorithm, questionnaires, evaluation forms and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline were considered, and a trial service was provided to a group of 20 cancer patients for a month to evaluate the designed algorithm. The results of the trial service were examined by expert medical workers to evaluate the proposed algorithm, and a 90% compatibility decision was derived, which verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. In the case of incompatibility decision, the management of the pain diary did not have compatible results. Therefore, the further study will additionally address the customized pain diary algorithm.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8797-8800
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• 2014

Objective: To analyze cost-effectiveness of morphine, MS contin and oxycodone in the treatment of cancer pain, providing guidance for rational drug use in the clinic. Methods: Confirmed by histology, a total of 171 patients with various cancers who required analgesic treatment were selected and divided into 3 groups, 57 cases for each group, given morphine, MS contin and oxycodone, respectively. If there appeared a poor short-term effect or aggravated sudden pain during the treatment, a short-acting morphine injection was given and adverse reactions were processed by symptomatic treatment. The pain relief rate and adverse reactions of groups were observed and pharmacoeconomics evaluation was undertaken. Results: The pain relief rates with morphine, MS contin and oxycodone were 89.5%(51/57), 91.2%(52/57) and 93.0%(53/57), respectively, with no difference samong groups (${\chi}^2=4.4489$, P=0.6162). The occurrence rates of adverse reactions were 59.7%(34/57), 54.4%(31/57) and 43.9%(25/57), again with no significant variation (P>0.05). The ratios of cost-effectiveness (C/E) for the 3 groups were $14.6{\pm}7.21$, $15.0{\pm}7.44$ and $16.1{\pm}8.10$. When the price of 3 kinds of analgesics was reduced by 10%, the ratios of cost-effectiveness were $12.2{\pm}6.53$, ($13.4{\pm}6.08$ and $14.5{\pm}6.74$ but there was no differences when compared with before the price adjustment (t=1.86, P=0.0651; t=1.30, P=0.1948; t=1.17, P=0.2453). Conclusion: Morphine, MS contin and oxycodone give similar pain relief and adverse reaction rates but of all, morphine is the preferred drug for the treatment of cancer pain from the perspective of pharmacoeconomics.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 1995

The pain clinic in our institution opened on of June, 1984. since then until December 1994, we have had 1,741 patients who had been treated on an out-patient basis. The patients were analysed retrospectively according to their sex, age, and retrospective disease. There were 969 male(55.7%) and 772 female patients(44.3%) In the age distribution of the patients, the highest incidence was in the forties with 463 patients(26.6%). The second highest age incidence was in the thirties with 357 patients(20.5%), and the third highest age incidence was in the sixties with 341 patients(19.6%). In this figure, there were 203(26.6%) stomach cancer patients, 135(17.7%) cervix and uterine cencer patients, 81(10.6%) colorectal cancer patients, 74(9.7%) hepatoma patients, and 68 (8.9%) pancreatic cancer patients. The patients with non malignant chronic pain numbered 977(56.1%). In this figure, there were low back pain of 188(19.2%), sudden deafness of 17.5%, Buerger's disease of 63(6.5%) and postherpetic neuralgia of 56(5.7%).

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.88-91
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• 2019

Unexplained pain and weakness, i.e., without obvious predisposing factors, are often encountered by physiatrists and efforts should be made to determine the cause. A 63-year-old male presented with radiating pain in his right arm and mild weakness of the right hand. An electrodiagnostic examination revealed distal symmetric sensory polyneuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, and denervation potentials in the forearm muscles, which were inconsistent with the cervical spine MRI images and symptoms. A predisposing undiscovered disease was revealed, i.e., squamous cell carcinoma in the lung; brain metastasis affecting the left primary motor cortex was also detected. Therefore, we concluded that the pain and weakness were related to paraneoplastic syndrome and brain metastases of the hand knob. The observed denervation potentials were characterized as trans-synaptic changes in the brain metastasis. This case highlights the importance of unexplainable focal pain and weakness in the increasing prevalence of cancer.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 2018

We report a case of pulmonary aspiration during induction of general anesthesia in a patient who was status post esophagectomy. Sudden, unexpected aspiration occurred even though the patient had fasted adequately (over 13 hours) and received rapid sequence anesthesia induction. Since during esophagectomy, the lower esophageal sphincter is excised, stomach vagal innervation is lost, and the stomach is flaccid, draining only by gravity, the patient becomes vulnerable to aspiration. As the incidence of perioperative pulmonary aspiration is relatively low, precautions to prevent aspiration tend to be overlooked. We present a video clip showing pulmonary aspiration and discuss the literature concerning the risk of aspiration and its preventive strategies.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.659-679
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• 2022

Efforts to improve end-of-life (EOL) care have generally been focused on cancer patients, but high-quality EOL care is also important for patients with other serious medical illnesses including heart failure (HF). Recent HF guidelines offer more clinical considerations for palliative care including EOL care than ever before. Because HF patients can experience rapid, unexpected clinical deterioration or sudden death throughout the disease trajectory, choosing an appropriate time to discuss issues such as advance directives or hospice can be challenging in real clinical situations. Therefore, EOL issues should be discussed early. Conversations are important for understanding patient and family expectations and developing mutually agreed goals of care. In particular, high-quality communication with patient and family through a multidisciplinary team is necessary to define patient-centered goals of care and establish treatment based on goals. Control of symptoms such as dyspnea, pain, anxiety/depression, fatigue, nausea, anorexia, and altered mental status throughout the dying process is an important issue that is often overlooked. When quality-of-life outweighs expanding quantity-of-life, the transition to EOL care should be considered. Advanced care planning including resuscitation (i.e., do-not resuscitate order), device deactivation, site for last days and bereavement support for the family should focus on ensuring a good death and be reviewed regularly. It is essential to ensure that treatment for all HF patients incorporates discussions about the overall goals of care and individual patient preferences at both the EOL and sudden changes in health status. In this review, we focus on EOL care for end-stage HF patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.36-38
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• 2011

We report an unusual case of respiratory depression and prolonged apnea after the second dose of 100-mg intravenous tramadol. Due to continuous pain at foley catheter keep site, intravenous tramadol was administered to the patient. Soon after the second dose of tramadol injection, the patient became apneic. The patient did not respond to verbal command and started exhibiting oxygen desaturation. The patient was quickly treated with 100% oxygen, and it took 4 hours for the spontaneous respiration to return to regular. This case report demonstrates that even two doses of tramadol administered intravenously may manifest as sudden and prolonged apnea. Respiratory depression with tramadol has been reported in patients with impaired renal functions and Cytochrome P(CYP) 2D6 gene duplication.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.246-249
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• 1997

Hiccup is defined as an abrupt involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles with sudden closure of the glottis 35 msec after onset. The term "intractable" is given to those hiccups with a duration ranging from 24 hours to more than 25 years. Short hiccup bouts are mostly associated with gastric distention or alcohol intake, resolved spontaneously or with simple remedies. In contrast, intractable hiccup is a rare but disabling condition which can induce depression, weight loss and sleep deprivation. Although the pathophysiologic mechanisms of hiccup are still poorly understood, wide variety of pathological conditions such as: brain tumor, abdominal tumor, myocardial infarction, renal failure, abdominal surgery etc., can cause intractable hiccup. A 58-year-old male who had suffered from hepatocellular cancer was consulted from medical department due to intractable hiccup. Initial treatment modalities with administrations of metoclopramide and chlorpromazine and nerve block including phrenic nerve block, cervical epidural block and glossopharyngeal nerve block were not effective. Administration of midazolam and baclofen however achieved desirable effect.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-25
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• 2000

We were trying to study the validity of Puffer fish's poison(Tetrodotoxin- TTX) to make a traditional Korean Medical treatment. The following conclusions were made after literary studies. 1. The first record of the puffer fish dates back 2000 years ago in the Chinese text Book of Mountain and Sea and other texts from the similar period. 2. Puffer fish's poison IS known as tetrodotoxin which is an amino perhydroquinazoline compound. It has a chemical formula of $C_{11}H_{17}N_3O_8$ in the hemiacetal structure and has the molecular weight of 319. 3. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) plays a role as potent neurotransmitter blocker by blocking the $Na^+$ -gate channel which hinders the influx of $Na^+$ ion into the cell. 4. Symptoms of the puffer fish poisoning ranges from blunted sense in the lips and tongue, occasional vomiting in the first degree to sudden descending of the blood pressure, apnea, and other critical conditions in the fourth degree. Intoxication of the puffer fish poison progresses at a rapid pace as death may occur after an hour and half up to eight hours in maximum. Typical death occurs after four to six hours. 5. Ways to treat the puffer fish poisoning include gastric irrigation, induce vomiting, purgation, intravenous fluid injection, and correcting electrolytic imbalance and acidosis. In cases of dyspnea, apply oxygen inhalation and conduct artificial respiration. 6. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) may be applied in treating brain disorders, ocular pain, excess pain in the large intestine and ileum, and relieving tension of the skeletal museles, neuralgia, rheumatism, arthritis, and etc. 7. In terms of Oriental medicine, the puffer fish poison has characteristics of sweet, warm, and poisonous. It's known efficacies are to tonify weakness, dispel damp, benefit the lower back, relieve hemorrhoid, kills parasites, remove edema, and so forth. And the puffer fish eggs processed with ginger are said to be effective against tuberculosis and lung cancer, thus, it's validity must be investigated and further research should be followed.