• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.276-286
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• 2022

Objective : Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for chronic neuropathic pain. However, its clinical efficacy in regard to specific types of pain has not been well studied. The primary objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical outcomes of paddle-type SCS according to the type of neuropathic pain. Methods : Seventeen patients who underwent paddle-lead SCS at our hospital were examined. Clinical outcomes were evaluated pre- and postoperatively (3 months, 1 year, and last follow-up) using the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI). The NPSI categorizes pain as superficial, deep, paroxysmal, evoked, or dysesthesia and assess the duration of the pain (pain time score). Changes in NPSI scores were compared with change in Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Results : After SCS, the pain time score improved by 45% (independent t-test, p=0.0002) and the deep pain score improved by 58% (independent t-test, p=0.001). Improvements in the pain time score significantly correlated with improvements in the VAS score (r=0.667, p=0.003, Spearman correlation). Additionally, the morphine milligram equivalent value was markedly lower after vs. before surgery (~49 mg, pared t-test, p=0.002). No preoperative value was associated with clinical outcome. Conclusion : The NPSI is a useful tool for evaluating the therapeutic effects of SCS. Chronic use of a paddle-type spinal cord stimulation improved the deep pain and the pain time scores.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.7-17
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze end-of-life care practices in lung disease patients with physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLSTs). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from medical records regarding the end-of-life care practices of POLST decisions for patients with lung disease hospitalized at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Data were collected from January 1 to June 30, 2021. Results: Of 300 total patients, 198 had lung cancer (66.0%) and 102 had non-malignant lung diseases (34.0%). A POLST was written for 187 patients (62.3%), and an advance directive was written for 20 patients (6.7%). Subsequent treatments were hemodialysis in 13 patients (4.3%), surgery in 3 patients (1.0%), and cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation in 1 patient (0.3%). Among cancer patients, chemotherapy was performed in 11 patients (3.7%), targeted therapy in 11 patients (3.7%), immunotherapy in 6 patients (2.0%), and radiation therapy in 13 patients (4.3%). Depending on the type of lung disease, types of treatment differed, including hemodialysis, ventilators, bilevel positive airway pressure, high-flow nasal cannulas, nebulizers, enteral nutrition, central line, inotropic agents, and opioids. Conclusion: Although the goals of hospice care are the same whether a patient has lung cancer or a non-malignant lung disease, because the characteristics of the respective diseases differ, end-of-life care practices and hospice approaches must be considered differently.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2257-2262
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• 2014

A series of studies have explored the role of cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1) C1420T polymorphism in cancer risk, but their results were conflicting rather than conclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the association between C1420T and cancer risk, the present meta-analysis of 28 available studies with 15,121 cases and 18,023 controls was conducted. The results revealed that there was no significant association between the polymorphism and cancer risk overall. In stratified analysis by cancer type (breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and others), the results showed that 1420T allele was associated with decreased risk in leukemia (CT vs. CC: OR= 0.825, 95% CI =0.704-0.966; and CT+TT vs. CC: OR= 0.838, 95% CI = 0.722-0.973), but the same results were not present for other cancer types. When subgroup analysis was performed by source of control (population-based [PB] and hospital-based [HB]), a borderline inverse association was observed for the HB subgroup (CT vs. CC: OR= 0.917, 95% CI = 0.857-0.982) but not for the PB subgroup. Stratifying by geographic area (America, Asia and Europe), significant inverse association was only found in Asia subgroup (CT vs. CC: OR= 0.674, 95% CI = 0.522-0.870). In summary, the findings suggest that SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism is not associated with overall cancer development, but might decrease cancer susceptibility of Asians as well as reduce leukemia risk. Large well-designed epidemiological studies will be necessary to validate the risk identified in the current meta-analysis.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.217-226
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• 2019

Background: We aimed to assess the dose needed to achieve the propofol effect-site concentration using target-controlled infusion in intellectually disabled patients and to detail the most effective method for achieving a safe level of consciousness without hemodynamic changes as well as detail any resulting adverse effects. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of sedation service records of 138 intellectually disabled patients (51, mental retardation; 36, autism; 30, brain lesion, 12 genetic diseases, 9 dementia) aged over 15 years and weighing over 30 kg. These patients had received propofol via target-controlled infusion in the special care dental clinic of Seoul National University Dental Hospital from May 2008 to September 2018 for restorative treatment (112), minor surgery (13), prosthodontics (7), periodontics treatment (5), and implant (1). Results: For all groups, the duration of dental treatments was $43{\pm}18$ minutes, total sedation time was $73{\pm}23$ minutes, and total BIS values was $57{\pm}12$. The propofol maintenance dosage values for each group were: mental retardation, $3{\pm}0.5(2-4){\mu}g/ml$; autism, $3.1{\pm}0.7(2-5){\mu}g/ml;$; brain lesion, $2.8{\pm}0.7(1.5-5){\mu}g/ml;$; genetic disease, $2.9{\pm}0.9(1-4){\mu}g/ml;$ and dementia $2.3{\pm}0.7(1-3.4){\mu}g/ml;$. Conclusions: The dementia group needed a lower dosage to reach a safe, effective propofol effect-site concentration than the other groups. Since there were no complications, deep sedation is a great alternative to general anesthesia for dental treatment of intellectually disabled patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.121-126
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• 2022

Background Although they may not replace standard training methods that use surgical microscopes, smartphones equipped with high-resolution screens and high-definition cameras are an attractive alternative for practicing microsurgical skills. They are ubiquitous, simple to operate, and inexpensive. This study compared anastomoses of chicken femoral vessels using a smartphone camera versus a standard operative microscope. Methods Forty anastomoses of non-living chicken femoral vessels were divided into four groups. A resident and an experienced microsurgeon performed anastomoses of femoral chicken vessels with 8-0 and 10-0 sutures, using a smartphone camera and a surgical microscope. The time to complete the anastomosis and the number of anastomosis errors were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results The time taken to perform an anastomosis by the experienced microsurgeon was significantly longer when using the smartphone (median: 32.5 minutes vs. 20 minutes, P<0.001). The resident completed the anastomoses with both types of equipment without a significant difference in the operative times. When using a smartphone, the operation times were not significantly different between the resident and the experienced microsurgeon (P=0.238). The resident showed non-significant differences in operation time and the number of errors when using a smartphone or an operative microscope (P=1.000 and P=0.065, respectively). Conclusions Microsurgical practice with non-living chicken femoral vessels can be performed with a smartphone, though it can take longer than with an operative microscope for experienced microsurgeons. The resident may also experience frustration and tend to make more anastomosis errors when using a smartphone versus an operative microscope.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.15-31
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of patient safety incidents (PSIs) related to nursing and to provide primary data for preventing the recurrence of similar incidents. Methods: This secondary analysis study included damage claims rulings filed for clinical negligence from 2014 to 2018 that contained the keyword 'nurse'. It excluded judgments irrelevant to nursing care and in which clinical negligence or causal damages were overruled. A total of 93 cases were analyzed. The characteristics of PSIs were derived through descriptive statistics, and two instances of nursing-related PSIs were examined by qualitative content analysis focusing on root causes. Results: The analysis of PSIs related to nursing suggested that the medical institutions where the PSIs occurred most frequently were hospitals, and the most common types of PSIs were medication, surgery, and treatment/procedure, in that order. In addition, it indicated that nursing-related PSIs occurred most frequently in general wards during the day shift, with the most common related nursing practice being managing potential risk factors. The qualitative analysis showed that careless monitoring and institutional inertia were causes of PSIs. Conclusion: To prevent nursing-related PSIs, nurses need to individually monitor and assess patient conditions. In addition, support should be accompanied by the improvement in the systems in place aimed at preventing the recurrence of nursing-related PSIs at the institutional and national level, such as securing appropriate nursing personnel and improving labor conditions.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1973

Introduction. The human cutaneous scars manifest themselves many ways in different types according to the factors such as the age, sex, race of the patient as well as the location,. kind and heal ing process of the wound. Among the scars it is quiet difficult to verify the clinical course of the hypertrophic or keloidal scars from the true keloids. However, clinical observations indicate that stress, either mechanical or in the forms of chronic infections, can induce a functional change in the fibroblasts causing an excessive production of collagenous matrix. In this study, we preliminary attempt to justify any difference of the cellular structure between keloids and hypertrophic scars by using electron microscope. Material and Methods. A total of 23 cases: 2 scars, 2 hypertrophic scars and 19 keloids are examined. Immediately, the biopsy tissue was fixed in 10% neutral formalin and 4% glutaraldehyde solution in phosphate buffer for 4 hours, post fixed in 1 % osmium tetraoxide for two hours, dehydrated with graded alcohol, and embedded in Epon 812. Thick sections were stained with hematoxylin eosin, periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) and Van Gieson stain. Thin sections were cut and uranyle acetate, lead citratestain and examined with the electron microscope. Result. The morphologic features of keloid showed thick, homogenously eosinophilic bands of collagen and numberous large active fibroblasts. The hypertrophic scar and soft scar are more cellular than keloid and composed thinner collagenous fiber. For this paper in the etiology of keloids can not as be defined, but and interesting keloidal tissue fibroblast showed irregular nucleus with irregular shape dense bodies and fibril materials contained in to the cytoplasm.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2014

Purpose: As the number of cases of heart transplantation (HT) and the survival rate have increased, concerns regarding post-HT life have grown. This study was conducted to explore the relationships of perceived social support to the depression and health status of HT recipients. Methods: This descriptive study targeted all recipients who had undergone HT at S University Hospital since 1994, and 32 recipients were recruited. Results: 90.6% of the recipients were men, and the average age at the time of surgery was $47.4{\pm}13.4$ years. The ejection fraction was increased from $18.47{\pm}5.63%$ to $63.25{\pm}7.57%$, and 31 cases of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV improved to class I or II after HT. The patients reported mild depression even with high perceived social support and improved health status after HT. Among those resource persons who offered support, they reported their spouse, doctors, and nurses as most meaningful to them. Conclusion: This study confirmed the positive effects of HT on the recipients' physical improvement. It also added the discovery that the importance of recipients' subjective perception of social support might be critical for their more successful recovery and adjustment to post-HT life. Focusing on a different approach to social support and types of social resources in the recovery phase is suggested for future studies on quality of life after HT.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.181-189
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• 2019

Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) refers to the complication affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and cardiovascular system (CVS) due to the overdose of local anesthesia. Its reported prevalence is 0.27/1000, and the representative symptoms range from dizziness to unconsciousness in the CNS and from arrhythmias to cardiac arrest in the CVS. Predisposing factors of LAST include extremes of age, pregnancy, renal disease, cardiac disease, hepatic dysfunction, and drug-associated factors. To prevent the LAST, it is necessary to recognize the risk factors for each patient, choose a safe drug and dose of local anesthesia, use vasoconstrictor, confirm aspiration and use incremental injection techniques. According to the treatment guidelines for LAST, immediate application of lipid emulsion plays an important role. Although lipid emulsion is commonly used for parenteral nutrition, it has recently been widely used as a non-specific antidote for various types of drug toxicity, such as LAST treatment. According to the recently published guidelines, 20% lipid emulsion is to be intravenously injected at 1.5 mL/kg. After bolus injection, 15 mL/kg/h of lipid emulsion is to be continuously injected for LAST. However, caution must be observed for >1000 mL of injection, which is the maximum dose. We reviewed the incidence, mechanism, prevention, and treatment guidelines, and a serious complication of LAST occurring due to dental anesthesia. Furthermore, we introduced lipid emulsion that has recently been in the spotlight as the therapeutic strategy for LAST.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.52-64
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the illness experience of middle-aged women who underwent craniotomy for meningioma. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with 7 middle-aged women who underwent craniotomy. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological analysis to uncover the meaning of the illness experience of the participants. As a results, seven themes were identified: serious attack of fear in middle age, strengthening self-confidence in healing, escape from fear of death, care for my own body, two types of conflict for family harmony and disease, nurse as a healing partner, and opening the second life. Based on the results of this study, it will be possible to plan more comprehensive nursing intervention through understanding of participants' experience. Also, the main reason of fear that participants felt was lack of information about craniotomy. Therefore, the development of educational programs to provide information and knowledge about cranial surgery is suggested.