• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.118-124
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The incidence of multiple trauma is increasing nowadays and is the leading cause of death among young adults. Initial treatment is well known to be crucial in multiple trauma victims. However, many indiscriminate transfers occur due to the lack of a well-organized trauma system in Korea. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the current serious state in which major trauma patients are transferred to the Emergency Medical Center of a university hospital from another medical center. Methods: From November 2009 to October 2010, we performed a retrospective study to analyze the characteristics of patients who visited the Ajou University Medical Center located in Gyeonggi-do. We evaluated the ISS (injury severity score), and a score over 15 point was identified as major trauma. The major trauma patients were separated into two groups according to the visit route, and the characteristics of each group were analyzed. Results: Among the 88,862 patients who visited to the Emergency Medical Center, trauma patients accounted for 19,950, and 343 of them were evaluated as major trauma patients. Among the 343 patients, 170 patients had been transferred from other medical centers. The proportion of males to females was 3.3:1, and the mean ISS was 22.7. The leading cause of trauma was motor vehicle accidents. Of the total 170 patients, 77.6% were admitted to the Intensive care unit and 36.3% underwent surgery. The 170 patients that had been transferred to our medical center, 78.8% were transferred from Gyeonggi-do, 15.3% were transferred from other regions, and 5.9% were miscellaneous. Conclusion: Almost half of the major trauma victims treat at our medical center had been transferred from other medical centers. Establishing a traumatic system, supported by well-organized trauma centers and emergency medical services, that can reduce inappropriate transfers among medical facilities is essential.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.287-294
• /
• 2008

Objectives : To estimate the economic burden of osteoporotic vertebral fracture (VF) from a societal perspective. Methods : From 2002 to 2004, we identified all National Health Insurance claims records for women ${\geq}50$ years old with a diagnosis of VF. The first 6-months was defined as a "clearance period," such that patients were considered as incident cases if their first claim of fracture was recorded after June 30, 2002. We only included patients with ${\geq}$ one claim of a diagnosis of, or prescription for, osteoporosis over 3 years. For each patient, we cumulated the claims amount for the first visit and for the follow-up treatments for 1 year. The hospital charge data from 4 hospitals were investigated to measure the proportion of the non-covered services. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 106 patients from the 4 study sites to measure the out-of-pocket spending outside of hospitals. Results : During 2.5 years, 131,453 VF patients were identified. The patients had an average of 3.38 visits, 0.40 admissions and 6.36 inpatient days. The per capita cost was 1,909,690 Won: 71.5% for direct medical costs, 20.6% for direct non-medical costs and 7.9% for indirect costs. The per capita cost increased with increasing age: 1,848,078 Won for those aged 50-64, 2,084,846 Won for 65-74, 2,129,530 Won for 75-84and 2,121,492 Won for those above 84. Conclusions : Exploring the economic burden of osteoporotic VF is expected to motivate to adopt effective treatment options for osteoporosis in order to prevent the incidence of fracture and the consequent costs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.31 no.4 s.63
• /
• pp.583-591
• /
• 1998

Screening is for the early detection and treatment of diseases in prior to development of symptoms, so that more favourable prognosis could be obtained. To evaluate efficiency of screening test for cervical neoplasms, we compared the histopathologic stages of asymptomatic cervical neoplasm patients diagnosed by screening test, with those of symptomatic patients confirmed by pathology. Total 1,120 cases of cervical neoplasm patient, diagnosed at Kang-nam St. Mary's hospital from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1996, were reviewed by chart, and classified as asymptomatic and symptomatic group based on the presence of subjective symptoms on their hospital visit. Their histopathologic stages were analysed. The results were as follows, 1. From the total of 1,120 patient, asymptomatic group comprised 264 cases (25.5%). Asymptomatic proportion increased 15.3% in 1991 to 34.7% in 1996. 2. Mean age for the occurrence of cervical neoplasm was $44.3{\pm}10.4$ years for the asymptomatic group, and $49.3{\pm}13.2$ years for the symptomatic group, showing statistically significant differences (p=0.001). 3. Among the study subjects, 465 cases(45.0%) had preinvasive lesions and 569 cases(55.0%) had invasive cancers. 4. Percentage of cervical neoplasm patient diagnosed at asymptomatic stages were 45.8% in twenties, 32.0% in thirties, 27.7% in forties, 21.7% in fifties, 18.7% in sixties and 1.8% in above seventies, showing statistically significant differences according to age group(p=0.001). 5. In thirties, 87.2% of the asymptomatic patients were diagnosed as preinvasive lesion and 45.0% of symptomatic patient were diagnosed as preinvasive lesion. With increment of ages, preinvasive lesion proportion were markedly decreased. 6. 76.9% of asymptomatic patients were diagnosed as preinvasive lesion, and 34.0% of symptomatic patients were diagnosed as preinvasive lesion, suggesting screening test at asymptomatic stage can increase preinvasive lesion proportion. 7. preinvasive lesion proportion of asymptomatic patient was highest in thirties(40.4%) and 2nd highest in forties(34.0%). Screening test for cervical neoplasm should be actively carried out from the thirties.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.234-246
• /
• 2002

Background: Herpes Zoster Oticus, which can be caused from infection by Varicella-zoster virus, is known to be expected poor prognosis, since it has higher possibility of complete injury of facial nerve. Conservative therapy of the Western medicine is effective on the treatment for the herpes zoster and pain. However, its effectiveness on the facial verve palsy has not been proven. Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the treatment of oriental medicine and an analyze prognosis of the facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus. Methods : This retrospctive study was conducted to observe the clinical manifestation of Herpes Zoster Oticus, and the result of electrical diagnostic study on the patients with the facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus who were diagnosed and treated at the Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion in Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Hospital. Results : 1. According to the six clinical types of Herpes Zoster Oticus, the patients in this study can be grouped as 7 cases of the type II, 2 cases of the type V, and one case of the type IV and the type VI. 2. The shorter the period from onset to the first visit to a hospital, the prognosis of facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus was the better. 3. According to the follow up study, the H-B grades of all cases were improved. 4. According to the follow up study, the result of electrical diagnostic study was improved. Conclusions : We found in our study that the treatment of oriental medicine, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and aroma therapy, helps the recovery of facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus. The further clinical study about the more cases of facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus and comparative study between the group of oriental medicine and that of western medicine are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.97-109
• /
• 2017

Objectives The aim of this study is to analyze the patients who have low back pain through registry. Methods We registered patients with low back pain who visited department of korean rehabilitation medicine in university hospitals on study. We collected data from 116 subjects consisted of 51 inpatients and 65 outpatients and ruled out 8 who didn't have pattern identification data at the point of inpatient or outpatient visit so we analyzed 108 in total. We used Pearson's product moment correlation to find correlationship among variables, and analyzed statistical data using Phyton scipy library stats package. Results We set general features, region of the pain, physical examination, ROM, questionnaire results, pattern identification as variables and draw a conclusion by analyzing these variables. Conclusions Registry aimed at low back pain patients was established in department of korean rehabilitation medicine of university hospitals and exploratory analysis based on data were made. Through the registry, we expect that more advanced studies will be performed; for example, executing research which verifies effectiveness and stability of korean medical treatment or developing tools to fill the gap between pattern identification and disease identification.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.70 no.6
• /
• pp.490-497
• /
• 2011

Background: It is difficult but important to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections, especially for respiratory infections. Hence, there is an ongoing need for sensitive and specific markers of bacterial infections. We investigated novel biomarkers for discriminating community acquired bacterial pneumonia from 2009 H1N1 influenza A infections. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of patients with community acquired bacterial pneumonia, 2009 H1N1 Influenza A infection, and healthy controls. Serum samples were obtained on the initial visit to the hospital and stored at $-80^{\circ}C$. We evaluated CRP (C-reactive protein), PCT (procalcitonin), LBP (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein) and copeptin. These analytes were all evaluated retrospectively except CRP. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were performed on the resulting data. Results: Enrolled patients included 27 with community acquired bacterial pneumonia, 20 with 2009 H1N1 Influenza A infection, and 26 who were healthy controls. In an ROC analysis for discriminating community acquired bacterial pneumonia from 2009 H1N1 influenza A infection, areas under the curve (AUCs) were 0.799 for CRP (95% Confidence interval [CI], 0.664~0.934), 0.753 for PCT (95% CI, 0.613~0.892) and 0.684 for LBP (95% CI, 0.531~0.837). Copeptin was not different among the three groups. Conclusion: These findings suggest that serum CRP, PCT and LBP can assist physicians in discriminating community acquired bacterial pneumonia from 2009 H1N1 influenza A infection.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.84-97
• /
• 2000

The Necessity and Purpose of the Study Recently the number of patients with chronic diseases and the aged patients is increasing steadily. Furthermore, due to the expansion of health insurance system, the number of patients hospitalized in the general hospital is increasing at a surprising speed. However, hospitals urge the early discharge of the patients for the efficiencies of hospital administration, and therefore, the number of patients who must be taken care of in their home is also increasing. Homecare nursing is one of the health care service for the patients at home who require continual attention and care, and now increasing attentions are given to it as one of the professional nursing fields. However, it was almost impossible to find a study on the actual experiences of the homecare nurses written by their own language in Korea, that it also posed a great difficulty in understanding their diverse experience. Considering these situation, this study will help understanding of them, and provide the fundamental data on their experiences for making policies to develop homecare nursing. Methods of Research Phenomenological research method was employed to analyze the lived experiences of homecare nurses fundamentally. Data collection Data were collected from August 1998 to December 1998 from ten homecare nurses who worked for patients under the homecare nursing setting as model cases designated by Seoul Nurses Association and who agreed to the purpose of this study after listening to and understanding the explanation completely. The in-depth interview was carried at the time which was convenient both for the researcher and participants for one or two hours, and recovered with the approval participants. The first interview covered diverse and broad areas like the situation of homecare nursing, and their feelings and thoughts over it, and in the second and third interviews, more specific questions are asked. Data Analysis For the phenomenological analysis, contents analysis was employed. The data collected from the participants were analyzed into the following procedures according to Van Manen 's phenomenological analysis. 1) Reserve the preconception of the researcher by restricting it inside parenthesis. 2) Make a thorough observation of the lived experiences by insight process. 3) Analyze the contents (Find out the repetitive factors) 4) Interpret the essence found. 5) State the meaning of the interpretation. Results and discussion 1. Fear and expectation for the first visit. (unfamiliarity, awkwardness, anxiety, shivering) 2. Mingle with the family (feeling friendly with the family, becoming like a family member) 3. Being proud of her own know-how (learning the know-how, organizing alternatives, building up confidence) 4. Pity for the poor. (criticizing the current government, feeling ashamed, feeling anger) 5. Difficulty of constructing cooperative system with physicians (strenuousness, frustration) 6. Helplessness due to the lack of support system (difficulty to get supplies, annoyance, embarrassment by institutional restraints) 7. Anxiousness for heavy traffic and parking (annoyance, hastiness) 8. Ethical conflicts (pity for the patients and family, skepticism about lengthening life maintenance) 9. Burden for the possible accident (pressure, anxiety, conflict, physical exhaustion) 10. Establishment of identity as a professional (fulfillment, worth, joy) 11. Being distressed at other's ignorance

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 2012

Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (ARS) is a rare disorder with variable morphology characterized by malformations of the anterior segment of the eye such as iris hypoplasia, iridocorneal adhesions, corectopia and polycoria. Craniofacial and dental anomalies are also regularly reported in connection with ARS. Dental features include hypodontia in primary and permanent dentition, microdontia, short roots and abnormally shaped teeth. The patient in this case is a 14-year-old girl who has visited Seoul National Dental Hospital in 2002 for the first time. A panorama was taken on the day of her first visit, and total absence of maxillary anterior dentition and mandibular premolars were observed. The patient was on a treatment schedule by the department of ophthalmology at Seoul National Hospital for a morphological dyplasia of the pupil and she was diagnosed with ARS. Periodic panoramic observations were performed followingly, and she was finally diagnosed of congenital missing of maxillary anteriors and mandibular second premolars. In 2009, composite resin build-ups of maxillary primary central incisors were performed, and she has been on her regular follow-ups until now.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.613-618
• /
• 2009

Impacted molars are not usual with the prevalence rate of less than 1%, however problems such as infraocclusion, extrusion of the opposite tooth and lack of space are caused. If molars are impacted, radiographic check-up and observations are needed as they play an important role in skeletal development and mastication. Causes of impaction are underdevelopment of roots, supernumerary teeth, cysts, odontomas, ankylosis and etc. In our first case, we present impacted molar which was surgically exposed and orthodontically traded. As the developmental state of the root was less than half at first visit, we observed until the root was 2/3 in its length and traction was carried out. The second case is orthodontic traded molar with compleate enucleation of the existing cysts. When trading impacted molars, direct bonding of attachments to the tooth and light continuous forces are recommended so as to ankylosis, external absorption and periodontal attachment loss avoid. Fixed appliances tract the teeth on arch and obtain eruption spaces without patient's cooperation. We report surgically exposed and orthodontically traded molars which resulted in good occlusion and patients satisfaction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.14
• /
• pp.5685-5689
• /
• 2014

Background: It is well known that smoking is a preventable factor for all-cause mortality; however, it is still questionable how many years after smoking cessation that people will have reduced risk for mortality, in particular in those with a high interest in their own health. We aimed to examine the association between time since quitting smoking and total mortality among past-smokers relative to current smokers. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 36,446 health examinees that voluntarily taken with diverse health check-up packages of high cost burden in 1995-2003 and followed them till death by 2004. The history of cigarette smoking consumption was collected using a self-administrative questionnaire at the first visit time. Mortality risk by smoking cessation years was analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. Results: Compared to non-smokers, male smokers over 15 pack-years had higher risk for total mortality (HR=1.60, 95%CI 1.23-2.14). The mortality risk in female smokers with same pack-years was more pronounced than that in male smokers (HR=2.83, 95%CI 1.17-7.04) despite a small number of cases. Compared to current smokers, a decrease of total mortality was observed among those who ceased smoking, and inverse dose-response was found with years after cessation: RR 0.98 (95%CI, 0.64-1.41) (<2 yrs), 0.60 (95%CI, 0.43-0.83) (3-9 yrs), and 0.58 (95%CI, 0.43-0.79) (${\geq}10$ yrs). Conclusions: A reduced risk of total mortality was observed after 3 years of smoking cessation. Our findings suggest that at least 3 years of smoking cessation may contribute to reduce premature mortality among Asian men.