• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.388-393
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• 1999

Background: Correct preoperative staging of esophageal cancer is a prerequisite for adequate treatment. We prospectively compared the accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) with [fluorine-18]FDG in the staging of esophageal cancer to that of computed tomography (CT). Material and Method: The findings of FDG PET and of chest CT including lower neck and the upper abdomen of 20 biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma patients (male, 19; female, 1; mean age, 61) were compared with the pathologic findings obtained from a curative esophagectomy with lymph node dissection. Result: The sensitivities of FDG PET and CT for diagnosis of primary tumor were the same, 90.0% (18/20). Both FDG PET and CT failed to show the primary tumor in 2 of 20 patients; one had a 1cm sized carcinoma in situ and the other had T1 stage cancer. By using the results of the pathologic examinations of 193 removed lymph node groups, we calculated the diagnostic sensitivities, specificities and accuracies of PET and CT (*$\chi$2 p < 0.005). Sensitivity** Specificity Accuracy* PET 55.6%(30/54) 97.1%(135/139) 85.5%(165/193) CT 13.0%(7/54) 98.6%(137/139) 74.6%(144/193) One of four patients with a false-positive for PEThad had active pulmonary tuberculosis. Among the 24 tumor involved lymph node groups, PET failed to show tumor metastasis in 5 lymph node groups abutting the tumor and in 14 lymph node groups located where the decay correction was not performed. Conclusion: Based on the above findings, it is suggested that [F-18]FDG-PET is superior to CT in the detection of nodal metastases and in the staging of patients with esophageal cancer.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.58-69
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• 1994

In order to see the development of Nursing related research activities in Korea over the last three decades, abstracts of almost all of the Master and Ph.D theses that appeared from 1961 up to August 1991 were collected. The number of theses was 2354, from which an index of key words has been constructed. Key words were defined as those terms in each thesis title that convey major objectives of the given thesis study and the important nursing concepts dealt with in the thesis. Although all the key words were picked from the thesis title only, full use was made of the abstracts in deciding the principal objectives and essential contents of the thesis studies and their important concepts as well. In total, 539 kinds of key words were identified from the 2354 titles, and the identified words were all found to be in the International Nursing Index. On an average each title has two key words. Which key words were most frequently used, how they have changed with time, what kind of concept is preferably dealt with by each graduate school, and the concepts to which a given key word is likely to be connected were examined. The results are summerized below : 1) For each decade the theses numbers were as follows : 54(2.3%) from the 60’s, 413(17.5%) from the 70’s, 1523(64.7%) from the 80’s, and 364(15.5%) from the 90’s. Master’s thesis contributed 96% (2252) of the papers and Ph. D’s theses filled the remaining 4%(102). 2) A total of 539 key words were used, averaging about 2 for each thesis. The most frequently used key words were ‘Nurse’, ‘Anxiety’, ‘Knowledge / Attitude /Practice’, ‘Stress /Stressor’, ‘Attitude’, ‘Job-Satisfaction’, ‘Mental Disorder’, ‘Operation’, ‘Elderly’, ‘Nursing Role’. 3) Each decades key words can be classified as : the 60’s : ‘Nursing Education’, ‘Pulmonary Tuberculosis’, ‘Mother-Child Health’, ‘Growth & Development’, ‘Public Facilities’, ‘Mental Disorder’ : the 70’s : ‘Nurse’, ‘Family Planning’, ‘Attitude’ / ‘Knowledge, Attitude / Practice’, ‘Curriculum in Nursing Education’, ‘Clinical Practice in Nursing’, ‘Analysis of the Work of the Nurse’, ‘Health Education of School’, : the 80’s : ‘Nurse’, ‘Anxiety’, ‘Stress /Stressor’, ‘Operation’, ‘Nursing Role’, ‘Job Satisfaction’ : the 90’s : ‘Nurse’, ‘Elderly’, ‘Family-Support’, ‘Stress /Stressor’, ‘Home Care’. Key word ‘Nurse’ appears continuously and most frequently through the years, which indicates that there has been active study of the characteristics of nurses and related fields. The concept ‘Anxiety’ has been studied steadly from the 80’s and it shows that interest in health and disease are increasing Which comes as a result of society changing to an industrial and informational community. 4) Looking into each graduate school’s study area key words ‘Anxiety’, ‘Nurse’, ‘Mental Disorder’, ‘Stress /Stressor’, ‘Operation’, ‘Attitude’, ‘Hemo-dialysis’, were studied in the regular graduate school : ‘Family Planning /Contraception’, ‘Knowledge / Attitude /Practice’, ‘Physical Health-State /Physical Health Examination’, ‘Nurse’, ‘Using Clinical Facilities’, ‘Health Education of School’, were studied in the Graduate School of Public Health’ ; ‘Nurse’, ‘Anxiety’, ‘Stress / Stressor’, ‘Job-Satisfaction’, ‘Clinical Practice Education’, ‘Nursing Education’, were studied in the Graduate School of Education : ‘Nurse’, ‘Job Satisfaction’, ‘Nursing Role’, ‘Administration - Employment /Employment Management’, ‘Leadership’, ‘Personnel Profile’, ‘Nursing Manpower / Changing Working Place’, were studied in the Graduate School of Public Administration. 5) The Connection between key words were : ‘Nurse Job Satisfaction’, ‘Stress / Stressor ⇔ Coping / Ajustment’, ‘Nurse ⇔ Nursing Role’, ‘Anxiety ⇔ Giving Information’, ‘Nurse ⇔ Stress / Stressor’, ‘Anxiety ⇔ Operation’, ‘Nurse ⇔ Burnout’, ‘Knowledge, Attitude, Practice ⇔ Family Planning’, ‘Nurse Administration ⇔ Employment’, ‘Anxiety Muscle ⇔ Relaxation Technic’, ‘Anxiety ⇔ Mental Disorder’. From the above it can be noted that many nursing concepts were handled in the thesis titles. But there were more than enough papers on the characteristics of the nurse. It is suggested that in depth research be made on ‘Nursing Accidents’, t-‘Ethics’, ‘Nurse - Patient Interactions’, ‘Spritual Care’, ‘Dying’, ‘Hospice’, ‘Resident Helper’ and that there should be in depth research relating to the physical and mental development of youth and in particular physical concepts like ‘Drug - Abuse’, ‘Child -Abuse and Teaching’.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.3.2-3
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• 1981

This paper was attemped to analize 55 cases of fiberoptic bronchoscopy during period of 3 years from Feb. 1978 till Feb. 1981 in Chung Ang University hospital. The results were as follow; 1) In age distribution; Most common age group was 5th decade (15 cases, 27.2%) and the other age groups showed relatively even distribution. 2) The ratio of male to female was 3 to 1. 3) The chief complaints were presented in following order; cough (52%), hemoptysis(25%), dyspnea(23.6%), chest pain(18%), chest disomfort(9%). 4) Direct smear of bronchoscopic aspiration material; Not found 33 cases (60%) were most common finding. In the founded bacteria Gram positive cocci 2 cases (3.6%), Gram negative cocci 2 cases (3.6%), Gram positive bacilli 1 cases (1.8%), Gram negativebacilli 2 cases (3.6%), mixed form 15 cases(27.2%) were presented. 5) Bacterial culture of bronchoscopic aspiration material; No growth 28 cases (50.9%) were most common finding. In the bacterial growth, alpha hemolytic streptococci 10 cases (18.2%), Neisseria group 7cases(12.7%), Klebsiella 2 cases (3.6%), Pseudomonas 2 cases (3.6%), mixed culture 6 cases (10.9%) were presented, 6) The diagnosis of bronchoscopic appearance, laboratory exam., and pathologic exam. of biopsed specimen were 21 cases (38.1%) primary carcinoma of bronchus, 8 cases (14.5%) pulmonary tuberculosis, 7 cases (12.7%) bronchitis in orders.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.45-62
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• 1998

The study was conducted from November 1995 to May 1996 at the one general hospital in Seoul. The total subjects of this study were 412 patients who have the experience of fall accident, among them 31 was who have fallen during hospitalization and 381 was who visited emergency room and out patient clinic. The purposes of this study were to determine the characteristics, risk factors and results of fall accident and to suggest the nursing strategies for prevention of fall. Data were collected by reviewing the medical records and interviewing with the fallers and their family members. For data analysis, spss/pc+ program was utilized for descriptive statistics, adjusted standardized $X^2$-test. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Total subjects were 412 fallers, of which 245(59.5%) were men and 167(40.5%) were women. Age were 0-14 years 79(19.2%), 15-44 years 125(30.4%), 45-64 years 104(25.2%), over 65 years 104(25.2%). 2) There was significant association between age and the sexes ($X^2$=39.17, P=0.00). 3) There was significant association between age and history of falls ($X^2$=44.41. P= .00). And history of falls in the elderly was significantly associated with falls. 4) There was significant association with age and medical diagnosis ($X^2$=140.66, P= .00), chief medical diagnosis were hypertension(34), diabetis mellitus(22), arthritis(11), stroke(8), fracture(7), pulmonary tuberculosis(6), dementia(5) and cataract(5), 5) There was significant association between age and intrinsic factors: cognitive impairment, mobility impairment, insomnia, emotional problems, urinary difficulty, visual impairments, hearing impairments, use of drugs (sedatives , antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, antidepressants) (P < 0.05). But there was no significant association between age and dizziness ($X^2$=2.87, P=.41). 6) 15.3% of total fallers were drunken state when they were fallen. 7) Environmental factors of fall accident were unusual posture (50.9%), slips(35.2%), trips (9.5%) and collision(4.4%). 8) Most of falls occurred during the day time, peak frequencies of falls occurred from 1pm to 6pm and 7am to 12am. 9) The places of fall accident were roads(22.6%), house-stairs 06.7%), rooms, floors, kitchen (11.2%), the roof-top, veranda, windows(10.9%), hospital(7.5%), ice or snowy ways(5.8%), bathroom(4.9%), playground, park(4.9%), subway-stairs(4.4%) and public-bathrooms (2.2%). 10) Activities at the time of fall accident were walking(37.6%), turning around or reaching for something(20.9%), going up or down stairs09.2%), exereise, working07.4%), up or down from a bed(2.7%), using wheelchair or walking aids, standing up or down from a chair(2.2%) and standing still(2.2%). 11) Anatomical locations of injuries by falls were head, face, neck(31.3%), lower extremities (29.9%). upper extremities(20.6%), spine, thorax, abdomen or pelvic contents(l1.4%) and unspecified(2.9%). 12) Types of injures were fracture(47.6%), bruises03.8%), laceration (13.3%), sprains(9.0%), headache(6.6%), abrasions(2.9%), intracranial hemorrage(2.4%) and burns(0.5%). 13) 41.5% of the fallers were hospitalized and average of hospitalization was 22.3 days. 14) The six fallers(1.46%) died from fall injuries. The two fallers died from intracranial hemorrage and the four fallers died of secondary infection; pneumonia(2), sepsis(1) and cell lulitis(1). It is suggested that 1) Further study is needed with larger sample size to identify the fall risk factors. 2) After the fall accident, comprehensive nursing care and regular physical exercise should be emphasized for the elderly person. 3) Safety education and safety facilities of the public place and home is necessary for fall prevention.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.339-353
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• 1994

Background : The p53 gene codes for a DNA-binding nuclear phosphoprotein that appears to inhibit the progression of cells from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Mutations of the p53 gene are common in a wide variety of human cancers, including lung cancer. In lung cancers, point mutations of the p53 gene have been found in all histological types including approximately 45% of resected NSCLC and even more frequently in SCLC specimens. Mutant forms of the p53 protein have transforming activity and interfere with the cell-cycle regulatory function of the wild-type protein. The majority of p53 gene mutations produce proteins with altered conformation and prolonged half life; these mutant proteins accumulate in the cell nucleus and can be detected by immunohistochemical staining. But protein overexpression has been reported in the absence of mutation. p53 protein overexpression or gene mutation is reported poor prognostic factor in breast cancer, but in lung cancer, its prognostic significance is controversial. Method : We investigated the p53 abnormalities by nucleotide sequencing, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP), and immunohistochemical staining. We correlated these results with each other and survival in 75 patients with NSCLC resected with curative intent. Overexpression of the p53 protein was studied immunohistochemically in archival paraffin- embedded tumor samples using the D07(Novocastra, U.K.) antibody. Overexpression of p53 protein was defined by the nuclear staining of greater than 25% immunopositive cells in tumors. Detection of p53 gene mutation was done by PCR-SSCP and nucleotide sequencing from the exon 5-9 of p53 gene. Result: 1) Of the 75 patients, 36%(27/75) showed p53 overexpression by immunohistochemical stain. There was no survival difference between positive and negative p53 immunostaining(overall median survival of 26 months, disease free median survival of 13 months in both groups). 2) By PCR-SSCP, 27.6%(16/58) of the patients showed mobility shift. There was no significant difference in survival according to mobility shift(overall median survival of 27 in patients without mobility shift vs 20 months in patients with mobility shift, disease free median survival of 8 months vs 10 months respectively). 3) Nucleotide sequence was analysed from 29 patients, and 34.5%(10/29) had mutant p53 sequence. Patients with the presence of gene mutations showed tendency to shortened survival compared with the patients with no mutation(overall median survival of 22 vs 27 months, disease free median survival of 10 vs 20 months), but there was no statistical significance. 4) The sensitivity and specificity of immunostain based on PCR-SSCP was 67.0%, 74.0%, and that of the PCR-SSCP based on the nucleotide sequencing was 91.8%, 96.2% respectively. The concordance rate between the immunostain and PCR-SSCP was 62.5%, and the rate between the PCR-SSCP and nucleotide sequencing was 95.3%. Conclusion : In terms of detection of p53 gene mutation, PCR-SSCP was superior to immunostaining. p53 gene abnormalities either overexpression or mutation were not a significant prognostic factor in NSCLC patients resected with curative intent. However, patients with the mutated p53 gene showed the trends of early relapse.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.360-378
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• 1997

Background : Severe acute lung injury(ALI), also known as the adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS), is a heterogenous nature of dynamic and explosive clinical synrome that exacts a mortality of approximately 50%. Endotoxin(ETX) is an abundant component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria capable of inducing severe lung injury in gram-negative sepsis and gram-negative bacterial pneumonia, which are among the most common predisposing causes of ARDS. The influx of PMNs into airway tissue is a pathological hallmark of LPS-induced lung injury. And there is a substantial evidence suggesting that cytokines are important mediators of lung injury in gram-negative sepsis. However, the kinetics of phagocytes and cytokines by an exact time sequence and their respective pathogenic importance remain to be elucidated. This study was performed to investigate the role of phagocytes and proinflammatory cytokines in ETX-induced ALI through a time course of changes in the concentration of protein, $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-6, and counts of total and its differential cells in BALF. The consecutive histologic findings were also evaluated. Method : The experimental animals, healthy male Sprague-Dawley, weighted $200{\pm}50g$, were divided into control- and ALI- group. ALI was induced by an intravenous administration of ETX, 5mg/kg. Above mentioned all parameters were examined at 0(control), 3, 6, 24, 72 h after administration of ETX. $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-6 cone. in BALF were measured by a bioassay. Results : The protein concentration and total leukocyte count(TC) in BALF was significantly increased at 3h compared to controls(p < 0.05). The protein conc. was significantly elavated during observation period, but TC was significantly decreased at 72h(p < 0.05 vs. 24h). There was a close relationship between TC and protein cone. in BALF(r = 0.65, p < 0.001). The PMN and monocyte count was well correlated with TC in BALF, and the correlation of PMN(r = 0.97, p < 0.001) appeared to be more meaningful than that of monocyte(r = 0.61, p < 0.001). There was also a significant correlation between protein cone. and PMN or monocyte count in BALF(PMN vs. monocyte : r = 0.55, p < 0.005 vs. r = 0.64, p < 0.001). The count of monocyte was significantly elavated during observation period though a meaningful reduction of PMN count in BALF at 72h, this observation suggested that monocyte may, at least, partipate in the process of lung injury steadly. In this study, there was no relationship between IL-6 and $TNF{\alpha}$ cone., and $TNF{\alpha}$ but not IL-6 was correlated with TC(r = 0.61, p < 0.05) and monocyte(r = 0.67, p < 0.05) in BALF only at 3, 6h after ETX introduced. In particular, the IL-6 cone. increased earlier and rapidly peaked than $TNF{\alpha}$ cone. in BALF. In histologic findings, the cell counts of lung slices were increased from 3 to 72h(p < 0.001 vs. NC). Alveolar wall-thickness was increased from 6 to 24h(p < 0.001 vs. NC). There was a significant correlation between the cell counts of lung slices and alveolar wall-thickness(r= 0.61, p < 0.001). This result suggested that the cellular infiltrations might be followed by the alterations of interstitium, and the edematous change of alveolar wall might be most rapidly recovered to its normal condition in the process of repair. Conclusion : We concluded that although the role of PMN is partly certain in ETX-induced ALI, it is somewhat inadequate to its known major impact on ALL Alveolar macrophage and/or non-immune cells such as pulmonary endothelial or epithelial cells, may be more importantly contributed to the initiation and perpetual progression of ETX-induced ALI. The IL-6 in ETX-induced ALI was independent to $TNF{\alpha}$, measured by a bioassay in BALF. The early rise in IL-6 in BALF implies multiple origins of the IL-6.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1236-1251
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• 1998

Background : TNF-$\alpha$ appears to be a central mediator of the host response to sepsis. While TNF-$\alpha$ is mainly considered a proinflammatory cytokine, it can also act as a direct cytotoxic cytokine. However, there are not so many studies about the relationship bet ween TNF-$\alpha$ level and lung injury severity in ALI, particularly regarding the case of ALI caused by direct lung injury such as diffuse pulmonary infection. Recently, a natural defense mechanism, known as the stress response or the heat shock response, has been reported in cellular or tissue injury reaction. There are a number of reports examining the protective role of pre-induced heat stress proteins on subsequent LPS-induced TNF-$\alpha$ release from monocyte or macrophage and also on subsequent LPS-induced ALI in animals. However it is not well established whether the stress protein synthesis such as HSP can be induced from rat alveolar macrophages by in vitro or in vivo LPS stimulation. Methods : We measured the level of TNF-$\alpha$, the percentage of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, protein synthesis in alveolar macrophages isolated from rats at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after intratracheal LPS instillation. We performed histologic examination and also obtained histologic lung injury index score in lungs from other rats at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 24 h after intratracheal LPS instillation. Isolated non-stimulated macrophages were incubated for 2 h with different concentration of LPS (0, 1, 10, 100 ng/ml, 1, or 10 ${\mu}g/ml$). Other non-stimulated macrophages were exposed at $43^{\circ}C$ for 15 min, then returned to at $37^{\circ}C$ in 5% CO2-95% for 1 hour, and then incubated for 2 h with LPS (0, 1, 10, 100ng/ml, 1, or 10 ${\mu}g/ml$). Results : TNF-$\alpha$ levels began to increase significantly at 1 h, reached a peak at 3 h (P<0.0001), began to decrease at 6 h, and returned to control level at 12 h after LPS instillation. The percentage of inflammatory cells (neutrophils and alveolar macrophages) began to change significantly at 2 h, reached a peak at 6 h, began to recover but still showed significant change at 12 h, and showed insignificant change at 24 h after LPS instillation compared with the normal control. After LPS instillation, the score of histologic lung injury index reached a maximum value at 6 h and remained steady for 24 hours. 35 kDa protein band was newly synthesized in alveolar macrophage from 1 hour on for 24 hours after LPS instillation. Inducible heat stress protein 72 was not found in any alveolar macrophages obtained from rats after LPS instillation. TNF-$\alpha$ levels in supernatants of LPS-stimulated macro phages were significantly higher than those of non-stimulated macrophages(p<0.05). Following LPS stimulation, TNF-$\alpha$ levels in supernatants were significantly lower after heat treatment than in those without heat treatment (p<0.05). The inducible heat stress protein 72 was not found at any concentrations of LPS stimulation. Whereas the 35 kDa protein band was exclusively found at dose of LPS of 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. Conclusion : TNF-$\alpha$ has a direct or indirect close relationship with lung injury severity in acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome. In vivo and in vitro LPS stimulation dose not induce heat stress protein 72 in alveolar macrophages. It is likely that 35 kDa protein, synthesized by alveolar macrophage after LPS instillation, does not have a defense role in acute lung injury.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.140-152
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• 1998

Background: Prone position improves oxygenation in patients with ARDS probably by reducing shunt Reduction of shunt in prone position is thought to be effected by lowering of the critical opening pressure (COP) of the dorsal lung because the pleural pressure becomes less positive in prone position compared to supine position. It can then be assumed that prone position would bring about greater improvement in oxygenation when PEEP applied in supine position is just beneath COP than when PEEP is above COP. Hemodynamically, prone position is expected to attenuate the lifting of cardiac fossa induced by PEEP. Based on these backgrounds, we investigated whether the effect of prone position on oxygenation differs in magnitude according to the level of PEEP applied in supine position, and whether impaired cardiac output in supine position by PEEP can be restored in prone position. Methods: In seven mongrel dogs, $PaO_2/F_1O_2$(P/F) was measured in supine position and at prone position 30 min. Cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), pulse rate (PR), and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) were measured in supine position, at prone position 5 min, and at prone position 30 min. After ARDS was established with warmed saline lavage(P/F ratio $134{\pm}72$ mm Hg), inflection point was measured by constant flow method($6.6{\pm}1.4cm$ $H_2O$), and the above variables were measured in supine and prone positions under the application of Low PEEP($5.0{\pm}1.2cm$ $H_2O$), and Optimal PEEP($9.0{\pm}1.2cm$ $H_2O$)(2 cm $H_2O$ below and above the inflection point, respectively) consecutively. Results : P/F ratio in supine position was $195{\pm}112$ mm Hg at Low PEEP and $466{\pm}63$ mm Hg at Optimal PEEP(p=0.003). Net increase of P/F ratio at prone position 30 min, however, was far greater at Low PEEP($205{\pm}90$ mm Hg) than at Optimal PEEP($33{\pm}33$ mm Hg)(p=0.009). Compared to CO in supine position at Optimal PEEP($2.4{\pm}0.5$ L/min), CO in prone improved to $3.4{\pm}0.6$ L/min at prone position 5 min (p=0.0180) and $3.6{\pm}0.7$ L/min at prone position 30 min (p=0.0180). Improvement in CO was attributable to the increase in SV: $14{\pm}2$ ml in supine position, $20{\pm}2$ ml at prone position 5 min (p=0.0180), and $21{\pm}2$ ml at prone position 30 min (p=0.0180), but not to change in PR or PAOP. When the dogs were turned to supine position again, MAP ($92{\pm}23$ mm Hg, p=0.009), CO ($2.4{\pm}0.5$ L/min, p=0.0277) and SV ($14{\pm}1$ ml, p=0.0277) were all decreased compared to prone position 30 min. Conclusion: Prone position in a dog with saline-lavaged acute lung injury appeared to augment the effect of relatively low PEEP on oxygenation, and also attenuate the adverse hemodynamic effect of relatively high PEEP. These findings suggest that a PEEP lower than Optimal PEEP can be adopted in prone position to achieve the goal of alveolar recruitment in ARDS avoiding the hemodynamic complications of a higher PEEP at the same time.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.631-637
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• 1993

Background: In normal adults, ventilation is uneven and greater in the base than the apex of the lung in tidal volume breathing. However infants have fragile chest wall and reduced elastic recoil, resulting in easy closure of peripheral airways especially in the dependent portion of the lung. So ventilation in infants is greater in the apex than the base of the lung. We assumed that in adults whose closing volume is increased, dependent portion could be easily collapsed during tidal breathing and ventilation could be greater in the uppear than than the lower portion of the lung. Methods: We measured spirometry and closing volume(CV) in normal controls and in patients with chronic lung disease. Also we measured fractional distribution of ventilation at supine, left lateral and right lateral decubitus with $^{133}Xe$ ventilation scan in normal controls, patients with normal closing volume and patients with increased closing volume. Results: The subjects consisted of 7 normal controls(mean $age{\pm}SD$, $62.9{\pm}6.1$ years). 6 patients with normal CV($62.8{\pm}8.2$ years) and 7 patients with increased CV($63.0{\pm}15.3$ years). 1) Normal controls have mean(${\pm}SD$) FVC $104{\pm}11%$ of predicted value, $FEV_1\;120{\pm}16%,\;FEV_1/FVC\;112{\pm}5%$ and CV $86.9{\pm}12.5%$. Patients with normal CV have FVC $62{\pm}11%,\;FEV_1\;54{\pm}17%,\;FEV_1/FVC\;84{\pm}23%$ and CV $92.6{\pm}15.5%$. Patients with increased CV, have FVC $53{\pm}9%,\;FEV_1\;38{\pm}13,\;FEV_1/FVC\;69{\pm}16%$ and CV $176.1{\pm}36.6%$, CV was significantly different between two patient groups(p<0.02) 2). In normal controls mean fractional ventilation to left lung was $48.1{\pm}5.3%$ at supine, $54.1{\pm}9.8%$ at dependent and $40.9{\pm}6.5%$ at left uppermost position. In patients with normal CV mean fractional ventilation to left lung was $44.6{\pm}2.1%$ at supine, $59.7{\pm}5.6%$ at left dependent and $31.7{\pm}8.3%$ at left uppermost position. In patients with increased CV mean fractional ventilation to left lung was $48.7{\pm}4.5%$ at supine, $41.7{\pm}6.6%$ at left dependent and $60.9{\pm}15.7%$ at left uppermost position. In normal controls and patients with normal CV, ventilation to left lung at left dependent position tends to be higher than that at supine position but without statisitical significance and it was significantly lower at left uppermost than at left lung dependent position. In patients with increased CV, ventilation to left at left dependent position tends to be higher than that at supine position but without significance and it was significantly higher at left uppermost than that at left dependent position. Conclusion: These data suggest that in patients with increased CV ventilation to one side of lung could be higher at uppermost than at dependent position on lateral decubitus during tidal breathing and this fact should be taken into account in positioning of patients with unilateral lung disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.1 s.37
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• pp.88-100
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• 1992

This study was conducted to assess the effects of implementation of the patient referral system started July 1st, 1989. A comparison on the pattern of outpatient services of the Departments of Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Pediatrics at the Yeungnam University Hospital was conducted for each one year period before and after implementation of the patient referral system. The pre-implementation period was from July 1, 1988 to June 30, 1989 and the post-implementation period was from July 1, 1989 to June 30, 1990. The information used for this study was obtained from official forms, prepared by the Yeungnam University Hospital, and submitted to the Korean Medical Insurance Cooperatives. After implementation of the patient referral system, the number of outpatient cases in the Department of Internal Medicine decreased 36.1% from 9,669 cases to 6,181 cases a year. Cases in the Department of General Surgery decreased 23.7% from 1,864 cases to 1,422 cases a year. The number of cases in the Department of Pediatrics decreased 36.9% from 3,372 cases to 2,128 cases a year. After implementation of the patient referral system, the average age of cases in the Departments of Internal Medicine and General Surgery was 52.5 and 49.7 years old, respectively. This was a significant increase in comparison with the pre-implementation period. After implementation of patient referral system, the proportion of new outpatients in the Department of Internal Medicine decreased from 24.1% to 14.6%, the Department of General Surgery from 36.0% to 23.4%, and the Department of Pediatrics from 15.5% to 8.3%. The number of visits per case decreased significantly in the Department of Internal Medicine(from 1.74 to 1.61), but there was no significant change in the Departments of General Surgery and Pediatrics. The length of treatment per case increased significantly in all three departments(from 16.1 days to 19.3 days in the Department of Internal Medicine, from 12.0 days to 15.2 days in the Department General Surgery, and 8.9 days to 11.2 days in the Department of Pediatrics). The number of clinical tests per case increased significantly in the Department of Internal Medicine (from 2.2 to 2.5), in the Department of Pediatrics(from 0.8 to 1.1) and increased in the Department of General Surgery(from 6.4 to 6.6). The average medical cost per case decreased from 43,900 Won to 42,500 Won in the Department of Internal Medicine, while the cost increased from 75,900 Won to 78,500 Won in the Department of General Surgery and from 12,700 Won to 13,500 Won in the Department of Pediatrics. In case-mix, the chronic degenerative disease(i. e. hypertension, diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, malignant neoplasm, and pulmonary tuberculosis) ranked higher and acute infectious diseases and simple cases(i. e. gastritis and duodenitis, haemorrhoids, anal fissure, carbuncle, acute URI, and bronchitis) ranked lower after implementation of the patient referral system compared to before implementation.