• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.4-22
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• 1996

Purposes of this study were to identify a hospital-based home care model and to improve the physical, emotional and economical effectiveness of arthritic patients through medical and nursing team approach. The design in nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design with matched samples in terms of age, sex and disease severity. Fifty two patients in each group were assigned in Seoul, Kyunggi, Kangwon and Kwangju. Before and after 6-month period of home care, level of pain, duration of morning stiffness, Richie Index, ADL, self efficacy, depression, cost expenditure were measured. Nine patients were excluded from the control group in the period of study because of denial of participation. Contents of home care provided to the experimental group include mainly distribution of prescribed drugs, 'assessment of patients' condition and side-reactions of drug. All of the information related to the home care patient were reported to the physician. On the bases of these data, the physician prescribe the specific drugs to each patient. Each patient visited the physician every 2 or 3 month for laboratory test. Patients assigned to the control group visited the outpatient clinic once a month as usual. Null hypotheses were selected because physicians concerned about the ineffective change of patients' conditions due to indirect communication with patients through nurses. Level of pain, Richie index, ADL, self-efficacy, depression, duration of morning stiffness and direct medical cost were the home care provided to them. If a family member accompany in a home care group can save 10,676 Won/month in Seoul, 34,000 Won/month in other districts. Other in-direct cost for transportation and meal can also be saved. In conclusion, those patients with low level of ADL, high level of pain and Richie index, living in the remote area definitely need the home care.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2021

Purpose: Traumatic pancreatic injuries are rare, but their diagnosis and management are challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate and report our experiences with the management of pancreatic injuries. Methods: We identified all adult patients (age >15) with pancreatic injuries from our trauma registry over a 7-year period. Data related to patients' demographics, diagnoses, operative information, complications, and hospital course were abstracted from the registry and medical records. Results: A total of 45 patients were evaluated. Most patients had blunt trauma (89%) and 21 patients (47%) had pancreatic injuries of grade 3 or higher. Twenty-eight patients (62%) underwent laparotomy and 17 (38%) received nonoperative management (NOM). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 24% (n=11), and only one patient died after NOM (due to a severe traumatic brain injury). Twenty-two patients (79%) underwent emergency laparotomy and six (21%) underwent delayed laparotomy. A drainage procedure was performed in 12 patients (43%), and pancreatectomy was performed in 16 patients (57%) (distal pancreatectomy [DP], n=8; DP with spleen preservation, n=5; pancreaticoduodenectomy, n=2; total pancreatectomy, n=1). Fourteen (31%) pancreas-specific complications occurred, and all complications were successfully managed without surgery. Solid organ injuries (n=14) were the most common type of associated abdominal injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥3). Conclusions: For traumatic pancreatic injuries, an appropriate treatment method should be considered after evaluation of the accompanying injury and the patient's hemodynamic status. NOM can be performed without mortality in appropriately selected cases.

• Vascular Specialist International
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.83-87
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• 2018

Purpose: Thrombosis of the portal vein, known as pylephlebitis, is a rare and fatal complication caused by intraperitoneal infections. The disease progression of superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT) is not severe. This study aimed to determine the clinical features, etiology, and prognosis of SMVT. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 41 patients with SMVT from March 2000 to February 2017. We obtained a list of 305 patients through the International Classification of Disease-9 code system and selected 41 patients with SMVT with computed tomography. Data from the medical records included patient demographics, comorbidities, review of system, laboratory results, clinical courses, and treatment modalities. Results: The causes of SMVT were found to be intraperitoneal inflammation in 27 patients (65.9%), malignancy in 7 patients (17.1%), and unknown in 7 patients (17.1%). Among the patients with intraperitoneal inflammation, 14 presented with appendicitis (51.9%), 7 with diverticulitis (25.9%), and 2 with ileus (7.4%). When comparing patients with and without small bowel resection, the differences in symptom duration, bowel enhancement and blood culture were significant (P=0.010, P=0.039, and P=0.028, respectively). Conclusion: SMVT, caused by intraperitoneal inflammation, unlike portal vein thrombosis including pylephlebitis, shows mild prognosis. In addition, rapid symptom progression and positive blood culture can be the prognostic factors related to extensive bowel resection. Use of appropriate antibiotics and understanding of disease progression can help improve the outcomes of patients with SMVT.

• BLOOD RESEARCH
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.314-319
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• 2018

Background Iron overload is a risk factor affecting all patients with thalassemia intermedia (TI). We aimed to determine whether there is a relationship of serum ferritin (SF) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with liver iron concentration (LIC) determined by R2 magnetic resonance imaging (R2-MRI), to estimate the most relevant degree of iron overload and best time to chelate in patients with TI. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 119 patients with TI (mean age years) were randomly selected and compared with 120 patients who had a diagnosis of thalassemia major (TM). Correlations of LIC, as determined by R2-MRI, with SF and ALT levels, were assessed in all participants. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results SF and LIC levels were lower in patients with TI than in those with TM; only ferritin values were significant. We found a statistically significant relationship between SF and LIC, with cut-off estimates of SF in patients with TI who had splenectomy and those who entered puberty spontaneously (916 and 940 ng/mL, respectively) with LIC >5 mg Fe/g dry weight (P<0.0001). A significant relationship was also found for patients with TI who had elevated ALT level (63.5 U/L), of 3.15 times the upper normal laboratory limit, using a cut-off for LIC ${\geq}5mg\;Fe/g\;dry\;weight$. Conclusion We determined the cut-off values for ALT and SF indicating the best time to start iron chelation therapy in patients with TI, and found significant correlations among iron overload, SF, and ALT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2021

Background: Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is generally performed percutaneously, the technology is deployed under sedation and necessitates endotracheal intubation. However, in some patients, the use of venoarterial (VA) ECMO without intubation may be beneficial. Herein, we describe our experiences with VA ECMO performed without prior endotracheal intubation. Methods: A total of 783 patients treated with VA ECMO at a single center between January 2013 and July 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. We included patients who underwent successful VA ECMO implementation without prior endotracheal intubation, and excluded those who were younger than 18 years, had ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation status, and had poor quality of the vessels needed for percutaneous cannulation. The primary study outcome was in-hospital survival. Results: In total, 50 patients were included in this study, 94% of whom showed cardiogenic shock. The mean age of the study participants was 56.3±14.5 years. The median VA ECMO support time was 7 days (range, 2-13 days). Twenty-one patients (42%) did not receive ventilator care during the VA ECMO support period, while 29 patients (58%) progressed to intubation after VA ECMO implementation. The rates of survival at discharge and weaning success were 82% (n=41) and 92% (n=46), respectively, and 80% (n=40) of patients presented good Glasgow-Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Categories scores at discharge. Conclusion: Even in patients with cardiogenic shock, percutaneous VA ECMO can be introduced safely without prior endotracheal intubation by an experienced care team. The application of nonintubated VA ECMO might be a feasible strategy in selected cases.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.248-256
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• 2021

Purpose: Laparoscopy has various advantages over laparotomy in terms of postoperative recovery. The number of surgeons using laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in abdominal trauma patients is increasing, whereas open conversion is becoming less common. This report summarizes a single surgeon's experience of laparoscopy at a level I trauma center and evaluates the feasibility of laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for abdominal trauma patients. Methods: In total, 30 abdominal trauma patients underwent laparoscopy by a single surgeon from October 2014 to May 2020. The purpose of laparoscopy was categorized as diagnostic or therapeutic. Patients were classified into three groups by type of surgery: total laparoscopic surgery (TLS), laparoscopy-assisted surgery (LAS), or open conversion (OC). Univariate analysis was performed to determine the advantages and disadvantages. Results: The mechanism of injury was blunt in 19 (63.3%) and penetrating in 11 patients (36.7%). Eleven (36.7%) and 19 patients (63.3%) underwent diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy, respectively. The hospital stay was shorter for patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy than for those who underwent therapeutic laparoscopy (5.0 days vs. 13.0 days), but no other surgical outcomes differed between the groups. TLS, LAS, and OC were performed in 12 (52.2%), eight (34.8%), and three patients (13.0%), respectively. There was no significant difference in morbidity and mortality among the three groups. Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery for selected cases of abdominal trauma may be feasible and safe as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in hemodynamically stable patients due to the low OC rate and the absence of fatal morbidity and mortality.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.8-21
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• 2023

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) drugs are often co-prescribed with other medications to prevent GI complications. This study aimed to evaluate the prescribing pattern of potentially unnecessary GI drugs in patients with acute cystitis who were prescribed oral antibiotics and investigate the influencing factors affecting this. Methods: We identified female patients ≥20 years with acute cystitis who visited the outpatient clinic and were prescribed oral antibiotics between July and December by analyzing Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA)-National Patients Sample (NPS)-2019 data. Patients with no prior history of GI disorders within 180 days prior to acute cystitis, excluding or including the date of diagnosis of acute cystitis, were selected (Group A and B). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the factors affecting the prescription of potentially unnecessary GI drugs. Results: A total of 1,544 in Group A and 552 patients in Group B were included for the final analysis. Potentially unnecessary GI drugs were prescribed in 1,176 patients in Group A (76.2%) and 231 patients in Group B (41.8%). Third generation cephalosporines and sulfonamides showed the lower odds ratio for prescribing GI drugs than penicillins. Prescribers from Urology clinics showed more than twice odds ratio for the prescription of GI drugs compared to prescribers from internal medicine clinics. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that potentially unnecessary GI drug prescriptions for patients with acute cystitis were high in South Korea. The positive risk factors affecting the prescription of unnecessary GIs were not patient-related factor but healthcare facility and prescriber-related factors.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2023

Purpose : Transcranial direct current stimulation is noninvasive method of cerebral cortical stimulation applied as an intervention to facilitate recovery in stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on depression and anxiety in stroke patients with the aim to finding a reliable method to reduce depression and anxiety in stroke patients. Methods : This study was conducted at A hospital located in D city from December 2022 to February 2023. Patients diagnosed with stroke were selected according to predefined study criteria and divided into two groups. 9 patients in experimental group underwent transcranial direct current stimulation and traditional occupational therapy, while 9 patients in the control group underwent sham transcranial direct current stimulation and traditional occupational therapy for 20 min per session 3 times per week for a total of 8 weeks. Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate depression and anxiety in the patients before and after intervention. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare differences before to after intervention. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the two groups. Differences with p<.05 were considered statistically significant. Results : First, both the experimental and control groups presented significant statistical difference before and after intervention on depression (p<.01). Comparison of two groups after intervention showed significant statistical difference in depression (p<.05). Second, the groups presented significant statistical difference before and after intervention on anxiety (p<.01). After intervention, the two groups showed significant statistical difference in anxiety (p<.05). Conclusion : Results of the present study demonstrated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on depression and anxiety in stroke patients, suggesting it may be a useful method of rehabilitation in this patient population; as such, further studies are warranted.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the colonization rate of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), the characteristics of CRE isolates, and risk factors for CRE colonization in patients transferred to the general wards of a small/medium-sized hospital. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent CRE culture tests within 24 hours of admission among patients transferred to a small/medium-sized hospital. Forty-seven patients confirmed as positive for CRE were classified as belonging to the patient group. For the control group, 235 patients (five times the number of the patient group) were matched by sex, age, and diagnosis, and then selected at random. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The CRE colonization rate was 5% (47 out of 933 patients), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (68.0%) was the most common isolate of CRE. The positivity rate of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae was 61.7%. The risk factors for CRE colonization included renal disease (odds ratio [OR]=4.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-16.31), heart disease (OR=3.86; 95% CI, 1.35-11.01), indwelling urinary catheters (OR=4.43; 95% CI, 1.59-12.36), and cephalosporin antibiotic use (OR=8.57; 95% CI, 1.23-59.60). Conclusion: Having a comorbid renal or cardiac disease, an indwelling urinary catheter, or a history of exposure to cephalosporin antibiotics could be classified as risk factors for CRE colonization in patients transferred to small and medium-size hospitals. It is necessary to perform active infection control through proactive CRE culture testing of patients with risk factors.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study is to compare the representative differential diagnosis methods of blood stasis pattern used in Korea, China and Japan, and then to characterize each diagnostic method. Methods Through the journal databases, we have selected representative tools that were developed for differential diagnosis of blood stasis pattern in Korea, China and Japan. In order to characterize the selected check-lists or questionnaires, we investigated the number of items, contents, score calculation method, internal consistency, and accuracy of each selected tool. Results A total of four diagnostic tools were finally selected; quantitative diagnosis scale of blood stasis syndrome (QDSBSS), diagnostic criteria for blood stasis (DCBS), blood stasis questionnaire (BSQ), and blood stasis syndrome questionnaire (BSSQ). The key points in the differential diagnosis for blood stasis were different for each of the diagnostic tool. The key point was oral mucosa (including tongue) status in the QDSBSS. Meanwhile it was abdominal pain/resistance in the DCBS, and general pain in the BSQ. Accuracy of the QDSBSS, the BSQ and the BSSQ were powerful but all of them was not generalized. Conclusions Therefore, it is desirable to select and apply a plurality of appropriate tools according to the characteristics of the blood stasis patients.