• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.142-145
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• 2008

Lamotrigine is a newer anti-epileptic drug for adjunctive treatment of refractory epilepsy, partial seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and bipolar disorder. Lamotrigine overdose causes serious central nervous and cardiovascular problems, but reports are uncommon. Few lamotrigine overdoses have been described because anti-epileptic drug use is limited and usually used with combination of other anti-epileptic drugs. In addition, most patients visit emergency departments with multi-drug overdoses, so few cases of lamotrigine poisoning alone exist. We had a female patient visit our emergency department a couple of hours after a lamotrigine overdose treated with intravenous hydration and urine alkalization by NaHCO3. She recovered successfully without any evidence of renal injury. However, she developed profound rhabdomyolysis, a previously unreported complication of this medication. We suggest that serial creatine kinase levels should be measured after lamotrigine poisoning.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.264-265
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• 2002

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.61-69
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• 2008

Background: This article reviewed the current status of home-based physical therapy infrastructure in long term care insurance and then solved the problem. Method: We used two forms of data that were acquired from ⅰ) the Ministry of Health & Welfare and the Family and National Health Insurance Corporation, ⅱ) a home-visiting health care program, and ⅲ) evaluation data from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. The home-based physical therapy program was then analyzed. Results: The role and concept of home-based physical therapy was not clearly established. There were few home-based physical therapy programs in the community. The manpower of home-based physical therapists in the home-visiting health care program was very low. The role between home-visiting nurses (caregivers) and home-based physical therapists was mixed. Research and promotion regarding home-based physical therapy was poor. Conclusion: To establish a system of legal, long-term care insurance, we must increase the manpower of home-based physical therapists and the amount of research pertaining to the demand for home-based physical therapy.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2007

Limited coverage for health care services of National Health Insurance(NHI) in Korea has been ongoing policy issue but additional NHI financing through raising contribution or taxes in order to improve coverage faces substantial obstacles. Private health insurance(PHI) is often considered as an alternative financing source to improve coverage. Recent reform that attempted to stretch the role of PHI allowed life insurance companies to provide complementary PHI, indemnity plan which will pay for uncovered services by NHI and out-of-pocket spending for covered services. Although complementary PHI may relieve financial burden of patients, it may significantly raise NHI spending as well as total health expenditure since little out-of-pocket spending may increase utilization of health care. So far, there has not been enough discussion about concerns of potential adverse effect resulting from extended role of PHI. This study investigated potential increase of NHI spending followed by extension of complementary PHI through sensitivity analysis. The amount of NHI spending for services that would be covered by complementary PHI was calculated using 2005 NHI statistics and expected complementary PHI enrollment rate by age and sex. Expected utilization increases were obtained based on price elasticities$(-0.2{\sim}-0.5)$ from previous studies and expected coverage rate$(50{\sim}80%)$ of complementary PHI and then converted to monetary figures. Because coverage rate of complementary PHI has not been determined yet, we employed the sensitivity analysis using coverage rate of $50{\sim}80%$. Findings demonstrate that additional spending for health care services is expected to be $426{\sim}1,702$ billion won, corresponding amount payed by NHI $298{\sim}1,192$ billion won. In conclusion, since complementary PHI may raise NHI spending significantly, there should be an agreement whether this additional cost would be accountable and acceptable in our society. Potential inefficiency resulting from extended role of complementary PHI should be considered since public and private financing do not operate in isolation and there should be more discussion on proper role of PHI in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.431-436
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• 2009

Objective : This study examines whether functional motion is present at one or more years after Bioflex System placement. BioFlex System is a flexible rod system which has been used to preserve motion at the area of implantation. There has not been a scientific study showing how much motion is preserved after implantation. Methods : A total of 12 consecutive patients underwent posterior dynamic stabilization using the BioFlex System. Six patients were treated using a L3-4-5 construct and other six patients using a L4-5-S1 construct. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 33 months and standing neutral lateral, extension, flexion and posteroanterior (PA) radiographs were obtained at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months and at more than 12 months postoperatively. Range of motion (ROM), whole lumbar lordosis, and ROMs of motion segments from L2 to S1 were determined. Results : Patients with a L3-4-5 construct demonstrated a decrease in mean ROM for whole lumbar decreased from 40.08 to 30.77. Mean ROM for L3-4 (6.12 to 2.20) and L4-5 (6.55 to 1.67) also decreased after one year. Patients with a L4-5-S1 construct demonstrated L4-5 (8.75 to 2.70) and L5-S1 (9.97 to 3.25) decrease of mean ROM at one year postoperatively. Lumbar lordosis was preservep at both L3-4-5 and L4-5-S1 constructs. Clinical results showed significant improvements in both study groups. Conclusion : The present study provides preliminary information regarding the BioFlex motion preservation system. We conclude that the BioFlex System preserves functional motion to some degree at instrumented levels. However, although total lumbar lordosis was preserved, ROMs at implantation segments were lower than preoperative values.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2012

Opioids are the one of the most commonly used drugs to control cancer pain all over the world. But, we should not overlook the potential risk of opioid intoxication because they have well-known detrimental side effects. The opioid intoxication can be diagnosed thorough various clinical manifestations. The altered mental status, respiratory depression, and miosis is very representative clinical features although these symptoms don't always appear together. Unfortunately the opioid-toxidrome can be varied. A 42 years old man came to our emergency room after taking about 900 mg morphine sulfate per oral. He was nearly alert and his respiration was normal. Even though his symptoms didn't deteriorated clinically, serial arterial blood gas analysis showed increase in PaCO2. So we decided to use intravenous naloxone. Soon, he was fully awaked and his pupils size was increased. After a continuous infusion of intravenous naloxone for 2 hours, PaCO2 decreased to normal range and his pupil size also returned to normal after 12 hours. Though the levels of serum amylase and lipase increased slightly, his pancreas was normal according to the abdominal computed tomography. He had nausea, vomit, and whole body itching after naloxone continuous infusion, but conservatively treated. We stopped the continuos infusion after 1 day because his laboratory results and physical examinations showed normal. As this case shows, it is very important to prescribe naloxone initially. If you suspect opioid intoxication, we recommend the initial use of naloxone even though a patient has atypical clinical features. In addition, we suggest intranasal administration of naloxone as safe and effective alternative and it's necessary to consider nalmefene that has a longer duration for opioid intoxication.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 2010

The causes for airway obstruction include foreign body aspiration, congenital structural abnormalities of the airway, infection, etc. And the potential causes of acute respiratory distress contain many situations, like hyperventilation, vasodepressor syncope, asthma, etc. A major factor that leads to the exacerbation of respiratory disorders is undue stress, either physiologic or psychologic. Psychologic stress in dentistry is the primary factor in the exacerbation of preexisting medical problems. Adequate pretreatment medical and dental evaluation of the prospective patient can often prevent respiratory problems from developing. The dentist can modify patient management to minimize the risk of exacerbating these conditions. When dental anxiety is a major factor, the use of psychosedative procedures and other stress-reduction techniques should also be considered. This is the report of a children case of airway obstruction and respiratory distress owing to sedation complication by use of Chloral hydrate and Ketamine before extraction of the mesiodens in a patient with bronchial asthma and tonsillar hyperplasia. After these situations, the patient was consulted & referred to the department of Pediatrics and Otorhinolaryngology.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2011

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics of late-onset epilepsy combined with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the relationship between certain types of electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities in ASD and associated neuropsychological problems. Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with ASD in early childhood and later developed clinical seizures were reviewed retrospectively. First, the clinical characteristics, language and behavioral regression, and EEG findings of these late-onset epilepsy patients with ASD were investigated. The patients were then classified into 2 groups according to the severity of the EEG abnormalities in the background rhythm and paroxysmal discharges. In the severe group, EEG showed persistent asymmetry, slow and disorganized background rhythms, and continuous sharp and slow waves during slow sleep (CSWS). Results: Between the two groups, there was no statistically significant difference in mean age (P=0.259), age of epilepsy diagnosis (P=0.237), associated family history (P=0.074), and positive abnormal magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings (P=0.084). The severe EEG group tended to have more neuropsychological problems (P=0.074). The severe group statistically showed more electrographic seizures in EEG (P=0.000). Rett syndrome was correlated with more severe EEG abnormalities (P=0.002). Although formal cognitive function tests were not performed, the parents reported an improvement in neuropsychological function on the follow up checkup according to a parent's questionnaire. Conclusion: Although some ASD patients with late-onset epilepsy showed severe EEG abnormalities, including CSWS, they generally showed an improvement in EEG and clinical symptoms in the longterm follow up. In addition, severe EEG abnormalities tended to be related to the neuropsychological function.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical and radiologic results of the proximal crescentic osteotomy for moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity. Materials and Methods: Between March 2001 and March 2008, 55 patients (71 feet) who had undergone crescentic osteotomy and distal soft tissue procedure for hallux valgus were followed up for more than one year. The average follow-up period was 15.8 months (12~28 months) and the average age at the time of surgery was 49.8 years (20~69 years). We analyzed the hallux valgus angle (HVA), the first-second intermetatarsal angle (IMA), the length of 1st metatarsal bone and the position of medial sesamoid in preoperative and the last follow-up radiographs. The American Othopeaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and patient satisfaction were measured by modifying Johnson's method which were used for clinical outcome assessments. Results: The HVA and the IMA were 36.2 and 15.8 degrees preoperatively, and 10.8 and 3.9 degrees at the last follow-up, respectively. The amount of shortening of 1st metatarsal bone averaged $2.3{\pm}1.1$ rum postoperatively. The medial sesamoid position improved from a preoperative average of grade 6.6 to the last follow-up average of grade 1.9. The AOFAS score improved from a preoperative average of 45.3 points to an average 90.6 points at the last follow-up. The patient's satisfaction was completely satisfied in 61 cases (85.9%), satisfied with minor reservations in 6 cases (8.5%), satisfied with major reservations in 2 cases (2.8%), and dissatisfied in 2 cases (2.8%). Conclusion: Proximal crescentic osteotomy produced satisfactory results for moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2010

The most common local cause of active gingival bleeding is the vessel engorgement and erosion by severe inflammation. Abnormal gingival bleeding is also associated with the systemic disturbances. Hemorrhagic disorders in which abnormal gingival bleeding is encountered include the following: vascular abnormalities (vitamin C deficiency or allergy), platelet disorders, hypoprothrombinemia (vitamin K deficiency resulting from liver disease), and other coagulation defects (hemophilia, leukemia). There are many conventional methods for gingival bleeding control, such as, direct pressure, electrocoagulation, direct suture, drainage, application of hemostatic agents and crushing and packing. If the active continuous gingival bleeding is not stopped in spite of the application of all conventional bleeding control methods, the life of patient is threatened owing to upper airway obstruction, syncope, vomiting and hypovolemic shock. Therefore, the rapid and correct hemostatic method is very important in the emergency dental care. This is a case report of active gingival bleeding care via dental crown removal and emergency primary endodontic drainage as a last method in liver cirrhosis patient with advanced periodontitis.