• Title/Summary/Keyword: Primary care

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Effects of a Self-Help Program including Stretching Exercise on Reduction of Symptom in Patients with Fibromyalgia (신장운동을 포함한 자조관리프로그램이 섬유조직염환자의 증상완화에 미치는 효과)

  • Han, Sang-Sook
    • Journal of muscle and joint health
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.39-56
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    • 1998
  • This study was an quasi-experimental study, done to identify factors Influencing the reduction of symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia. The primary purpose of the study was to develop a Self-Help Program suitable for patients with fibromyalgia in Korea. The secondary purpose was to identify the effects of a Self-Help Program which included stretching exercise. This study was carried out between Feb. 24 and July 8, 1997 and patients in the study Included out patient diagnosed with fibromyalgia based on the criteria developed by the American College of Rheumatology(1990) and H, University which is a tertiary patient care clinic for Rheumatism. The experimental group included 38 patients who were residents of Seoul or Kyungi province, and a control group of 38 patients who were residents of other areas. The control patients were matched to the experimental group patients and they were selected considering the number of tender points on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score and a score of self-efficacy. The experimental group participated in a Self-Help Program based on the American Arthritis Foundation(1995) guidelines. The program participants participated in a small group which consisted of 12-15 members attending the program once a week, for 6 weeks with each program lasted two to two and a half hours. The stretching exercise was carried out in each patient's home every day following the video tape exercise provided by the researcher, and the researcher provided encouragement and concern to the patients by calling them once a week. The number times the exercise was performed was divided by the number of participants to calculate the percentage of performance and determine the amount of exercise. Self-efficacy was measured by the Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Lorig et al. (1989) for arthritis patients. The degree of pain was converted to scores based on the Visual Analog Scale, the number of tender points was converted to scores based on the criteria of the ACR(1990) and of Yunus. Depression was measured by CES-D and physical disability, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and anxiety of patients with fibromyalgia were measured by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. The level of the exercise performance was converted to scores using the number of times the exercise was performed following the video tape prepared by Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals. Data were analyzed by SPSS windows and the results ire described below. 1. The experimental group which participated in the Self-Help Program showed higher efficacy scores than the control group when both groups were analyzed for depression and the number of tender points as common variables(F=9.146, p=.003). 2. The experimental group which participated in the Self-Help Program showed lower scores than the control group, for pain, the number of tender points, depression, physical disability, fatigue, sleep disturbance and anxiety. These symptoms of fibromyalgia can all be seen to have subsided(F=9.483, p=.003 : F=32.680, p=.001 ; F=11.104, p=.001, F=5.344 : p=.024, F=7.630 : P=.007, F=15.6512, p=.003 : F= 7.5412, p=.008). 3. In the experimental group, the self-efficacy score for the first three weeks showed a positive correlation with the exercise-performance score for four to six weeks (r=.387, p=.043). 4. In the experimental group, the relationship between the level of exercise-performance and the reduction of symptoms showed a significant correlation only to physical disability(r= -.500, p=.001). 5. In the experimental group, the relationship between the self-efficacy score and pain, the number of tender points, depression, physical disability, fatigue, sleep disturbance and anxiety score showed inverse correlations and thus, a reduction of symptoms occured when the self-efficacy score increased(r=-.325, p=.004 ; r= -.253, p=.027, r=-.452, p=.001 : r=-.434, p=.001 ; r=-.316, p=.005 ; r=-.460, p=.001 ; r=-.397, p=.014). Therefore, self-efficacy improved following the Self-Help Program including the stretching exercise. It was also found that physical symptoms (pain, number of tender points, level physical disability) and psychological symptoms (depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety) were reduced. Moreover, It was found that the higher the self-efficacy, the the higher the degree of achievement of goals set for the stretching exercises. In addition, the level of exercise-performance influenced the level of physical disability, one of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Accordingly, the conclusions from this study are that exercise-performance and the reduction of symptoms is achieved through promotion of self-efficacy. Therefore, it is proposed that are the Self-Help Program including stretching exercises is an appropriate nursing intervention for the reduction of symptoms of fibromyalgia.

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Analysis of the Change in Seropositive Rate of the Epstein-Barr Virus in Koreans: A Single-Center Study (한국인의 Epstein-Barr Virus 항체 양성률 변화양상에 대한 분석: 단일기관 연구)

  • Kim, Su Kyung;Choi, Joon-Sik;Kim, Dongsub;Kang, Cheol-In;Chung, Doo Ryeon;Peck, Kyong Ran;Kang, Eun-Suk;Kim, Yae-Jean
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.117-126
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    • 2020
  • Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is related to infectious mononucleosis or nasopharyngeal cancer, and its epidemiology may change according to the socioeconomic development of communities. This study aimed to evaluate the recent epidemiology of EBV seropositive rate in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed EBV serology test results obtained from a part of clinical care at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, from January 2000 to December 2017. Results: The EBV seropositive rate in 26,527 subjects during the study period was 81.0% (21,485/26,527): 44.4% (2,716/6,122) in subjects aged 0-9 years, 75.8% (2,077/2,739) in those aged 10-19 years, and 94.5% (16,692/17,666) in those aged ≥20 years. The EBV seropositive rate decreased from 89.4% (8,592/9,616) in 2000-2008 to 76.2% (12,893/16,911) in 2009-2017 (P<0.001). Especially, the EBV seropositive rate in subjects aged 0-19 years significantly decreased from 2000-2008 to 2009-2017 (0-9 years, 62.8% [1,172/1,866] in 2000-2008 and 36.3% [1,544/4,256] in 2009-2017; 10-19 years, 83.8% [745/858] in 2000-2008 and 70.8% (1,332/1,881) in 2009-2017) (P<0.001). Conclusions: The EBV seropositive rate in children has decreased in the last 20 years. As the age of patients with primary EBV infection increased, there is a need for interest in clinical manifestation, such as infectious mononucleosis, in adolescents and young adults.

Consideration on the Satisfaction of Patients and SUV Variation According to Whether or not to Listen to Music after 18F-FDG Injection (PET/CT 검사에서 18F-FDG 투여 후 음악 청취 여부에 따른 SUV변화와 환자의 만족도에 관한 고찰)

  • Park, Suyoung;Yun, Sunhee;Kim, Hwasan;Kim, Hyunki
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.37-43
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    • 2013
  • Purpose: PET/CT scan using the SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) of radiopharmaceutical uptake in organs and tissues as an objective indicator makes it possible to analyze physiological and chemical reactions of human organs. This study analyzes the change of the SUV uptake in accordance with the way how PET/CT patients take a rest after the injection of $^{18}F-FDG$ (Fluororo-deoxyglucose). And also subjective satisfaction is assessed listening to music while taking a rest. Materials and Methods: From April 2011 until February 2013, Among the Primary cancer patients who admitted to the Catholic Medical Center (Seoul & Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital) and scanned $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT and also received care through the tracking test (mean age $55.61{\pm}12.41$ years, 108 people, 48 men and 60 women) were selected. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group (A: basal study) is requested to take a rest in bed quietly after the injection. However the second one (B: follow up study) is requested to listen to the music while taking a rest. And then SUV analysis was performed respectively. At the end of the scan, ROI (Region Of Interest) were set from the center of the liver (right lobe) and 3 spots of the brain (frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes). And the SUV was calculated. To identify the correlation among those ROIs, paired t-test was performed using SPSS software (Version 12.0K for windows, P>0.05). Also, after the PET/CT scan the satisfaction study was conducted of all the patients. 1:1 questionnaire survey was performed, and that questionnaire was made using the Likert 5-point scale. By utilizing those questionnaires, the analysis about simple frequency, percentage, average, and standard deviation was performed. Results: The SUV change of the 4 designated ROIs in accordance with listening to music was not statistically significant. (Frontal lobe P-value=0.611, Occipital lobe P-value=0.499, Temporal lobe P-value=0.717, Liver P-value=0.334: P-value>0.05) And the satisfaction study indicated that group B was appear to be 0.42 points (5 basis points) higher than group A. It showed that patients are more satisfied in group B than group A. Conclusion: when performing PET/CT scan using $^{18}F-FDG$, listening to music after the injection of the radiopharmaceuticals does not affect the SUV but given the state of the psychological comfort that may increase the patient's satisfaction.

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Clinical Experiences of Cardiac Surgery Using Minimal Incision (소절개선을 이용한 심장수술의 임상고찰)

  • Kim, Kwang-Ho;Kim, Joung-Taek;Lee, Seo-Won;Kim, Hae-Sook;Lim, Hyun-Kung;Lee, Choon-Soo;Sun, Kyung
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.373-378
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    • 1999
  • Background: Minimally invasive technique for various cardiac surgeries has become widely accepted since it has been proven to have distinct advantages for the patients. We describe here the results of our experiences of minimal incision in cardiac surgery. Material and Method: From February 1997 to November 1998, we successfully performed 31 cases of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Male and female ratio was 17:14, and the patients age ranged from 1 to 75 years. A left parasternal incision was used in 9 patients with single vessel coronary heart disease. A direct coronary bypass grafting was done under the condition of the beating heart without cardiopulmonary bypass support(MIDCAB). Among these, one was a case of a reoperation 1 week after the first operation due to a kinked mammary artery graft. A right parasternal incision was used in one case of a redo mitral valve replacement. Mini-sternotomy was used in the remaining 21 patients. The procedures were mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty in 6 patients, mitral valve replacement 5, double valve replacement 2, aortic valve replacement 1, removal of left atrial myxoma 1, closure of atrial septal defect 2, repair of ventricular septal defect 2, and primary closure of r ght ventricular stab wound 1. The initial 5 cases underwent a T-shaped mini-sternotomy, however, we adopted an arrow-shaped ministernotomy in the remaining cases because it provided better exposure of the aortic root and stability of the sternum after a sternal wiring. Result: The operation time, the cardiopulmonary bypass time, the aorta cross-clamping time, the mechanical ventilation time, the amount of chest tube drainage until POD#1, the chest tube indwelling time, and the duration of intensive care unit staying were in an acceptable range. There were two surgical mortalities. One was due to a rupture of the aorta cannulation site after double valve replacement on POD#1 in the mini-sternotomy case, and the other was due to a sudden ventricular arrhythmia after MIDCAB on POD#2 in the parasternal incision case. Postoperative complications were observed in 2 cases in which a cerebral embolism developed on POD#2 after a mini-sternotomy in mitral valve replacement and wound hematoma developed after a right parasternal incision in a single coronary bypass grafting. Neither mortality nor complication was directly related to the incision technique itself. Conclusion: Minimally invasive surgery using parasternal or mini-sternotomy incision can be used in cardiac surgeries since it is as safe as the standard full sternotomy incisions.

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A Study on Curriculum Development For Community Health Practitioners (보건진료원 직무교육 교과과정 개선을 위한 일 연구)

  • 조원정;이경자
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.207-226
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    • 1992
  • This study was designed to develop a conceptual framework for the curriculum and develop the details of the learning content for the education of Community Health Practitioners (CHPs). Since education programs for CHPs started 10 years ago, concepts related to CHP services have changed because of changes in society. The objectives of the study were as follows : 1) to analyse the usefulness of the present education program for CHPs, 2) to analyse the Job performance and self -confidence of the CHPs, 3) to identify the health needs of the clients served by the CHPs and the community problems related to health. 4) to develop a conceptual framework for the curriculum, for the education of CHPs, 5) to develops details for the learning content of the education program for CHPs. Phase I of the study was conducted by questionnaires to 150 CHPs who have worked in remote rural areas for more than 2 years. Among them, 147 responded. Data was collected from August 16, to August 25, 1990. In order to identify the health needs of the community people, research within the last five years was reviewed and analyzed. The data on 1, 842 communities gathered by the WHO Nursing Collaborations Center of the College of Nursing, Yonsei University was utilized to identify community problems related to health and the self - confidence in job performance of the CHPs. Psase II of the study consisted of a workshop with 13 professionals including Community Health Practitioners to evaluate the existing education program and a conceptual framework of the curriculum for the job education of CHPs. The results of the study are Summariged below : 1. The only 26 among 45 content items of the education program related to job skills was used by 80% of the responding CHPs. The knowledge of $\ulcorner$Networking community organization$\lrcorner$ was used by only 53.7% of the respondents. Educational content about $\ulcorner$Mental disease$\lrcorner$ was used by less than 50% of CHPs because of a knowledge deficit. 2. The CHPs reported that their activities concentrated on clinical services during the last six months. The survey showed that they seemed to neglect the activities for health promotion and disease prevention. Thus, $\ulcorner$Education for community loaders$\lrcorner$(15.9%), $\ulcorner$Activity for eavironmental health$\lrcorner$(16.3%) and $\ulcorner$Social work for needey people$\lrcorner$(23.3%) were done by less than 30% of CHPs. 3. More than 90% of CHPs reported being self - confident for the activities of $\ulcorner$Health education and counselling$\lrcorner$, $\ulcorner$Medicine prescription$\lrcorner$ and $\ulcorner$Immunization$\lrcorner$. But 50% of CHPs reported that they were not have self - confident in $\ulcorner$Management of water and environmental health$\lrcorner$ and only 25.6% of CHPs could insert an IUD independently. 4. It was identified that respiratory diseases and the gastrointestinal diseases were most common problems for the community people, followed by musculoskeletal and skin problems. 5. The community problems were classified into eight categories : physical environmental problems, environmental hygiene, health problems, health behavior, social problem, lack of resources, financial problem and the problems of the cultural and value system. 6. The conceptual framework consisted of the target population and their health status, nursing process working site and primary health care services such as health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. 7. The contents of curriculum of education program for CHPs were formulated from the results of this study.

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Hair Heavy Metal Contents in Mentally Retarded Children I - In Association with Lead - (정신지체아 두발 중 중금속 함량 I - 납과의 관련성 -)

  • Kim, Doo-Hie;Kim, Ock-Bae;Chang, Bong-Ki
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.22 no.1 s.25
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    • pp.125-135
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    • 1989
  • This paper was carried out to study on correlation between mentally retardation and lead and zinc. The subjects were 297 mentally retarded children: 132 of Bomyung special school and Sunmyung, which were located in Taegu city of Korea. The former had their parents but the latter had not. The control group 63 children were randomly seleted from the Dong-in primary school near to Medical School of Kyungpook National University. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer, model IL-551 connected with CTF atomizer(IL. 655) was used for the analysis of lead and zinc. The mean value of lead in hair of mentally retarded children was $14.97{\pm}3.71ppm$ which is significantly higher than that of control group, $11.36{\pm}2.83ppm$. But the content of zinc was not significant in both groups. In the lead there was no significant correlation to age but significant negative correlation to IQ. Zinc showed significant correlation to age but not to IQ. Among the handicapped children, no signigicant correlation between orphan group and non orphan group. Handicaps of mentally-retarded children were speech impairment, emotional disturbance, double and triple handicaps, sensory impairment and abnormal dietary patterns. There were significantly higher contents of lead compared with normal group, except the latter two groups. The disease conditions of mentally retarded children were mongolism, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and microcephaly. In comparing with mongolism, significant difference were existent only on the cerebral palsy and group of unknown etiology. We attempted to divide their past history into external etiology and internal etiology, but could not find significant difference. In view of the whole results, the relationship between mentally-retarded children and lead was presumed to be the early time exposure rather than long interval exposure during growth and the contact opportunity was considered important subject in maternal and child health care.

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Actual Condition of Quality Control of X-ray Imaging System in Primary Care Institution: focused on Gwangju Metropolitan City (1차 의료기관의 엑스선 발생장치 정도관리에 관한 현황조사:광주광역시 지역을 중심으로)

  • Dong, Kyung-Rae;Lee, Seun-Joo;Kweon, Dae-Cheol;Goo, Eun-Hoe;Jung, Jae-Eun;Lee, Kyu-Su
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.34-42
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    • 2010
  • With the expanded use of radiation in modern medical practices, the most important issue in regards to efforts to reduce individual exposure dose is quality assurance. Therefore in order to study the present condition of quality assurance, the Gwangju Metropolitan City area was divided into five districts each containing ten hospitals. Four experiments were conducted: a reproducibility experiment for kVp, mA, and examination time (sec) intensity of illumination; half-value layer (HVL) measurement; and beam perpendicularity test matching experiment. The tube voltage reproducibility experiment for all fifty hospitals resulted in a 95.33% passing rate and mA and examination time both resulted in a 77.0% passing rate. The passing rate for intensity of illumination was 86.0% and 52.0% for HVL, which was the lowest passing rate of all four factors. For the beam perpendicularity test matching experiment, generally the central flux is matched to within $1.5^{\circ}$. Of all fifty hospitals 30.0% were beyond $3^{\circ}$. The results of the survey showed that 58% responded that they knew about quality assurance cycle. All fifty respondents stated that they have not received any training in regards to quality assurance at their current place of employment. Although quality assurance is making relative progress, the most urgent issue is awareness of the importance of quality assurance. Therefore, the implementation of professional training focusing on safety management and accurate quality assurance of radiation will reduce the exposure to radiation for radiologists and patients and higher quality imaging using less dosage will also be possible.

Multidisciplinary Management of the Locally Advanced Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (수술 불가능한 국소 진행 비소세포성 폐암의 집합적 요법)

  • Cho, Kwan-Ho
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.1-10
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    • 2004
  • Locally advanced (Stage III) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately one third of all cases of NSCLC. Few patients with locally advanced NSCLC present with disease amenable to curative surgical resection. Historically, these patients were treated with primary thoracic radiation therapy (RT) and had poor long term survival rates, due to both progression of local disease and development on distant metastases. Over the last two decades, the use of multidisciplinary approach has improved the outcome for patients with locally advanced NSCLC. Combined chemoradiotherapy is the most favored approach for treatment of locally advanced unresectable NSCLC. There are two basic treatment protocols for administering combined chemotherapy and radiation, sequential versus concurrent. The rationale for using chemotherapy is to eliminate subclinical metastatic disease while improving local control. Sequential use of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy has improved median and long term survival compared to radiation therapy alone. This approach appears to decrease the risk of distant metastases,, but local failure rates remain the same as radiation alone. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been studied extensively. The potential advantages of this approach may include sensitization of tumor cells to radiation by the administration of chemotherapy, and reduced overall treatment time compared to sequential therapy; which is known to be important for improving local control in radiation biology. This approach Improves survival primarily as a result of improved local control. However, it doesn't seem to decrease the risk of distant metastases probably because concurrent chemoradiation requires dose reductions in chemotherapy due to increased risks of acute morbidity such as acute esophageal toxicity. Although multidisciplinary therapy has led to improved survival rates compared to radiation therapy alone and has become the new standard of care, the optimal therapy of locally advanced NSCLC continues to evolve. The current issues in the multidisciplinary management of locally advanced NSCLC will be reviewed in this report.

Clinical Implication of Serum TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$ Measurement in Patients with Sepsis (패혈증환자에서 혈청 TNF-$\alpha$ 및 IL-1$\beta$)

  • Kim, Jae-Yeol;Choi, Hyung-Seok;Lee, Choon-Taek;Kim, Young-Whan;Han, Sung-Koo;Min, Kyung-Up;Kim, Yoo-Young;Shim, Young-Soo;Yoo, Chul-Gyu
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.49 no.2
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    • pp.217-224
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    • 2000
  • Background : It is well known that when macrophages are stimulated with endotoxin, they produce a wide variety of cytokine mediators, including TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$. However, there is an alteration in the macrophages' responsiveness when they are challenged with repeated bouts of endotoxin, termed "endotoxin tolerance" which is regarded as a self-protective phenomenon from continuous stimulation. In this study, endotoxin tolerance in the peripheral blood monocytes of sepsis patients was evaluated. Methods : Fourteen patients with organism-documented sepsis were included. The severity of illness was evaluated by APACHE II score. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from the patients and diluted to $1{\times}10^5$ well. After stimulation with endotoxin (LPS of E. coli O114 : B4, 100 ng/ml), they were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 24 hours. Supernatant was collected for the measurement of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$ with ELISA method. Peripheral blood monocytes of seven healthy volunteers were used as control. Results : The APACHE II score (mean$\pm$SD) of the patients at the time of blood sampling was 12.2$\pm$5.7. The primary infection foci were urinary tract infection, pneumonia, subacute bacterial endocarditis, and catheter related infection, etc. The causative organisms were gram negative rods (10 cases), gram positive cocci (6 cases) with two cases of mixed infection. Serum TNF-$\alpha$ could be measured in 4 cases with 29.9$\pm$27.7 pg/ml. Serum IL-1$\beta$was measurable in only one patient. The TNF-$\alpha$ level of supernatant of cultured peripheral blood monocytes was 2,703$\pm$2,066 pg/ml in patients and 2,102$\pm$1914 pg/ml in controls. The IL-1$\beta$level of supernatant was 884$\pm$1,050 pg/ml in patients and 575$\pm$558 pg/ml in controls. There was no difference of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$ level between patients and controls. Conclusion : We cannot prove the phenomenon of endotoxin tolerance in this study. Future study needs to be focused on the more severe sepsis patients who were taken for sampling earlier. Addition of serum to the culture medium could be an another valuable option for the success of this study.

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Outcomes in Relation to Time of Tracheostomy in Patients with Mechanical Ventilation (기계호흡환자의 기관절개 시행 시기에 따른 결과 분석)

  • Shin, Jeong-Eun;Shin, Tae-Rim;Park, Young-Mi;Nam, Jun-Sik;Cheon, Seon-Hee;Chang, Jung-Hyun
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.47 no.3
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    • pp.365-373
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    • 1999
  • Background: Despite widespread use of tracheostomy in intensive care unit, it is still controversial to define the best timing from endotracheal intubation to tracheostomy under prolonged mechanical ventilation. Early tracheostomy has an advantage of easy airway maintenance and enhanced patient mobility whereas a disadvantage in view of nosocomial infection and tracheal stenosis. However, there is a controversy about the proper timing of tracheostomy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the 35 medical and 15 surgical ICU patients who had admitted to Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from January 1996 to August 1998 with the observation of APACHE III score, occurrence of nosocomial infections, and clinical outcomes during 28 days from tracheostomy in terms of early (n=25) vs. late (n=25) tracheostomy. We defined the reference day of early and late tracheostomy as 7th day from intubation. Results: The number of patients were 25 each in early and late tracheostomy group. The mean age were $48{\pm}18$ years in early tracheostomy group and $63{\pm}17$ years in late tracheostomy group, showing younger in early tracheostomy group. The median duration of intubation prior to tracheostomy was 3 days and 13 days in early and late tracheostomy groups. Organs that caused primary problem were nervous system in 27 cases(54%), pulmonary 14(28%), cardiovascular 4(8%), gastrointestinal 4(8%) and genitourinary 1(2%) in the decreasing order. Prolonged ventilation was the most common reason for the purpose of tracheostomy in both groups. APACHE m scores at each time of intubation and tracheostomy were slightly higher in late tracheostomy group but not significant statistically. Day to day APACHE III scores were not different between two groups with observation upto 7th day after tracheostomy, Occurrence of nosocomial infections, weaning from mechanical ventilation, and mortality showed no significant difference between two groups with observation of 28 days from tracheostomy. The mortality was increased as the APACHE m score upto 7 days after tracheostomy increased, but there were no increment for the mortality in terms of the time of tracheostomy and the days of ventilator use before tracheostomy, Conclusion: The early tracheostomy seems to have no benefit with respect to severity of illness, nosocomial infection, duration of ventilatory support, and mortality. It suggests that the time of tracheostomy is better to be decided on clinical judgement in each case. And in near future, prospective, randomized case-control study is required to confirm these results.

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