• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제70권5호
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• pp.416-422
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• 2011

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the most essential medication for asthma control. Many reports suggest that the usage of ICSs improves not only the control of asthma symptoms but also prevents exacerbation. We investigated whether increases in ICS prescriptions are associated with decreases in asthma exacerbation in the clinical practice setting. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the database of adult asthma patients who had visited a tertiary referral hospital, the Asan Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2009. The number of emergency department (ED) visits, admissions, intensive care unit (ICU) care, deaths, and ICS prescriptions were analyzed to evaluate the time trend of asthma exacerbation as a function of the ICS prescription rate during the ten years. Results: The numbers of ED visits, admissions, and episodes of ICU care decreased during the ten years (p<0.001, p=0.033, p=0.001, respectively) while the number of ICS prescriptions increased (p<0.001). We found a correlation between the number of ICS prescriptions and the number of ED visits, admissions, or ICU care. For these outcomes, the correlation coefficients were r=-0.952, p<0.001; r=-0.673, p=0.033; r=-0.948, p<0.001, respectively. Conclusion: The number of ICS prescriptions increased during the past ten years while the number of asthma exacerbations decreased. Our results also showed a negative correlation between the ICS prescription rate and asthma exacerbation in the clinical practice setting. In other words, an increase in ICS prescription may be a major cause of a decrease in asthma exacerbations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.1407-1412
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• 2012

Background & Objectives: Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both sexes in Iran. This study was designed to assess upper GI endoscopic findings among people > 50 years targeted in a mass screening program in a hot-point region. Methods: Based on the pilot results in Guilan Cancer Registry study (GCRS), one of the high point regions for GC-Lashtenesha- was selected. The target population was called mainly using two methods: in rural regions, by house-house direct referral and in urban areas using public media. Upper GI endoscopy was performed by trained endoscopists. All participants underwent biopsies for rapid urea test (RUT) from the antrum and also further biopsies from five defined points of stomach for detection of precancerous lesions. In cases of visible gross lesions, more diagnostic biopsies were taken and submitted for histopathologic evaluation. Results: Of 1,394 initial participants, finally 1,382 persons (702 women, 680 men) with a mean age of $61.7{\pm}9.0$ years (range: 50-87 years) underwent upper GI endoscopy. H. pylori infection based on the RUT was positive in 66.6%. Gastric adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus were detected in seven (0.5%) and one (0.07%) persons, respectively. A remarkable proportion of studied participants were found to have esophageal hiatal hernia (38.4%). Asymptomatic gastric masses found in 1.1% (15) of cases which were mostly located in antrum (33.3%), cardia (20.0%) and prepyloric area (20.0%). Gastric and duodenal ulcers were found in 5.9% (82) and 6.9% (96) of the screened population. Conclusion: Upper endoscopy screening is an effective technique for early detection of GC especially in high risk populations. Further studies are required to evaluate cost effectiveness, cost benefit and mortality and morbidity of this method among high and moderate risk population before recommending this method for the GC surveillance program at the national level.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권7호
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• pp.4053-4056
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• 2013

Background: Colposcopy is the gold standard procedure for evaluating cervical cytological abnormalities. Although it is essentially a minimally invasive intervention, referral for colposcopy may cause significant distress on patients. In this study, we aimed to determine if pre-procedural anxiety levels have a significant association with procedure related pain and discomfort in women undergoing colposcopy for evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology. We also assessed the impact of various clinical factors on anxiety, pain and discomfort in these patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was performed at the gynecologic oncology department of Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey between January and June 2013. After taking informed consent, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) form and a 14-item questionnaire were filled for women who were admitted to our outpatient colposcopy unit for evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology. STAI scores were calculated for each participant. Immediately after the procedure, visual analog scale (VAS) scores for procedure-related pain and discomfort were obtained. Associations between STAI and VAS scores were investigated using correlation analyses. The effect of various contributing factors on anxiety, pain and discomfort were evaluated with linear regression analysis. The p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 222 women met the inclusion criteria within the study period. Mean patient age was $38.5{\pm}9.6$. Median state and trait anxiety scores were 47 and 46, respectively. Median VAS scores for pain and discomfort were 4 for both variables. State anxiety had a significant correlation with procedure related discomfort (p=0.02). Colposcopy related pain VAS scores were significantly affected by state anxiety level, marital status and prior gynecological examination (p<0.05). Colposcopy related discomfort VAS scores were significantly affected by state anxiety level, marital status, prior gynecological examination and educational status. Conclusions: Additional measures should be implemented in women that carry higher risk for experiencing pain and discomfort. Social, cultural and lifestyle issues may also affect women's experiences during colposcopy, therefore further studies are needed to define specific determining factors in various populations.

• 한국의료질향상학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.28-41
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• 2003

Background : Because unplanned readmissions to intensive care unit(ICU)might be related with undesirable patient outcomes, we investigated the pattern of and reason for unplanned ICU readmission to provide baseline data for reducing unplanned returns to ICU. Methods : The subjects included all patients who readmitted to ICU during the same hospitalization at a tertiary referral hospital between January 1st and June 30th 2002. Quality improvement(QI) nurse collected the data through medical records and a medical director reviewed the data collected. Results : 1) The average unplanned ICU readmission rate was 5.6%(gastroenterology 14.6%, pediatrics 12.7%, pulmonology 11.9%, neurosurgery 6.3%, general surgery 5.3%, chest surgery 3.9%, and cardiology 3.3%). 2) Among the unplanned readmissions, more than 50% of cases were from patients older than 60 years, and the main categories of diagnose at hospital admission were neurologic disease(29.9%) and cardiovascular disease(27.6%). 3) Of unplanned ICU readmissions, 41.8% had recurrence of the initial problems, 44.8% had occurrence of new problems. And 9.7% required post-operative care after unplanned operations. 4) The most common cause responsible for unplanned ICU readmission were respiratory problem(38.3%) and cardiovascular problem(14.3%). 5) About 40% of unplanned ICU readmission occurred within 3 days after ICU discharge. 6) Average length of stay of the readmitted patients to ICUs were much longer than that of non-readmitted patients. 7) Hospital mortality rate was much higher for unplanned ICU readmitted patients(23.6%) than for non-readmitted patients(1.5%) (P<0.001). Conclusions : This study showed that the unplanned ICU readmitted patients had poor outcomes(high morality and increased length of stay). In addition study results suggest that more attention should be paid to patients in ICU with poor respiratory function or elderly patients, and careful clinical decisions are required at discharged from ICU to general ward.

• 한국의료질향상학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.95-108
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• 2016

Purpose: Ancillary tests such as immunohistochemistry or molecular testing for pathologic diagnosis are performed using ready-made tissue blocks for a histological examination. Various methods and processes during ancillary testing cause some of issues, particularly in the time required and the results reporting scheme. Methods: To solve these issues, we constructed real-time management software. When a pathologist or a clinician had ancillary tests examined using this software by selecting the codes of the needed ancillary tests on site and the system assigned the tests to each laboratory. Then, pathology technologists checked the referred tests and performed the examination. In clinical departments, serial number of each ancillary test can be matched the original pathologic ID. In the department of pathology, numbers of tissue blocks that needed additional tests could be indicated and detected using one-click detection system when a clinician referred the test. Results: Using this system resulted in simplifying the referral procedures from nine-steps to three-steps in each clinical department and from seven-steps to two-steps in department of pathology. Errors that happened on the paper-based request system were also reduced. Furthermore, the time required was saved by seven hours in pathologic laboratory on average. Mean durations from requesting to reporting of the ancillary test was reduced by three days for specimens of health promotion center. Conclusion: Construction of an effective information transfer system may be helpful for shortening the time required, reducing errors, and checking processing information of the tests in real time.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.35-41
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• 2011

항암 치료를 받는 환자들은 장기간의 안정적인 정맥확보를 위해 중심정맥 카테터 삽입이 점차 증가하는 추세로 장기간의 항암제 투여, 종합 비경구적 영양법, 반복적 혈액채취와 항생제 투여, 혈액 투석을 위해 시행되고 있다. 그중 주입구를 완전히 피하에 심는 피하매몰형 중심정맥포트(chemo-port)의 설치가 많이 시행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 항암치료를 받은 환자 중 중재적 방사선과에서 전형적인 카테터 끝이 열려 있는(non-valved) 포트와 새로운 형태의 카테터 끝이 닫혀 있는(valved) 포트를 삽입했던 환자를 대상으로 발생한 합병증이나 문제점에 관한 후향적 조사를 바탕으로 올바른 피하매몰 중심정맥 포트의 선택 및 관리, 해결 방안을 모색하고자 함이다. 2006년 1월부터 2010년 5월까지 피하매몰 중심정맥포트를 삽입한 438명을 대상으로 하였다. 이중 valved 포트를 삽입한 경우는 109명이었고 non-valved 포트를 삽입한 경우는 329명이었다. 포트의 사용상의 문제점을 의뢰한 56명 중 실제로 발생된 30명의 합병증이나 문제점을 valved. non-valved 포트로 나누어 비교 평가하였다. 포트 시술 후 valved 포트에서 문제점과 합병증이 11.93%, non-valved 포트에서 문제점과 합병증이 5.17% 발생하여 상대적으로 valved 포트에서 문제가 더 많이 발생하였다. Valve사용 유무에 따른 포트 사용 시 두께가 얇은 포트의 사용을 권장하고 시술시 환자 감염이 유발하지 않게 가이드라인을 설정해야 하며 시술이후에도 포트를 사용 시 전용바늘을 사용하고 사용 후 생리식염수의 의한 관 세척 등 포트관리에 체계적인 관리가 필요하다. 추가적인 문제점이 발생 시 원인을 찾아내어 해결책을 제시하고 향후 반복적인 합병증이나 문제점이 발생하지 않게 하여 포트 삽입술의 유용성과 안전성을 증대해야 한다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제73권2호
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• pp.107-114
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• 2012

Background: This study attempted to investigate the main causes of hemoptysis, the type of examinations used for diagnosis, the treatment modalities and outcomes. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the medical records of 221 patients admitted to the Chonnam National University Hospital, between January 2005 and February 2010, with hemoptysis. Results: Bronchiectasis (32.6%), active pulmonary tuberculosis (18.5%), fungus ball (10.8%), and lung cancer (5.9%) accounted for most causes of hemoptysis. Computed tomography scan was the most sensitive diagnostic test when employed alone, with positive yield of 93.2%. There were 161 cases of conservative treatment (72.9%), 42 cases of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) (19.0%), and 18 cases of surgery (8.1%). Regarding the amount of hemoptysis, 70 cases, out of 221 cases, were mild (31.5%), 36 cases moderate (16.2%), and 115 cases massive hemoptysis (52.0%). Most of the patients were treated conservatively, but if there was more bleeding present, BAE or surgery was more commonly performed than the conservative treatment ($p{\leq}0.0001$). In the multivariate model, severe hemoptysis and lung cancer were independently associated with short-term recurrence. BAE was independently associated with long-term recurrence, and lung cancer was associated with in-hospital mortality. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 11.3%. Conclusion: Hemoptysis is a common symptom with a good prognosis in most cases. However, patients exhibiting massive bleeding or those with malignancy had a poorer prognosis. In-hospital mortality was strongly related to the cause, especially in lung cancer.

• 대한신경과학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.294-301
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• 2018

Background: Neuroimaging can play a crucial role in discovering potential abnormalities to cause secondary headache. There has been a progress in the fields of headache diagnosis and neuroimaging in the past two decades. We sought to investigate neuroimaging findings according to headache disorders, age, sex, and imaging modalities in first-visit headache patients. Methods: We used data of consecutive first-visit headache patients from 9 university and 2 general referral hospitals. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition, beta version was used in headache diagnosis. We finally enrolled 1,080 patients undertook neuroimaging in this study. Results: Among 1,080 patients (mean age: $47.7{\pm}14.3$, female: 60.8%), proportions of headache diagnosis were as follows: primary headaches, n=926 (85.7%); secondary headaches, n=110 (10.2%); and cranial neuropathies and other headaches, n=43 (4.1%). Of them, 591 patients (54.7%) received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Neuroimaging abnormalities were found in 232 patients (21.5%), and their proportions were higher in older age groups and male sex. Chronic cerebral ischemia was the most common finding (n=88, 8.1%), whereas 76 patients (7.0%) were found to have clinically significant abnormalities such as primary brain tumor, cancer metastasis, and headache-relevant cerebrovascular disease. Patients underwent MRI were four times more likely to have neuroimaging abnormalities than those underwent computed tomography (33.3% vs. 7.2%, p<0.001). Conclusions: In this study, the findings of neuroimaging differed according to headache disorders, age, sex, and imaging modalities. MRI can be a preferable neuroimaging modality to identify potential causes of headache.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.236-245
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• 2000

연구배경: 경기관지폐생검법은 호흡부전이 없는 상태에서는 비교적 진단율이 높고 안전성 또한 알려져 있으나 호흡부전이 동반된 중환자들의 진단 도구로서의 유용성에 대해서는 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 방 법: 1994년 1월부터 1998년 5월까지 한 3차병원 내과계 중환자실에서 원인 불명의 폐침윤을 동반한 호흡부전으로 경기관지폐생검이 시행되었던 환자 20명(21회 입원, 23회 검사 시행)을 후향적으로 분석하였다. 결 과: 경기관지폐생검으로 확진이 된 예는 거대세포봉입체폐렴과 결핵 각 1예이었다. 확정적인 조직검사 결과는 아니었으나 임상적 소견과 결부하여 치료방향을 결정하는데 도움이 되는 진단을 얻은 경우는 총 9예로서 경기관지폐생검 결과에 따라 치료를 변경하거나 의심한 질환을 확인하여 치료를 계속한 예는 23예 중 11예로서 47.8%이었다. 경기관지폐생검 결과에 따라 치료를 변경한 10명중 4명(40%) 이 사망하였고 치료변경을 하지 않은 10명중 8명(80%)이 사망하였다. 경기관지폐생검 시행에 따른 합병증으로는 기계호흡을 하지 않는 환자들에서는 총 9예 중 3예로서 33%이며, 기계호흡중인 환자들에서는 14예 중 7예로 50%였다. 이들 중 경기관지폐생검의 직접적인 합병증으로 사망한 경우는 기계호흡을 하고 있던 환자 1예이었다. 합병증이 나타난 환자들은 발생하지 않은 환자들에 비하여 APACHE III 접수가 유의하게 높았다($72.8{\pm}21.8$점 대 $48.3{\pm}18.9$). 결 론: 이상의 결과로 원인 불명의 폐 침윤으로 호흡부전을 동반한 중환자들에서도 경기관지폐생검은 치료방침의 결정에 도움을 줄 수 있는 유용한 검사법이나 중증도가 심한 환자들에서는 그 합병증의 발생에 유의하여야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.30-36
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• 2005

목적: 치료에 관계없이 뇌전이는 예후가 불량하다. 본 연구는 뇌 전이로 호스피스 완화의료를 받았던 환자를 대상으로 적절한 돌봄을 받았는지를 알아보고 임상적인 특성을 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 2003년 3월부터 2005년 3월까지 본원의 호스피스 병동에서 뇌전이로 호스피스 완화의료를 받았던 40명의 말기 암환자를 대상으로 후향적으로 의무기록을 조사하였다. 결과: 대상자 중 남자 20명(50%), 여자 20명(50%)이며 연령의 중간값은 64세 였다. 가장 많은 암은 폐암으로 22명(55%)이고 다음으로 위암 5명(13%), 유방암 3명(8%) 순서였다. 원발암에 대한 전치료는 전혀 치료를 하지 않은 환자가 16명(40%)이고 항암치료는 20명(50%)를 받았다. 뇌전이 때의 증상은 두통 12명(30%), 의식변화 10명(25%), 국소 약화 9명(23%), 경련 4명(10%) 순서였다. 호스피스 병동의 입원 이유는 의식변화가 13명(33%)으로 가장 많았고 통증이 9명(23%)였다. 호스피스 완화의료를 받게 된 이유로 환자와 가족이 원한 경우가 14명(35%), 의사가 의뢰한 경우가 1명, 그 나머지 25명(62%)은 본원에서 보존적인 요법을 받던 중 호스피스 완화의료를 받게 된 경우이다. 호스피스 병동에서 입원기간의 중간값은 19일이었으며 호스피스 완화의료로 전원 후 생존기간의 중간값은 41일이었다. 뇌전이 진단 후 중간 생존기간은 87일이었다. 결론: 전이성 뇌암 환자의 호스피스 완화의료의 기간은 환자를 돌보기에는 충분하지 못하였다. 효과적인 호스피스 완화의료를 위해서는 의사와 환자, 가족에 대한 지속적인 호스피스 완화의료 교육과 홍보가 필요하리라고 생각된다.