• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.47-50
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• 2020

A 21-year-old female patient complaining of hemiparesis was diagnosed with right middle cerebral artery infarction. No risk factor was found, despite an extensive young-age stroke work-up, except her history of marijuana use. The patient had smoked marijuana for treating depression for more than five years. Magnetic resonance angiography showed multifocal intra- and extracranial stenoses, suggesting cannabinoid-induced vasculopathy. Since the use of illicit drugs has increased nationwide, physicians should consider it as a possible cause of a stroke due to an unknown etiology.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제32권10호
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• pp.924-929
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• 1999

Background: The use of the stapler n esophageal reconstruction after esophageal resection for benign or malignant esophageal diseases has become popular because it has less leakage at the anastomotic site and shorter operation time than manual sutures. However, the use of classic circular stapler has some complications such as stenosis and dysphagia that requires additional treatment. Such complications are closely related to the inner diameter of the anastomotic sites. In this study, the diameter of anastomotic site was compared after the use of circular stapler(EEA) and straight endoscopic stapler(endo GIA). Material and Method: The patients who received esophageal reconstruction by stapler from August 1995 to September 1997 were reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups. One group need the circular stapler, and the other group the straight endo GIA(14 cases with endo GIA 30mm, 24 with endo GIA 45mm). After a cervical esophago-enteric anastomosis, the stricture of anastomotic site and the incidence of dysphagia were compared between the 2 groups using an esophagography and the patient's symptoms. The follow-up period was 12months in average. Result: In the former group in which the circular stapler was used, 2 cases of anastomotic stenosis were reported. In comparison, none were reported in the latter group. Dysphagia were reported in 8 cases of the former group, and in 3 cases of the latter group(1 case in endo GIA 30 mm, 2 cases in endo GIA 45 mm). Conclusion: The use of endo GIA in esophago-enteric anastomosis resulted in a wider diameter of the anastomotic site, lesser stricture, and lesser incidence of dysphagia compared to the use of former circular stapler. Therefore, it is thought to be a better method in esophageal reconstructions.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.1289-1299
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of arterial subtraction images for predicting the viability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after locoregional therapy (LRT) using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System treatment response (LR-TR) algorithm. Materials and Methods: This study included 90 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 57 ± 9 years) who underwent liver transplantation or resection after LRT and had 73 viable and 32 nonviable HCCs. All patients underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI before surgery. Two radiologists assessed the presence of LR-TR features, including arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) and LR-TR categories (viable, nonviable, or equivocal), using ordinary arterial-phase and arterial subtraction images. The reference standard for tumor viability was surgical pathology. The sensitivity of APHE for diagnosing viable HCC was compared between ordinary arterial-phase and arterial subtraction images. The sensitivity and specificity of the LR-TR algorithm for diagnosing viable HCC was compared between the use of ordinary arterial-phase and the use of arterial subtraction images. Subgroup analysis was performed on lesions treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) only. Results: The sensitivity of APHE for viable HCCs was higher for arterial subtraction images than ordinary arterial-phase images (71.2% vs. 47.9%; p < 0.001). LR-TR viable category with the use of arterial subtraction images compared with ordinary arterial-phase images showed a significant increase in sensitivity (76.7% [56/73] vs. 63.0% [46/73]; p = 0.002) without significant decrease in specificity (90.6% [29/32] vs. 93.8% [30/32]; p > 0.999). In a subgroup of 63 lesions treated with TACE only, the use of arterial subtraction images showed a significant increase in sensitivity (81.4% [35/43] vs. 67.4% [29/43]; p = 0.031) without significant decrease in specificity (85.0% [17/20] vs. 90.0% [18/20]; p > 0.999). Conclusion: Use of arterial subtraction images compared with ordinary arterial-phase images improved the sensitivity while maintaining specificity for diagnosing viable HCC after LRT using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and the LR-TR algorithm.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• 제11권E호
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• pp.13-21
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• 1995

This Pilot study identifies potential dioxin and furan sources and medical plastic wastes produced from hospital solid waste streams. In this study, air emissions of dioxins and furans from sources in the U.S., which were estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), were summarized. Potential loading routes of dioxins and furans to the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes region have also been identified in trcent surveys. In addition, medical and hospital solid wastes produced in typical large city hospitals were characterized as important potential sources of dioxins and furans. Plastic contents in medical Plastics Characterization Survey (MMPCS), plastics composition data were obtained from a survey of five Massachusetts Hospitals and Medical Centers. By identifying plastic wastes as a percentage of total hospital wastes, we were able to use data from a preliminary study that analyzed the waste stream of 16 major New York City hospitals (NYCMWS) characterizing the plastic content of the wasters. This study determined the types of plastic wastes included in each medical waste stream (regulated medical waste or non regulated medical waste) and it discussed the potential for recyclibility of hospital plastic wastes. The combination of the NYCMWS and the MMPCS surveys provides for the first overview of the size of the recycling task of hospital plastic wastes and the potential of dioxin elimination if dioxin generating plastics were to be eliminated from hospital use.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.114-120
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• 2017

The hospital standardized mortality ratio (HSMR) is a widely used generic measure for assessing quality of hospital care in many countries. However, the validity of HSMR as a quality indicator is still controversial. We critically reviewed characteristics of HSMR and suggested how to use HSMR as a quality indicator in the Korean setting. The association between HSMR and other quality measures of hospital care is inconclusive. In addition current HSMR model has shortcomings in risk adjustment because of the lack of clinical data, accuracy of disease coding, coding variation among hospitals, end-of-life care issues, and so on. Therefore, HSMR should be used as an indicator for improvement, not for judgement such as public reporting and pay-for-performance. More efforts will be needed to tackle practical and methodological weaknesses of HSMR in the Korean setting.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.338-343
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• 2021

Purpura fulminans is a serious condition that can result in severe morbidity in the pediatric population. Although autologous skin grafts remain the gold standard for the coverage of partial- to full-thickness wounds, they have several limitations in pediatric patients, including the lack of planar donor sites, the risk of hemodynamic instability, and the limited graft thickness. In Singapore, an in-house skin culture laboratory has been available since 2005 for the use of cultured epithelial autografts (CEAs), especially in burn wounds. However, due to the fragility of CEAs, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressings have been rarely used with CEAs. With several modifications, we report a successful case of NPWT applied over a CEA in an infant who sustained 30% total body surface area full-thickness wounds over the anterior abdomen, flank, and upper thigh secondary to purpura fulminans. We also describe the advantages of using NPWT dressing over a CEA, particularly in pediatric patients.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.39-46
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• 2023

Purpose: Korean medical services are not balanced across regions and social classes. To prevent mortality gaps, Korea must distribute its medical resources more efficiently. Patient factors affecting emergency room visits serve as basic data for determining best practices for public healthcare distribution. Methods: The data included 18 473 visits by 14 949 de-identified patients who visited a public emergency room over one year. The dependent variable was the number of emergency room visits. A Poisson regression was conducted with the independent variables, comprising sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and spatial accessibility factors and patient characteristics. Results: Older men with higher Korean Triage and Acuity Scale scores visited more frequently. Greater patient-hospital distance decreased visits; however, the presence of a hospital within 1 km of a patient's residence did not affect the number of visits. The use of 119 services was negatively correlated with the number of visits. Visits increased with more medical benefits. Conclusions: Patient age, distance to hospital, use of 119 services, and medical benefits should be considered when planning or managing public hospitals in Korea.

• 약학회지
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.107-113
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• 2009

Since 2006, the Computerized Restricted Antibiotic Control Program (CRACP) has been incorporated to facilitate a more efficient approval process of vancomycin use at the Chonbuk National University Hospital. The purposes of the study were to evaluate proper use of vancomycin and to examine if there is any improvement when administering the CRACP. The use of vancomycin was retrospectively reviewed by a medical record review based on the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) criteria (i.e., indication, use of critical process indicators and use of outcome measurements) and compared before (Group I) and after the CRACP (Group II). Two hundred fifty six patient records were evaluated (138 in Group I and 118 in Group II). There was a statistically significant improvement in the report of justification for vancomycin use after CRACP (42.0% vs. 62.7%, p=0.001). Out of eight critical process indicators, two indicators (appropriate cultures prior to medication [68.8% vs. 85.6%, p=0.002] and serum vancomycin level measurement [0% vs. 7.6%, p=0.001]) were significantly improved after CRACP. The total incidence of adverse effects was decreased from 14.5% to 6.8%. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference in WBC count reduction within normal range (52.8% vs. 73.1%, p=0.024). The CRACP appears to be a promising approach to improve use of vacomycin in a hospital setting. However, further evaluation for the long-term period should be performed to confirm the performance of the program.

• 대한골관절종양학회지
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.72-77
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• 1996

Metastaic bone tumors are usually accompanied with severe pain. The treatment modalities for this pain are so variable that patients are sometimes afraid of using them. Salmon calcitonin has a function to increase beta-endorphines followed by increasing the blood level of prostaglandin and thromboxan A2, which results in analgesic effect. This drug also has been known to decrease bone resorption. There were a few reports that parenteral use of salmon calcitonin decrease the pain from metastatic bone tumor. We wanted to know the effectiveness and tolerability of nasal spray of salmon calcitonin in relieving bone pain with metastatic tumor. We analyzed the effectiveness in the aspects of pain, sleep, performance status, mobility, supplementary analgesic use. The biologic effect of salmon calcitonin was analysed with CBC, Ca/P, BUN/Cr, uric acid. Simple radiography, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, pyrilink-K were used as parameters for bone change. Eighteen cases of metastatic bone tumors took nasal spray of salmon calcitonin($Miacalcic^{(R)}$, 200IU/day) for 4 weeks, to relieve bone pain. With Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed Ranks Test, we could find pain decreased significantly at 3 week and mobility become improved at 4 week of salmon calcitonin use. Other parameters didn't show any significant changes. We think the analgesic effect is mainly due to effect not on the local bone lesion but on the central nervous system, and that increased dose of salmon calcitonin can induce earlier and stronger analgesic effect.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.359-362
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• 2010

The zygoma is second most commonly vulnerable facial bone in fracture, in number only by nasal fractures. It is difficult to evaluate reduction state intraoperatively, because almost surgeons reduce the fractured zygoma by blind method. We suggest the use of orthopedic C-arm intraoperatively. We use plain radiography, CT to evaluate preoperative state. Gilles approach or intraoral approach were used to reduce the fractured zygomatic arch. The C-arm was positioned at chin area, used to evaluate reduction intraoperatively. We got postoperative image by CT or submento-vertex view. There are variable methods to evaluate reduction intraoperatively: palpation, ultrasonography, CT, plain films. C-arm is considered superior diagnostic tool to other methods. The use of intraoperative C-arm was very efficient, it could bring better results.