• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.203-208
• /
• 2013

Purpose: We analyzed retrospectively the effect of pyridoxine in the treatment of peripheral nerve related foot pain because we have seen favorable clinical results from it as a monotherapy. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the clinical results of 200 cases of peripheral nerve related foot pain, treated with pyridoxine from March 2009 to February 2012. We devided them into three groups, peripheral neuritis, Morton's neuroma and posttraumatic neuralgia and recorded percentage of improvement of pain, compared to initial pain level at 2 weeks and 6 weeks. Results: There were 127 peripheral neuritis cases, 22 Morton's neuroma and 51 posttraumatic neuralgia. At 2 weeks after treatment, 135 cases(67.5%) showed pain relief. At 6 weeks, 36 cases(21%) showed complete improvement of pain, 81 cases(47%) showed more than 50 % of improvement, 22 cases(13%) showed less than 50% of improvement and 33 cases(19%) showed no improvement. There are 4 cases of gastrointestinal discomfort and 2 cases of aggravation of nervy pain. Conclusion: Pyridoxine was effective drug in the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in terms of pain relief, safety and cost effectiveness. So it can be an available first line drug before adding other drugs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.113-116
• /
• 1997

Sensorineural hearing loss(SNHL) is defined as a sudden hearing impairment which was develope over a period of hours to days. The definitive cause of SNHL is unknown in most cases. Disturbance of the blood flow of the inner ear is a main causal hypotheses. Most symptomatic treatment is focusing to improving the blood flow of the inner ear. At our hospital, most patients are recommended to bed rest, vasodilators(nicotinic acid, antihistamines) and stellate ganglion block(SGB) for two weeks. We experienced two cases of recurrence immediately after recovery from SNHL. They discontinued SGB after initial recovery. due to associated pain with operation and or psychologic stress. One patient resumed SGB and medication treatment, but the second who gave up treatment was not recovered. Therefore, we recommend to continuance of treatment of stellate ganglion blocks to improve recovery rate of SNHL and avoid further trauma and psychologic stress during the recovery period of SNHL.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.277-285
• /
• 2020

Chronic diseases as well as a growing population of older adults are currently the leading cause of ill health and economic burden worldwide. Managing those diseases in one-on-one medical consultations poses substantial challenges due to limited time and resources in the current health care system. Various approaches have been taken to manage these conditions, most with limited success. Shared medical appointments (SMAs) are an innovative care delivery option to make the testing of alternative care modalities a prime concern. SMAs are individual medical consultations carried out in a group of patients with similar diseases by providing education, medication management, and disease monitoring. SMAs, since their initial conceptualization in 1998, have gained much popularity and adopted as one of the standard processes in many countries. Accumulated evidence-based studies show outcomes for increasing access to care, behavioral change facilitated through self-management education, maintained/better outcomes, physician productivity, and enhanced resource management. This review summarizes current evidence regarding the existing status of SMAs abroad. An extensive literature search was conducted on major electronic databases including PubMed and Google Scholar. This study suggests to explore and exploit the SMAs which have unique potential as a healthcare delivery innovation in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.491-505
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study was to develop an algorithm for emergency nursing care of dyspneic patients. Methods: This methodological study was done through reviews of medical records and literatures, checklists of emergency nursing care for dyspneic patients, interviews with nurses, and experts' validity. Results: Firstly, the initial assessment confirmed the identification of airway patency, accessory muscle usage, RR, $SpO_2$, v/s, skin color, and mental status. Immediate emergency care provided oxygen, checked ABG, EKG, and chest X-ray, established a semi-fowler position, maintained IV routes, administered medication orders, and conducted careful monitoring. Secondly, if the patient exhibited $SpO_2$ of less than 90%, the nurse considered the patient's condition to be aggravated. Thirdly, if the patient showed improvement of more than 90% $SpO_2$, the nurse administered secondary assessment and carried out specific nursing care. However, if the patient continuously showed $SpO_2$ of less than 80%, the nurse assisted the intubation and then executed ventilator therapy. Conclusions: This study suggests that the algorithm is an effective decision tool and utilizing the algorithm is expected to improve the emergency nursing care for dyspneic patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.209-217
• /
• 2004

Evaluation of dementia in patients with early symptoms of cognitive decline is clinically challenging, but the need for early, accurate diagnosis has become more crucial, since several medication for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer' disease are available. Many neurodegenerative diseases produce significant brain function alteration even when structural imaging (CT or MRI) reveal no specific abnormalities. The role of PET and SPECT brain imaging in the initial assessment and differential diagnosis of dementia is beginning to evolve vapidly and growing evidence indicates that appropriate incorporation of PET into the clinical work up can improve diagnostic and prognostic accuracy with respect to Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia in the geriatric population. in the fast few years, studios comparing neuropathologic examination with PET have established reliable and consistent accuracy for diagnostic evaluations using PET - accuracies substantially exceeding those of comparable studies of diagnostic value of SPECT or of both modalities assessed side by side, or of clinical evaluations done without nuclear imaging. This review deals the role of functional brain imaging techniques in the evaluation of dementias and the role of nuclear neuroimaging in the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 1996

Background: Efficacy of spinal opioids for the treatment of intractable cancer pain has been reported by several authors. The epidural route seems to be a more reliable and effective method of pain control as compared to the intrathecal route which can lead to opioids by portal system. Methods: Medical records were reviewed of 18 patients who had been treated with epidural morphine via an implanted port-A-Cath from Mar. 1991 to Sep. 1994. Results: Patients were treated for a mean of 92 days. There were wide variation of dose requirements. The minimum daily dose ranged from 2 to 10mg, and maximum daily dose from 3 to 30 mg. Verbal rating scale were below moderate until 100th days after posrtal implantation. When 3 patients suffered from aggravated pain associated with vertebral metastasis. Five of 11 patients who were administered medication longer than 50 days reguired increased doses ranging from 3 mg to 25 mg which were higher as compared to initial doses. These patients also experienced pain due to vertebral metastasis. There were no report of epidural scarring, respiratory depression, epidural infections, meningitis, or catheter blockade. Conclusion: Continuous epidural morphine administration via Port-A-Cath is an effective method with minimal complication.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.261-266
• /
• 2012

Purpose: Traumatic pancreatic injury is not common in abdominal trauma injury. However, the morbidity and the mortality rates of patients with pancreatic injury, which are related with difficulties of initial assessment, establishment of diagnosis, and treatment are relatively high. The aim of this study is to review our institution's experience and suggest a diagnosis and therapeutic algorithm for use in cases involving traumatic pancreatic injury. Methods: Eighteen(18) patients with blunt pancreatic injury from January, 2004 to October 2012 were included in this study. We analyzed treatment and diagnosis method, other organ injury, treatment interval, hospital stay and complications retrospectively. Results: Nine patients were treated with conservative medication and another nine patients were treated surgically. Complications occurred in nine patients, and one patient died due to intraventricular hemorrhage and subdural hemorrhage with multiple organ failure. Delayed surgery was performed in three cases. The early and delayed surgery groups showed difference in hospital stay and intensive care unit stay. Delayed surgery was associated with a longer hospital stay (p=0.007) than immediate surgery. Conclusion: In blunt pancreatic trauma, proper early diagnosis and prompt treatment are recommended necessity. Based on this review of our experience, we also suggest the adoption of our institution's algorithm for cases involving traumatic pancreatic injury.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.230-237
• /
• 2021

Functional constipation is common in the paediatric population all over the world. Effective disimpaction to evacuate the impacted faecal matter forms an essential initial step in the management of constipation. Though different regimens of polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes (PEG+E) are accepted as the prime medication for disimpaction, response is not always satisfactory. A randomised prospective study was undertaken, in a tertiary paediatric Gastroenterology centre to find out the outcome of a 2-day disimpaction when a stimulant laxative sodium picosulphate was added to PEG3350+E (PEG+E+PS group) and comparing it with the outcome using PEG3350+E (PEG+E group) alone. Hundred and one children were randomised into two groups to receive PEG+E+PS and PEG+E. Results revealed that PEG+E+PS group proved significantly superior to PEG+E group in most of the efficacy-parameters in terms of disimpaction as well as long-term management of constipation. Though stimulant laxatives are being used for disimpaction, comparative data are lacking. This was the 1st such comparative study looking at the efficacy of these two processes of disimpaction along with long term effect on treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.235-243
• /
• 2018

Treatment of schizophrenia has as its ultimate goals, the functional recovery of the patients and improvement of their quality of life. While antipsychotic medication is the fundamental method for treating schizophrenia, it has certain limitations in terms of treating the illness beyond its positive symptoms. Therefore, psychosocial intervention should be used in tandem with pharmacological methods in treating schizophrenia. The efficacy of several modes of psychosocial intervention for improving outcomes in schizophrenia is well attested. Approximately 10 modes of psychosocial intervention have been recommended based on existing evidence, including family intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy, supported employment, early intervention services, lifestyle intervention for physical health enhancement, treatment of comorbid substance abuse, assertive community treatment, cognitive remediation, social skills training, and peer support. Ideally, these interventions are offered to patients in combination with one another. Over the last decade, increased emphasis has been placed on early detection and intervention, with particular focus on long-term recovery. Early intervention with comprehensive psychosocial interventions should be enacted promptly from the initial detection of schizophrenia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.485-494
• /
• 2004

Background : To assess the effects of mDOT implementation on sputum smear conversion for AFB (Acid fast bacilli) positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, modified Directly Observed Treatment (mDOT) was started on October $8^{th}$ 2001 at a health center in Seoul. mDOT was defined through weekly interviewing and supervising of a patient by a supervisor (doctor, nurse, or lay health worker). The sputum smear conversion of a mDOT group was compared with that of a self-medication (self) group. Methods : This study included 52 AFB positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered at a health center in Seoul between October $8^{th}$ 2001 and April $23^{rd}$ 2002. 24 and 28 patients were enrolled in the mDOT and self medication groups, respectively. Paired (1:1) individual matching, by gender, extent of disease, relapse and age-matching variables, was performed between the two groups, resulting in 20 paired matches. This prospective study was planned as an unblinded, non-randomized quasiexperimental pilot project. Outcomes were identified from results of sputum smear examinations for AFB in both groups at 2 weeks, and 1 and 2 months. The paired matching data were analyzed using the SAS program version 8.1 by McNemar test. Results : At the end of 2 weeks of treatment, the sputum smear conversion of the mDOT group was somewhat higher than that of the self medication group (78.57 vs. 50%, p-value=0.289), and after 1 month of treatment no statistically significant difference was shown between the two groups (83.33 vs. 50, p-value=0.125). At the end of 2 months of treatment (initial intensive phase), the sputum smear conversions of the mDOT and self groups were 95 and 75%, respectively (p-value=0.219). Conclusions : The implementation of mDOT did not result in clinically significant increases in the sputum smear conversion at 2 weeks, and 1 and 2 months compared with that of the self medication group. However, the increases experienced might contribute to diminishing the infectious period of AFB positive patients, and this approach may act as a guide for a specific group of patients. In this study, mDOT was performed for one hundred percent of the intensive treatment phase. It can also be an effective treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis patients, and may be useful for some high risk tuberculosis patients.