• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.76-80
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• 2015

Purpose: Methimazole is an anti-thyroid drug that can cause life-threatening neutropenia in rare situations. The aim of this case report is to describe a set of oral complications associated with methimazole-induced neutropenia and the healing of the gingiva after proper treatment. Methods: A 31-year-old female patient hospitalized for systemic symptoms of sore throat and fever and showing extensive gingival necrosis with pain was referred to the Department of Periodontics from the Department of Endocrinology. Methimazole-induced neutropenia was diagnosed based on blood test results and her medical history. Methimazole was discontinued and a range of treatments was administered, including the injection of granulocyte colony stimulating factor. Results: After systemic treatment, the gingiva began to heal as the neutrophil count increased. Approximately one year later, the gingiva had returned to a normal appearance. Twenty-one months after treatment, sequestra of the alveolar bone that had broken through the gingiva were removed. Periodic supportive periodontal treatment has been continued uneventfully. Conclusions: The oral manifestations of gingival necrosis and ulcerations, in combination with systemic symptoms such as fever and sore throat, are the critical signs presented in the early stages of drug-induced neutropenia. Therefore, dentists need to be aware of these oral complications in order to make an accurate diagnosis and to ensure that prompt medical intervention is provided.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.142-150
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to identify the attitude of Korean HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)-positive men toward death. Methods: A Q-methodology was performed with 20 HIV-positive male individuals. Participants were asked to select and answer questions among a set of 40 Q-statements using a 9-point scale. The collected data were analyzed using the PC QUANL program. Results: Participants' attitudes toward death were categorized into four types. Type I was characterized by respect for life, type II by reality orientation, type III by pain evasion and type IV religious beliefs. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop an assessment tool and an intervention program for HIV-positive individuals.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.13-24
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• 2007

Objectives : This article aims to give guidance on the conduct and reporting of case series and audits of acupuncture, based on common problems that have arisen in the past. This type of project, and particularly the prospective case series or pre- post-intervention study, may give valuable evidence of the overall effectiveness of acupuncture-for example in different situations and in different conditions- and provides one step in the research pathway before generating an hypothesis. Results & Discussion : The project should be designed with the aim of reducing bias as much as possible. Careful and detailed planning is essential for the project to produce worthwhile results that readers can evaluate and replicate. Ethical issues should be considered and formal approval may be necessary. The patient group should be recruited systematically and baseline data obtained. The treatment given should be systematic and decisions to change or end treatment made explicit. The outcome should be measured in ways that are known to be reliable and valid. Musculoskeletal problems can be evaluated with scales for pain and confirmed by measuring one other symptom such as stiffness or one other aspect such as bothersomeness. Global change scores also provide supporting information, and the MYMOP (Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile) measure is popular when patients with different conditions are included. The design of questionnaires for beliefs and attitudes is a specialised area that should not be attempted without expert help. Adverse events should also be recorded. Analysis of the data and the best way of summarising and presenting the results are also discussed.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2015

Background Capsular contracture is the most troublesome complication in breast implant surgery. Although capsule formation can be seen as a normal reaction to a foreign body, it can induce pain, hardness, deformity, and other pathologic problems. Surgical intervention is required in severe cases, but even surgery cannot guarantee a successful outcome without recurrence. This experimental study confirms that single topical administration of leukotriene antagonist zafirlukast (Accolate, Astrazeneca) reduces peri-implant capsule formation and prevents capsular contracture. Methods Twelve smooth-surfaced cohesive gel implants were implanted in New Zealand White rabbits. These miniature implants were designed to be identical to currently used products for breast augmentation. The rabbits were divided into 2 groups. In the experimental group (n=6), the implant and normal saline with zafirlukast were inserted in the submuscular pocket. In the control group (n=6), the implant and normal saline alone were used. Two months later, the implants with peri-implant capsule were excised. We evaluated capsule thickness and collagen pattern and performed immunohistochemical staining of myofibroblasts, transforming growth factor $(TGF)-{\beta}1$, 2. Results The thickness of the capsules in the experimental group was reduced in both dorsal and ventral directions. The collagen pattern showed parallel alignment with low density, and the number of myofibroblasts as well as the amounts of $TGF-{\beta}1$ and $TGF-{\beta}2$ were reduced in the experimental group. Conclusions We suggest that single topical administration of leukotriene antagonist zafirlukast can be helpful in reducing capsule formation and preventing capsular contracture via myofibroblast suppression, modulation of fibroblastic cytokines, and anti-inflammatory effect.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.914-916
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• 2002

Actinomycosis of the lung is a chronic, suppurative granulomatous infection which is caused by Actinomyces israelii. It is believed to enter the thorax by way of the bronchial tree, by aspiration of contaminated aerosol particles in the upper digestive tract. Symptoms of chronic cough, sputum, hemoptysis, low grade fever, chest pain, and weight loss are common. Chest X-ray shows mass like lesion, pulmonary infiltration, abscess, and tuberculosis like lesion, which makes differential diagnosis from lung cancer very difficult. Surgical intervention is needed for the diagnosis and treatment, and diagnosis of actinomycosis is achieved when histologic examination reveals sulfur granules containing filamentous organisms. Penicillin is the drug of choice. Two or three months of penicillin treatment is recommended to treat the oropharyngeal or dental abscess to avoid recurrences. We present a case of actinomycosis which is suspected to malignant with review of literatures.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.615-618
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• 2008

Purpose: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare cutaneous ulcerative disease. First described in 1930, the condition is characterized by progressive ulceration with deeply undermined purple-red edge. The lower extremities are most commonly affected but other parts of the skin and mucous membranes may also be involved. Although medical treatments with topical wound therapy are commonly used, surgical intervention is still controversial. In this paper, we report an atypical case of pyoderma gangrenosum which was characterized by extensive soft tissue breakdown. Methods: A 27-year-old male patient was referred to our institution with a $7{\times}8cm$ sized deeply undermined ulceration with pus-like discharge and fever. Incision and drainage was performed at another clinic 3 days prior to admission to our institution. After a thorough physical examination and the MRI review, a diagnosis of necrotizing faciitis was made. Accordingly, fasciotomy and debridement was performed. However, the wound enlarged progressively and the patient remained highly febrile for 9 days after the treatment. Septic screening did not reveal any occult infection. After a secondary review of the case, the initial diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis was rejected and changed to pyoderma gangrenosum. With the use of dexamethasone intravenously, the wound improved dramatically and the fever was eliminated. Steroid mediation was tapered with duration of 1 month. The wound was stabilized and subsequently covered with split-thickness skin graft. Results: Split-thickness skin grafting with 1 : 1.5 mesh was successfully taken. Conclusion: Initial clinical features of pyoderma gangrenosum are very similar to that of necrotizing fasciitis. High fever and progressive ulceration with severe pain could invite earlier surgical approach. The advancing wound margins (the well defined violaceous, undermined border and necrotic ulcer base) and lack of isolation of pathogenic organism was used to make the correct diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum. We achieved a good result with proper medication and split-thickness skin graft.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.152-155
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• 2013

Orbital metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma is very rare, with only 14 biopsy-proven cases from hepa tocellular carcinoma cases reported in English literature and three cases reported in Korea. Common symptoms of orbital metastasis are proptosis, visual loss, ocular pain and oculomotor dysfunction. For its precise diagnosis, we can perform fine needle aspiration biopsy, orbit CT or MRI, and ultrasonography. Radiotherapy is the mainstay in the treatment of orbital metastasis. In addition, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and surgical intervention can play a role in the treatment of orbital metastasis according to the primary cancer and symptoms. However, the prognosis of orbital metastasis is poor. We report herein a rare case of a patient with orbital metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma, which was treated with various modalities that included resection, and who had good clinical and radiological responses to radiation therapy and sorafenib (Nexavar, Bayer HealthCare).

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2007

Purpose: This research was aimed to explore the major subjects and research theme and to classify characteristics of the key words in recent Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing. Methods: With survey design, whole 103 published papers during 2003-2006 were analyzed with structured analysis form; research subjects, research methodology, data analysis, and key words of the published papers were classified and extracted. Various theme was founded and classified to 9 domains. Results: Most of the research subjects were women. Eighty-eight percent of papers conducted quantitative research; 83% chose convenience sampling and 69% used survey design, while experimental design was 29%. Key words were categorized 9 domains: demographic, health related concept, health behavior(intervention), sex-related, life event, disease, et al. Among 9 domains, health related concept, especially psycho-social topics such as depression, anxiety, stress were mostly studied and then physiologic topics such as labor pain, fatigue, and menstrual symptoms. Conclusion: Most of the subjects were women and the most common domain studied was health related concepts in Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing. And key words and topics were on women's health issues. We can conclude that Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing has published by her own philosophy.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2008

Background: Hemiplegic patients usually have difficulty maintaining balance. Balance training is a major component of there habilitation program for patients with neurological impairment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PLS(Posterior Leaf Spring), FES(Functional Electrical stimulation), treadmill training, and neurodevelopmental treatment on the improvement of balance in patients with hemiplegia. Methods: We looked into published studies from Dankook University’s electronic library databases of RISS4U, KMbase, NCBI, and MEDLIS concerning the effectiveness of any form of intervention leading to improvement of balance. All types of studies relevant to the topic that were published in English during the time period of 1986 to 2005 were included. Results: 1. There were significant differences in standing balance, dynamic activity balance, and gait speed between barefoot subjects and subjects who wore SPAFO and HPAFO(p<.05). 2. The changes in ROM and FRT related to sex, age, height, and weight part of the diagnosis, as well as experience relapse, was of meaningless value. Changes in ROM related to the duration of pain and experiences of falling down were also meaningless. However, FRT showed significant static differences(p<.05). 3. The body-weight-support treadmill training scoring of standing balance, step length, and a timed 10m walking test showed definite improvement. 4. The proprioceptive control approach improved dynamic balance in patients with hemiplegia. Conclusion: Consequently, further study is needed to verify methods when physical therapists are researching balance ability in hemiplegic patient.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.117-128
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the differences of knowledge, perception, and performance between the points of time before and after ICU nurses had the backrest elevation education. Method: The study subjects were 58 nurses at a medical and surgical ICU of one general Y hospital located in Seoul. They received the education, including backrest elevation guideline and related education materials. Data were collected from May 11 throughout August 12, 2007 with a structured questionnaire. Results: 1) There were significant differences in the mean scores of knowledge(2.21 at pre-education, 5.24 at post-education), perception(36.96 at pre-education, 53.36 at post-education), and performance(32.08 at pre-education, 43.51 at post-education), 2) There was a significant correlation between nurse's perception and performance (p=.000). 3) The nurse's perception regarding the importance of the back rest elevation education was significantly effective on their performance (p=.000). Conclusion: The backrest elevation education would contribute to improve ICU nurse's knowledge, perception and performance. The more the nurses would consider the importance of this education, the better they would perform the nursing intervention of backrest elevation.