“Leisure Life Satisfaction:” Will It Have a Beneficial Impact on Depression Among Older Adults in Community Care Settings in Korea? / 예방의학회지

Objectives@#While the risk of depression is expected to substantially increase among older adults receiving community care, leisure life satisfaction can be regarded as a key component in enhancing the mental health of those receiving community care. However, it is not yet known whether community care utilization increases the risk of depression, or what role is played by leisure life satisfaction in these settings. This study investigated the relationship between community care utilization and depression, as well as the main effect and the moderating role of leisure life satisfaction on the link between community care utilization and depression among older adults. @*Methods@#This study, using the 2019 Korean Welfare Panel Survey, conducted multiple regression analysis on data from 4494 elderly people aged 65 years or older. @*Results@#After controlling for potential covariates, older community care recipients were more likely to report symptoms of depression than those who did not receive community care. Meanwhile, leisure life satisfaction was negatively associated with depression in older adults. The test for interaction between community care utilization and leisure life satisfaction revealed that leisure life satisfaction significantly attenuated the link between depression and community care utilization. @*Conclusions@#The findings of this study imply that leisure life satisfaction could play a meaningful role in improving the mental health of older adults receiving community care. Welfare policies affecting older adults should consider leisure life satisfaction as an important resource for reducing depression in community care settings.

Is Job Insecurity Worse for Mental Health Than Having a Part-time Job in Canada? / 예방의학회지

Objectives@#A growing number of people depend on flexible employment, characterized by outsider employment status and perceived job insecurity. This study investigated whether there was a synergistic effect of employment status (full-time vs. part-time) and perceived job insecurity on major depressive disorder. @*Methods@#Data were derived from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health of 12 640 of Canada’s labor force population, aged 20 to 74. By combining employment status with perceived job insecurity, we formed four employment categories: fulltime secure, full-time insecure, part-time secure, and part-time insecure. @*Results@#Results showed no synergistic health effect between employment status and perceived job insecurity. Regardless of employment status (full-time vs. part-time), insecure employment was significantly associated with a high risk of major depressive disorder. Analysis of the interaction between gender and four flexible employment status showed a gender-contingent effect on this link in only full-time insecure category. Men workers with full-time insecure jobs were more likely to experience major depressive disorders than their women counterparts. @*Conclusions@#This study’s findings imply that perceived job insecurity may be a critical factor for developing major depressive disorder, in both men and women workers.

Is Job Insecurity Worse for Mental Health Than Having a Part-time Job in Canada? / 예방의학회지

Objectives@#A growing number of people depend on flexible employment, characterized by outsider employment status and perceived job insecurity. This study investigated whether there was a synergistic effect of employment status (full-time vs. part-time) and perceived job insecurity on major depressive disorder. @*Methods@#Data were derived from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health of 12 640 of Canada’s labor force population, aged 20 to 74. By combining employment status with perceived job insecurity, we formed four employment categories: fulltime secure, full-time insecure, part-time secure, and part-time insecure. @*Results@#Results showed no synergistic health effect between employment status and perceived job insecurity. Regardless of employment status (full-time vs. part-time), insecure employment was significantly associated with a high risk of major depressive disorder. Analysis of the interaction between gender and four flexible employment status showed a gender-contingent effect on this link in only full-time insecure category. Men workers with full-time insecure jobs were more likely to experience major depressive disorders than their women counterparts. @*Conclusions@#This study’s findings imply that perceived job insecurity may be a critical factor for developing major depressive disorder, in both men and women workers.

Microbusinesses and Occupational Stress: Emotional Demands, Job Resources, and Depression Among Korean Immigrant Microbusiness Owners in Toronto, Canada / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: While occupational stress has long been a central focus of psychological research, few studies have investigated how immigrant microbusiness owners (MBOs) respond to their unusually demanding occupation, or how their unresolved occupational stress manifests in psychological distress. Based on the job demands-resources model, this study compared MBOs to employees with regard to the relationships among emotional demands, job resources, and depressive symptoms. METHODS: Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 1288 Korean immigrant workers (MBOs, professionals, office workers, and manual workers) aged 30 to 70, living in Toronto and surrounding areas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted between March 2013 and November 2013. RESULTS: Among the four occupational groups, MBOs appeared to endure the greatest level of emotional demands, while reporting relatively lower levels of job satisfaction and job security; but MBOs reported the greatest job autonomy. The effect of emotional demands on depressive symptoms was greater for MBOs than for professionals. However, an inspection of stress-resource interactions indicated that though MBOs enjoyed the greatest autonomy, the protective effects of job satisfaction and security on the psychological risk of emotional demands appeared to be more pronounced for MBOs than for any of the employee groups. CONCLUSIONS: One in two Korean immigrants choose self-employment, most typically in family-owned microbusinesses that involve emotionally taxing dealings with clients and suppliers. However, the benefits of job satisfaction and security may protect MBOs from the adverse mental health effects of job stress.

Microbusinesses and Occupational Stress: Emotional Demands, Job Resources, and Depression Among Korean Immigrant Microbusiness Owners in Toronto, Canada / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES@#While occupational stress has long been a central focus of psychological research, few studies have investigated how immigrant microbusiness owners (MBOs) respond to their unusually demanding occupation, or how their unresolved occupational stress manifests in psychological distress. Based on the job demands-resources model, this study compared MBOs to employees with regard to the relationships among emotional demands, job resources, and depressive symptoms.@*METHODS@#Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 1288 Korean immigrant workers (MBOs, professionals, office workers, and manual workers) aged 30 to 70, living in Toronto and surrounding areas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted between March 2013 and November 2013.@*RESULTS@#Among the four occupational groups, MBOs appeared to endure the greatest level of emotional demands, while reporting relatively lower levels of job satisfaction and job security; but MBOs reported the greatest job autonomy. The effect of emotional demands on depressive symptoms was greater for MBOs than for professionals. However, an inspection of stress-resource interactions indicated that though MBOs enjoyed the greatest autonomy, the protective effects of job satisfaction and security on the psychological risk of emotional demands appeared to be more pronounced for MBOs than for any of the employee groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#One in two Korean immigrants choose self-employment, most typically in family-owned microbusinesses that involve emotionally taxing dealings with clients and suppliers. However, the benefits of job satisfaction and security may protect MBOs from the adverse mental health effects of job stress.

Trends in Gender-based Health Inequality in a Transitional Society: A Historical Analysis of South Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the trends in gender disparity in the self-rated health of people aged 25 to 64 in South Korea, a rapidly changing society, with specific attention to socio-structural inequality. METHODS: Representative sample data were obtained from six successive, nationwide Social Statistics Surveys of the Korean National Statistical Office performed during 1992 to 2010. RESULTS: The results showed a convergent trend in poor self-rated health between genders since 1992, with a sharper decline in gender disparity observed in younger adults (aged 25 to 44) than in older adults (aged 45 to 64). The diminishing gender gap seemed to be attributable to an increase in women's educational attainment levels and to their higher status in the labor market. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated the importance of equitable social opportunities for both genders for understanding the historical trends in the gender gap in the self-reported health data from South Korea.

Gender, Professional and Non-Professional Work, and the Changing Pattern of Employment-Related Inequality in Poor Self-Rated Health, 1995-2006 in South Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: We examined gender differential changes in employment-related health inequalities according to occupational position (professional/nonprofessional) in South Korea during the last decade. METHODS: Data were taken from four rounds of Social Statistical Surveys of South Korea (1995, 1999, 2003, and 2006) from the Korean National Statistics Office. The total study population was 55435 male and 33 913 female employees aged 25-64. Employment arrangements were divided into permanent, fixed-term, and daily employment. RESULTS: After stratification according to occupational position (professional/nonprofessional) and gender, different patterns in employment - related health inequalities were observed. In the professional group, the gaps in absolute and relative employment inequalities for poor self-rated health were more likely to widen following Korea's 1997 economic downturn. In the nonprofessional group, during the study period, graded patterns of employment-related health inequalities were continuously observed in both genders. Absolute health inequalities by employment status, however, decreased among men but increased among women. In addition, a remarkable increase in relative health inequalities was found among female temporary and daily employees (p = 0.009, < 0.001, respectively), but only among male daily employees (p = 0.001). Relative employment-related health inequalities had clearly widened for female daily workers between 2003 and 2006 (p = 0.047). The 1997 Korean economic downturn, in particular, seemingly stimulated a widening gap in employment health inequalities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that whereas absolute health inequalities in relation to employment status increased in the professional group, relative employment-related health inequalities increased in the nonprofessional group, especially among women. In view of the high concentration of female nonstandard employees, further monitoring of inequality should consider gender specific patterns according to employee's occupational and employment status.

Age and Gender Differences in the Relation of Chronic Diseases to Activity of Daily Living (ADL) Disability for Elderly South Koreans: Based on Representative Data / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the gender and age differential effect of major chronic diseases on activity of daily living (ADL) disability. METHODS: Surveyfreq and Surveylogistic regression analyses were employed on the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) with a sample of 3,609 persons aged 65 - 89. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential covariates, stroke, among elderly men more so than women, had a 2-3 times greater odds of engendering ADL disability in the 65-69 (p < 0.05) and 70-79 age groups (p < 0.01). In comparison to elderly women, cancer, diabetes, and incontinence in elderly men was associated with a higher risk of ADL disability in the 70 - 79 age group (p < 0.05), and this association was also observed for pulmonary disease in the 80-89 age group. Among elderly women, however, a significant association between incontinence and ADL disability was identified in all three age groups. In addition, this association was found in pulmonary disease and diabetes in elderly women aged 70 - 79 years. Significant gender differences were observed in the association between stroke in the 60 - 79 age group and cancer in the 70 - 79 age group. CONCLUSIONS: Age and gender differences were observed in the effect of chronic diseases on ADL disability.

Gender Differences in the Effect of Obesity on Chronic Diseases among the Elderly Koreans

The objective of this study is to investigate gender differences of obesity on major chronic diseases in elderly Korean males and females. This study applied a cross sectional design using the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES). We selected 508 elderly males and 830 elderly females who were 60 or more years old. Obesity was defined using Body Mass Index (BMI) (> or = 25) or Waist Circumference (WC) (> or = 90 for men and > or = 85 for women). We applied a surveylogistic regression to determine gender differences in relation to the effect of obesity on eleven major chronic diseases. Using WC, 46.2% of females were obese compared to 34.3% for males. Similarly, using BMI, 42.2% of females were obese compared to 31.7% for males. While obese males and females had similar profiles for developing metabolic syndrome components including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes (odds ratios [ORs] were 1.8-2.6 for males and 1.7-2.5 for females), obese elderly females had additional risks for arthritis and urinary incontinence (ORs 1.5-1.8 for females) as well as higher prevalence for these diseases. A clearer understanding of gender differences in relation to the association between obesity and chronic diseases would be helpful for reducing the social burden of chronic diseases in the elderly.

Trends in Sex Ratio at Birth according to Parental Social Positions: Results from Vital Statistics Birth, 1981-2004 in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: South Korea has experienced unprecedented ups and downs in the sex ratio at birth (SRB), which has been a unique phenomenon in the last two decades. However, little is known about socioeconomic factors that influence the SRB. Employing the diffusion theory by Rogers, this study was undertaken to examine the trends in social variations in the SRB from 1981 to 2004 in Korea. METHODS: The data was taken from Vital Birth Statistics for the period from 1981-2004. We computed the annual male proportion of live births according to the parental education (university, middle/high school, primary) and occupation (non-manual, manual, others). Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the odds ratios of male birth according to social position for the equidistant three time periods (1981-1984, 1991-1994, and 2001-2004). RESULTS: An increased SRB was detected among parents with higher social position before the mid 1980s. Since then, however, a greater SRB was found for the less educated and manual jobholders. The inverse social gradient for the SRB was most prominent in early 1990s, but the gap has narrowed since the late 1990s. The mother's socioeconomic position could be a sensitive indicator of the social variations in the sex ratio at birth. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the relationship of parental social position with the SRB were detected during the 1980-2004 in Korea. This Korean experience may well be explained by diffusion theory, suggesting there have been socioeconomic differences in the adoption and spread of sex-detection technology.

Employment and Married Women's Health in Korea; Beneficial or Harmful? / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether working married women in different occupational classes affected diverse health outcomes. METHODS: We used data for married women aged 25-59 (N=2,273) from the 2005 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. Outcome measures included physical/mental and subjective/objective indicators (self-rated poor health, chronic diseases, depression, and suicidal ideation from reported results; metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia from health examination results). Age-standardized prevalence and logistic regression were employed to assess health status according to three types of working groups (housewives, married women in manual jobs, married women in non-manual jobs). Sociodemographic factors (age, numbers of children under 7, education, household income) and health behaviors (health examination, sleep, rest, exercise, smoking, drinking) and a psychological factor (stress) were considered as covariates. RESULTS: Non-manual married female workers in Korea showed better health status in all five health outcomes than housewives. The positive health effect for the non-manual group persisted in absolute (age-adjusted prevalence) and relative (odds ratio) measures, but multivariate analyses showed an insignificant association of the non-manual group with dyslipidemia. Manual female workers showed significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence of almost all health outcomes than housewives except chronic disease, but the associations disappeared after further adjustment for covariates regarding sleep, rest, and stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that examining the health impact of work on married women requires the consideration of occupational class.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Preventive Services among the Elderly: Results from Medical Checkup, Cancer Check, and BP Check / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Due to the assumptions of homogeneity as well as challenges in the socioeconomic position of the elderly, they have been relatively neglected in studies of health inequalities. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the social inequalities in preventive services among elderly men and women. METHODS: Data were obtained from a nationally representative sample of 342 men and 525 women aged 65 and over collected during the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Age adjusted proportions and logistic regression were used to identify the social patterning of preventive services among elderly Koreans using various social position indicators. RESULTS: The findings of this study generally supported the presence of social gradients in preventive services among the Korean elderly. The likelihood of using the service becomes progressively higher with social position. Educational level, income, and self-rated living status were significantly associated with increased medical checkups and cancer checks. In addition, logistic regression detected educational inequalities only among older women receiving BP checks. After being stratified based on health status and chronic disease status, social disparities still existed when educational level and self-rated living status were considered. Among unhealthy individuals, place of residence was observed as a barrier to medical checkups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated strong and consistent associations between socioeconomic position and preventive services among the elderly in Korea. The results indicate that public health strategies should be developed to reduce the barriers to preventive services encountered by the elderly.

The Role of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in Congenital Megacolons and Idiopathic Megacolons

The etiology of several motility disorders, including persistent megacolon after definitive surgery for Hirschsprung's disease, meconium ileus which is not associated with cystic fibrosis and idiopathic megacolon, is still unclear. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are thought to modulate gut motility as gastrointestinal pace maker cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ICC in the bowel walls of the patients (n=15) who had variable motility disorders. The ICC were identified by immunohistochemical staining using an anti-C-Kit antibody and the results were compared with control specimens (n=2). The control group (G1) showed evenly distributed ICC in their bowel walls. The second group (G2, n=5) who had normal bowel movements after Duhamel procedures and the third group (G3, n=4) who had persistent megacolon after Duhamel procedures showed absent or scarcely distributed ICC in their aganglionic bowels. The ICC were identified by immunohistochemical staining using an anti-C-Kit antibody and the results were compared with control specimens (n=2). The control group (G1) showed evenly distributed ICC in their bowel walls. The second group (G2, n=5) who had normal bowel movements after Duhamel procedures and the third group (G3, n=4) who had persistent megacolon after Duhamel procedures showed absent or scarcely distributed ICC in their aganglionic bowels. Whereas ICC were evenly distributed in the ganglionic bowels of G2, they were not seen or scarecely distributed in the ganglionic bowels of G3. Two patients (G4) who suffered from idiopathic megacolon showed absence or decrease of ICC in spite of presence of ganglion cells in their colons. Four neonates (G5) who underwent ileostomy because of meconium obstruction showed absent or markedly decreased ICC in the colon at the time of ileostomy and the distribution of ICC was changed to a normal pattern at the time of ileostomy closure between 39-104 days of age and their bowelmotility were restored after that. The results suggest that lack of ICC caused reduce motility in the ganglionic colons and it may be responsible for the development of various motility disorders. Delayed maturity of ICC may also play a role in the meconium obstruction of neinates.

The Clinical Assessment of the Efficacy and Safety of the Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) was introduced recently as an effective ventilatory device and intubation guide. The following study was designed to assess not only efficacy but also safety of the ILMA. METHODS: Sixty adult patients who were randomly assigned in 3 groups (Group 1, 2, 3), ASA class 1 or 2, undergoing elective surgery were induced with intravenous injection of fentanyl, thiopental sodium, vecuronium, lidocaine and inhalation of O2, N2O, enflurane. In Group 1 (n=20), the patients were intubated with Macintosh curved blade and endotracheal tube. In Group 2 (n=20), blind tracheal intubation using an ILMA was attempted. In Group 3 (n=20), we applicated the ILMA to a fiberoptic bronchoscope-aided tracheal intubation. Then we decided success rates for blind and fiberoptic-guided passage of an endotracheal tube via the ILMA. We measured systolic, diastolic arterial pressure and heart rate before administration of induction agent, 1 and 5 minutes after induction, just after intubation, 1, 2, 3 and 5 minutes after endotracheal intubation. RESULTS: The success rates for blind (Group 2) and fiberoptic-guided (Group 3) passage of an endotracheal tube via the ILMA were 70% and 100% respectively. There were no statistically significance in the systolic, diastolic arterial pressure and heart rate when compared to value of any other groups at any time but higher in all groups when compared to preinduction value of each group just after intubation. CONCLUSIONS: Though the ILMA may be an effective intubation guide, it doesn't blunt hemodynamic changes effectively than standard laryngoscopic intubation.

Influence of the True Living Donor Kidney-Weight to Recipient Body-Weight Ratio on the Post-Transplant 1 Year Renal Allograft Function

The importance of the donor-to-recipient body surface area ratio or the calculated donor kidney-weight to recipient body-weight ratio is still matter of controversy in clinical renal transplantation(Tx). To assess the value of the true kidney weight(KW in gms) to the recipient body-weight(BW in kg) ratio in living donor renal Tx, the records of 165 adult living donor renal transplants were reviewed. All patients received uniform cyclosporine and steroid immunosuppression. Five patients were excluded because of early graft loss. In the remaining 160 patients, full information including KW, BW, degree of HLA matching, demographics of recipient and donor, acute rejection(AR) episodes, serum creatinine(Scr) at post-Tx 1 month and 1 year, 24 hours urinary excretion of protein at post-Tx 1 year and finally outcome of graft were available. Patients with KW/BW3.5, but this difference was not statistically significant. These findings were still true even if we eliminated the effect of acute rejection episodes. In 96 patients that never experienced acute rejection, we could demonstrate the significant impact of KW/BW on the Scr. In conclusion, if the Scr at post-Tx 1 year is a major determinant of the long-term graft outcome, the important role of KW/BW ratio is must considered in the selection of a potential living donor.

Influence of the True Living Donor Kidney-Weight to Recipient Body-Weight Ratio on the Post-Transplant 1 Year Renal Allograft Function

The importance of the donor-to-recipient body surface area ratio or the calculated donor kidney-weight to recipient body-weight ratio is still matter of controversy in clinical renal transplantation(Tx). To assess the value of the true kidney weight(KW in gms) to the recipient body-weight(BW in kg) ratio in living donor renal Tx, the records of 165 adult living donor renal transplants were reviewed. All patients received uniform cyclosporine and steroid immunosuppression. Five patients were excluded because of early graft loss. In the remaining 160 patients, full information including KW, BW, degree of HLA matching, demographics of recipient and donor, acute rejection(AR) episodes, serum creatinine(Scr) at post-Tx 1 month and 1 year, 24 hours urinary excretion of protein at post-Tx 1 year and finally outcome of graft were available. Patients with KW/BW3.5, but this difference was not statistically significant. These findings were still true even if we eliminated the effect of acute rejection episodes. In 96 patients that never experienced acute rejection, we could demonstrate the significant impact of KW/BW on the Scr. In conclusion, if the Scr at post-Tx 1 year is a major determinant of the long-term graft outcome, the important role of KW/BW ratio is must considered in the selection of a potential living donor.

A New Surgical Approach to the Rectal Anastomotic Stricture: Endoscopic

Rectal stricture is an occasional complication of abdominoperineal pull-through and low anterior resection of the rectum and irradiation injury. Although the causes and pathogenesis of this phenomenon are poorly understood, various techniques for stricture dilatation have been described. In this article, we present two cases of severe postoperative rectal stricture that were not amenable to conventional methods of dilation but were succesfully managed by transanal electroresection using endoscopic transurethral electroreectoscope.

Caudal Epidural Morphine for Postoperative Analgesia in Children / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The use of caudal morphine for postoperative analgesia has been increased in popularity since 1981. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of analgesia and incidence of side effects of a mepivacaine-morphine mixture with mepivacaine alone. METHODS: Forty patients were randomly divided into two groups. In group 1, caudal block was performed with 1% mepivacaine 1 ml/kg alone. In group 2, caudal block was performed with 1% mepivacaine 1ml/kg-morphine 0.03 mg/kg mixture. Postoperative five-point pain scores and side effects were measured. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in sedation dose, incidence of side effects and supplemental analgesics. Pain scores were significantly lower at postoperative 2 and 3 hours in mepivacaine-morphine mixture group. CONCLUSIONS: Caudal epidural mepivacaine-morphine (0.03 mg/kg) mixture is effective in children for control of postoperative pain without significant side effects.

The Relationships between Administration Time of Pyridostigmine and the Recovery of Vecuronium-induced Neuromuscular Blockade / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The timing of administration may be an important factor in order to obtain maximal antagonizing effect of anticholinesterase on neuromuscular blockade. The objective of this study is to seek for the optimal administration time of pyridostigmine for reducing the recovery time of vecuronium. METHODS:Thirty patients were devided into three groups,who were receiving intravenously pyridostigmine (0.2 mg/kg) at 10% (group 1), 20% (group 2) and 25% (group 3) recovery of T1. The recovery indices (RI: time taken for T1 to recover from 25 to 75% of control) and recovery time (time taken for T1 to recover from 5% to 20, 25, 50 & 75%) in vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) neuromuscular blockade were checked and compared between 3 groups using train of four stimulation with Relaxograph(Datex co., Finland). RESULTS: The recovery time (T5-20, T5-25, T5-50, T5-75) was significantly faster in the group 1 than the group 3. But there were no significant differences in recovery indices (RI) between 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Provided there is a slightest evidence of spontaneous recovery, early administration of anticholinesterse will reduce the recovery time of nondepolarizing neuromuscular block. But it can not affect the dissociation rate of vecuronium (KD) and there were no significant differences in recovery indices.

The Neuromuscular blocking Effect of Subcutaneous Administration of Succinylcholine / 대한마취과학회지

Succinylcholine is commonly administered intravenously, however sometimes it can be administered intramuscularly or sublingually when an intravenous line is not available. We investigated the neuromuscular blocking effect of subcutaneous injection of succinylcholine. The 60 adult patients (ASA 1 or 2) were randomly divided into two groups. After intravenous administration of propofol 3 mg/kg, succinylcholine 1 mg/kg was administered intravenously in one group (IV group, n=10) and subcutaneously in another (SQ group, n=50). Neuromuscular transmission was monitered continuously by the train-of-four (TOF) from response stimulated the ulnar nerve with 2Hz at wrist and the evoked compound action potential of hypothenar muscles was measured with Relaxograph (Datex Co.). We determined the maximum depressed the twitch height (T(TXD)), onset time from injection of succinylcholine to T(MXD), recovery time from T(MXD) to the recovery of 75%, and duration of action from injection of succinylcholine to the recovery of 75%. In the results, T(MXD) of SQ group varied from O% to over 75% compared with 0% in IV group. The onset time of SQ group were more delayed between 7.78+/-2.80 to 13.08+/-3.51 minutes compared with 1.08+/-0.16 minutes in IV group. The recovery time of SQ group were faster between 15.67+/-10.40 to 2.59+/-1.75 minutes compared with 18.68+/-3.68 minutes in IV group. The duration of action of SQ group were not significantly different compared with IV group. And in the SQ group, the lesser depression of twitch height the slower onset time and the faster recovery time was revealed. Conclusively, the subcutaneous administration of succinylcholine 1 mg/kg resulted that the magnitudes of neuromuscular blockade was variable and incomplete, and onset time were slower but recovery were faster than intravenous injection.