Identification of High-risk Groups of Suicide from the Depressed Elderly using Decision Tree Analysis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to explore levels of suicidal ideation and identify subgroups of high suicidal risk among the depressed elderly in Korea. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted on secondary data from the 6th (1st year) Korean national health and nutrition examination survey (KNHANES). A total of 239 depressed elders aged 60 or over who participated in the KNHANES. The prevalence of suicidal ideation and its related factors, including sociodemographic, physical, psychological characteristics and quality of life (EQ-5D index) were examined. Descriptive statistics and a decision tree analysis were performed using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 and SPSS Modeler 14.2 programs. RESULTS: Of the depressed elderly, 28.9% had suicidal ideation. Three groups with high suicidal ideation were identified. Predictive factors included perceived stress level, household income level, quality of life and restriction of activity. In the highest risk group were those depressed elderly with moderate and low levels of stress, less than .71 of EQ-5D index and restriction of activity, and 80.0% of these participants had suicidal ideation. The accuracy of the model was 80.8%, its sensitivity 85.9%, and its specificity 68.1%. CONCLUSION: Multi-dimensional intervention should be designed to decrease suicide among the depressed elderly, particularly focusing on subgroups with high risk factors. This research is expected to contribute itself to the policy design and solution building in the future as it suggests policy implications in preventing the suicide of the depressed elderly.

Indication and Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: A Single-center Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is performed to provide enteral nutrition to patients who require tube-feeding support due to impaired oral intake. As life expectancy increases, the need for, and use of PEG also tend to increase. We aimed to evaluate the indications and complications of PEG insertion, and to investigate any differences in the complication group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 109 patients who received a PEG procedure between April 2011 and April 2016 in the Korea University Ansan Hospital. We reviewed the indications and complications related to PEG insertion and time interval of tube change. RESULTS: Among 109 patients who underwent a PEG procedure, 71.6% were male, and the mean age was 68.2 years. The most common indications for PEG were central nervous system diseases, including stroke (33.9%), cerebral hemorrhage (29.4%), and hypoxic brain damage (8.3%). The overall complication rate was 14.7%, and the most common complication was peristomal infection (7.3%). Most of the complications occurred within 10 days in 14 of 16 patients (87.5%). The patients with complications were older than those without complications (74.6±11.1 vs. 67.1±14.0 years, P=0.043). The mean time interval for gastrostomy tube change was 7.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: The most common indication of PEG was brain disease, and the complication rate cannot be ignored. Careful attention is needed after a PEG procedure especially in elderly patients.

Famotidine-induced reversal of meperidine-related serotonin syndrome: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Serotonin syndrome is an unexpected fatal adverse event related to serotonergic medication. This case report is the first report describing the possible treatment effect of famotidine on serotonin syndrome. Furthermore, this is the first case report of serotonin syndrome induced by meperidine alone in a patient with no previous history suggesting a susceptibility to serotonin syndrome. A 70-year-old male with no recent history of serotonergic drug use presented with severe serotonin syndrome following ureteroscopy, possibly due to postoperative meperidine administration. The patient's symptoms included hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, hyperthermia, myoclonus, diaphoresis, retching, nausea, agitation, and semicoma mentality with no pupillary light reflex. Symptoms began to subside immediately after the administration of intravenous famotidine for prevention of aspiration pneumonia, with mental and neurological symptoms showing improvement initially, followed by autonomic symptoms. This case report suggests that the histamine type 2 receptor antagonist famotidine may be an effective emergency treatment for serotonin syndrome.

Famotidine-induced reversal of meperidine-related serotonin syndrome: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Serotonin syndrome is an unexpected fatal adverse event related to serotonergic medication. This case report is the first report describing the possible treatment effect of famotidine on serotonin syndrome. Furthermore, this is the first case report of serotonin syndrome induced by meperidine alone in a patient with no previous history suggesting a susceptibility to serotonin syndrome. A 70-year-old male with no recent history of serotonergic drug use presented with severe serotonin syndrome following ureteroscopy, possibly due to postoperative meperidine administration. The patient's symptoms included hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, hyperthermia, myoclonus, diaphoresis, retching, nausea, agitation, and semicoma mentality with no pupillary light reflex. Symptoms began to subside immediately after the administration of intravenous famotidine for prevention of aspiration pneumonia, with mental and neurological symptoms showing improvement initially, followed by autonomic symptoms. This case report suggests that the histamine type 2 receptor antagonist famotidine may be an effective emergency treatment for serotonin syndrome.

The Effects of Clinical Education Program for Nurses in Regional Public Hospital / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of clinical education program for nurses in regional public hospital, utilizing the Kirkpatrick's model. METHODS: Kirkpatrik's 4-level model was applied to this study. Trainees were asked to fill out questionnaires in the middle and at the end of the program. Also administrators of excellent trainees were asked to fill out the questionnaires regarding nursing management performance after 1-2 months from the end of the training course. RESULTS: All trainees had positive reactions to the clinical education program. Not only the results of individual level (satisfaction and achievement scores, academic achievement scores, practical application rate, and educational transition factors) but also the scores of organization level (nursing management performance scores) are improved. CONCLUSION: By showing a correlation between the effectiveness factors we need to verify the relationship between these factors in a future study. In addition, development of quantitative and qualitative performance indicators are needed. To establish a long-term education system, it is required to applying the excellent trainee's successful experiences.

Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stem Cell in Poly(Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid) Scaffold Loaded Various Ratio of Hydroxyapatite

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hydroxyapatite has biocompatibility and bioactivity and similar to bone of in human body. The purpose of this study is to evaluate osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) in PLGA Scaffold added various ratio of hydroxyapatite (HAp). METHODS AND RESULTS: PLGA and PLGA/HAp scaffold were prepared using solvent casting/salt-leaching method. BMSC was seeded on the PLGA and PLGA/HAp scaffold and the samples were cultured in 37degrees C incubator with 5% CO2 for 28 days. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was carried out to evaluate alkaline phosphatase activity at 1, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days. Alizarin Red S stating was performed to identify calcium in scaffold at 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Compressive strength was measured to evaluate mechanical property of scaffold. To confirm cell viability, MTT was carried out at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. RT-PCR was performed to verify specific marker expression of osteoblast and stem cell at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. CONCLUSIONS: Osteogenic differentiation of BMSC was confirmed through ALP, RT-PCR, and alizarin red S staining in this study. These results suggest that HAp helps osteogenic differentiation of BMSC.