Interorganizational Networks for Smoking Prevention and Cessation: A Blockmodeling Approach

Purpose@#This study examined characteristics and patterns of interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation in Korea. @*Methods@#We surveyed two community health centers, ninety-five hospitals or clinics, ninety- two pharmacies, and sixty-five health welfare organizations in two districts of Seoul in 2020. Data on the organizations’ characteristics of smoking cessation and interorganizational activities for information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration were collected and analyzed using network statistics and blockmodeling. @*Results@#Network size was in the order of information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration networks. Network patterns for interorganizational activities on information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration among four organizations were similar between the two districts. Community health centers provided information and received clients from a majority of the organizations. Their interactions were not unidirectional but mutual with other organizations. Pharmacies were involved in information sharing with health welfare organizations and client referrals to hospitals or clinics. Health welfare organizations were primarily connected with the community health centers for client referrals and program collaboration. @*Conclusion@#A community health center is the lead agency in interorganizational activities for smoking prevention and cessation. However, hospitals or clinics, pharmacies, and health welfare organizations also participate in interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation with diverse roles. This study would be evidence for developing future interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation.

Upper airway myofunctional exercise: a systematic review

Upper airway myofunctional exercise is a training technique for patients with obstructive sleep apnea involving isotonic and isometric exercises of the upper airway muscles involved in obstructive sleep apnea designed to strengthen upper airway myofunction and improve patients' symptoms. The objective of this review was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of upper airway myofunctional exercise. A literature search was conducted using 8 Korean databases, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Of the 197 articles that were initially identified, 8 studies were included in this review. The results show that upper airway myofunctional exercise improved the apnea-hypopnea index in adult patients, and that it led to improvements in symptoms and upper airway myofunction when administered alone or after adenoidectomy in pediatric patients. On the basis of the current data, upper airway myofunctional exercise can be considered a safe and effective technique for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Upper airway myofunctional exercise: a systematic review

Upper airway myofunctional exercise is a training technique for patients with obstructive sleep apnea involving isotonic and isometric exercises of the upper airway muscles involved in obstructive sleep apnea designed to strengthen upper airway myofunction and improve patients' symptoms. The objective of this review was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of upper airway myofunctional exercise. A literature search was conducted using 8 Korean databases, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Of the 197 articles that were initially identified, 8 studies were included in this review. The results show that upper airway myofunctional exercise improved the apnea-hypopnea index in adult patients, and that it led to improvements in symptoms and upper airway myofunction when administered alone or after adenoidectomy in pediatric patients. On the basis of the current data, upper airway myofunctional exercise can be considered a safe and effective technique for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Heavy-Light Chain Quantitative Test

BACKGROUND: The heavy-light chain (HLC) quantitative test can identify and quantify the heavy and light chains of each immunoglobulin class. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the HLC quantitative test. METHODS: To evaluate the effectiveness of the HLC quantitative test, a systemic review of the literature, using Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and eight domestic databases including KoreaMed, was performed until October 10, 2013. We included five cohort studies and one diagnostic evaluation study in the final evaluation. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the included studies and extracted data from the studies. The quality of the studies was assessed according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) tool. RESULTS: A correlation between the HLC quantitative test and previous assays was evaluated in one study, which enrolled patients with increased monoclonal IgA. The correlation coefficient was reported as 0.94 in this study. The clinical significance of the quantitative HLC test to predict a prognosis was also reported in five cohort studies. The survival rate in patients with higher HLC ratio was significantly lower and the increased IgA kappa/lambda ratio or IgM kappa/lambda ratio was significantly correlated with higher survival rate in patients with monoclonal gammaglobulinemia. CONCLUSIONS: The HLC quantitative test is an effective test that can quantitatively measure the identified immunoglobulin type and predict the prognosis of patients with monoclonal gammopathy.

A Study on the Effectiveness of Community-Based Case Management Program for the First Episode Psychosis / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to make empirical evidence for a community based case management program for the first episode of psychosis. METHODS: We provided a case management program for first episode psychosis patients and assessed their symptoms, function, insight, and satisfaction using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Health of Nation Outcomes Scales (HoNOS), Scale to assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), Global Assessment of Functioning Scales (GAF), and Quality of Life scales (QOL) at baseline and after the program. We also evaluated the treatment maintenance rate and the changes of their developmental task achievement. RESULTS: Significant improvement was observed in all sub-domains of PANSS and significant changes were also observed in the areas of symptoms and function of HoNOS. Significant improvement was observed in awareness of mental illness itself and its outcomes. The treatment maintenance rate was 87.5%, including three patients who stopped their medication with the doctor's order. The rate of participation in meaningful social activities, such as school or job showed an increase, from 25% at baseline to 81% after the program. CONCLUSION: Results of this study demonstrate the possibility of community programs for prevention of relapse, improvement of symptoms and function, and facilitation of return to meaningful social activities of first episode psychosis patients.

Spontaneous Rupture of 3rd, 4th, and 5th Extensor Digitorum Tendons in an Amateur Golfer: A Case Report

Spontaneous rupture of extensor tendon at the wrist usually affects the extensor pollicis longus, and the etiologies include fractures of distal radius, rheumatoid arthritis and certain sports activities. Sports associated rupture of the extensor pollicis longus has been reported in a kick boxer, diver, tennis player, and downhill skier. But spontaneous rupture of extensor tendon besides extensor pollicis longus has been rarely reported in a sports player. We report spontaneous rupture of 3rd, 4th, and 5th extensor tendons because of probably overuse of the wrist in an amateur golfer.

Delayed Rupture of Flexor Pollicis Longus by Plate for Fracture of the Distal Radius

PURPOSE: Delayed rupture of flexor pollicis longus as a sequelae of the plate inserted for distal radius fracture is a very rare. This is the first case reported and published in Korea. METHODS: A 48 years old female patient visited hospital, complaining flexor disturbance of interphalangeal joint of left thumb, which suddenly occurred without any external wound. We found that she had received operation of fixing plate for fracture of left distal radius 10 years ago. As operational opinion, we have checked that flexor pollicis longus tendon has been ruptured with oblique ways being stimulated by extended plate to palmar side over long period. RESULTS: Authors performed tenorrhaphy of flexor pollicis longus without tendon graft and presented a successful active flexion of the left thumb interphalangeal joint 1 year after the operation. CONCLUSION: If the extruded part of the end plate is observed during the operation or follow-up, it is considered to be necessary to get rid of the plate as early as possible after the fracture healing.

Atypical Giant Cell Tumor: A Case Report

PURPOSE: Giant cell tumor is the second most common benign neoplasm in upper extremity. Unlike usual chief complaint of painless mass, an atypical case with giant cell tumor presented a distinguishing characteristics of which accompany pain and tenderness and is histologically giant-cell free. METHODS: A 31-year-old male patient complained of a rapid growing painful mass on the proximal phalanx of the left ring finger. Under microscopic operation, a 1.6 x 1.3cm sized mass was found to be surrounded by areolar tissue and attached to a tendon sheath, encircling the digital nerve and artery. Diagnostic confirmation was assisted by positive finding in histologic immunohistochemical stain-CD68. Characteristic pathologic finding is an atypical distribution of spindle cells & histiocytes without giant cells in fascicular pattern. RESULTS: Giant cell tumor was carefully removed under microscopic approach, while preserving digital nerve & artery. In postoperative 13th month, the patient presented with a 6mm of static two-point discrimination test, similar to that of the adjacent fingers. CONCLUSION: We report an atypical case with painful mass on tendon sheath, surrounding the digital nerve and artery that was diagnosed of giant cell tumor, but without giant cells on pathology. This case provides broader understanding of the giant cell tumor that should not only rely its typical findings of the painless mass and positive sign on H&E stain.