Fifteen-year Experience with Telemedicine Services in Gangwon Province in Korea / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to identify the factors that contribute to successful telemedicine service. This was done by analyzing the operational state of successful telemedicine services offered in Gangwon Province of Korea and their outcome for the last fifteen years. METHODS: A comparative analysis was made based on reports and a thesis on the satisfaction rate of patients and providers, patient compliance to treatment, and economic assessment of Gangwon telemedicine service, which were carried out in three periods: the years 2006, 2010, and 2012. RESULTS: The satisfaction surveys in all three periods showed similar results for patients (4.46+/-0.70 point) and healthcare practitioners, including nurses (3.82+/-0.62 point) and physicians (3.60+/-0.56 point), in decreasing order from the year 2012. Through the survey of patients' compliance with treatment, it was confirmed that telemedicine services increased patients' compliance with drug administration, facilitated improvement of lifestyle habits, improved glycated hemoglobin for patients with diabetes mellitus, and enhanced the rate of blood pressure control. In the survey conducted on patients' willingness to pay for telemedicine services in 2007, it was found that those patients were willing to pay about $3.5 for services. CONCLUSIONS: The telemedicine services of Gangwon Province increased patients' compliance with drug administration, improved blood glucose control, enhanced blood pressure control for patients with hypertension, and provided economic advantage.

Impact of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Depression on Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

PURPOSE: We aimed primarily to investigate the level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and depression in older adults and secondly to identify the impact of LUTS and depression on HRQoL. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to November 2010. Participants were recruited from five community senior centers serving community dwelling older adults in Jeju city. Data analysis was based on 171 respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to guide interviews; the data were collected including demographic characteristics, body mass index, adherence to regular exercise, comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and osteoarthritis), depression, urinary incontinence, LUTS (measured via the International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS]), and HRQoL as assessed by use of the EQ-5D Index. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to test predictors of HRQoL. RESULTS: Eighteen percent (18.6%) of the respondents reported depressive symptoms. The mean LUTS score was 8.9 (IPSS range, 0 to 35). The severity of LUTS, was reported to be mild (score, 0 to 7) by 53% of the respondents, moderate (score, 8 to 19) by 34.5%, and severe (score, 20 to 35) by 12.5%. HRQoL was significantly predicted by depression (Partial R2=0.193, P<0.01) and LUTS (Partial R2=0.048, P=0.0047), and 24% of the variance in HRQoL was explained. CONCLUSIONS: LUTS and depression were the principal predictors of HRQoL in older adults.

A Case of Ectopic Sebaceous Glands in the Esophagus / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A 42-year-old man without any signs or symptoms of illness underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for a routine health check up. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, multiple small and yellowish mucosal plaques were detected in the mid to distal esophagus. These plagues proved to be ectopic sebaceous glands of the esophagus according to the histologic examination. On the immunohistochemical staining with anti-Keratin 14, the basal cells and the heterotopic sebaceous glands were immunoreactive for keratin 14. The histogenesis of this extremely rare lesion is not completely clear. There have been some reports on ectopic esophagus sebaceous glands combined with esophageal cancer or gastric cancer. However, malignant transformation of the ectopic sebaceous gland itself has not yet been reported on. This case was regularly followed up for 12 months, and no interval change or malignant transformation was found both endoscopically and histologically.

A case of hepatitis A and E coinfection in an autoimmune hepatitis patient / 대한내과학회지

In Korea, the number of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has suddenly increased and has become the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis during recent years. A 36-year-old female was diagnosed with acute fulminant hepatitis caused by HAV. Her clinical symptoms and AST/ALT recovered after supportive treatment; however, a re-elevation of AST/ALT was observed. Weperformed another viral marker study, autoimmune marker study and liver biopsy to rule out another hepatic insult. As a result, anti- HEV IgM, an anti-nuclear antibody and anti-smooth muscle antibody were positive and liver histology showed chronic hepatitis. In conclusion, we report a case of hepatitis A and E coinfection in an autoimmune hepatitis patient.

Recurrent Acute Uremic Encephalopathy Associated with Reversible Bilateral Basal Ganglia Lesion / 대한신장학회지

Uremic encephalopathy is a well-known complication in uremia and rarely occurs with involuntary movements which represent basal ganglia lesion. We experienced a cases of recurrent acute uremic encephalopathy associated with reversible bilateral basal ganglia lesion. A 49-year-old man with end stage renal disease due to diabetic nephropathy on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment for the last 2 months was admitted for mental change. His blood sugar was 60 mg/dl, and his mentality was recovered after glucose solution infusion. Five days after admission, he suddenly developed dysarthria and chorea. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated low and high signals on bilateral basal ganglia in T1-weighted and T2-weighted images, respectively. After intensified CAPD treatment, his neurologic manifestations were resolved. One month after discharge, follow-up brain MRI showed decreased size of low attenuation on the basal ganglia. Two months later, he repeatedly developed dysarthria and involuntary movement of extremities. Newly developed bilateral symmetric T1 low and T2 high signal lesion on the basal ganglia was repeatedly observed on brain MRI. At that time, (his) Kt/V was 1.33. So we decided on him to switch from CAPD to hemodialysis, after then his symptoms disappeared.

Real-time CT Fluoroscopy (CTF) -Guided Vertebroplasty in Osteoporotic Spine Fractures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility, benefits, and limitations of CT fluoroscopy (CTF) -guided percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). PVP under the guidance of CTF without additional guidance by conventional C-arm fluoroscopy was performed in a total of 29 vertebral bodies in 21 patients with vertebral compression fractures. While monitoring sectional CTF images, the needle was advanced from the skin to the target vertebra. Contrast media and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were injected into the target vertebra with careful monitoring of their distribution. After the procedure, an evaluation was conducted to determine whether extraosseous leakage of PMMA occurred and whether sufficient filling of PMMA had been achieved. Needle placement into the target vertebra was easily achieved with both the transpedicular and posterolateral approaches. Injection of PMMA and venous leakage of contrast media were carefully monitored in all patients, and early detection of PMMA leaking was achieved in 5 patients. Extraosseous leakage that had not been detected during the procedure was not found upon postoperative evaluation. Pain scales were significantly decreased after the procedure, and no obvious complications occurred following the procedure CTF-guided PVP without the combined use of C- arm fluoroscopy was feasible and showed definite benefits. We believe that, in spite of some limitations, CTF-guided PVP provides an alternative technique appropriate in certain situations.

Progressive Quadriparesis following a Minor Trauma in a Patient with Klippel-Feil Syndrome: Case Report

Klippel-Feil syndrome is characterized by congenital fusion of cervical vertebrae with a wide range of associated anomaly. The authors present a 50-year-old Klippel-Feil syndrome patient with a minor trauma followed progressive quadriparesis. He had typical radiologic findings of type II Klippel-Feil syndrome and presented progressive myelopathy due to cord compression at foramen magnum level with cervical instability. The patient underwent craniocervical decompression and fusion. The authors reviewed the pertinent literatures and discussed this rare syndrome.

Effects of Fentanyl and Morphine on Epinephrine - induced Arrhythmia in Halothane Anesthetized Dogs / 대한마취과학회지

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of fentanyl and morphine on the ability of epinephrine to induce arrhythmias in halothane-anesthetized dogs. Epinephrine was infused in progressively increasing doses from 0.5 ug/kg/min. Arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine(ADE), defined as that induces 4 or more premature ventricular contractions within 15 s during 3 min iafusions of epinephrine, was determined before(control) and after pretreatment of either fentanyl(6 ug/kg i.v. plus 6 pg/kg/hr) or morphine(0.2mg/kg i.v. plus 0.2 mg/kg/hr). Blood pressure and heart rate were also measured immediately before(baseline), immediately after infusion of epinephrine. The results were as follows. l) Fentanyl and morphine increased ADE by 37%(2.19+/-0.49 to 3.00+/-0.44 ug/kg/min, p<0.01) and by 43%(2.50+/-0.60 to 3.58+/-0.93 ug/kg/min, p<0.05), respectively. 2) Percent increases in systolic blood pressure at control were similar to those after pretreatment with fentanyl or morphine in both groups, but systolic blood pressures at the time of arrhythmia after pretreatment were lower than those at control in fentanyl(p<0.05) and morphine group(NS). 3) Fentanyl and morphine decreased heart rate by 27%(127+/-8 to 93+/-6 beats/min, p<0.001) and by 13%(118+/-5 to 103+/-5 beats/min, p<0.05), respectively. These results suggest that fentanyl or morphine inhibits epinephrine induced arrhythmias during halothane-oxygen anesthesia. Thus, pretreatment of surgical patients, who were supposed to receive epinephrine during halothane anesthesia, with either fentanyl or morphine might be safe.

Identification of new serovar yeonchon and hongchon belonging to leptospira interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup

No abstract available.

Clinical Observations of Pleurisy with Effusion

We observed 62 patients who were admitted to the Pediatric Department of Severance Hospital for the treatment of pleurisy with effusion during the period of 11 years from Apr. 1965 to May 1975. The following results was obtained. 1) Age and sex incidence : 72.6% were between the age of 3 to 12 years. The sex ratio of male to female was 1.7:1. 2) Seasonal incidence : Effusion occured most commonly in the spring(33.9%) least often in the winter(17.8%). 3) Symptoms on admission in order were fever,(77.4%) cough,(61.3%) dyspnea,(40.3%) Chest pain, (27.4%) etc. 4) There was a contact history with tuberculous family in 17 cases(27.3%). P.P.D skin test was positive in 43 cases(69%). 5) The site of effusion was 60% on the right and 40% on the left. 6) In all cases, antitubeculous drugs were used. Among 54 cases treated with prednisolone, pleural fluid was disappeared completly in 21 cases within 2 weeks.