Comparison of the Results between Conservative and Operative Treatments for Pyogenic Spondylitis / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: With advancements in antibiotics, the ability to treat pyogenic spondylitis is increasing. This study aimed to compare and analyze the outcomes between conservative and operative treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients (28 males and 32 females) with pyogenic spondylitis, who were hospitalized and treated between February 2008 and June 2016, were enrolled. Patients were divided according to the following: type of treatment – conservative or operative treatment, method of surgery, radiographic parameters, location of the affected spine. Clinical parameters as durations of hospital stay, intravenous antibiotics use, normalization in laboratory findings, and residual symptoms were analyzed. For statistical evaluation, independent-sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson's chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, and Spearman correlation analysis were performed retrospectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the duration of hospital stay, intravenous antibiotics use, normalization in laboratory findings, and residual symptoms between the conservative and operative treatment groups. CONCLUSION: In treating pyogenic spondylitis, conservative treatment can be considered as the first choice, and operative treatment can be chosen in refractory cases.

Public Safety Communication and Networking Technologies for Disaster Response and Medical Assistance / 한양의대학술지

Future major disasters require the development of socially transparent and rational-decision-making procedures. Recent reports indicate that the frequency of human disasters are decreasing while natural disasters and social disasters are becoming more frequent. The creation of a disaster communication network, which is essential in protecting the life and property as well as providing a sense of societal security. Standards for a modern disaster communication network must be developed at the national level, with national state support for a 3rd generation partnership project such as a Public Safety-LTE that allows the construction of an effective national disaster network plan. Compliance and certification standards to ensure interoperability of communications and other equipment are necessary for the creation of a modern national disaster network that allows more efficient management of disaster situations. It can be expected that our efforts and example can help other countries to build a standard protocol for managing the national disasters.

Development of (1)H-(31)P Animal RF Coil for pH Measurement Using a Clinical MR Scanner

PURPOSE: To establish a pH measurement system for a mouse tumor study using a clinical scanner, to develop the (1)H and (31)P radio frequency (RF) coil system and to test pH accuracy with phantoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The (1)H and the (31)P surface coils were designed to acquire signals from mouse tumors. Two coils were positioned orthogonally for geometric decoupling. The pH values of various pH phantoms were calculated using the (1)H decoupled (31)P MR spectrum with the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. The calculated pH value was compared to that of a pH meter. RESULTS: The mutual coil coupling was shown in a standard S12. Coil coupling (S12) were -73.0 and -62.3 dB respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained from the homogeneous phantom (1)H image was greater than 300. The high resolution in vivo mice images were acquired using a (31)P-decoupled (1)H coil. The pH values calculated from the (1)H-decoupled (31)P spectrum correlated well with the values measured by pH meter (R(2)=0.97). CONCLUSION: Accurate pH values can be acquired using a (1)H-decoupled (31)P RF coil with a clinical scanner. This two-surface coil system could be applied to other nuclear MRS or MRI.

Topical Epinephrine-soaked Gauze-induced Ventricular Tachycardia during Skin Grafting: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

Topical epinephrine is useful to reduce bleeding during skin grafting. However, even though a clear operative field is obtained, systemic absorption of topical epinephrine can occur and this may cause severe hypertension, arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia, myocardial ischemia, pulmonary edema, or cardiac arrest. We managed a case of cardiac arrhythmia during general anesthesia, which was induced by gauze soaked in topical epinephrine used for skin grafting of burn wounds. A 26-year-old woman developed premature ventricular complexes and ventricular tachycardia during surgery when epinephrine-soaked gauze was applied to the skin donor and burn wound sites to control oozing. The patient was resuscitated immediately and within 10 minutes the vital signs had normalized. It is recommended that caution is exercised when epinephrine-soaked gauze is applied to a large area of skin.

Comparison of Regional Myocardial Perfusion, Left Ventricular Volume and Ejection Fraction between 8- and 16-Frame Gated SPECT / 대한핵의학회잡지

No abstract available.