BACKGROUND: Various kinds of methods had been tried to reduce pain on injection of propofol. In this study, the effect of lidocaine pretreatment and that of temperature controlled injections were compared and evaluated its clinical utility. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients were randomly allocated into 4 groups after permission. Room temperature propofol was used as induction agent in group P,. In group C, cooling (4 degrees C) propofol was used and warming propofol (37 degrees C) in group H. And room temperature propofol following lidocaine (1 mg/kg) was used in group L. Injection dosage of propofol was 2 mg/kg and injection speed was 2 ml/sec in all groups. In each patients, pain score and visual analog scale were measured and tested by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There were no statistical significant difference in pain score among the 4 groups. But in visual analog scale analysis, group L markedly reduced values than the other groups by statistically significant manner (in Duncan grouping). CONCLUSION: The alleviating effect of lidocaine pretreatment on painful injection was better than that of changing temperature of propofol itself. More over effectiveness, in view of simplicity, we recommend lidocaine pretreatment.
Humans ; Lidocaine ; Propofol* ; Visual Analog Scale

PUPPOSE: The purposes of the study were 1) to examine what relationships exist between PTE(perceived treatments effect) and PPS (perceived physical suffering) as the independent variables and hope as the dependent variable and 2) to examine whether PTE and PPS predict hope in cancer patients in their post-operative period within the Stotland's hope theory. METHOD: The Visual Analog Scale was used for measuring PTE and PPS and the Kim and Lee's Hope Scale which had acceptable reliability and validity was used for measuring hope. The data was collected from 38 hospitalized cancer patients who were in the post-operative period with a convenient sampling method. RESULT: There was a significant positive relationship between hope and the PTE in the low PTE group. There was a significant negative relationship between hope and the PPS in the low PPS group. There were no significant relationships between hope and the PTE in the high PTE group, and between hope and the PPS in the high PPS group. And the PTE explained hope with 71.2% of the variance in the low PTE group. CONCLUSION: PTE in the low PTE group and PPS in the low PPS group were identified as the factors to explain hope.
Hope* ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: Coccygodynia is a painful condition localized in the region of the coccyx. Most cases of coccygodynia are treated conservatively. However, we conducted an analysis of patients who underwent coccygectomy, with chronic intractable coccygodynia and assessed the results of their treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2003 to August 2013, this study was conducted in order to investigate the benefit of coccygectomy in cases where conservative treatment has failed. We compared preoperative and postoperative visual analog scales (VAS) scores and confirmed duration of symptom free, complications. RESULTS: The average duration of symptom free was 3.4 months, and VAS score improved from 7.3 to 1.6. There was one wound infection. CONCLUSION: We can obtain satisfactory results through coccygectomy for chronic intractable coccygodynia.
Coccyx ; Humans ; Visual Analog Scale ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the correlation among each measurement, and to identify the predictors for HRQOL in Korean patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: The HRQOL and clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed by Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36), EuroQol5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), time trade off (TTO), standard gamble (SG), Centers for Epidemiologic StudiesDepression (CES-D), social support, self-efficacy scale, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Schober test, occiput to wall test, ESR, and CRP from 90 patients with AS. RESULTS: 78 patients (86.7%) were men with a mean (+/-SD) age of 28.4 (+/-7.9) years. The mean years of disease onset was 10.44 (+/-6.95). The mean scores of SF-36 global, mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) were 53.4 (+/-21.2), 61.8 (+/-26.3), and 51.7 (+/-24.4), respectively. The mean EQ-5D utility and visual analog scale (VAS) score were 0.63 (+/-0.2) and 57.1 (+/-18.6). The mean scores of the TTO and SG were 0.46 (+/-0.6) and 0.46 (+/-0.6). The scores of the SF-36 and EQ-5D in AS patients were lower than those in healthy control. The mean scores of CES-D, self-efficacy scale, social support and social network were 10.5 (+/-6.8), 65.3 (+/-14.6), 2.46 (+/-0.22), and 2.33 (+/-0.47), respectively. The mean score of BASFI was 2.48 (+/-2.13). The BASFI total score was negatively correlated with the scores of SF-36, MCS, PCS, EQ-5D utility and VAS score, social network, and self-efficacy scale, and positively correlated with CES-D. In multivariate models, the predicting variables of SF-36 global and PCS were BASFI and self-efficacy scale and the predicting variables of SF-36 MCS were BASFI, social support, and self-efficacy scale. CONCLUSION: In this study, we observed that HRQOL in Korean patients with ankylosing spondylitis is decreased compare to healthy control. And the efforts to improve HRQOL should be designed to improve the self-efficacy and social support in addition to active treatment to prevent functional disability.
Baths ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Visual Analog Scale

Analysis of scars in various conditions is essential, but no consensus had been reached on the scar assessment scale to select for a given condition. We reviewed papers to determine the scar assessment scale selected depending on the scar condition and treatment method. We searched PubMed for articles published since 2000 with the contents of the scar evaluation using a scar assessment scale with a Journal Citation Report impact factor >0.5. Among them, 96 articles that conducted a scar evaluation using a scar assessment scale were reviewed and analyzed. The scar assessment scales were identified and organized by various criteria. Among the types of scar assessment scales, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was found to be the most frequently used scale. As for the assessment of newly developed operative scars, the POSAS was most used. Meanwhile, for categories depending on the treatment methods for preexisting scars, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used in 6 studies following a laser treatment, the POSAS was used in 7 studies following surgical treatment, and the POSAS was used in 7 studies following a conservative treatment. Within the 12 categories of scar status, the VSS showed the highest frequency in 6 categories and the POSAS showed the highest frequency in the other 6 categories. According to our reviews, the POSAS and VSS are the most frequently used scar assessment scales. In the future, an optimal, universal scar scoring system is needed in order to better evaluate and treat pathologic scarring.
Cicatrix* ; Consensus ; Humans ; Keloid ; Methods ; Visual Analog Scale ; Weights and Measures*

BACKGROUND: High monitors are patients who require information on anesthesia and surgery and generally carry out active searches. These patients will benefit from more information related to surgery preoperatively whereas low monitors will benefit from less detailed information. This study examined whether or not patients' desire for information related to anesthesia and surgery differ according to their coping style classified by the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). METHODS: 465 patients were asked to fill out the questionnaires in APAIS, State-Trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and also to mark their perception on a 10 cm line in a visual analog scale (VAS). The APAIS with the other subjective measurements of anxiety were evaluated according to their gender, ASA class, past history of surgery and degree of education. Thirteen questionnaires were evaluated according to their coping styles. RESULTS: High monitors wanted to know all 13 questions compared with low monitors, whereas low monitors preferred not to know (P < 0.05). The APAIS has a significant relationship with the VAS and STAI (P < 0.05). Women, patients with no prior history of surgery, and patients with ASA 2 were significantly more anxious than men, patients with a prior experience of surgery and ASA 1 patients, respectively (P < 0.05). The VAS and APAIS were in good agreement in defining patients as anxious and there were significant correlations between the two instruments (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The APAIS can be used as an efficient tool for identifying patients who are particularly anxious or require information.
Anesthesia* ; Anxiety* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Visual Analog Scale

The silver nanocrystalline is widely used for biological field because of its biocompatibility and anti-microbial effect. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the silver nanocrystalline ointment on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) capsulitis. Total 39 patients were included in this study and all patients were received single topical application of the silver nanocrystalline ointment (group A, n=30) or placebo ointment (group B, n=19). Measured variables were maximum mouth opening (MMO), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and VAS for function. In results, we could not assess any therapeutic efficacy of single application in the chronic TMJ capsulitis (p>0.05). However, the single application of silver nanocrystalline ointment showed significant improvement in MMO and VAS for pain compared to placebo effect in the acute TMJ capsulitis (p<0.05). We could not find any complications related to ointment application in both groups. In conclusion, the single application of silver nanocrystalline ointment was effective in improving patient's symptom in acute TMJ capsulitis without any noticing complications.
Humans ; Mouth ; Placebo Effect ; Silver* ; Temporomandibular Joint* ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether orthodontic treatment experience affects the individual's perception of smile esthetics and to evaluate differences among orthodontically treated laypersons, non-treated laypersons, and dentists by using computerized image alterations. METHODS: A photograph of a woman's smile was digitally altered using a software image editing program. The alterations involved gingival margin height, crown width and length, incisal plane canting, and dental midline of the maxillary anterior teeth. Three groups of raters (orthodontically treated laypersons, non-treated laypersons, and dentists) evaluated the original and altered images using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The threshold for detecting changes in maxillary central incisor gingival margin height among laypersons was 1.5 mm; the threshold of dentists, who were more perceptive, was 1.0 mm. For maxillary lateral incisor crown width and height, the threshold of all three groups was 3.0 mm. Canting of the incisal plane was perceived when the canting was 3.0 mm among non-treated laypersons, 2.0 mm among treated laypersons, and 1.0 mm among dentists. Non-treated laypersons could not perceive dental midline shifts; however, treated laypersons and dentists perceived them when the shift was > or = 3.0 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Laypersons with and without orthodontic treatment experience and dentists have different perceptions of smile esthetics. Orthodontically treated laypersons were more critical than non-treated laypersons regarding incisal plane canting and dental midline shifts. Based on these findings, it is suggested that orthodontic treatment experience improved the esthetic perceptions of laypersons.
Crowns ; Dentists* ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Incisor ; Photography ; Tooth ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: According to the recent development of minimally invasive spinal surgery, direct lumbar interbody fusion (DLIF) was introduced as an effective option to treat lumbar degenerative diseases. However, comprehensive results of DLIF have not been reported in Korea yet. The object of this study is to summarize radiological and clinical outcomes of our DLIF experience. METHODS: We performed DLIF for 130 patients from May 2011 to June 2013. Among them, 90 patients, who could be followed up for more than 6 months, were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical outcomes were compared using visual analog scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Bilateral foramen areas, disc height, segmental coronal and sagittal angle, and regional sagittal angle were measured. Additionally, fusion rate was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients, 116 levels, were underwent DLIF. The VAS and ODI improved statistically significant after surgery. All the approaches for DLIF were done on the left side. The left and right side foramen area changed from 99.5 mm2 and 102.9 mm2 to 159.2 mm2 and 151.2 mm2 postoperatively (p<0.001). Pre- and postoperative segmental coronal and sagittal angles changed statistically significant from 4.1degrees and 9.9degrees to 1.1degrees and 11.1degrees. Fusion rates of 6 and 12 months were 60.9% and 87.8%. Complications occurred in 17 patients (18.9%). However, most of the complications were resolved within 2 months. CONCLUSION: DLIF is not only effective for indirect decompression and deformity correction but also shows satisfactory mechanical stability and fusion rate.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Analog Scale

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, multi-institution, phase III study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Pelubi Sustained Release (SR) Tab in patients with chronic back pain, in comparison with the Pelubi Tab, whose efficacy has already been approved, a phase 3 clinical trial was conducted. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The Pelubi Tab Has shown clinical efficacy in patients with back pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 11, 2014 to July 24, 2014, 166 chronic back pain patients were recruited as subjects through a multi-institution, double-blind, random sample. We compared the experimental and control groups' clinical efficacy, which was estimated by the 100-mm Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) after 28 days of medication. We also compared the treatment efficacy of both drugs by using a variation of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Physician Global Assessment (PGA), with the total usage of relief medicine. The side effects and clinical pathology were also noted. RESULTS: Neither group showed a significant difference in 100-mm Pain VAS or ODI variation (p=0.1702, p=0.9041). There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in PGA or total usage of relief medicine. The ODI and PGA variation were not worse in the experimental group than the control group. The two groups showed no significant differences in side effects (p=0.9708). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the Pelubi SR Tab applied to back pain patients was not inferior to the Pelubi Tab and did not show any significant difference in terms of safety. The Pelubi SR Tab can be used with the same expectation of safety as the Pelubi Tab.
Back Pain* ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Analog Scale