As fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures gain popularity, the associated health threats from radiation exposure to interventionalists during these procedures are increasing. Therefore, an understanding of the potential risks of radiation and careful consideration on minimizing exposure to radiation during the procedures are of paramount importance. The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association has developed a clinical practice guideline to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures. This guideline provides recommendations to deal with the risk of radiation exposure to interventionalists who perform fluoroscopy-guided procedures, and emphasizes the importance of proper and practical approaches to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

As fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures gain popularity, the associated health threats from radiation exposure to interventionalists during these procedures are increasing. Therefore, an understanding of the potential risks of radiation and careful consideration on minimizing exposure to radiation during the procedures are of paramount importance. The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association has developed a clinical practice guideline to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures. This guideline provides recommendations to deal with the risk of radiation exposure to interventionalists who perform fluoroscopy-guided procedures, and emphasizes the importance of proper and practical approaches to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

As fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures gain popularity, the associated health threats from radiation exposure to interventionalists during these procedures are increasing. Therefore, an understanding of the potential risks of radiation and careful consideration on minimizing exposure to radiation during the procedures are of paramount importance. The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association has developed a clinical practice guideline to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures. This guideline provides recommendations to deal with the risk of radiation exposure to interventionalists who perform fluoroscopy-guided procedures, and emphasizes the importance of proper and practical approaches to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

As fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures gain popularity, the associated health threats from radiation exposure to interventionalists during these procedures are increasing. Therefore, an understanding of the potential risks of radiation and careful consideration on minimizing exposure to radiation during the procedures are of paramount importance. The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association has developed a clinical practice guideline to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures. This guideline provides recommendations to deal with the risk of radiation exposure to interventionalists who perform fluoroscopy-guided procedures, and emphasizes the importance of proper and practical approaches to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

As fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures gain popularity, the associated health threats from radiation exposure to interventionalists during these procedures are increasing. Therefore, an understanding of the potential risks of radiation and careful consideration on minimizing exposure to radiation during the procedures are of paramount importance. The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association has developed a clinical practice guideline to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures. This guideline provides recommendations to deal with the risk of radiation exposure to interventionalists who perform fluoroscopy-guided procedures, and emphasizes the importance of proper and practical approaches to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

As fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures gain popularity, the associated health threats from radiation exposure to interventionalists during these procedures are increasing. Therefore, an understanding of the potential risks of radiation and careful consideration on minimizing exposure to radiation during the procedures are of paramount importance. The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association has developed a clinical practice guideline to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures. This guideline provides recommendations to deal with the risk of radiation exposure to interventionalists who perform fluoroscopy-guided procedures, and emphasizes the importance of proper and practical approaches to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the difference between the numbers of patients in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are eligible to TNF inhibitors by the past Korean National Health Insurance reimbursement guideline and by the disease activity score with 28-joint assessment (DAS28) based criteria. METHODS: Data were obtained from a multi-center registry for biologics users in Korean RA patients, BIOlogics Pharmacoepidemiologic StudY (BIOPSY). DAS28 was calculated based on either ESR or CRP, and DAS28 of more than 5.1 or between 3.2 and 5.1 with radiographic changes was defined as a cut-off point for the initiation of TNF inhibitors. For the maintenance criteria, we used both of improving in DAS28 score (>1.2) and low disease activity (DAS 28<3.2). Differences between the numbers in each step by two criteria were described with Chi-square test and Kappa agreement. RESULTS: Of the 489 patients in BIOPSY, 299 were included in this study. Among them, 278 patients (93.0%) were eligible of TNF inhibitors when we applied the new initiation criteria with DAS28-ESR, and 244 patients (81.6%) were indicated for TNF inhibitors with DAS28-CRP. For the maintenance criteria, a low disease activity (DAS28<3.2) in 3 months after starting TNF inhibitors is too strict for achieving (33.6% with DAS28-ESR and 50.0% with DAS28-CRP). Instead, decreasing DAS28 by more than 1.2 is more reasonable as a tool for deciding early responsiveness of TNF inhibitors in RA patients (81.2% both with DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP). CONCLUSION: Our results show that the candidates for TNF inhibitors will be enormously changed according to a change in the reimbursement criteria. To define appropriate patients to receive TNF inhibitors, a further study with regard to the impact of changes in the reimbursement criteria on the outcomes of RA patients will be required.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biological Products ; Biopsy ; Humans ; National Health Programs

STUDY DESIGN: Multi-center study, questionnaire survey. OBJECTIVES: To offer a database of spinal cord injury (SCI) by reviewing statistics and literatures of other countries, investigating the overall mechanism, injury patterns and treatment of SCI. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There are no preexisting domestic studies (collectively conducted by multi-centers) of the prevalence and treatment of SCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2006 to August 2009, 47 cases of SCI in 6 universities were investigated retrospectively. 17 questionnaire contents including the courses of injury-to-treatment were studied with data gathered from surveys. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 48.4-years-old, male to female ratio was 33 to 14. The cases of falling from a height were 22 cases (47%), lumbar area 19 cases (40%), and unstable bursting fracture 24 cases (51%) the most. Complete and incomplete paralyses were 19 cases (40%) and 28 cases (60%), respectively. High dose steroids were injected in 16 cases (NASCIS II) and 9 cases (NASCIS III). 14 cases presented complications and operations were performed 46 cases (98%). 12 cases (26%) arrived at the hospital within 4 hours of injury, 11 cases (23%) in 8 hours. On the way to the hospital, proper emergency treatment was performed in 25 cases (53%), and 30 cases (64%) had a clear understanding of SCI after the final diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that offers a comprehensive database of spinal cord injury (SCI), by investigating the overall mechanism, injury patterns, and treatment of SCI; this study is expected to be used in the future as an important reference material for spinal cord injury statistics and a standard for care.
Cauda Equina ; Emergency Treatment ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paralysis ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Steroids

BACKGROUND: Strains of ciprofloxacin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae have emerged worldwide. We investigated the epidemiology of ciprofloxacin resistance and its relationship to ESBL production in nosocomial K. pneumoniae bacteremia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the computerized database of clinical microbiology, we identified all patients whose blood culture had yielded K. pneumoniae between January 2001 and December 2002 at a 2200-bed university-affiliated tertiary-care hospital. During the study period, total of 392 episodes of K. pneumoniae bacteremia were documented of which 163 episodes were acquired nosocomially. 9 cases of recurrent episodes were excluded. RESULTS: The resistance rates to ciprofloxacin was 28.6% (44/154). ESBL-production was significantly more common in ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates than in ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates (95.9% [42/44] vs. 24.5% [27/110], P<0.001). In univariate analysis, following factors were significantly associated with resistance to ciprofloxacin: older age, male sex, ICU admission at the time of bacteremia, prior use of antibiotics within 1 month before bacteremia, solid tumor, hematological malignancy, or biliary disease as underlying disease, and ESBL-production. The prior use of 3rd- generation cephalosprins, metronidazole, fluroquinolone, or carbapenem were also risk factors. Independent risk factors for ciprofloxacin resistance were older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]; 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.01-1.06) and ESBL production (AOR; 81.35, 95% CI; 17.76-372.53). CONCLUSION: The close relationship between ciprofloxacin resistance and ESBL production was documented in nosocomial K. pneumoniae bacteremia. Further epidemiological and molecular studies to determine factors and mechanisms involved in the relationship are needed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia* ; beta-Lactamases* ; Ciprofloxacin* ; Epidemiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Male ; Metronidazole ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Strains of ciprofloxacin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae have emerged worldwide. We investigated the epidemiology of ciprofloxacin resistance and its relationship to ESBL production in nosocomial K. pneumoniae bacteremia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the computerized database of clinical microbiology, we identified all patients whose blood culture had yielded K. pneumoniae between January 2001 and December 2002 at a 2200-bed university-affiliated tertiary-care hospital. During the study period, total of 392 episodes of K. pneumoniae bacteremia were documented of which 163 episodes were acquired nosocomially. 9 cases of recurrent episodes were excluded. RESULTS: The resistance rates to ciprofloxacin was 28.6% (44/154). ESBL-production was significantly more common in ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates than in ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates (95.9% [42/44] vs. 24.5% [27/110], P<0.001). In univariate analysis, following factors were significantly associated with resistance to ciprofloxacin: older age, male sex, ICU admission at the time of bacteremia, prior use of antibiotics within 1 month before bacteremia, solid tumor, hematological malignancy, or biliary disease as underlying disease, and ESBL-production. The prior use of 3rd- generation cephalosprins, metronidazole, fluroquinolone, or carbapenem were also risk factors. Independent risk factors for ciprofloxacin resistance were older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]; 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.01-1.06) and ESBL production (AOR; 81.35, 95% CI; 17.76-372.53). CONCLUSION: The close relationship between ciprofloxacin resistance and ESBL production was documented in nosocomial K. pneumoniae bacteremia. Further epidemiological and molecular studies to determine factors and mechanisms involved in the relationship are needed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia* ; beta-Lactamases* ; Ciprofloxacin* ; Epidemiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Male ; Metronidazole ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Risk Factors