The author measured the value of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and phospholipid in normal Korean adults and patients with complicated hypertension. Sera obtained from 295 cases of normal Korean male and female, and also 109 cases of patients with hypertension were analysed for triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid. The patterns of serum lipoprotein fraction in 171 normal Korean and 109 patients with complicated hypertension including cerebrovascular diseases and ischemic heart disease were studied by agarose gelelectrophoresis. The results are summarized as follows; 1. The mean value of serum triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid in normal Korean were 85.4+/-20.5mg%, 187.9+/-16.7mg%, and 193.4+/-34.6mg% respectively. 2. Sex and age difference showed no statistical significance in the mean values of serum triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid in hypertensive patients. 3. The mean values of serum triglyceride in the patients with complicated hypertension such as cerebral thrombosis gave higher value than in the patients with other cerebral complications. 4. The mean value of alpha-lipoprotein, pre-beta-lipoprotein and beta-lipoprotein in normal Korean were 29.6+/-5.0% (142.6+/-30.1mg%), 13.0+/-4.3% (62.7+/-24.8mg%), and 57.4+/-30.1% (276.1+/-56.6mg%) respectively. 5. The alpha-lipoprotein fraction in normal Korean demonstrated the tendency of decreasing as age is progressing in both sex, but pre-beta and beta-lipoprotein fraction gave a tendency of increasing by progressing age in both sex, but was not confirmatory in nature. 6. The alpha-lipoprotein fraction in patients with hypertension gave lower value than in the normal subjects, but the value of pre-beta and beta-poprotein were elevated significantly among patients with complicated hypertension than in normal person. 7. The incidence of hyperlipidemia in normal Korean and patients with hypertension were 31.9% and 66.5% respectively. 8. The relative incidences of hyperlipidemic probable phenotypes in normal Korean were as follows: 7% of normal person had Type II (IIa 3.3%, IIb 3.7%), 3.5% had Type III, and 21.4% had Type IV.
Adult* ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension* ; Incidence ; Intracranial Thrombosis ; Lipoproteins* ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Phenotype ; Sepharose ; Triglycerides

Myocarditis is defined as the myocardial inflammation caused by various infectious agents (such as virus, rickettsia , bacteria, protozoa, fungus and parasites). The clinical manifestations of myocarditis ranges from the asymptomatic state due to focal inflammation to fulminant fatal congestive heart failure secondary to diffuse myocardial involvement. Clinically, in some cases, it may simulate an acute myocardial infarction. We experienced a case of acute fulminant myocarditis that presented as acute myocardial infarction initially, and then progressed into and recovered from congestive heart failure and multiorgan failure.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Bacteria ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Fungi ; Heart Failure* ; Inflammation ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocarditis* ; Rickettsia

No abstract available.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: Intraosseous (IO) is an alternative vascular access method for critically ill patients, especially pediatric arrest patients. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of the education on pre-hospital IO Access of Level 1 Emergency Medical Technicians (Level-1 EMTs). METHODS: Forty four Level-1 EMTs participated in the IO educational program at Seoul Fire Academy. The IO educational program was consisted of a one-hour lecture followed by a one-hour practical training about the use of the powered device (EZ-IO) to artificial bones. Before and after the program, the knowledge and attitude about IO access were measured with 5 points-scale (1 in lowest and 5 in highest positive response) by the structured questionnaire. After the program, the participants were tested on skill performance (success rate of insertion and procedural time) of IO access. RESULTS: The mean working time and age of participants was 7.6+/-2.4 years and 32.1+/-4.2 years, respectively. Median score (5%~95%) of knowledge about indication of IO access was increased from 2(1-4) to 4(3-5) (p<0.01). Median score (5%~95%) on attitude was improved from 2(1-4) to 4(2-5) (p<0.01). Twelve EMTs (30.7%) showed negative response on IO access in the prehospital area. The success rate of insertion at first time was 84.1% and the mean time to success was 45.5+/-9.4 seconds. CONCLUSION: After 2 hour educational program for Level-1 EMTs, the knowledge and attitude of IO access improved significantly and skill performance was very excellent. We can consider the prehospital IO access of level-1 EMTs in Korea.
Critical Illness ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Fires ; Humans ; Mandrillus ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: As emergency ultrasound (EUS) can improve the management of emergency department patients, education in EUS has become an essential part of emergency medicine resident training. This study examined the efficacy of pediatric EUS education for resident physicians 6 months after training. METHODS: A survey was conducted on emergency medicine resident physicians who participated in the Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound Course in November 2014, which is a training program of pediatric EUS generated by Korean Society of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Society of Emergency and Critical Care Imaging. The instructor checked the list to evaluate attendee after the course. After the course, resident physicians have been encouraged to use EUS at the patient's bedside, and the same list was checked 6 months after the course. At the same time, a survey of the number of experience of EUS during the 6 months was performed. RESULTS: Ten emergency resident physicians of Seoul National University of Hospital participated in the course and all attendees were re-evaluated 6 months after the course. The mean initial score immediately after the course and that at the 6 months follow-up was 28.6±3.13 and 20.8±3.79, respectively (p < 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between the difference score and the EUS experience number, including the observations of the other physician's EUS (p=0.603) and hands-on by themselves (p=0.771). CONCLUSION: Although a EUS education program could improve the resident physician's ability, the effect decreased with time. Hence, the resident physician's EUS ability cannot be maintained via simple emergency department duty. Therefore, the education program should be repeated regularly.
Critical Care ; Education* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Seoul ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: Airways hyperresponsiveness is a hallmark of asthma. Inhaled corticosteroids improve hyperresponsiveness, but the extent of improvement may vary considerably between patients. This study was designed to determine which patient characteristics predict these differences in response. METHODS: Children with atopic asthma(n=71) received inhaled budesonide(800microgram per day) regularly for 12 weeks, and methacholine PC20 was measured before and after the treatment. Baseline clinical characteristics of children were analyzed with regard to their response to budesonide therapy. RESULTS: The children were divided into high(n=36) and low responder(n=35) on the basis of the median value of the doubling doses(change in PC20). There were no differences observed between the two groups with respect to age, sex, eosinophil counts, and pretreatment FEV1 or methacholine PC20. Among the allergic parameters, serum total IgE was higher in the high responder group than in the low responder group, whereas Dermatophagoides-specific IgE levels or skin test wheal sizes were not different between the two groups. There was a significant correlation between total IgE level and change in PC20. CONCLUSION: Total serum IgE was found to be the most important and single predictor of change in PC20 with inhaled corticosteroids.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Asthma ; Budesonide ; Child* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Skin Tests

BACKGROUNDS: As Korea has advanced into the aging society, Acute Coronary Syndrome is increased in number, especially elderly age group. The symptoms of acutecoronary syndrome in eldery were presented in atypical feature frequently. We studied the relation of the first symptom and diagnosis of acutecoronary syndrome and distribution of risk factor and coronary angiographic finding in elderly patient of korea society. METHODS: The subjects who were under went coronary angiography between 2002.5 and 2003.8 were dividedunder 65 years old group and over 65 years old group. And each group described diagnosis, risk factor, first symptom and coronary angiographic finding retrospectively. RESULTS: The diagnosis of unstable angina are more higher(46.5% vs. 26.1%, p<0.01) in the over 65 years old group and the first significant symptom of typical chest pain was more higher(57.4% vs. 47.6%, p<0.01) in the under 65 years old group and dyspnea was more higher(22.8% vs. 9.2%, p<0.01) in the over 65 years old group. The number of abnormal vessel were more higher(66.3% vs. 46.9%, p<0.01) in the over 65 years old group. CONCLUSION: Over 65 years old group compared with younger age group were prewented more frequently angina equivalent symptom than typical chest pain. And at the diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome, over 65 years old group showed more severe coronary angiographic finding. Consequently, early stage of diagnostic approach and treatment need scrupulous attention in the elderly patients.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Aged* ; Aging ; Angina, Unstable ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Diagnosis* ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Korea* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome, a concurrence of disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism, over- weight and abdominal fat distribution, dyslipidemia and hypertension, is associated with subsequent de- velopment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, especially coronary heart disease. The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease in elderly greater than 65 years old. METHODS: Eighty two elderly patients greater than 65 years old who underwent coronary angiography were divided into two groups with metabolic syndrome or without metabolic syndrome, and assessed the association with coronary angiographic finding. The metabolic syndrome factors and cardiovascular risk factors of JNC 7 were investigated to assess the relationship with coronary heart disease in elderly. Coronary heart disease was defined as 50% or greater diameter in stenosis of coronary artery in coronary angiography. RESULTS: In elderly patients with metabolic syndrome, coronary angiographically abnormal findings(p<0.05) and multi vessel disease findings(p<0.05) were presented significantly higher than non metabolic syndrome patients. In elderly patients with 3 and more cardiovascular risk factors of JNC 7, coronary angiographically abnormal findings(p<0.05) and multi vessel disease findings(p=0.059) were presented more than the other patients. Diabetes mellitus was related significantly with coronary heart disease(p value 0.044). CONCLUSION: In elderly patients, metabolic syndrome was significantly related with coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus had strong relationship with coronary heart disease. Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors of JNC 7 should be further evaluated to assess the relationship with coronary heart disease in the future.
Abdominal Fat ; Aged* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease* ; Coronary Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Dyslipidemias ; Glucose ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insulin ; Metabolism ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: The authors report our experience of urokinase thrombolysis in treating patients harboring nonaneurysmal spontanesous intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH) and evaluated complications, safety and feasibility of this procedure retrospectively. METHODS: Fifty-three patients with nonaneurysmal IVH>15mL without underlying structural etiology or coagulopathy were recruited. The patients with Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)<5 were excluded. A catheter was directed into the IVH. Hematoma aspiration was followed by instillation of urokinase at the ear level of drainage bag under intracranial pressure monitoring system. This was repeated every 6hours until half of its initial volume. For analysis of prognostic factors, we classified the patients into two groups by Glasgow outcome scale(GOS); good (GOS > or =3) and bad (GOS<3) prognosis group, and performed comparative analysis between two groups. RESULTS: Mean age was 60.2 years. The baseline hematoma size ranged 16 to 72mL. IVH volume reduction was done by an average of 74.2%. As complications, there were 3cases of rebleeding and 2cases of ventriculitis. No intracranial adverse effects were observed during thrombolytic theraphy. At 6months after the procedure, 29patients had achieved a good recovery, 15remained vegetative. 9patients died in hospital. The main good prognostic factors were young age, small IVH volume, and high GCS. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that this relatively easy and safe method of treatment will improve the prognosis. However, further clinical studies also must assess optimal thrombolytic dosage, frequency, and timing of urokinase instillation for safety and effectiveness and must include controlled comparisons of mortality, disability outcome, quality of life, time until convalescence, and cost of care in treated and untreated patients.
Catheters ; Coma ; Convalescence ; Drainage ; Ear ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

Changes occurred in the patterns of utilization of emergency medical services during the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak. The purpose of this study was to analyze the patterns of adult and pediatric patients who visited the emergency department (ED) during the outbreak. This retrospective study was conducted by analyzing changes in the patterns of visits among adult and pediatric patients in the ED at one tertiary teaching hospital in Korea. The study was performed from June 1, 2013 to July 31, 2015. The MERS outbreak period was from June 1 to July 31, 2015, and we compared that period to the same periods in 2013 and 2014. We compared and analyzed the patients' characteristics, emergency severity index (ESI) level at the visit, cause of visit, diagnosis, final dispositions, injury/non-injury, length of stay at the ED (EDLOS), and hospitalization rate. A total of 9,107 patients visited the ED during this period. Of these patients, 2,572 (28.2%) were pediatric patients and 6,535 (71.8%) were adult patients. The most common cause of an ED visit was fever (adult patients: 21.6%, pediatric patients: 56.2%). The proportion of non-urgent visits involving an ESI level of 4 or 5 and the EDLOS decreased significantly in pediatric and adult patients in comparison to that during the past two years. This change was significant in pediatric patients. Among adult patients, the rate of injury decreased, whereas it increased among pediatric patients. During the MERS outbreak period, pediatric ED visits due to non-urgent cases decreased significantly and there were more pronounced differences in ED utilization patterns in pediatric patients than in adult patients.
Adult ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Middle East* ; Retrospective Studies