Purpose: The anatomical distribution, characteristics of lesions, and treatment modalities for peripheral artery disease (PAD) are diverse. Endovascular intervention is popular for symptomatic PAD, for both intermittent claudication (IC) and chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). We aimed to investigate the endovascular devices used by comparing patients with PAD referred for endovascular revascularization with IC and CLTI. Methods: We identified 736 patients with PAD enrolled in the multicenter PAD registry in South Korea from 2019 to 2022. Of these patients, 636 received endovascular treatment at the time of this study. After excluding missing data, we analyzed 506 patients with IC or CLTI. Patients’ characteristics, target lesions, and endovascular device data such as type, length, balloon diameter, and stent, were examined. Procedure outcomes of the aortoiliac, femoropopliteal, and below-the-knee lesions were analyzed. Results: Patients with CLTI were more likely to have diabetes mellitus, below-the-knee interventions, and multilevel PAD than the IC group. Patients with IC had more aortoiliac artery lesions and underwent atherectomies than the CLTI group (63.3% and 61.1% vs. 39.7% and 40.6%, respectively; P < 0.001). In patients with femoropopliteal lesions, those with CLTI were more revascularized with stents than the patients with IC, without significant differences (35.3% vs. 29.1%, P = 0.161). Compared to the IC group, the CLTI patients showed significantly worse rates of primary patency, amputation, and mortality (P = 0.029, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Among Korean patients with PAD, there is a significant difference in baseline and lesion characteristics, endovascular strategies, and short-term follow-up outcomes among those with IC and CLTI.

Much controversy surrounds the issue of whether HIV infection is a risk factor for developing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of and risk factors for MDR-TB in HIV-infected patients at the National Medical Center of Korea. We reviewed the medical records of HIV/TB co-infected patients from January 2005 to May 2011; the drug susceptibility profiles were available for 55 patients. Of these, 32.7% had MDR-TB, which was approximately 3.6 times higher than the prevalence among the general population. Additionally, there were more additional AIDS-defining clinical illnesses in the MDR-TB group than in the non-MDR-TB group (27.8% vs 5.4%, P = 0.032). These results suggest that HIV infection and HIV-related immunosuppresion may contribute to the development of MDR-TB.
Adult ; Aged ; Coinfection ; Female ; HIV Infections/*complications/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/*complications/*epidemiology/microbiology

Chondroid syringoma, also known as `mixed tumor of the skin', is a kind of acquired hamartoma of folliculosebaceous-apocrine lineage. Histologically, it is characterized by the biphasic pattern, with epithelial structures enveloped by abundant stroma. We report a case of chondroid syringoma, as an asymptomatic nodule, on the upper lip of a 55-year-old male. Histologically, the tumor had both epithelial components with follicular differentiation and myxochondroid stroma.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic* ; Hamartoma ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the actual working hours of an oncology advanced practice nurse (APN) at a university hospital according to the duties and tasks outlined in the job description. METHODS: An assessment tool for this study was created based on the job description of APN as defined by the Korean Nurses Association, and was later verified by a specialist party. Twenty-three oncology APNs recorded their nursing activity on the assessment tool. The working hours and distribution were analyzed according to specific duty and task. RESULTS: Average working hours per day for APNs totaled 9.3 hours. Time for duties was allocated as follows in order of priority: 28.0% for therapeutic intervention and 19.8% for clinical decision making. Time allotted for tasks was distributed as follows: 19.5% for special nursing care and 9.8% for planning treatment and nursing interventions. CONCLUSION: This study allowed insight into the actual time spent by oncology APNs on duties and tasks outlined in the job description. These findings should contribute to management of the changing role of oncology APNs. Furthermore, the results may be used as a basic resource for the continued professional development of the work of oncology APNs.
Advanced Practice Nursing ; Decision Making ; Job Description ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Oncology Nursing ; Specialization

65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with acute decompensated heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and severe mitral regurgitation. Electrocardiography revealed a typical left bundle branch block and atrial fibrillation. Her condition deteriorated despite administering high-doses of inotropes and vasopressors. Pending a decision to therapy, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was performed when the patient underwent a cardiogenic shock. Although the hemodynamic status stabilized with ECMO support, weaning the patient from ECMO was not possible. Thus, we decided to perform cardiac resynchronization with defibrillator implantation as a “rescue” therapy. Five days post-implantation, the patient was successfully weaned from ECMO.
Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy* ; Defibrillators ; Electrocardiography ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Stroke Volume ; Weaning

This study was conducted to develop a case management program using the critical pathway (CP) as an intervention method for patients with an inguinal hernia for a herniorrhaphy, and to determine the effects of the CP on the period of hospitalization, medical costs, the rates of postoperative complaints, patient satisfaction and the nurses' job satisfaction. One hundred patients (60 in the experimental group, 40 in the control group) who were admitted to a general hospital in Seoul for inguinal herniorrhaphy were enrolled in this study. The results showed that the period of hospitalization and the postoperative hospital stay were significantly reduced in the CP group. In addition, the total medical cost, was lowered significantly by use of the CP for patients undergoing an inguinal herniorrhaphy. The rates of postoperative complaints, patients' satisfaction and the information on the treatment were enhanced after implementing the CP. These results suggests that the CP may be a useful tool for enhancing the health care outcome by decreasing the period of hospitalization, overall medical costs and by improving the quality of care, all of which can benefit the patients, the patients' family, caregivers and the hospital.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Critical Pathways ; Female ; Health Care Costs ; Hernia, Inguinal/*surgery ; Human ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Complications

BACKGROUND: Recently, the mass media serves a major role in the public health education, but have not been proven whether they are being appropriately utilized in the elderly. The aim of this study was to identify the elderly person's concern in the mass media health information and utilization behavior. METHODS: Between March to June 2008, one to one survey with the elderly people over 60 years was performed in two elderly welfare centers, one public health center, and two secondary hospitals outpatients and inpatients in Seoul and Chungju. RESULTS: A total of 999 subjects were included. By multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with low concern in the mass media health information were low educational level, non-exercise group, and low concern in own health (P = 0.001, 0.009, < 0.001, respectively). The most frequently utilized health information source was the mass media. By comparing the frequency of health information utilization, women, low educational level, low income, non-exercise group, underweight, low level of self-evaluated health status, and low concern in health information were significantly associated with the lowest quintile of utilization (P value: < 0.001, 0.005, 0.05, < 0.001, 0.002, 0.03, 0.005, respectively). However, the presence of chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, had no association. CONCLUSION: In community-dwelling elderly, important factors associated with concern in and utilization of the mass media health information were concern in health, self-evaluated health status, exercise status and socioeconomic factors such as education or income level, rather than comorbid chronic disease.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inpatients ; Mass Media ; Multivariate Analysis ; Outpatients ; Public Health ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Thinness

BACKGROUND: Constipation is one of the most common digestive complaints. Although, there are increased interest on the socioeconomic effect of constipation and studies associated with quality of life on constipation, there is no study about the influence of constipation onto quality of life (QOL) in Korea. We studied the impact of functional constipation on QOL. METHODS: Between March to June 2008, person to person survey with 844 elderly aged over 60 years was performed at two senior care centers, a public health center, and secondary hospital in Seoul metrocity and Chung-ju city. The diagnosis of functional constipation was based on the Rome III criteria and QOL was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: The average age was 73.6 years and the prevalence rate of constipation was 20.3%. The average SF-36 score was 63.5 in total population, 57.9 in constipation group, and 64.9 in normal group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the constipation lowers QOL in adults aged over 60 years old. Further study will be necessary to explore if QOL changes according to the severity of constipation and its treatment and to assess QOL using a disease-specific measurement tool that can be used for Korean environment.
Adult ; Aged ; Constipation ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Quality of Life ; Rome

BACKGROUND: Constipation is one of the most common digestive complaints. Although, there are increased interest on the socioeconomic effect of constipation and studies associated with quality of life on constipation, there is no study about the influence of constipation onto quality of life (QOL) in Korea. We studied the impact of functional constipation on QOL. METHODS: Between March to June 2008, person to person survey with 844 elderly aged over 60 years was performed at two senior care centers, a public health center, and secondary hospital in Seoul metrocity and Chung-ju city. The diagnosis of functional constipation was based on the Rome III criteria and QOL was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: The average age was 73.6 years and the prevalence rate of constipation was 20.3%. The average SF-36 score was 63.5 in total population, 57.9 in constipation group, and 64.9 in normal group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the constipation lowers QOL in adults aged over 60 years old. Further study will be necessary to explore if QOL changes according to the severity of constipation and its treatment and to assess QOL using a disease-specific measurement tool that can be used for Korean environment.
Adult ; Aged ; Constipation ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Quality of Life ; Rome

BACKGROUND: From May to July 2015, the Republic of Korea experienced the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outside the Arabian Peninsula. A total of 186 patients, including 36 deaths, had been diagnosed with MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection as of September 30th, 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained information of patients who were confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection. MERS-CoV infection was diagnosed using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 55 years (range, 16 to 86). A total of 55.4% of the patients had one or more coexisting medical conditions. The most common symptom was fever (95.2%). At admission, leukopenia (42.6%), thrombocytopenia (46.6%), and elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (42.7%) were observed. Pneumonia was detected in 68.3% of patients at admission and developed in 80.8% during the disease course. Antiviral agents were used for 74.7% of patients. Mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and convalescent serum were employed for 24.5%, 7.1%, and 3.8% of patients, respectively. Older age, presence of coexisting medical conditions including diabetes or chronic lung disease, presence of dyspnea, hypotension, and leukocytosis at admission, and the use of mechanical ventilation were revealed to be independent predictors of death. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of MERS-CoV infection in the Republic of Korea were similar to those of previous outbreaks in the Middle East. However, the overall mortality rate (20.4%) was lower than that in previous reports. Enhanced surveillance and active management of patients during the outbreak may have resulted in improved outcomes.
Antiviral Agents ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Dyspnea ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Leukocytosis ; Leukopenia ; Lung Diseases ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; Middle East* ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Thrombocytopenia