OBJECTIVES: We compared the characteristics of the pain threshold and pain experience between demented group and non-demented group. METHODS: This study was part of Gangwon projects for early detection of dementia in 2010. We recruited 8302 local resident ages over 65 years old. Of theses, 1259 people who scored low MMSE were selected and 365 of them completed CERAD-K(Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease). Finally, 90 in non-demented group and 57 in demented group(mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease) were analyzed. Pain threshold was experimentally measured by pressure algometer and we investigated the pain experience, by Brief pain inventory (BPI), a self-report test. RESULTS: In the demographic characteristics, there are more female, higher ages, lower education in the demented group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the pain threshold. On the BPI results, 'shoulder pain', 'the number of pain' and 'interference of working' were significantly more prevalent in non-demented group. However, there are no significant differences between the groups in the 'pain severity', 'prevalence of pain' and 'pain treatment'. CONCLUSIONS: Demented group report less pain experience but, still perceived pain. It support previous studies that patient with dementia have increased pain tolerance but preserved pain threshold. Thus, active pain assessment and treatment for patients with dementia is needed.
Aged* ; Dementia* ; Education ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Pain Threshold*

A 38-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of abrupt left flank pain. He had no fever and physical examination revealed tenderness of the left costovertebral angle. Laboratory data revealed white blood cell 16,060/microL, C-reactive protein 0.93 mg/dL. Urinalysis showed more than 1/2 red cells per high-power field with severe proteinuria (4+). Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed the thickened abdominal aorta wall with partial thrombus. The thickened aorta wall compressed the left renal vein and it caused left renal vein thrombosis. Abdominal CT findings suggested aortitis of the abdominal aorta with complication of left renal vein. We could exclude other types of aortitis including autoimmune aortitis, Takayasu's arteritis, giant cell arteritis, and infectious causes based on a serologic test and the history of the patient. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic aortitis and treated with glucocorticoid. After treatment, his symptoms disappeared and a follow-up CT showed decreased mural thickening of the abdominal aorta. Isolated idiopathic aortitis presented with renal vein thrombosis is extremely rare and has not been reported in Korea yet. We present a rare case report on idiopathic aortitis of the abdominal aorta with complication of left renal vein thrombosis.
Adult ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortitis* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Arteritis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Physical Examination ; Proteinuria ; Renal Veins* ; Serologic Tests ; Takayasu Arteritis ; Thrombosis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urinalysis

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a rare syndrome, especially in uremic patients undergoing dialysis. CPM induced by diabetic coma in hemodialysis patients or associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia in peritoneal dialysis patients have been reported. However, its pathogenesis has been unclear. We report a case of CPM in a 67-year-old female uremic patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, who was admitted to our hospital for drowsy mentality. Sodium was normal (140 mEq/L) initially and throughout the entire clinical course. The fasting blood sugar level was 110 mg/dL, serum osmolality 312 mOsm/KgH2O and osmolar gap 9.47. The axial T2-weighted brain MRI showed high signal intensity in the basal pons.
Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Brain ; Diabetic Coma ; Dialysis ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelinolysis, Central Pontine* ; Osmolar Concentration ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Pons ; Renal Dialysis ; Sodium

Colorectal varix (CRV) is a rare cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and usually associated with portal hypertension from liver cirrhosis or portal venous obstruction. Idiopathic CRV have no identifiable underlying cause and can only be diagnosed after the cause of portal or mesenteric vein circulation have been excluded. We report a case of idioipathic CRV presented with rectal bleeding for a week. Colonoscopy revealed markedly dilatated tortuous, and bluish veins in the rectum as well as coexistent adenomatous polyp and internal hemorrhoid. Despite extensive investigation, there was no evidence of portal hypertension or any other cause. Family history was also negative. Although blood transfusions were required, the patient remained asymptomatic without further rectal bleeding.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Blood Transfusion ; Colonoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mesenteric Veins ; Rectum ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sildenafil citrate in men with erectile dysfunction, who had been taking antihypertensive agents, and to provide supportive scientific data, which can be used as a reference when prescribing sildenafil citrate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 198 male subjects, aged 20 years or older, between September 2002 and June 2003, were enrolled. The subjects were comprised of those patients with arterial hypertension, taking one or more antihypertensive agents, and who had been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction of more than 3 months duration. This study was conducted for 10 weeks as an open-label, multi-center and flexible dose clinical study, with a 2-week screening period and 8-week treatment phase. At all visits, the heart pressure and heart rate were measured, with any concomitant medications and adverse events recorded for each subject. Subjects were asked to complete the Event Log Worksheets, questionnaires of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Global Efficacy Assessment Question (GEAQ) during the study period. RESULTS: 167 subjects completed this study. The average age and duration of erectile dysfunction were 55.8 (31.7 to 77.1) years old and 3.3 years, respectively. The scores for questions 3 and 4 of IIEF improved from 2.3 and 1.8 at baseline, to 3.7 and 3.4 at week 4 and to 3.8 and 3.4 at week 8, respectively. 86.3 and 88.3% of patients answered that they had an improved erectile function and ability to have sexual intercourse, respectively, by week 8. There were no significant differences in responses to questions 3 and 4 of the IIEF and GEAQ in relation to the number of antihypertensive agents taken. The adverse events experienced during the study were facial flushing (20.1%), headache (11.7%), palpitation (5.0%), rhinitis (2.8%), URI (2.8%), dizziness (2.2%), chest pain (2.2%) and nausea (1.7%). Only 4 patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, sildenafil citrate was concluded to not only be effective at improving erections, but was also well tolerated and safe in the treatment of men with erectile dysfunction who were also taking multiple antihypertensive agents for arterial hypertension.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Chest Pain ; Citric Acid ; Coitus ; Dizziness ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Flushing ; Headache ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male* ; Mass Screening ; Nausea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Sildenafil Citrate

Understanding of the surgical anatomy of patients with double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is important in the planning of biventricular repair. From May 1995 to September 1996, 7 patients underwent biventricular repair for DORV with remote ventricular septal defect. There were 5 males and 2 females. Age at operation varied from 2 to 9 years(mean 3.4+/-2.7years). Preoperative diagnostic assessment was made by two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Ventricular septal defect was perimembranous inlet type in all patients. Associated cardiac anomalies were pulmonary atresia in two, pulmonary stenosis in five and tricuspid chordae attachment to conal septum in five. The operations were performed intraventricular repair and pulmonary enlargement in two, REV operation in two, and Rastelli operation in three. There was no early postoperative deaths and complications. The follow-up period was from 1 month to 18months, averaging 10+/-6.1 months. In the past,we considered the Fontan operation indicative as primary choice when DORV was associated with abnormal tricuspid chordal attachment to the conal septum,but now we believe that biventricular repair is feasible for those cases by making conal flap or reattachment method. Biventricular repair has theoretic advantages because it estabilishes normal anatomy and physiology,and it was concluded that the precise preoperative evaluation using both echocardiography and cardiac catheterization was essential to the successful surgery.
Bays ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Double Outlet Right Ventricle* ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fontan Procedure ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Atresia ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Background: This study aims to investigate the trend of doctor shopping among patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) before undergoing surgery and to examine the relevance of these findings to the public. Methods: A survey was conducted of 326 patients from 10 hospitals (male, 176; female, 150) who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for symptomatic RCT between September 2019 and February 2020. A questionnaire was used to obtain data regarding the type of medical care service, medical institutions visited before surgery, number of treatments received, and cost of treatment. Results: A total of 326 patients (87%) received treatment at least once at another medical institution before visiting the hospital where the surgery was performed. Patients visited an average of 9.4 health providers or physicians for shoulder pain before visiting the hospital where surgery was performed. Among the 326 patients, 148 (45%) visited more than two medical institutions and spent an average of 641,983 Korean won (KRW; $466, 50,000–5,000,000 KRW) before surgery. Medical expenses before surgery were proportional to the number of medical institutions visited (P=0.002), symptom duration (P=0.002), and initial visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (P=0.007) but were not associated with sex, age, VAS pain score immediately before surgery, or RCT size. Conclusions Medical expense before ARCR was associated with the severity of preoperative pain and duration of symptoms. After onset of shoulder symptoms, patients should visit as soon as possible a hospital that has surgeons who specialize in shoulder repair to prevent unnecessary medical expense and proper treatment.Level of evidence: IV.

Background: This study aims to investigate the trend of doctor shopping among patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) before undergoing surgery and to examine the relevance of these findings to the public. Methods: A survey was conducted of 326 patients from 10 hospitals (male, 176; female, 150) who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for symptomatic RCT between September 2019 and February 2020. A questionnaire was used to obtain data regarding the type of medical care service, medical institutions visited before surgery, number of treatments received, and cost of treatment. Results: A total of 326 patients (87%) received treatment at least once at another medical institution before visiting the hospital where the surgery was performed. Patients visited an average of 9.4 health providers or physicians for shoulder pain before visiting the hospital where surgery was performed. Among the 326 patients, 148 (45%) visited more than two medical institutions and spent an average of 641,983 Korean won (KRW; $466, 50,000–5,000,000 KRW) before surgery. Medical expenses before surgery were proportional to the number of medical institutions visited (P=0.002), symptom duration (P=0.002), and initial visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (P=0.007) but were not associated with sex, age, VAS pain score immediately before surgery, or RCT size. Conclusions Medical expense before ARCR was associated with the severity of preoperative pain and duration of symptoms. After onset of shoulder symptoms, patients should visit as soon as possible a hospital that has surgeons who specialize in shoulder repair to prevent unnecessary medical expense and proper treatment.Level of evidence: IV.

Background: This study aims to investigate the trend of doctor shopping among patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) before undergoing surgery and to examine the relevance of these findings to the public. Methods: A survey was conducted of 326 patients from 10 hospitals (male, 176; female, 150) who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for symptomatic RCT between September 2019 and February 2020. A questionnaire was used to obtain data regarding the type of medical care service, medical institutions visited before surgery, number of treatments received, and cost of treatment. Results: A total of 326 patients (87%) received treatment at least once at another medical institution before visiting the hospital where the surgery was performed. Patients visited an average of 9.4 health providers or physicians for shoulder pain before visiting the hospital where surgery was performed. Among the 326 patients, 148 (45%) visited more than two medical institutions and spent an average of 641,983 Korean won (KRW; $466, 50,000–5,000,000 KRW) before surgery. Medical expenses before surgery were proportional to the number of medical institutions visited (P=0.002), symptom duration (P=0.002), and initial visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (P=0.007) but were not associated with sex, age, VAS pain score immediately before surgery, or RCT size. Conclusions Medical expense before ARCR was associated with the severity of preoperative pain and duration of symptoms. After onset of shoulder symptoms, patients should visit as soon as possible a hospital that has surgeons who specialize in shoulder repair to prevent unnecessary medical expense and proper treatment.Level of evidence: IV.

Background: This study aims to investigate the trend of doctor shopping among patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) before undergoing surgery and to examine the relevance of these findings to the public. Methods: A survey was conducted of 326 patients from 10 hospitals (male, 176; female, 150) who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for symptomatic RCT between September 2019 and February 2020. A questionnaire was used to obtain data regarding the type of medical care service, medical institutions visited before surgery, number of treatments received, and cost of treatment. Results: A total of 326 patients (87%) received treatment at least once at another medical institution before visiting the hospital where the surgery was performed. Patients visited an average of 9.4 health providers or physicians for shoulder pain before visiting the hospital where surgery was performed. Among the 326 patients, 148 (45%) visited more than two medical institutions and spent an average of 641,983 Korean won (KRW; $466, 50,000–5,000,000 KRW) before surgery. Medical expenses before surgery were proportional to the number of medical institutions visited (P=0.002), symptom duration (P=0.002), and initial visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (P=0.007) but were not associated with sex, age, VAS pain score immediately before surgery, or RCT size. Conclusions Medical expense before ARCR was associated with the severity of preoperative pain and duration of symptoms. After onset of shoulder symptoms, patients should visit as soon as possible a hospital that has surgeons who specialize in shoulder repair to prevent unnecessary medical expense and proper treatment.Level of evidence: IV.