PURPOSE: This study was performed to suggest a realistic measure of charging for 119 emergency medical services (EMS) in Korea using Delphi study targeting emergency medical specialists. METHODS: The Delphi study was conducted four times targeting 24 emergency medical specialists. The first Delphi survey contained five categories as follows: Subjects of charging for 119 EMS, method of charging, strategy of implementation, utilization of fund, measure of quality improvement. In the second and third Delphi surveys, respondents were asked to indicate the level of importance with the questionnaire statements on a Likert scale, ranging from 0 to 5. The final consultation survey collected opinions on the system of charging for 119 EMS. RESULTS: The results from the first three Delphi surveys showed subjects of charging, method of charging, strategy of implementation, utilization of fund, and measure of quality improvement for 119 EMS. The fourth Delphi survey resulted in step 1 (classification of severity), step 2 (scene of accident), and step 3 (classification of severity at hospital). The classification of severity in steps 1 and 2 should be evaluated by first grade emergency medical technicians, and the classification of severity in step 3 should be evaluated by a person notified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Non-emergent patients should pay for the charge of 119 EMS to the hospital. CONCLUSION: Delphi study proposed charging for 119 EMS based on three levels of severity. This study suggests that charging for EMS can reduce unnecessary emergency calls and offer proper medical services to emergency patients.
Classification ; Delphi Technique* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Fees and Charges ; Financial Management ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Quality Improvement ; Specialization ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: We analyzed the oncological outcome and prognostic factor of the chondrosarcoma arising from benign bone tumor due to malignant transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 1986 to April 2009, 18 cases were considered eligible. We analyzed retrospectively the patient's characteristics and prognostic factors that affect to the local recurrence and distant metastasis. RESULTS: As classified by primary benign bone tumor, 4 cases were solitary osteochondroma, 11 cases were multiple osteochondromatosis and 3 cases were multiple enchondromatosis. The mean follow-up period was 85 months. The 5-year disease free survival rate of 18 patients was 85.9%. Their overall MSTS score was 25.2 (84%). There were local recurrence in 3 cases and no distant metastasis. We found that tumor location and surgical margin affected to the prognosis significantly. CONCLUSION: In secondary chondrosarcoma patients, the prognosis was good relatively and tumor location and surgical margin are important prognosis factor.
Chondrosarcoma ; Disease-Free Survival ; Enchondromatosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteochondroma ; Osteochondromatosis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We analyzed the oncologic outcome of the malignant transformed benign giant cell tumor of bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and February 2012, 5 cases were referred with suspicious malignant transformation of benign giant cell tumor. No patients underwent radiation therapy. RESULTS: After referral, all patients received the wide excision of the tumor and its' pathologic diagnosis were osteosarcoma. As classified by the location of tumor lesion, 3 cases were located in the distal femur, 1 case was in the distal radius and 1 case was in the proximal femur. The average latent period between diagnosis of benign giant cell tumor and diagnosis of secondary malignant giant cell tumor was 49.2 months. (range, 24-126 months) The mean follow-up period was 21.6 months. There were subsequent local recurrence in 2 cases and 3 patients developed distant metastasis. All patients with lung metastasis were dead. CONCLUSION: Malignant transformation of benign giant cell tumor of bone can be occurred within 5 years. Therefore, when benign giant cell tumor suspicious malignant transformation, it is necessary to do more aggressive treatment.
Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteosarcoma ; Radius ; Recurrence ; Referral and Consultation

PURPOSE: To evaluate characteristic MR findings of craniocerebral anomaly and its relationship with neurologic manifestations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MR images of 36 patients with craniocerebral anomaly diagnosed by MRI and clinical courses. We correlated the characteristic MR findings in 41 lesions with neurologic manifestastions focusing on seizures and developmental delay. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients with seizures consisted of 14 patients(60%) with neuronal migration disorders and seven(30%) with phakomatosis, among which 18 patients(78%) had generalized type of seizures. Locations of the lesions were the parietal lobes in 11 patients(52%) and the subependymal or periventricular regions in seven(33%). Two patients with tuberous sclerosis had the lesions in both parietal and subependymal areas. Nine patients had the signs of developmental delay that were seen in the four(44%) with schizencephaly, two (22%) with tuberous sclerosis, two(22%) with heterotopia, and one(ll %) with pachygyria. CONCLUSION: Neuronal migration anomaly was relatively common lesion that presented neurologic manifestations such as seizures and developmental delay. Generalized type of seizures was common. We were able to diagnose these anomalies using the MRI that helped establish therapeutic plans.
Humans ; Lissencephaly ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neuronal Migration Disorders ; Neurons ; Parietal Lobe ; Rabeprazole ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures* ; Tuberous Sclerosis

Pilomatrix carcinoma originates in the matrix cell and is marked by exophytic growing and common local recurrence. There is no established treatment for wide local invasion and metastasis of the pilomatrix besides wide surgical resection. We report a case of rapidly progressive pilomatrix carcinoma, which arose around an Eloesser open window with direct invasion to the adjacent tissue.
Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax

We report a case of a superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in 52-year old patient with a history of having renal allograft. The pseudoaneurysm spontaneously developed while standing up from squatting position after defecation, and it was successfully managed by an endovascular repair with an endograft. This case suggests that an atherosclerotic superficial femoral artery is vulnerable to torsion and tension movement during changing position from squatting to standing, which is repeatedly practiced by the people using the Korean traditional toilet. The endovascular therapy is also recommended for elderly patients with poor clinical conditions such as having a renal allograft and diffuse atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries.
Aged ; Allografts* ; Aneurysm, False* ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Defecation ; Femoral Artery* ; Humans

The exact pathogenesis of transient mid- and basal ventricular ballooning, a new variant of transient left ventricular (LV) ballooning, remains unknown. We report two cases of transient mid- and basal ventricular ballooning associated with catecholamines. These cases suggest that catecholamine-mediated myocardial dysfunction might be a potential mechanism of this syndrome.
Adult ; Cardiomyopathies/pathology ; Catecholamines/*metabolism ; Coronary Vessels/pathology ; Heart Catheterization ; Heart Ventricles/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocardium/pathology ; Syndrome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/diagnosis/*physiopathology

The effectiveness of Problem-based Learning(PBL) in medical education has already been acclaimed widely. Representatives of the curriculum committee at Kyungpook National University School of Medicine paid a visit to McMaster University School of Medicine in Canada in May, 1994 in order to learn mechanics and effectiveness of PBL in its medical education and they were impressed by the efficacy of PBL. Soon after that the school launched a pilot PBL tutorial for two years from 1994 through 1996(4-semester) as a non-credit course for senior, junior and sophomore in medical school during one semester each, to introduce PBL to faculty members and students as well. After the pilot, opinion survey on PBL from both faculty and students revealed affirmative for PBL from 55.1% of seniors, 61.4% of juniors and 83.9% of faculty members. The faculty body at medical school was then encouraged by the pilot experience and decided to include the PBL as the part of medical education reform. During the fall semester in 1998, the senior at pre-medical course was given PBL experience to prepare for implementation of PBL at school of medicine. The PBL was implemented as an essential 2-credit-hour course in each semester commencing in 1999 to the freshmen class throughout the year; it was extended to the sophomore in 2000 and to the junior in 2001. Although there had been initial excitements of over expectations, confusion, and disappointments from faculty members and students, majority opinion of both parties on continuation of PBL was positive. The issues to be settled are preparation of study cases, students learning resources, and method of evaluating students' performance. The PBL was started as an essential course in medical school in 1999 after 4 years of preparation and on the basis of our interim evaluations the following conclusions were made: we have reached the following consensus that students seem to follow the objectives of PBL and new PBL tutorial has well been accepted by students; and enhancing the program by correcting currently known weaknesses, the PBL tutorials could further be expanded to be a major modality of teaching in our medical school.
Canada ; Consensus ; Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Learning ; Mechanics ; Problem-Based Learning* ; Schools, Medical

BACKGROUND: Although the modified Simpson's method is widely used for the assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), it has limitations including relatively high inter- and intra-observer variability and time consuming nature. We want to evaluate whether assessing mitral annular systolic velocity (S' velocity) by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) can be used to evaluate LV systolic function with comparing LVEF by three dimensional echocardiography (3DE). METHODS: We examined 3DE and TDI studies of patients between January and August 2008. 3DE LVEF was measured by offline commercial computer software EchoPac PC(R) (GE, Andover, MA, USA). S' velocity was obtained from the medial side with apical four chamber view by pulsed-wave Doppler with TDI. RESULTS: We included 125 patients (78 males (62.4%), mean age: 57.5+/-13.0 years). The mean S' velocity was 7.7+/-1.9 cm/s and the mean LVEF was 57.2+/-10.4%. The S' velocity measured by TDI showed a linear correlation with LVEF measured by 3DE (r=0.688, p<0.001). Study patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of LV systolic dysfunction: Group I (normal LVEF), n=102 and Group II (LVEF <50%), n=23. For prediction of significant LV systolic dysfunction by the receiver operating characteristic curve according to S' velocity, the optimal cutoff value was 6.8 cm/s. At this cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity were 94.1% and 87%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, S' velocity measured by TDI showed a significant correlation with three dimensional LVEF and can be used to detect patients with LV systolic dysfunction.
Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Humans ; Male ; Observer Variation ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Software ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left