PURPOSE: HEMS is expected to shorten transportation time to an advanced facility and to enable administration of advanced treatment at the scene. In Korea, HEMS was launched in September 2011. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of HEMS in South Korea during the first year and to provide information for use in improvement. METHODS: Data were collected from September 23. 2011 to September 22. 2012; emergency patients on islands and in vulnerable areas were transported by helicopter. During the one-year study period, a prospective cohort study was conducted. Target diseases were acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and severe trauma. We classified patients according to two groups (severe group vs. mild group), whether they had been admitted to the intensive care unit (included death in the emergency room) or not. RESULTS: During this period, the total request mission number was 555 and the number of patients transported to base hospitals was 322. Differences between severe group and minor group were as follows: (1) final diagnosis; severe trauma (27.7% vs. 3.5%), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (24.3% vs. 4.2%), and acute coronary syndrome (7.3% vs. 2.1%), p<0.001. (2) classification of transport area; islands (45.8% vs. 77.2%), bridge islands (26.0% vs. 15.9%), and inland area (28.3% vs. 6.9%), p<0.001. (3) the median time of call to hospital time was 52 vs. 55 minutes (p=0.289). and the median time of on scene time was 9 vs. 8 minutes (p=0.046). CONCLUSION: During the 12-month period, air ambulance played an important role in medically vulnerable areas (inclusion islands). However, the number of transport missions was still relatively low, and has shown a gradual increase.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Air Ambulances ; Aircraft* ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Islands ; Korea ; Missions and Missionaries ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Health Services ; Stroke ; Transportation

PURPOSE: HEMS is expected to shorten transportation time to an advanced facility and to enable administration of advanced treatment at the scene. In Korea, HEMS was launched in September 2011. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of HEMS in South Korea during the first year and to provide information for use in improvement. METHODS: Data were collected from September 23. 2011 to September 22. 2012; emergency patients on islands and in vulnerable areas were transported by helicopter. During the one-year study period, a prospective cohort study was conducted. Target diseases were acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and severe trauma. We classified patients according to two groups (severe group vs. mild group), whether they had been admitted to the intensive care unit (included death in the emergency room) or not. RESULTS: During this period, the total request mission number was 555 and the number of patients transported to base hospitals was 322. Differences between severe group and minor group were as follows: (1) final diagnosis; severe trauma (27.7% vs. 3.5%), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (24.3% vs. 4.2%), and acute coronary syndrome (7.3% vs. 2.1%), p<0.001. (2) classification of transport area; islands (45.8% vs. 77.2%), bridge islands (26.0% vs. 15.9%), and inland area (28.3% vs. 6.9%), p<0.001. (3) the median time of call to hospital time was 52 vs. 55 minutes (p=0.289). and the median time of on scene time was 9 vs. 8 minutes (p=0.046). CONCLUSION: During the 12-month period, air ambulance played an important role in medically vulnerable areas (inclusion islands). However, the number of transport missions was still relatively low, and has shown a gradual increase.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Air Ambulances ; Aircraft* ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Islands ; Korea ; Missions and Missionaries ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Health Services ; Stroke ; Transportation

Cerebral developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is generally benign. However, we have experienced two cases of DVA causing symptoms. In the first case, the patient demonstrated DVA with venous infarction. DVA was visualized in the arterial phase using digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and was diagnosed as arterialized DVA. The second case presented as transient right homonymous hemianopia. DSA revealed venous congestion; the transient aggravation of venous congestion may have caused the symptom. DSA is useful for diagnosing the pathomechanism of symptomatic DVAs.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction* ; Hemianopsia ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Infarction

Objective: Interpersonal sensitivity, characterized by a heightened awareness of others’ behavior and emotions, is linked to mood disorders. However, current literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of how some items of the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM) interrelate and contribute to the overall construct. This study constructed a network for interpersonal sensitivity symptomatology to identify core IPSM items in patients with mood disorders. Methods: The IPSM, a 36-item self-report scale, was utilized to evaluate interpersonal sensitivity symptoms in 837 participants (major depressive disorder [MDD], n=265; bipolar I disorder [BD I], n=126; and bipolar II disorder [BD II], n=446). We performed exploratory graph analysis, employing regularized partial correlation models to estimate the network structure. Centrality analysis identified core IPSM symptoms for each mood disorder group. Network comparison tests assessed structural differences between the MDD and BD subgroups. Results: Network analysis detected five communities. Item 10 (“I worry about being criticized for things that I have said or done”) showed the highest value in strength. Multiple items on “Interpersonal Worry/Dependency” and “Low Self-Esteem” showed high strength centrality. Network structure invariance and global strength invariance test results indicated no significant differences between the MDD and BD subgroups. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the importance of addressing “Interpersonal Worry/Dependency” and “Low Self-Esteem” in the IPSM network among mood disorder patients based on core items of the network. Additionally, targeted treatments and comprehensive strategies in this aspect could be crucial for managing mood disorders.

Objective: Interpersonal sensitivity, characterized by a heightened awareness of others’ behavior and emotions, is linked to mood disorders. However, current literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of how some items of the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM) interrelate and contribute to the overall construct. This study constructed a network for interpersonal sensitivity symptomatology to identify core IPSM items in patients with mood disorders. Methods: The IPSM, a 36-item self-report scale, was utilized to evaluate interpersonal sensitivity symptoms in 837 participants (major depressive disorder [MDD], n=265; bipolar I disorder [BD I], n=126; and bipolar II disorder [BD II], n=446). We performed exploratory graph analysis, employing regularized partial correlation models to estimate the network structure. Centrality analysis identified core IPSM symptoms for each mood disorder group. Network comparison tests assessed structural differences between the MDD and BD subgroups. Results: Network analysis detected five communities. Item 10 (“I worry about being criticized for things that I have said or done”) showed the highest value in strength. Multiple items on “Interpersonal Worry/Dependency” and “Low Self-Esteem” showed high strength centrality. Network structure invariance and global strength invariance test results indicated no significant differences between the MDD and BD subgroups. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the importance of addressing “Interpersonal Worry/Dependency” and “Low Self-Esteem” in the IPSM network among mood disorder patients based on core items of the network. Additionally, targeted treatments and comprehensive strategies in this aspect could be crucial for managing mood disorders.

Objective: Interpersonal sensitivity, characterized by a heightened awareness of others’ behavior and emotions, is linked to mood disorders. However, current literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of how some items of the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM) interrelate and contribute to the overall construct. This study constructed a network for interpersonal sensitivity symptomatology to identify core IPSM items in patients with mood disorders. Methods: The IPSM, a 36-item self-report scale, was utilized to evaluate interpersonal sensitivity symptoms in 837 participants (major depressive disorder [MDD], n=265; bipolar I disorder [BD I], n=126; and bipolar II disorder [BD II], n=446). We performed exploratory graph analysis, employing regularized partial correlation models to estimate the network structure. Centrality analysis identified core IPSM symptoms for each mood disorder group. Network comparison tests assessed structural differences between the MDD and BD subgroups. Results: Network analysis detected five communities. Item 10 (“I worry about being criticized for things that I have said or done”) showed the highest value in strength. Multiple items on “Interpersonal Worry/Dependency” and “Low Self-Esteem” showed high strength centrality. Network structure invariance and global strength invariance test results indicated no significant differences between the MDD and BD subgroups. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the importance of addressing “Interpersonal Worry/Dependency” and “Low Self-Esteem” in the IPSM network among mood disorder patients based on core items of the network. Additionally, targeted treatments and comprehensive strategies in this aspect could be crucial for managing mood disorders.

Objective: Interpersonal sensitivity, characterized by a heightened awareness of others’ behavior and emotions, is linked to mood disorders. However, current literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of how some items of the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM) interrelate and contribute to the overall construct. This study constructed a network for interpersonal sensitivity symptomatology to identify core IPSM items in patients with mood disorders. Methods: The IPSM, a 36-item self-report scale, was utilized to evaluate interpersonal sensitivity symptoms in 837 participants (major depressive disorder [MDD], n=265; bipolar I disorder [BD I], n=126; and bipolar II disorder [BD II], n=446). We performed exploratory graph analysis, employing regularized partial correlation models to estimate the network structure. Centrality analysis identified core IPSM symptoms for each mood disorder group. Network comparison tests assessed structural differences between the MDD and BD subgroups. Results: Network analysis detected five communities. Item 10 (“I worry about being criticized for things that I have said or done”) showed the highest value in strength. Multiple items on “Interpersonal Worry/Dependency” and “Low Self-Esteem” showed high strength centrality. Network structure invariance and global strength invariance test results indicated no significant differences between the MDD and BD subgroups. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the importance of addressing “Interpersonal Worry/Dependency” and “Low Self-Esteem” in the IPSM network among mood disorder patients based on core items of the network. Additionally, targeted treatments and comprehensive strategies in this aspect could be crucial for managing mood disorders.