OBJECTIVES: To develop a Korean version of VSSS-82 for measuring the multi-dimensional satisfaction with community-based mental health services in psychiatric patients and to investigate both the reliability and validity of the Korean version. METHODS: The VSSS-82 English version was translated and back-translated with some modification. Data from 68 psychosis patients using community-based mental health services in three Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) was collected through a personal interview survey regarding the satisfaction and suitability of service. Variability of satisfaction and internal consistency, discriminant validity, and concurrent validity of the VSSS-82 Korean version were evaluated. RESULTS: A higher number of dissatisfied subjects and significant pairwise differences for the dimensions were found. The Crohnbach's alpha coefficient, a measure of internal consistency, ranged from 0.56 (overall satisfaction) to 0.90 (skills and behavior) and significant differences in satisfaction was found in patients by the self-rated suitability of service. CONCLUSIONS: The VSSS-82 Korean version is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring multi-dimensional satisfaction with community-based mental health service.
Community Mental Health Centers ; Community Mental Health Services ; Humans ; Mental Health Services* ; Mental Health* ; Personal Satisfaction ; Psychotic Disorders ; Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results*

Aspergilloma and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis(ABPA) are different types of the pulmonary aspergillosis spectrum of diseases. ABPA is an inflammatory disease that causes hypersensitivity to Aspergillus spores growing in the bronchi, which is characterized by asthma, recurrent pulmonary infiltrations or mucoid impaction, eosinophilia and central bronchiectasis. Aspergilloma is a simple colonization of fungus within a cavitary lung lesion, but these diseases rarely coexist. A case of ABPA, coexistent with Aspergilloma, was experienced in a 31 year-old female. The diagnosis was confirmed by the immediate cutaneous reactivity to Aspergillus fumigatus, elevated total IgE antibodies, peripheral eosinophilia, bronchiectasis, growth of Aspergillus species in a sputum culture and radiographic infiltration. Treatment, with prednisone and itraconazole, led to improvement of the respiratory symptoms, reduction of the cavitary lesion and in the total serum IgE level.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary* ; Aspergillus ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Asthma ; Bronchi ; Bronchiectasis ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Itraconazole ; Lung ; Prednisone ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Spores ; Sputum

A 51-year old woman was admitted to our hospital because of Exertional dyspnea, Palpitation, Headache, upper-limb hypertension, and lower-limb claudication. A loud systolic bruit was audible along Lt. carotid artery. Upper limb hypertension was responsed to drug moderately (included ACEI, alpha, beta-blocker, Ca++-channel blocker), but claudication of lower limb was aggravated, also on exertion, Blood Pressure of upper-limb was elevated to 180 mmHg. So, chest CT and Aortogram was performed, we confirmed long segmental stenosis from thorasic Aorta to the renal a. bifurcation level. Finally, We performed after axillo-femoral bypass surgery. After surgery, upper limb hypertension and lower limb claudication was improved.
Aorta ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Takayasu Arteritis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Upper Extremity

Multicystic benign mesothelioma (MBM) of the peritoneum is a very rare condition. Since the first description of MBM in 1979, approximately 100 cases have been reported. This is a case report of MBM of the pelvic peritoneum presenting as acute abdominal pain in a young woman. Laparoscopy confirmed multiple grapelike clusters of cysts that originated in the peritoneum of the rectouterine pouch and histopathologic diagnosis was confirmed as MBM of the pelvic peritoneum. We hope to alert gynaecologists of the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to MBM which can be accomplished by laparoscopy.
Abdominal Pain ; Douglas' Pouch ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Mesothelioma ; Peritoneum

Uterine arterial pseudoaneurysm is a very rare condition usually associated with postpartum hemorrhage. It almost never occurs after cervical conization; however, since ruptured pseudoaneurysm could be life threatening, we should consider the possibility of vascular injury such as pseudoaneurysm when we find a patient with vaginal bleeding after the process of surgical operation. Emergency arterial embolization is a well established therapeutic option to control the ruptured pseudoaneurysm. This is a case report of uterine arterial pseudoaneurysm causing intra-abdominal bleeding followed by cervical conization, which was successfully treated by uterine artery embolization.
Aneurysm, False* ; Conization* ; Emergencies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Uterine Artery Embolization ; Uterine Artery* ; Uterine Hemorrhage* ; Vascular System Injuries

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

Pericardial effusions can be developed by any form of pericarditis; infective pericarditis such as viral or bacterial infection and non-infective, inflammatory pericarditis related with generalized disease such as end-stage renal disease or connective tissue disease and irradiation, postpericardiectomy syndrome, drugs and non-inflammatory pericarditis by malignancy, hypothyroidism, trauma on chest. In children, pericardial effusions are usually related with viral infection, generalized disease or cardiac surgery. We experienced three unusual cases of pericadial effusion by Mycoplasma pneumonia infection, Rickettsia tsutsugamushi infection and post-thoracotomy effusive constrictive pericarditis.
Bacterial Infections ; Child ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericarditis ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Rickettsia Infections ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thorax

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little is known for the capacity and quality of colonoscopy, and adherence to colonoscopy surveillance guidelines in Korea. This study aimed to investigate the present and potential colonoscopic capacity, colonoscopic quality, and adherence to colonoscopy surveillance guidelines in Korea. METHODS: We surveyed representative endoscopists of 72 endoscopy units from June to August 2015, using a 36-item questionnaire regarding colonoscopic capacity, quality, and adherence to colonoscopy surveillance guidelines of each hospitals. RESULTS: Among the 62 respondents who answered the questionnaire, 51 respondents were analyzed after exclusion of 11 incomplete answers. Only 1 of 3 of endoscopy units can afford to perform additional colonoscopies in addition to current practice, and the potential maximum number of colonoscopies per week was only 42. The quality of colonoscopy was variable as reporting of quality indicators of colonoscopy were considerably variable (29.4%–94.1%) between endoscopy units. Furthermore, there are substantial gaps in the adherence to colonoscopy surveillance guidelines, as concordance rate for guideline recommendation was less than 50% in most scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: The potential capacity and quality of colonoscopy in Korea was suboptimal. Considering suboptimal reporting of colonoscopic quality indicators and low adherence rate for colonoscopy surveillance guidelines, quality improvement of colonoscopy should be underlined in Korea.
Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Endoscopy ; Korea ; Quality Improvement ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) have been recognized as key mediators associated with type 2 inflammation in the airways of asthmatic patients. CysLTs are associated with airway constriction, eosinophil recruitment/activation, and airway remodeling. The study aimed to understand the role of CysLTs in adult asthmatics in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: One hundred five adult asthmatics who had maintained antiasthmatic medications were enrolled. Asthmatic subjects were classified into 2 groups according to urinary leukotriene E4 (uLTE4) levels, and their clinical parameters and inflammatory mediators, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) %, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), blood eosinophil count, serum periostin (sPON), and urinary eosinophil derived neurotoxin (uEDN) were compared between the high-uLTE4 and low-uLTE4 groups. Results: The prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), severe asthma, and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) were significantly higher in the high-uLTE4 group than in the low-uLTE4 group. The high-uLTE4 group had lower FEV1% and maximal midexpiratory flow %, but higher FeNO levels than the low-uLTE4 group. In addition, blood eosinophil count, sPON, and uEDN levels were significantly higher in the high-uLTE4 group than in the low-uLTE4 group. The presence of AERD and levels of FeNO, sPON, and uEDN were significantly associated with higher uLTE4 levels in asthmatics. Conclusion CysLTs are associated with type 2 inflammation in the airways of asthmatic patients, contributing to the development of AERD, CRS, and asthma severity. The stratification of clinical phenotypes according to the uLTE4 level could support optimizing anti-inflammatory therapy for better control of asthma.