PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common, serious complication in rhabdomyolysis patients. Early recognition and adequate therapy in rhabdomyolysis-related AKI are essential to reducing mortality. However, existing biomarkers, such as plasma creatinine, have several limitations for early detection of AKI. Novel parameters have recently been studied for greater reliability in prediction and staging of AKI in critically ill patients in the emergency department. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of certain parameters for early prediction and staging of AKI in adults with acute non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis. METHODS: Eighty eight patients with adult non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis, who were admitted to the emergency intensive care unit (ICU) from Dec 2013 to Nov 2014, were enrolled in this observational cohort study. AKI was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. Diagnostic characteristics of initial laboratory parameters were analyzed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Of the 88 patients, 60 patients (68.2%) developed AKI during the ICU stay. The ROC curve for plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) showed the highest sensitivity (81.7%) and specificity (78.6%) among initial parameters. In pairwise comparison, the areas under the curve (AUCs) for plasma NGAL and serum creatinine were 0.868 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.779-0.931) and 0.765 (95% CI: 0.662-0.849), respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed in both (p=0.047). Plasma NGAL levels increased significantly as the stage of AKI progressed, using AKIN criteria (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Plasma NGAL can be a reliable parameter for early prediction and approximate staging of AKI in adult non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis in the emergency department.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; Cohort Studies ; Creatinine ; Critical Illness ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lipocalins ; Mortality ; Neutrophils ; Plasma ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To compare and analyze the rate of prevention of two venous thromboembolism prophylaxis guidelines in patients with artificial joint arthroplasty and hip joint fracture. Proper prophylaxis for preventing thromboembolism in orthopedic surgery is significant because of this fetal complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study compared and retrospective analyzed the rate of prevention using the medical records and radiographs of patients who underwent orthopedic surgery from March 2009 to February 2011 according to the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines and from March 2012 to February 2014 according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) guidelines. RESULTS: The guidelines for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis have been applied to patients with artificial joint replacement and hip joint fracture, the compliance rate of the ACCP guidelines was 56.0% before surgery, 67.0% after surgery with chemical prophylaxis, and 80.5% with mechanical prophylaxis. In addition, the compliance rate of the AAOS guidelines was 74.1% with chemical prophylaxis, and 88.3% with mechanical prophylaxis, which was higher than the ACCP guidelines. The compliance rates of mechanical and chemical prophylaxis before and after surgery of the ACCP guidelines, and the compliance rate of mechanical and chemical prophylaxis of the AAOS guidelines were compared and analyzed. The results revealed statistical significance (p<0.05) before and after total knee replacement arthroplasty and hip joint fracture internal fixation and total high risk orthopedic surgery. CONCLUSION: Raising the compliance rate of prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in high risk orthopedic surgery is necessary and people should follow the guidelines for a unified direction depending on which situation they are in.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Compliance ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Joints ; Medical Records ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Orthopedics ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgeons ; Thorax ; Thromboembolism ; Venous Thromboembolism

The aim of this study was to investigate survival rate, complications and associated risk factors after hip fracture surgery in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by comparing to non-CKD patients. A total of 119 patients (130 hips, 63 hips CKD group, 67 hips non-CKD) who underwent hip fracture surgery were included. We assessed variables including age, gender, CKD, comorbidities, operation delay and operation time as risk factors for survival and complications after hip fracture surgery. The survival rate was 55.8% at 1-year, 45.8% at 3-year, and 31.4% at 5-year in CKD group, whereas 82.1%, 60.7%, and 36.8%, respectively in non-CKD. Age (more than 85) (hazard ratio [HR], 3.238; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.736–6.042; P < 0.001), stages 4, 5 of CKD (HR, 2.004; 95% CI, 1.170–3.433; P = 0.001), cerebrovascular disease (HR, 2.213; 95% CI, 1.196–4.095; P = 0.001), and malignancy (HR, 3.086; 95% CI, 1.553–6.129; P = 0.001) were significant risk factors. Complications occurred in 17 hips of CKD group and 8 hips of non-CKD. Stage 4–5 of CKD (odds ratio [OR], 3.401; 95% CI, 1.354–8.540; P = 0.001), malignancy (OR, 3.184; 95% CI, 0.984–10.301; P = 0.050) were significant risk factor. When performing hip fracture surgery in patients with CKD, surgeons should consider age, severity of CKD, and presence of other comorbid disease, such as cerebrovascular disease and malignancy, as patients with these risk factors will need more intensive preoperative and postoperative care.
Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Comorbidity ; Hip* ; Humans ; Postoperative Care ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* ; Risk Factors ; Surgeons ; Survival Rate*

PURPOSE: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of periprosthetic infection. This study analyzed the serial CRP measurements in patients with acute postoperative infection by comparing with the serial CRP measurements in patients without postoperative infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2004 to 2009, 33 patients with acute postoperative infection developed within 4 weeks of surgery were enrolled including 26 cases of hip arthroplasty and 7 cases of total knee arthroplasty. We measured the serial CRP levels in the groups with both deep infection and superficial infection. The CRP measurements in the group without postoperative infection were also analyzed based on the changing pattern of CRP. RESULTS: In the non-infected group, CRP level sharply increased in 2-3 days postoperatively and it showed a continuing downward pattern till the third postoperative week. However, a bimodal curve pattern was obtained in the groups with both deep and superficial infection. The group with deep infection showed a second increase in CRP level around the 13th postoperative day and the group with superficial infection showed a second increase in CRP level around the 10th postoperative day. CONCLUSION: If there are bimodal patterns of CRP after arthroplasty, acute postoperative infections can be suspected. We can treat them effectively without delay by detection of bimodal increase in CRP.
Arthroplasty ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee

PURPOSE: This study investigates the amputation rate within 1 year after the diagnosis of diabetic foot ulcer and its associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 60 patients with diabetic foot ulcer. The mean and standard deviation age was 64.4±12.8 years (range, 32~89 years); the mean and standard deviation prevalence period for diabetes mellitus was 21.0±7.5 years (range, 0.5~36 years). The amputation rate was evaluated by dividing the subjects into two groups—the major and minor amputation groups—within 1 year following the initial diagnosis of diabetic foot ulcer. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for amputation. RESULTS: The total amputation rate of 38.3% (n=23) was comprised of the amputation rate for the major amputation group (10.0%) and rate for the minor amputation group (23.8%). There was a high correlation between peripheral artery disease (toe brachial pressure index <0.7) and amputation (hazard ratio [HR] 5.81, confidence interval [CI] 2.09~16.1, p<0.01). Nephropathy was significantly correlated with the amputation rate (HR 3.53, CI 1.29~9.64, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Clinicians who treat patients with diabetic foot complications must understand the fact that the amputation rate within 1 year is significant, and that the amputation rate of patients with peripheral artery disease or nephropathy is especially high.
Amputation* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Foot* ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Ulcer*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine anger-expression patterns and their association with state and trait anger and physical and psychological health status in health care workers. METHOD: Four hundred and forty eight nurses, physicians and technicians from a large medical center completed standardized questionnaires of anger, anger-expression patterns and mood. They also had blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and body mass index measured during their annual physical examinations. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, chi-square and ANOVA. RESULTS: Subjects showed two major clusters of anger-expression patterns: anger-control and anger-in/out. Subjects with the anger-in/out pattern reported higher state and trait anger and more anxiety, depression and fatigue than subjects with the anger-control pattern. Physical health indicators, however, were not significantly different between the two clusters of anger-expression patterns. CONCLUSION: Anger-expression patterns are associated with psychological health status but not with physical health status. Anger-expression patterns, however, need to be examined over time to assess their long-term effects on the physical and psychological health status in future studies.
Adult ; *Anger ; Expressed Emotion ; Female ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Middle Aged ; Models, Nursing ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology

PURPOSE: To analyze the hemodynamic changes in patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty and received alternative treatment to blood transfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven cases in 48 patients who received total knee and hip arthroplasty between 1998 September and 2008 February were enrolled. The mean age at the point of surgery was 70.9 years. The types of joint arthroplasty included 15 cases of total knee arthroplsty and 42 cases of total hip arthroplasy. Alternatives to blood transfusion entailed administration of 2,000 units of recombinant EPO and oral iron supplement for 1 week in patients with preoperative hemoglobin level higher than 10 g/dl, and 4,000 units of recombinant EPO with oral iron supplement or venoferrum for 1 week in patients with preoperative hemoglobin level lower than 10 g/dl. Intra-operatively, autotransfusion, plasma expander, topical hemostatic agents were used irrespective of the preoperative hemoglobin level. Postoperatively, 4,000 unit of recombinant EPO and venoferrum were administered for one week. RESULTS: Patients with mean hemoglobin level higher than 10 g/dl exhibited mean hemoglobin level of 10.7 g/dl (a mean 1.85 g/dl decrease) 7 days after the operation. Patients with mean hemoglobin level lower than 10 g/dl exhibited increased mean hemoglobin level of 9.18 g/dl (a mean 0.38 g/dl decrease) 7 days after the operation. Patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty exhibited reduction of hemoglobin from 12.8 g/dl to 10.96 g/dl (a mean decrease of 1.4 g/dl) 7 days after the operation. Patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty exhibited a change of hemoglobin from 13.4 g/dl to 11.8 g/dl (a mean decrease of 1.84 g/dl) 7 days after the operation. Patients who underwent revision arhtroplasty exhibited a change of hemoglobin from 13.8 g/dl to 12.75 g/dl (a mean decrease of 1.05 g/dl) 7days after the operation. CONCLUSION: In patients who refuse blood transfusion, there is a need to establish an adequate alternative blood management plan for surgery, such as total joint arthroplasty. We obtained good results with the hemodynamic protocol adapted for the perioperative period.
Arthroplasty ; Blood Transfusion ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoglobins ; Hip ; Humans ; Iron ; Joints ; Knee ; Perioperative Period ; Plasma

BACKGROUND: Bisphosphonate (BP) is an effective drug for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. However, gastrointestinal distress caused by BP is a well-known side effect for low compliance. The aim of our study was to compare the 1-year persistence, compliance and T-scores between the aperitif medication group and the postprandial medication group. METHODS: Three hundred patients were included in this study to determine their persistence and compliance with the prescribed daily BP (Maxmarvil®, alendronate 5 mg and calcitriol 0.5 µg; YuYu Pharm) following distal radius fractures. Patients in Group 1 (aperitif medication) were asked to adhere to the general guidelines for BPs before breakfast. Patients in Group 2 (postprandial medication) were recommended medication after breakfast. We compared the persistence and compliance of this daily BP therapy using the medication possession ratio (MPR) and T-scores between the 2 groups after 1 year. RESULTS: Bone mineral density in hip and lumbar spine was improved significantly in 2 groups (P < 0.001). Significant differences existed between 2 groups, including 73 of 150 patients (48.7%) in Group 1, and 111 of 150 patients (73.3%) in Group 2 for 1-year persistence (P=0.001). The mean MPR is 0.66 in Group 1 (range, 0.50–0.86) and 0.71 in Group 2 (range, 0.54–0.87). A significant difference was detected between the 2 groups (P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Postprandial administration improved persistence and compliance with daily BP therapy, resulting in better clinical outcomes.
Alendronate ; Bone Density ; Breakfast ; Calcitriol ; Compliance ; Hip ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Radius Fractures ; Spine

Objective: Unlike common acute urinary tract infections, obstructive urinary tract infections caused by urinary calculus can be fatal because they can progress to sepsis and cause shock or disseminated intravascular coagulation. The evidence of patients with obstructive urinary tract infections caused by urinary tract stones visiting the emergency center is still lacking. Methods: Seventy-seven patients who visited the emergency room with obstructive urinary tract infections caused by urinary calculus from January 2016 to December 2018 were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups: sepsis group and non-sepsis group. Results: The lymphocyte count, platelet count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, serum creatinine, and C-reactive protein were significantly different in the sepsis-positive and negative groups. Percutaneous nephrostomy was also significantly higher in the sepsis-positive group. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to evaluate the ability of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio to predict a septic urinary tract infection. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio were 0.659 and 0.550, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetic patients, percutaneous nephrostomy, and serum creatinine were associated with septic obstructive urinary tract infection. Conclusion In patients with an obstructive urinary tract infection who were referred to the emergency center, diabetic patients and those with high blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels are at high risk of sepsis. In such cases, rapid diagnosis and treatment, such as percutaneous nephrostomy, are necessary.

PURPOSE: In patients with altered mentality caused by drugs or unknown causes, ammonia is checked to facilitate differential diagnosis or diagnose hepatic coma. This helps early prevention and treatment of brain damage due to hyperammonemia. This study was conducted to evaluate clinical characteristics of intoxicated adult patients with hyperammonemia. METHODS: We evaluated 95 patients with hyperammonemia among intoxicated patients above the age of 15 who visited our ED from January 2013 to December 2015. We analyzed the demographic characteristics and type of poisoning substance, reason for ingestion, toxicological characteristics such as elapsed time from ingestion to hospital visit, lab, clinical progression and complications. Data were evaluated using the student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables, and Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test for frequency analysis of categorical variables. RESULTS: When compared to healthy individuals, patients with hyperammonemia showed statistical significance on their SOFA score (p=0.016) and poison severity score (p<0.001). Additionally, patients with hyperammonemia showed significantly different initial serum AST level (p=0.012) and maximum serum AST level during the hospital stay (p=0.026) when compared to healthy individuals. Moreover, individuals with sustained hyperammonemia compared to transient hyperammonemia showed clinically significant SOFA scores (p<0.001), poison severity scores (p=0.007), mortality rates in the ICU (p=0.021), as well as different duration of hospital stay (p=0.037), serum creatinine level (p=0.002), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p=0.025), and serum myoglobin (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Most poisoning-induced hyperammonemia cases were transient and recovered without special treatment. Therefore, hyperammonemia is almost non-specific among poisoning patients.
Adult ; Ammonia ; Blood Sedimentation ; Brain ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eating ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia* ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Myoglobin ; Poisoning