PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of distress and quality of life (QoL) in esophageal cancer patients, and to identify the factors influencing QoL METHODS: A sample of 103 patients who have esophageal cancer were included in a descriptive study. The instruments used were the Distress Thermometer and Problem List, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) version 4. RESULTS: The mean distress score of the subjects was 4.06±2.04 out of 10. The total mean score of quality of life was 66.39±12.86 out of 108, the highest category was physical well-being with a mean item score of 21.78±5.51, the lowest was emotional well-being with a mean item score of 14.69±3.68. The levels of distress and QoL were negatively correlated (r=−.61, p<.001). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the QoL of the patients was explained by type of treatment and distress. These variables explained 35% of the variance in QoL. CONCLUSION: The QoL of patients with esophageal cancer was relatively low, and the type of treatment and distress was the most important factor affecting quality of life. Thus, to improve the QoL of patients with esophageal cancer, it is important to assess their distress and to provide appropriate interventions.
Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Quality of Life* ; Thermometers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of preventing CAUTIs through the practice of using 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) versus normal saline for perineal care in ICU patients. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was used, and participants were randomly allocated to either the CHG group (n=79) or normal saline group (n=81). CAUTI was diagnosed following the criteria of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Incidence of CAUTI and characte oftics of infection were evaluated. RESULTS: In the CHG group, 8 epofodes of CAUTI were obsevend in 79 patients and 875 foley catheter e ys. Tnce ate of CAUTI was 9.14 per 1,000 foley catheter e ys. Tncre were 2 epofodes of CAUTI in the 81 patients and 837 foley catheter e ys of the normal saline group. Tnce ate of CAUTI was 2.39 per 1,000 foley catheter e ys. Tnc difference between both groups was not significant (p=.1). CONCLUSION: Using normal saline to provide perineal care to ICU patients with a foley catheter inserted will not increase the risk for CAUTI.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Chlorhexidine ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections

The purpose of this study was to perform the radiographic measurements and temporomandibular joint evaluation in mandibular asymmetry. For this study, thirty-two patients who have mandibular asymmetry were selected and submentovertex, panoramic and lateral corrected tomographic radiagraphs were taken. Horizontal and vertical analysis using various landmarks on these radiographs were performed. Also radiographic and clinical evaluation of temporomandibular joint were obtained. Ther results were as follows ; 1. On the submentovertex radiograph, the mean distance of Pogonion to midline was 5.0(+/-)3.8mm. 2. The mean distance of Pogonion to Gonion between the deviated and the contra-lateral side(P<0.001). 3. The distance difference of Pogonion to Gonion between the deviated and the contra-lateral side was significantly realated to the degree of asymmetry(P<0.001). 4. On panoramic radiagraph,the condylar height of the contral-lateral side was significantly longer than the one of the deviated side(P<0.001). 5. On lateral corrected tomogram, bony of temporomandibular joint was observed in 11 condyles of the deviated side and 9 condyles of the contra-lateral side. Erosion and ostephyte were the most common changes in both the deviated and the contra-lateral sides.
Humans ; Temporomandibular Joint

The present case illustrates an arteriovenous malformation of the cheek in a 25-year-old male. The clinical presentation, radiographic findings, differential diagnosis, treatment and histopathologic description are presented. Diagnosis of the lesion was confirmed by angiography, and the lesion was treated by angiographically controlled vascular embolization followed by complete surgical excision.
Adult ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Cheek ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND: Norwegian scabies is a highly infectious disease characterized by crust formation, different from ordinary scabies, and is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. After the patient in our case was diagnosed with Norwegian scabies, active measures were taken to prevent its transmission within the hospital. Methods: A 66-year-old female patient was admitted to the general ward of a university hospital on January 23rd, 2008 and 6 days later, she was found to have been infected with Norwegian scabies all over the body. For epidemiological investigation, those who had been in contact with the patient were identified and interviewed. The patient was advised to follow the contact precaution, and linen the patient used was cleaned thoroughly. The surrounding environment was decontaminated by applying surface disinfectant. Preventive cream against the Norwegian scabies was distributed to staff members and patients who had been exposed to the patient, and appointed a dermatologist to educate them on how to use of medicine, what the mechanism of the disease is, what cautions must be taken, and how to write an ex post facto report. RESULTS: After the confirmation of the 1st case, no additional cases have been reported in the hospital during the ensuing 2 months. Therefore, prompt prevention and infection control activities against Norwegian scabies can be thought to have been successful. CONCLUSION: Whena patient with an uncertain skin disease is admitted, pertinent measures must be taken from the moment the patient is admitted and contact precaution should be applied both to the patients and the staff members. When a scabies patient is detected in an institution, the medical staff must enforce as much active preventive measures as possible, and by doing so, there will be a better chance to prevent the outbreak of scabies in the hospital.
Aged ; Bedding and Linens ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection ; Female ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Staff ; Patients' Rooms ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin Diseases

PURPOSE: To analyze the possible association between magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity of temporo-mandibular joint disk and posterior attachment, and the type and extent of disk displacement, disk configuration, effusion and clinical signs in patients with internal derangement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance images of the 132 temporomandibular joints of 66 patients with temporomandibular joint displacement were analyzed. The clinical findings were obtained by retrospective review of the patients' records. The type and extent of disk displacement, disk configuration and effusion were evaluated on the proton density MR images. The signal intensity from the anterior band, posterior band and posterior attachment were measured on MR images. The associations between the type and extent of disk displacement, disk configuration, effusion and clinical signs and the MR signal intensity of disk and posterior attachment were statistically analyzed by student's t-test. RESULTS: Of 132 joints, 87 (65.9%) showed anterior disk displacement with reduction (ADR) and 45 (34.1%) showed anterior disk displacement without reduction (ADnR). The signals from posterior attachments were lower in joints with ADnR than those of ADR (p<0.05). The results showed statistically significant (p<0.05) association between the type and extent of disk displacement and disk configuration, and decreased signal intensity of posterior attachment. There were no statistical associations between pain, noise and limited mouth opening, and signal intensity of disk and posterior attachment. Conclusions : The average signal from posterior attachment was lower in joints with ADnR than that of ADR. The type and extent of disk displacement and disk configuration appeared to be correlated with the signal intensity from posterior attachment.
Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mouth ; Noise ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc* ; Temporomandibular Joint*

PURPOSE: To analyze the possible association between magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity of temporo-mandibular joint disk and posterior attachment, and the type and extent of disk displacement, disk configuration, effusion and clinical signs in patients with internal derangement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance images of the 132 temporomandibular joints of 66 patients with temporomandibular joint displacement were analyzed. The clinical findings were obtained by retrospective review of the patients' records. The type and extent of disk displacement, disk configuration and effusion were evaluated on the proton density MR images. The signal intensity from the anterior band, posterior band and posterior attachment were measured on MR images. The associations between the type and extent of disk displacement, disk configuration, effusion and clinical signs and the MR signal intensity of disk and posterior attachment were statistically analyzed by student's t-test. RESULTS: Of 132 joints, 87 (65.9%) showed anterior disk displacement with reduction (ADR) and 45 (34.1%) showed anterior disk displacement without reduction (ADnR). The signals from posterior attachments were lower in joints with ADnR than those of ADR (p<0.05). The results showed statistically significant (p<0.05) association between the type and extent of disk displacement and disk configuration, and decreased signal intensity of posterior attachment. There were no statistical associations between pain, noise and limited mouth opening, and signal intensity of disk and posterior attachment. Conclusions : The average signal from posterior attachment was lower in joints with ADnR than that of ADR. The type and extent of disk displacement and disk configuration appeared to be correlated with the signal intensity from posterior attachment.
Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mouth ; Noise ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc* ; Temporomandibular Joint*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detectability of various radiographic techniques for mandibular condylar lesions. Erosive lesion, osteophyte and flattening were formed on the artificial mandibular condyle, and panoramic, transcranial, transorbital radiography, lateral and frontal tomography were taken. The results were as follows; 1. The detectability for erosive lesions was superior in the order of frontal tomography(96%), lateral tomo graphy(78%), transorbital(59%), transcranial(56%) and panoramic(48%) radiography. 2. The location of erosive lesion that showed the highest detectability was the medial third in panoramic, the lateral third in transcranial, the central portion of anteroposterior direction in transorbital, the central portion of mediolateral direction and the posterior third in lateral tomography. Frontal tomography disclosed all erosive lesions except one anterolateral lesion. 3. The detectability of osteophyte was 100% in lateral tomography, 78% in transcranial and 56% in panoramic radiography. 4. For flattening, lateral tomography showed the flattened condyle, but both panoramic and transcranial views showed only decreased bone density without the change of condylar shape.
Bone Density ; Mandibular Condyle ; Osteophyte ; Radiography ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Temporomandibular Joint*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop an evaluation framework for QI activity in medical institutions and to analyze QI activity cases by applying the developed evaluation framework. METHOD: A four-phase process was employed to develop the evaluation framework, and a descriptive survey was used for the QI case study. Data were collected in April, 2010 by examining 157 QI activity cases presented at conferences and published in Journal of Korean Society of Quality Assurance in Health Care over the past three years. Developed QI activity evaluation instruments were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 for Windows program. RESULT: A QI Activity Evaluation Framework was developed. This framework consisted of 45 items. The department with the highest level of QI participation was the nursing department. The most frequent QI activity theme was patient safety. QI activity levels in Korean medical institutions are relatively equalized without significant differences according to institution characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: From the quality aspect of QI activity, more systematic and scientific approaches are required to upgrade QI activity. This study could provide methodological guidelines for QI activity and be useful in setting goals and directions for QI activity in medical institutions in Korea.
Congresses as Topic ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Korea ; Patient Safety ; Qi ; Quality Improvement

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to prove the effects of topical anesthetics (EMLA) to control pain in preterm infants during invasive procedure (percutaneous central venous catheterization, PCVC). METHODS: A total of 18 preterm infants of birth weight <2,000 g and gestational age <36 weeks born at EulJi University Hospital, at Daejeon in 2010 were randomly included in this study. EMLA was applied in nine preterm infants 40 minutes before starting PCVC and placebo was applied in another nine preterm infants. Based on PIPP (preterm infant pain profile), we evaluated their heart rate, oxygen saturation before, 15 seconds during and 30 seconds after procedure. Behavioral responses were also recorded for 2 minutes after procedure. RESULTS: Experimental group showed significantly less behavioral response during procedure (P=0.005) and 2 min after procedure (P=0.001). Also, experimental group showed less increase in heart rate (P=0.033) and reduction of behavioral state (P=0.017). CONCLUSION: Despite limitation of small size in this study, experimental group showed lower pain score compared with placebo control group during catheterization. In neonatal care unit (NICU), we recommend the use of topical anesthetics such as EMLA to control pain during invasive procedures.
Anesthetics ; Birth Weight ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Gestational Age ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Lidocaine ; Oxygen ; Prilocaine