BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to investigate the current two years' clinical research coordinators (CRCs) employment and estimate total number of CRCs in Korea. METHODS: The participants were administrative officers or head CRCs in institutions designated by Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA). Data on the current status of CRCs' employment was collected with self-administered questionnaires or telephone interview. And total number of CRCs in Korea was estimated based on ratio between the number of the KFDA approved clinical trials and current number of CRCs. RESULTS: The number of CRCs was 1381 at 36 centers in 2009 and 1444 at 37 centers in 2010. About 79 percent of CRCs were employed by investigators. The estimated number of CRCs was from 1677 to 1763 at 135 centers in 2009 and from 1802 to 1890 at 142 centers in 2010 based on number of clinical trials approved by KFDA. Two third of regional clinical trial centers (RCTCs) had written employment policy, and 25 percent of RCTCs employed CRCs in a regular position. All RCTCs had educational programs for CRCs and supported CRCs for training outside. 75 percent of RCTCs provided ID card for CRCs belonging to investigators to access to hospital document. Half of RCTCs had CRC registration system in hospital-wide. CONCLUSION: The number of CRCs in Korea can be easily estimated with the number of KFDA approved clinical trials. Majority of RCTCs still employed CRCs in an irregular position, which should be switched to regular position to reduce the CRCs' unsatisfaction. It is also needed to develop centralized CRC management system for CRCs belonging to investigators.
Calcium Hydroxide ; Employment ; Head ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Personnel ; Zinc Oxide

Patients with heart failure undergoing surgery that requires general anesthesia face substantial perioperative risks; however, clear guidelines are not available for anesthesia management in patients with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Traditional intravenous and volatile anesthetics require careful administration to prevent severe hypotension and bradycardia in patients with heart failure. Remimazolam has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional anesthetics because of its reduced cardiovascular depressive effects. We present three cases illustrating the successful use of remimazolam to induce and maintain general anesthesia in patients with heart failure and reduced cardiac function. Our cases demonstrate the safe use of remimazolam for general anesthesia in patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies that have reported on the pharmacokinetic(PK) disposition of fluoroquinolones in patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis(MDR-Tb), even though fluoroquinolones are frequentl y co-prescribed to those patients. In this study, the PK disposition of ofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, was evaluated in patients with MDR-Tb. METHODS: Twenty patients with MDR-Tb were given 2nd line Tb drugs including ofloxacin (300mg twice a day), prothionamide, cycloserine, para-aminosalicylic acid, kanamycin, and streptomycin. The patients were grouped according to their body mass index(BMI) as an index of emaciation (group A: 18.5 Aminosalicylic Acid ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cycloserine ; Emaciation ; Fluoroquinolones ; Humans ; Kanamycin ; Ofloxacin* ; Pharmacokinetics* ; Prothionamide ; Streptomycin ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant*

PURPOSE: Anterior drawer and varus stress test are commonly used for radiologic evaluation of chronic lateral ankle instability. However, there are controversies regarding the method of measurement and the normal value. This study was performed to investigate radiologic normal values in normal Korean adults and to analyze differences by age and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty Korean adults were recruited and divided in three groups (20 in their twenties, 20 in their thirties, 20 in their forties). There were 10 males and 10 females in each group. The selection criteria were no history of ankle injury and no evidence of instability on physical examination. Radiologic measurement of varus talar tilt and anterior talar translation were performed through anterior and varus stress radiographs using Telos device (150N force). The measurement was repeated twice by three researchers, and intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability were analyzed. The average talar tilt and anterior talar translation were obtained. RESULTS: Talar tilt and anterior talar translation on ankle stress radiographs had good intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability. Talar tilt was average 3.7degrees and 5.1degrees in male and female of twenties of age, 3.9degrees and 4.8degrees in their thirties, 3.4degrees and 4.5degrees in their forties. Anterior talar translation was average 3.5 mm and 4.2 mm in their twenties, 4.1 mm and 3.8 mm in their thirties, 3.6 mm and 4.1mm in their forties. There was no significant difference in talar tilt and anterior talar translation by age. However, there was significant difference in talar tilt by gender. CONCLUSION: Normal range of talar tilt angle in Korean adults was below 8.3degrees, and normal range of anterior talar translation was below 7.6 mm. It seems to be able to serve as a good reference for radiologic evaluation and for treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability.
Adult ; Animals ; Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Patient Selection ; Physical Examination ; Reference Values

Neck fracture is a major cause of death in traffic accidents and this injury pattern occurred normally in a frontal collision or overturn process. This study investigates a case of neck fracture from a low speed collision. In this case examined, the passenger in the front seat of the car was pulled back and did not have the seat belt on. As the vehicle slipped on a frozen road surface in a downward hill and crashed into the shoulder of the road at low speed. But strangely, even though his neck is fracture there were not any collision marks on interior of the car. This study applied computer simulation to analyze this case and we found out that the upper part of the person was rotated and raised at the time of collision and his neck was fully bent by interference with roof and we also know that the seat belt did not resist the passenger who pulled back his seat.
Accidents, Traffic ; Cause of Death ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Neck Injuries ; Neck* ; Seat Belts ; Shoulder

Fractures of the femoral shaft with marked bowing face some obstacles in fixation of the fracture such as difficulty in insertion of the intramedullary nail (IM nail) or exact contouring plate. Locking compression plates (LCP) are an option to manage this problem. However, we experienced consecutive breakage of LCP twice and IM nail once in an 80-year-old female. Finally, union of the fracture was achieved after fixation of the IM nail and additional plate together. Fractures of the femur shaft with marked bowing are thought to have different biomechanical properties; therefore, we present this case with a review of the literature.
Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Nails

OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease. However, little is known about the prevalence of atopic dermatitis outside of North America and Europe. We evaluated the nationwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis with the comparison of prevalence between 1995 and 2000, and between Seoul and provincial cities in Korea. We also evaluated the risk factors for atopic dermatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional ISAAC based questionnaire survey was conducted on random samples of schoolchildren (6 to 15 year olds) in 1995 and 2000. And kindergarten children (5 year olds) were surveyed in 2003, throughout South Korea. RESULTS: The lifetime and last twelve months prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The twelve-month prevalence of atopic dermatitis was higher in Seoul than in other provincial cities in 1995, but the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Seoul and Provincial Centers became similar in 2000. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The further evaluations that include objective examination are necessary to confirm these outcomes because the environmental and risk factors may be different among the countries according to their life styles.
Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Epidemiology ; Europe ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Style ; North America ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Skin Diseases

Background: The fatality rate of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies among countries owing to demographics, patient comorbidities, surge capacity of healthcare systems, and the quality of medical care. We assessed the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the epidemic in Korea. Methods: Using a modified World Health Organization clinical record form, we obtained clinical data for 3,060 patients with COVID-19 treated at 55 hospitals in Korea. Disease severity scores were defined as: 1) no limitation of daily activities; 2) limitation of daily activities but no need for supplemental oxygen; 3) supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula; 4) supplemental oxygen via facial mask; 5) non-invasive mechanical ventilation; 6) invasive mechanical ventilation; 7) multi-organ failure or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy; and 8) death. Recovery was defined as a severity score of 1 or 2, or discharge and release from isolation. Results: The median age of the patients was 43 years of age; 43.6% were male. The median time from illness onset to admission was 5 days. Of the patients with a disease severity score of 3–4 on admission, 65 (71.5%) of the 91 patients recovered, and 7 (7.7%) died due to illness by day 28. Of the patients with disease severity scores of 5–7, 7 (19.5%) of the 36 patients recovered, and 8 (22.2%) died due to illness by day 28. None of the 1,324 patients who were < 50 years of age died; in contrast, the fatality rate due to illness by day 28 was 0.5% (2/375), 0.9% (2/215), 5.8% (6/104), and 14.0% (7/50) for the patients aged 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥ 80 years of age, respectively. Conclusion In Korea, almost all patients of < 50 years of age with COVID-19 recovered without supplemental oxygen. In patients of ≥ 50 years of age, the fatality rate increased with age, reaching 14% in patients of ≥ 80 years of age.