In Korea, the nosocomial infection control program is not well estabilished. This study was carried out to investigate the incidence rate of nosocomial infection occurred among patients of 18 hospitals for 7 days ; cases of hospital infection per 10,000 patients discharged during the same period in Korea. The study was done in 18 volunteer hospitals and nosocomial infection cases for 7 days were collected retrospectively. The result was as follows; 1. The incidence rate of nosocomial infection for 7 days was 578 cases per 10, 000 patients discharged. 2. Pneumonia was the most prevalent nosocomial infection ; the incidence rate 112.7 cases per 10,000 discharges. The incidence rate of urinary tract infection was 85. 7 cases and that of septicemia was 36. 7 cases per 10, 000 discharges. 3. The incidence rate of nosocomial infection among patients of neurosurgery department was the highest(2,742 cases per 10,000 discharges). And the incidence rate of nosocomial infection was 6 times higher among the patients of intensive care unit than that of general ward. The reasons of higher nosocomial infection rate of intensive care unit and neurosurgery appeared to be due to many invasive procedures. Thus the priority in nosocomial infection control program must be given to those groups.
Cross Infection* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea* ; Neurosurgery ; Patients' Rooms ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine medical professionals' perception and knowledge of hospice and palliative care (HPC) and attitude toward death. METHODS: The survey was performed on 84 physicians and 172 nurses in Busan, Korea. Data were collected from April 5, 2012 to April 30, 2012. RESULTS: Regarding the purpose of HPC, the most popular perception was "To alleviate pain and accommodate comfort" among both physicians and nurses. For the need for HPC, "Terminal patients need a separate ward for emotional fluctuation" the answer chosen by both groups the most. Both groups scored low on knowledge of HPC. For pain and symptom management, physicians scored higher than nurses (physicians: 6.97+/-1.82, nurses: 5.68+/-1.93, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Considering the survey results, we suggest development of a program to improve medical professionals' perception and knowledge of HPC and attitude toward death.
Hospice Care* ; Hospices* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Palliative Care

The authors report a case of monostotic eosinophilic granuloma which occured in the skull. A 37 year-old woman was presented with headache and soft mass in the occipital region. Plain skull X-ray showed a "punched out" osteolytic lesion in the right paramedian posterior parietal bone. Computed tomography shows a soft tissue mass and irregular bone destruction in corresponding region. On magnetic resonance image, the mass was of high signal intensity, with subgaleal extension and looks like a shirt stud or "collar button" on T2-weighted image. Total excision of the tumor and postoperative radiotherapy(1000cGy) were performed. The woman had no headache complains nor showed any focal neurologic deficit during the six months follow-up period. We report a case of monostotic eosinophilic granuloma of the skull with review of the pertinent literatures.
Adult ; Eosinophilic Granuloma* ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parietal Bone ; Skull*

The auther studied 54 lumbar spondylolisthesis patients diagnosed and treated with transpedicular screw fixation and bony fusion at our Hosptial between January 1990 and December 1994, and analysed the outcome. The results may be summarized as follows: 1) Of the 54 cases, 17 were degenerative spondylolisthesis and 37 were spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. Occurrence peaked during the fifth and sixth decades. 2) Posterolateral fusion(P.L.F) was performed in 37 cases and posterior lumbar interbody fusion(P.L.I.F) in eight ; P.L.F and P.L.I.F in combination was performed in nine cases. The mean follow-up period was 25 months. 3) In no patients was significant neurologic injury or functional root loss seen. Complications included two instrument failures and one wound infection. 4) Radiologic and clinical outcome was better in degenerative than in spondylolitic spondylolisthesis. 5) The radiologic and clinical outcome of bony fusion types P.L.F and P.L.I.F was the same. 6) The surgical result as evaluated by Mc.Nab's criteria was satisfactory in 81% of patients.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Wound Infection

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze a trend in studies of hospice care in Korea and to suggest future research directions. METHODS: This study analyzed a total of 183 studies related to hospice care which were found at http://www.riss.kr. RESULTS: Of the 183 studies, 62 (33.9%) were for thesis studies for a degree, 121 (66.1%) for academic journals. There were 159 (87.8%) quantitative studies, 18 (8.9%) qualitative studies, and 6 (3.3%) Q-Method studies. The most frequently used study design was a descriptive study. The majority of study participants were terminal cancer patients, patients' family members and health care personnel. The thesis articles were searched by using key words as follows: health, nursing, environment, children's hospice, and others. CONCLUSION: The number of studies of hospice care has increased, and research key words varied. Furthermore, more experimental research is needed on nursing intervention such as pain relief, alternative therapies and hospice care for children.
Child ; Complementary Therapies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hospice Care ; Hospices ; Humans ; Korea

PURPOSE: Organizing hematomas (hematic pseudocysts) of the orbit are usually the consequence of direct blunt trauma and are important in the differential diagnosis of orbital cystic lesion. Herein, we report a case of orbital organizing hematoma masquerading as a chalazion. CASE SUMMARY: A 12-year-old female visited our clinic complaining of left lower eyelid swelling. CT scan and MR imaging showed a mass detected in the inferomedial space of her left orbit, which did not invade the adjacent tissue. Excisional biopsy of the orbital mass was performed. Histological examination showed the accumulation of blood-breakdown products within a thick fibrous capsule without epithelial or endothelial lining. The mass was diagnosed as an organizing hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: An orbital organizing hematoma can present, although rare, as a chalazion-like eyelid mass. Careful clinical and radiological examinations can help in making a differential diagnosis.
Biopsy ; Chalazion* ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eyelids ; Female ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orbit* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Ovarian cysts are common incidental findings in term infants and, if unusually large, may result in dystocia, torsion, or rupture. We report the case in which serial sonographic examination revealed changing pattern of cystic ovarian mass from hypoechogenic to well defined multiseptated echogenic during pregnancy. Postnatal T2-weighted MR images revealed a multilocular with high signal density. After delivery a laparotomy was performed, and a twisted ovary measuring 6.7x5x4.5 cm was removed. Ovarian torsion was left-sided and had been almost autoamputated. The resected specimens were nontense, thin walled cysts, filled with hemorrhage like fluid. Histological examination demonstrated the presence of lymphangioma with widespread hemorrhage and necrosis. The neonate did well after the procedure.
Dystocia ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Laparotomy ; Lymphangioma ; Necrosis ; Ovarian Cysts* ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography*

This is a very important differential diagnosis for postpartum hemorrhage following cesarean delivery because repeated life-threatening bleeding may induce multiple blood transfusion and require emergency surgery including hysterotomy. False or pseudoanuerysm can be acquired in association with trauma, previous surgery, trophoblastic disease, neoplasm, infection or diethylstilbestrol exposure. When a punctured or lacerated artery does not seal completely, blood may escape and dissects the adjacent tissues, and collects in perivascular areas. If this collection maintains in communication with the parent vessel, a pseudoaneurysm could result. Typically the lesion are discovered because the patients have symptoms related to delayed rupture of the pseudoaneurysms, causing hemorrhage. Radiographic techniques (angiography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging) have provided the opportunity to diagnose pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous malformation. We report a case of postpartum hemorrhage following cesarean delivery attributed to a pseudoaneurysm of the uterine pedicle and treated with arterial embolization. Angiographic study confirmed the diagnosis and embolization of the false aneurysm was successful in controlling the hemorrhage.
Aneurysm, False* ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Blood Transfusion ; Cesarean Section* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diethylstilbestrol ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterotomy ; Parents ; Postpartum Hemorrhage* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Trophoblasts ; Ultrasonography ; United Nations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the suffering experienced by the primary caregiver of people with mental disabilities in community dwellings to explain the fundamental structure thereof. Methods: The Giorgi’s phenomenological research methodology was used. Three male subjects and five female subjects participated in this study. The data were collected September-December, 2019 through in-depth individual interviews, and analysis based on the Giorgi’s method. Results: Four clusters of themes were identified. They are: “Mental disability came as a burden of pain”, “Painful time from caring due to being mentally recoiled and being hurtful”, “My life is broken by illness”, and “Hope discovered in the midst of pain”. Conclusion The findings provide deeper understanding and insight into the suffering experienced by primary caregivers for people with mental disabilities in community dwellings. A comprehensive program encompassing psychological and social aspects must be developed to facilitate resolving the problem of the suffering experienced by the primary caregiver for people with mental disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: Although a common clinical problem, no uniform definition for fear of childbirth has been settled. The purpose of this study was to identify the association of serotonin in labor. METHODS: A prospective study of serotonin and review of the medical records from the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Catholic University of Korea Holy Family Hospital from January 2004 to May confirmed 30 patients with the diagnosis of singleton pregnancy without medical or obstetrical complications, being in 37-42 weeks. Blood sampling of serotonin was done during labor according to cervix dilatation. Sample collection series on patients latent phase (before labor begins S1), active phase (cervix dilatation 3-5 cm S2), second stage (cervix dilatation full S3), third stage (at delivery of placenta within 24 hours S4), cord artery blood (S5) could be administered. Patient were divided into two groups. From this group 17 patients (G1) who were initial serotonin normal concentration (1.5-7.5 ng/mL), and 13 patients (G2) who were initial serotonin high concentration. RESULTS: The concentration of serotonin of G1 were S1-5.8 +/- 0.8 ng/mL, S2-7.2 +/- 2.5 ng/mL, S3-8.5 +/- 3.7 ng/mL, S4-6.5 +/- 1.5 ng/mL, S5-4.9 +/- 1.2 ng/mL. The serotonin concentration of G2 were S1-10.1 +/- 2.7 ng/ mL, S2-11.2 +/- 5.2 ng/mL, S3-10.3 +/- 3.9 ng/mL, S4-11.8 +/- 8.6 ng/mL, S5-5.0 +/- 1.0 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: The association of serotonin in labor was studied that the change of serotonin concentration was determined according to initial serotonin concentration. This difference of initial serotonin concentration will be studied about genetic polymorphism and factor by molecular biology.
Arteries ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Molecular Biology ; Obstetrics ; Parturition ; Placenta ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Serotonin*