No abstract available.
Spine* ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Nevus*

Single dose glass ampules have been developed for ease of administration, accuracy of measurement of dosage, sterility and use in prepackaged kits. Glass particle contamination of the contents of single dose glass ampules can occur upon opening. In our study, we determined whether different ampule size, different aspiration techniques or different methods of ampule opening had any effect on glass particle contamination. Different ampule sizes (1, 2, 20 ml), different aspiration techniques (19G, 22G needle) and different methods of ampule opening (one point ampule, cutting with circular etching, cutting with one plane etching) were evaluated. There was no signifcant difference in the number of particles aspirated by any given aspiration technique, ampule size and method of ampule opening. But intravenous glass particle administration is associated with patholagic responses, so the use of a filter needle, and in-line filter devices and a low pressure infusion system is advised.
Glass* ; Infertility ; Needles

BACKGROUND: Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation for general anesthesia are potent stimuli to the cardiovascular system due to sympathetic stimulation. The aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic responses with different administration routes of lidocaine on blood pressure and heart rate changes associated with tracheal intubation. METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to spray group (Group 1, n=20) received 10% lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg spray to intratracheally immediately before tracheal intubation, IV group (Group 2, n=20) received 2% lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg intravenously before 90 sec tracheal intubation and control group (Group 3, n=20). Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 5 mg/kg IV, vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg and 50% N2O-O2- 2vol % enflurane. After 5 minutes, tracheal intubation was performed. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured at preintubation and immediately postintubation, 1, 3, 5 mins after tracheal intubation. RESULTS:The differences of mean arterial pressure which were measured at preintubation and immediately postintubation and 1 minute after intubation in group 1 were significantly lower than those in other group (p<0.05). The differences of heart rate which measured at preintubation and 1 minute after intubation were lower than those in group 3 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For the suppression of sympathetic stimulation following tracheal intubation, 10% lidocaine spray to the laryngotrachea is an effective method to suppress cardiovascular response.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Enflurane ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laryngoscopy ; Lidocaine* ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide

No abstract available.
Tobacco Smoke Pollution*

The purposes of this study was to analyze the operational difference of foodservice center for homebound elderly by the presence of the dietitian. The questionnaire was developed to measure all variables for menu management and distributed to 103 meal service centers in charge of congregate meal service program and 57 centers for home-delivered meal service program. The data of 160 centers in charge of congregate meal service and home-delivered service centers were usable for analysis. Statistical data analysis was completed using the SAS 8.1 package program for descriptive analysis and chi-square test. Only 21.9% meal service centers had dietitians, what is more, they were not professionals who did menu management but foodservice managers, volunteers, cook or social workers. The current foodservice programs for the homebound elderly were operated without professional. In the part of menu managemet, dietitians were more actively involved in menu planning in the elderly foodservice center in the presence of the dietitians. The performance level of healthcare service was not significantly different, but the nutrition education in the elderly foodservice center with the dietitians was more frequently performed than that without the dietitians(p<0.05). In the food purchasing and food production management, the significant differences were shown that in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians, the proportion of the contract purchasing was significantly higher than that of direct purchasing(p<0.01). In food sanitary management, the significant differences were not shown in the part of management of keeping meal for identifying the cause of food-borne illness and left-over, but the sanitation education for the foodservice employees was performed more frequently by the presence of the dietitians(p<0.01). In conclusion, the foodservice management was more systematically conducted in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians than that without dietitians. The elderly foodservice program has offered the health-related support for homebound elderly. Although there were several problems in elderly foodservice management, the program delivered well-targeted, effective, and efficient nutrition services and wide range of supportive service to the at-risk older population. It needs to be managed by professional for the improvement in the elderly foodservice.
Aged* ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Humans ; Meals ; Menu Planning ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sanitation ; Social Workers ; Volunteers

The purposes of this study was to analyze the operational difference of foodservice center for homebound elderly by the presence of the dietitian. The questionnaire was developed to measure all variables for menu management and distributed to 103 meal service centers in charge of congregate meal service program and 57 centers for home-delivered meal service program. The data of 160 centers in charge of congregate meal service and home-delivered service centers were usable for analysis. Statistical data analysis was completed using the SAS 8.1 package program for descriptive analysis and chi-square test. Only 21.9% meal service centers had dietitians, what is more, they were not professionals who did menu management but foodservice managers, volunteers, cook or social workers. The current foodservice programs for the homebound elderly were operated without professional. In the part of menu managemet, dietitians were more actively involved in menu planning in the elderly foodservice center in the presence of the dietitians. The performance level of healthcare service was not significantly different, but the nutrition education in the elderly foodservice center with the dietitians was more frequently performed than that without the dietitians(p<0.05). In the food purchasing and food production management, the significant differences were shown that in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians, the proportion of the contract purchasing was significantly higher than that of direct purchasing(p<0.01). In food sanitary management, the significant differences were not shown in the part of management of keeping meal for identifying the cause of food-borne illness and left-over, but the sanitation education for the foodservice employees was performed more frequently by the presence of the dietitians(p<0.01). In conclusion, the foodservice management was more systematically conducted in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians than that without dietitians. The elderly foodservice program has offered the health-related support for homebound elderly. Although there were several problems in elderly foodservice management, the program delivered well-targeted, effective, and efficient nutrition services and wide range of supportive service to the at-risk older population. It needs to be managed by professional for the improvement in the elderly foodservice.
Aged* ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Humans ; Meals ; Menu Planning ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sanitation ; Social Workers ; Volunteers

No abstract available.
Extremities* ; Gestational Age*

Ratio analysis allows a hospital to evaluate its own performance over time and to compare its performance with that of other hospitals. For this study, three types of ratio analysis were conducted based on some data on hospitals in Massachusetts. First, Key ratios influencing financial performance were identified using discriminant analysis. Second, the financial structures of the teaching and the non-teaching hospitals were compared using ratios and multiple comparison method. Third, the effects of the prospective reimbursement law of the state on financial performance were examined using ratios and paired t-test. The purpose of the law is to reduce hospital costs by setting the revenue ceiling prior to the effective budget year. The findings of this study were as follows: 1) When hospitals were divided into three groups, according to their operating income, only profitability ratios showed a consistent difference among the groups. 2) In the discriminant analysis, five ratios were selected: current ratio, operating margin, return on assets, fixed assets turnover, and inventory turnover. They are the key ratios to be monitored periodically for the purpose of evaluating the financial performance of hospitals. 3) When teaching hospitals were compared with non-teaching hospitals, acid ratio, days of cash on hand, and inventory turnover were statistically significant before the law went into effect, whereas only fixed assets turnover and inventory turnover were significant afterward. Contrary to previous studies, profitability ratios of teaching hospitals were higher than those of non-teaching hospitals, although the differences were not statistically significant. 4) When the ratios between the two periods (before and after the law) were compared, three profitability ratios (operating margin, return on assets, and return on equity) were significant for teaching hospitals, whereas three activity ratios (total assets turnover, fixed assets turnover, current assets turnover) were significant for non-teaching hospitals. Furthermore, while both total operating revenue and expenses were decreased, net operating income was increased, due to a greater decrease in total operating expenses. This shows that the law can indeed, simultaneously, achieve both a reduction in costs as well as improvement in the financial situation of hospitals.
Budgets ; Hand ; Hospital Costs ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Jurisprudence ; Massachusetts ; Prospective Payment System