No abstract available.
Echocardiography, Doppler* ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart*

BACKGROUND: To provide basic data to help construct regional EMSS. METHOD: Using preformed questionnaire, authors investigated prospectively data of 214 patients transferred directly to emergency medical center from other hospitals from May 11 to june 10,1998. RESULTS: 1. Total 214 patients were transferred directly to the emergency medical center of KNUH (14.4% of total), and 63.5% of patients excluding children were non-traumatic patients. 2. The peak age group was 5th decade (19.6%) with mean age of49.6 years old. The male to female ratio was 1.8 : 1. 3. The period between 08 : 00 to 16 : 00 was the most frequent arrival time of transfer patients (42.5%), and the proportion of patients for surgical departments were more common than those for other departments (53.7%). 4. the majority of patients were transferred from secondary hospitals (91.6%), but among them the proportion of mild non-traumatic and mild traumatic patients was 52.3%, and 72.0%. 5. The decision-maker for transfer was a patient himself or family members in 32.3% of severe and 26.8(/) of mild non-traumatic patients, compared with 37.5% of severe and 26.8% of mild traumatic patients. 6. The physician-to-physician communication prior to the patient's transfer was not carried out in 90.8% of severe and 85.9% of mild non-traumatic patients, compared with 75.0%of severe and 67.0%of mild traumatic patients. 7. The hospital ambulance was the most common mode of transfer (64.5%), but non-emergency vehicles such as a taxi or a private car was used for transfer in 21.5% of severe non-traumatic patients, and 12.5% in severe traumatic patients. 8. Transfer accompanied by medical personnel took place in 15.4% of severe non-traumatic patients, 25.0% in severe traumatic patients, and in 27.0% of severe non-traumatic patients, and 44.4% in severe traumatic patients transferred 4 by hospital ambulance. 9. Transfer took less than 1 hour in 66.9% of non-traumatic patients, and 45.2% of traumatic patients, but it took 1 hour or more in 27.7% of severe non-traumatic patients, and 43.7% of severe traumatic patients. 10. Transfer record accompanied the patient in 90.2% of total, but radiologic film and results of laboratory tests did not in 36.9% and 56.9% of severe non-traumatic patients, and in 12.5% and 43.7% of severe traumatic patients. CONCLUSION: It is considered that an appropriate triage system, interhospital transfer guidelines, good transfer records, cooperative interhospital communication, emergency medical information center, public information with education about regional EMSS, improvement of equipment in ambulance, and training of emergency personnel are necessary for effective and well-organized EMSS.
Ambulances ; Child ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Humans ; Information Centers ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Triage

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that L-type calcium channel blockers increase the muscle relaxation effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents whereas the potentiated neuromuscular blocking effects by L-type calcium channel blocker are resistant to reversal by neostigmine. The aims of this study were 1) to see whether the pretreatment of L-type calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil, aggravates the pipecuronium-induced muscle relaxation, 2) if so, to see whether these effects are reversed by anticholinesterase, such as neostigmine and edrophonium or potassium channel blocker, such as 4-aminopyridine. METHODS: The rat-phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragms (n=60) were prepared. Twenty microgram of pipecuronium was administered to all organ bath. All samples were divided into two groups according to the administration of 10uM of verapamil i.e. verapamil pretreated, non-pretreated group. The amounts of administered pipecuronium were gradually increased by 4ug until the force of twitch decreased to 10% of control value in both groups. Each group was subdivided into three groups according to the administration of 0.75 M of neostigmine, 12.4 uM of edrophonium or 40uM of 4-aminopyridine. RESULTS: The dose of pipecuronium required for the decrease of contractile force to 10% of control value was less in verapamil pretreated group than in non-pretreated group. And, the decrease of contractile force in both groups was more effectively reversed by 4-aminopyridine than neostigmine and edrophonium. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil potentiates the pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade and 4-aminopyridine is more effective to reverse verapamil pretreated, pipecuronium induced neuromuscular blockade.
4-Aminopyridine* ; Baths ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; Edrophonium* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neostigmine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Pipecuronium* ; Potassium Channels ; Verapamil*

We present a case of familial benign chronic pemphigus in 50-year-old male patient who had had recurrent oozing, macerated and eroded skin lesions on the groin and scrotum for 20 years. At first, we diagnosed his case as scrotal eczema and/or intertrigo, but after repeated recurrance, it was confirmed as above disease by characteristic histopathologic findings.
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Eczema ; Groin ; Humans ; Intertrigo ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigus, Benign Familial* ; Scrotum ; Skin

We present a case of generalized syringoma in a 12-year-old healthy girl. The patient has numerous skin colored or yellowish papules on the face, neck, anterior chest, axillae and abdomen. She has a family history of eyelid syringoma occuring in her mother and maternal grandmother. Diagnosis was confirmed by characteristic histopathologic findings.
Abdomen ; Axilla ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Mothers ; Neck ; Skin ; Syringoma* ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Humans ; Urinary Tract*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and characteristics of needlestick/sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students in Korea. METHODS: The study was based on a survey of questionnaires completed by 341 nursing students who had sustained at least one NSI during clinical practice in hospitals. RESULTS: The NSI incidence rate was 36.4%. Approximately half of the students reported two to four NSIs. Most (90.2%) of the NSIs occurred on the fingertips and were caused by a hollow-bore needle (46.8%) or lancet (45.8%). Some students were exposed to used needles contaminated with unknown pathogens (37.3%), HBs Ag (2.3%), Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) (0.8%), or HIV (0.6%). Students cited the reason for injury as carelessness, inexperience, hastiness, or recapping. Almost two-thirds of students who reported having experienced an NSI knew about post-exposure treatment. However, only one-third of the students with NSIs completed an official report. CONCLUSION: Korean nursing students lack knowledge about injury prevention, report procedures, and treatment after NSI. A revised educational approach with emphasis on occupational risk, skill development, and injury reporting is necessary to prevent NSI and to ensure that students obtain post-exposure prophylaxis.
Dietary Sucrose ; HIV ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Needles ; Needlestick Injuries ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Generalized distinct hyperpigrnented macules developed at 2. 7 years after starting photochemotherapy(psoralen and UVA) in a 66-year-old psoriatic male patient. The histopathologic feature of this macule was characterized as a lentiginous p roliferation. The significance and long term course of PUVA lentigo are still unknown. So, we will further monitor this patient continually for melanocytic dysplasias, including melanoma.
Aged ; Humans ; Lentigo* ; Lichen Planus ; Male ; Melanoma ; Mouth Mucosa

Empathy is an essential factor for establishing therapeutic relationship. Especially for pediatric nursing, the nurses need to know how to perceive children's feeling and thought and to express her understanding about them affectively. So, empathy is considered as an important concept in pediatric nursing. This study was attempted to measure the empathic ability of pediatric nurses by pediatric nurse and mothers of hospitalized children. The subject of this study consisted of 83 pediatric nurses and 106 mothers of hospitalized children in 4 hospitals in Seoul and 1 hospital in Kyung-Gi. Data were collected from Jan. 14 to Feb. 6, 1997, by the questionnaire method. The instrument for this study was the Empathic Construct Rating Scale : ECRS(60-item, 5 point scale). Data Were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. Result of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Pediatric nurses perceived their empathic ability to be moderately high(Mn=3.71) The level of perceived empathic ability of the pediatric nurses showed no significance by general characteristics. 2. The mothers of hospitalized children perceived nurses' empathic ability to be moderate(Mn=3.27). The level of perceived nurses' empathic ability of the mothers of hospitalized children showed significant differences by the experience of hospitalization of the children and the age of the mothers. 3. The perceived nurses' empathic ability of the mothers was significantly low than of the pediatric nurses(t=6.50, P<.001). From the above results, it can be concluded. that the empathic ability of the pediatric nurses is not sufficient for caring children and mothers efficiently. So, the pediatric nurses' empathic ability is needed to improve through facilitative relationship training as refreshment in-service education program.
Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Education ; Empathy* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mothers ; Pediatric Nursing ; Seoul ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The purpose of this research is to analyze the effects of aerobic exercise on body composition, cardiopulmonary function, serum lipid level and antioxidants of obese and normal college female students. The subject group was made up of 13 normal students (below 30% body fat ratio ) and 12 obese students(above 30% body fat ratio). After a pretest, the subjects were given an 8-week aerobic program. Then the subjects were given a posttest and analyzed of body composition, serum lipid level, antioxidants and cardiopulmonary function after the 6th and the 8th week of the program, The program schedule was made up of 4 days per week, 60 minutes per day. Test includes B. W., subscapular and triceps subcutaneous fat thickness. change of respiratory gas, and two blood sampling before treadmill exercise and post all out state, which analyzed serum lipid and antioxidants. The subjects performed treadmill exercise starting with 4km/hr of walking and then gradually increase the speed of 1km/hr per minute until all out state. The obtained data were analyzed using SAS program. The statistical methods employed here were one-say ANOVA with repeated measure, Duncan Multiple range test, paired-t test and t-test. The test results and conclusion go this research were as follows. 1. The effects of aerobic exercise on body composition were as follows ; Percent body fat was significantly reduced 6 weeks after the program and lean body mass was significantly increased 8 weeks after the program in both groups(obese group : F=3.44 P=.044, normal group: F=3.30 P=.048). subscapular skinfold of the obese group showed a remarkable decrease after the 6th week(F=4.3 P=.21) triceps skinfold of the normal group showed a remarkable decrease after the 6th and 8th week(F=4.55 P=.017) compared with readings before the aerobic program, the aerobic program made a bigger difference concerning body fat, lean body mass, subscapular skinfold in the obese group than in the normal group(t=2.41 P=.024 p=.025, t=2.43 p=.028). 2. The effects of aerobic exercise on cardiopulmonary function were as follows : Maximal O2 uptake/kg was significantly increased 6 weeks after the program in the obese group(F=3.20 P=.054), but not much difference was observed in the normal group. maximal pulse rate was significantly reduced in both groups after 6 weeks of the program(obese group : F=2.77 P=.087, normal group : F=7.17 P=.001). 3. The effects o aerobic exercise on serum lipid level were as follows : In a resting period, total cholesterol, Triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol were slightly higher in the obese group than in the normal group, but HDL-cholesterol was higher in the normal group. But with the aerobic program, total-cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol were reduced gradually and HDL-cholesterol got increased in both groups, but not much change was noticed in the normal group. However, in the obese group, serum HDL-cholesterol level got increased significantly(F=5.12 P=.012). 4. The effects of aerobic exercise in serum antioxidants were as follows ; In a resting period, the obese group's serum Free Radical and GSSG content were higher than the normal group's and the normal group's serum GSH content was higher than the obese group's. After 6 weeks of the aerobic program, Free Radical was reduced significantly in both groups(obese group : F=13.87 P=.000, normal group: F=18.60 P=.000) In the obese group, 8weeks after the program, GSH was increased significantly(F+13.78, P=.000). In the normal group, 6 weeks after the program GSH was reduced but increased again after 8 weeks(F=6.07 P=.005). Plasma GSSG was significantly increased after 8 weeks of exercise in both groups(obese group: F=19.75 P=.000, normal group: F=2.42 P=.000). Compared with readings before the aerobic program, the aerobic program made a bigger difference serum GSH in the normal group than in the obese group(t=3.37 p=.003) As this results shows, It is known that the regular aerobic exercise improves cardiopulmonary function, body composition, serum lipid effectively and through the serum Free Radical reduction and antioxidant system activation, oxidant stress was suppressed. This effect was high in the obese group than in the normal one. At least 6 weeks exercise period need for improvement of body composition, cardiopulmonary function and activation of antioxidant system, This result suggest that improvement of serum lipid profile was needed longer than 8 weeks exercise period.
Adipose Tissue ; Antioxidants* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Body Composition* ; Cholesterol ; Exercise* ; Female* ; Glutathione Disulfide ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Plasma ; Reading ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Triglycerides ; Walking