BACKGROUND: Most surgical patients experience preoperative anxiety. This anxiety can effect the amount of preanesthetic medication and anesthetic agents needed, and contribute to postoperative pain. Music has been recognized as a way to reduce anxiety and fear. The effect of hymn and sutra-chanting on the preanesthetic patient's anxiety in the operating room were studied. METHODS: 98 patients were divided into two groups according to the religionist or atheism. Group I(n=50, religionist) and Group II(n=48, atheism) listened to hymn or sutra-chanting according to the patient's religion and choice. At ward, hemodynamic variables including systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were measured as control values. Hemodynamic variables and measurements of anxiety score with Hamilton anxiety rating scale were made at pre-music and post-music in the operating room. Also, patient's response to the music was measured on the postoperative 5-6th day. RESULTS: There were no difference between ward, pre-music, and post-music in terms of systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and pulse rate except the systolic pressure at pre-music that is grater than that of controls in both groups. Both group, anxiety score at post-music was significantly lower than that of pre-music (10.2+/-3.4 vs 4.4+/-2.9, 11.0+/-3.2 vs 5.7+/-3.1). At post-music, anxiety score in Group I showed significant reduced compaired with Group II (p<0.05). Patients showed relatively good satisfaction with music in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that music with hymn and Sutra-chanting were effective to reduce preanesthetic anxiety in both religionist group and atheism group.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Music ; Operating Rooms* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Preanesthetic Medication ; Premedication

Heat stroke, a medical emergency, occurs when the body's thermal regulation is upset and unable to dissipate adequate amounts of heat with a rise in body temperature. It is characterized by hyperyrexia, with a core temperature of 40degrees C or more, hot dry skin, and central nervous system disturbance and usually results in rhabdomyolysis and multiorgan failure. Our case, a 43-year-old healthy male, was caused by a marathon, half course, on a sunny day in late summer. He suddenly fell down on the road and was delivered to a nearby hospital, where a seizure developed. He was transfered to our hospital and then displayed Central Nervous System disturbance, hot dry skin, acute liver failure, rhabdomyolysis, anuric acute renal failure, and disseminated intravasculular coagulopathy. He was treated with general supportive care and hemofiltration. Despite the aggressive management, he died of shock on the fifth day after admission.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Body Temperature ; Central Nervous System ; Emergencies ; Heat Stroke* ; Hemofiltration ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Male ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Seizures ; Shock ; Skin

Atrial flutter is and infrequent, but potentially unstable tachyarrythmia that occurs in pediatric ages. Transesophageal atrial pacing was used for treatment of 10 episodes of atrial flutter in 7 patients. At the time of atrial flutter conversion, patients were 6 days to 14 years old. 6 patients had associated with congenital heart disease. The atrial cycle length of atrial flutter ranged from 140 to 280 msec with variable atrioventricular conduction. Transesophageal atrial pacing was performed using a bipolar 4 F transesophageal electrode catheter. Atrial flutter conversion was accomplished with stimulation bursts using about 5 seconds of stimuli, 10 msec in duration at 20 to 27 mA. Pacing cycle length was 45 to 110 msec less than the atrial cycle length of tachycardia in 6 episodes. But in a neonate, underdrive pacing converted atrial flutter to sinus rhythm. Conversion attempts were unsuccessful on 2 occasions. Transesophageal atrial pacing is a safe and effective, minimally invasive technique for treatment of atrial flutter in infants and children.
Adolescent ; Atrial Flutter* ; Catheters ; Child* ; Electrodes ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Tachycardia

There are several methods for diagnosis of leprosy, including AFB stain, the measurement of PGL-1 (phenolic glycolipid - 1) antigen titer, and DNA-PCR. In this study, we have used the DNA-PCR amplifying the RLEP repetitive sequence. Our result showed that the RLEP primer offered the more sensitive detection and identification of M. leprae DNA in clinical specimens, compared with the other primer, for example, 18-kDa antigen gene. To screen the resistant M. leprae strain of MDT (Multi-Drug Therapy), we have used the TD (Touch-Down) PCR. We arranged and amplified sequences of the genes, folP, rpoB, gyr, 23S rRNA, in M. leprae involved in MDT-resistance, and could obtain the PCR product each gene, simultaneously. This method, based on annealing temperature, was useful to the detection for diagnosis and the screen of MDT-resistant strain of M. leprae, rapidly. Thus, we suggest that the RLEP primer and TD-PCR method are effective in assessing the diagnosis of leprosy and the identification of drug-resistant M. leprae.
Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Leprosy* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid

Voice changes developing after endotracheal intubation during right hemicolectomy with endotracheal intubation have been found to be due to a right recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in 43-years-old male patient. It was likely that the inflated cuffed tube rode up to the level of the cricoid cartilage during the course of surgery as traction was placed on the endotracheal tube because the condenser humidifier and breathing circuit weighed heavy. Cuff overexpansion, in addition to muscle relaxation and decreased tracheal elasticity were considered as contributing factors of vocal cord palsy. We believe that tube traction and cuff overexpansion were the mechanism of vocal cord palsy in our patient. So we recommend the routine use of tube stand so that weigh of the breathing circuit does not transmit traction to the endotracheal tube. Concurrently, filling the cuff with a sample of the inspired mixture of gases, saline and 4% lidocaine in special cases or regular deflation of the cuff must be considered.
Cricoid Cartilage ; Elasticity ; Gases ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Muscle Relaxation ; Respiration ; Traction ; Vocal Cord Paralysis* ; Vocal Cords* ; Voice

This study was designed to investigate factors relating to fiscal deficit for regional health insurance. The financial statements for the fiscal year 1990 of nationwide 254 regional medical insurance societies were analyzed. Important findings are summarized below: 1. There were differences in the main reason for the financial deficit among regions when deficit and surplus societies were compared by regions. The total revenue per enrollee, especially revenue from the premium contribution of a deficit society was significantly smaller than that of a surplus society in large cities and counties. On the other hand, the total expenditure per enrollee of a deficit society was larger than that of a surplus society in small cities. 2. Both low premium irate at the beginning of health insurance program and less effort to increase the premium rate were main factors for the smaller revenue from the contribution of a deficit society in large cities and counties. 3. Larger expenditures per covered person of a deficit society in small cities were explained with larger medical expenditures especially for out-patients services rather than larger administrative expenses. 4. A regression analysis showed that utilization rates in out-patient services were significantly associated with income and numbers of total medical care institution per capita within a region where a health insurance society located. Also expenses paid by insurer per visit were associated with the proportion of utilization for tertiary care hospitals as well as the proportion of utilization of public health centers.
Hand ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance Carriers ; Insurance, Health* ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Public Health ; Tertiary Healthcare

PURPOSE: The dose calculation program for the Buchler type remote afterloading system was developed. This program also can be used to calculate dose for various sealed sources. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We determined the source length and distribution by dividing the program disk to 72 points. The dose rate for the each program disk and source was calculated. The dose rate table for the xy coordinate was established. The dose rate for the interesting points of the patient were calculated by using this table. We also made isodose curve from this calculations. RESULTS: The storage size for the dose rate table were increased.But the calculation of the dose rate for the patient were carried out rapidly. So we could get real time calculation. CONCLUSION: By using this program, we could calculate the dose rate for the various oints of the patient quickly and accurately. This program will be useful for the treatment with various linear sources.
Brachytherapy ; Humans

PURPOSE: In order to obtain basic data for treatment plan in radiosurgery, we measured small fields of 6 MV X-rays and compared the measured data with our Monte Carlo simulations for the small fields. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The small fields of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 cm in diameter were used in this study. Percentage depth dose (PDD) and beam profiles of those fields were measured and calculated. A small semiconductor detector, water phantoms, and a remote control system were used for the measurement. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the EGS4 code with the input data prepared for the energy distribution of 6 MV X-rays, beam divergence, circular fields and the geometry of the water phantoms. RESULTS: In the case of PDD values, the calculated values were lower than the measured values for all fields and depths, with the differences being 0.3 to 5.7% at the depths of 2.0 to 20.0 cm and 0.0 to 8.9% at the surface regions. As a result of the analysis of beam profiles for all field sizes at a depth of 10cm in water phantom, the measured 90% dose widths were in good agreement with the calculated values, however, the calculated penumbra radii were 0.1 cm shorter than measured values. CONCLUSION: The measured PDDs and beam profiles agreement with the Monte Carlo calculations approximately. However, it is different when it comes to calculations in the area of phantom surface and penumbra because the Monte Carlo calculations were performed under the simplified geometries. Therefore, we have to study how to include the actual geometries and more precise data for the field area in Monte Carlo calculations. The Monte Carlo calculations will be used as a useful tool for the very complicated conditions in measurement and verification.
Radiosurgery ; Semiconductors ; Water

Twenty three endourologic diversion for obstructed upper urinary tract were performed in 20 kidneys of 18 Patients at Seoul National University Hospital during one year period ending August, 1983. These procedures include 13 percutaneous nephrostomies, 3 antegrade internal ureteral splints and 7 retrograde Double-J stents. Underlying diseases of 13 patients were malignant and 5 patients were benign disease. Most common indications were hydronephrosis with uremia in debilitated patients whose surgical risks were too high. A palliative diversion was performed in 15 kidneys and temporary diversion in 5. Encourologic diversion resulted in clinical improvement in 15 of 20 kidneys. Complications occurred in 3 of 23 procedures. There was 1 morality secondary to sepsis 24 hours after insertion of catheter. Most common problem was catheter blockade which was managed conservatively with irrigation in the most instances. However in 7 instance, catheter had to be changed or discontinued because of. complete obstruction. average duration of functioning catheter until blockade was 34-51 days. We found endourologic diversion is effective and economic procedure for palliative or temporary diversion, which was conventionally carried out by surgical intervention.
Catheters ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Morals ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Seoul ; Sepsis ; Splints ; Stents ; Uremia ; Ureter ; Urinary Tract

We report 13 chromophobe renal cell carcinomas (10.8%) observed among 120 renal cell carcinomas in adults. The average age was 53 (range: 34-72) years old, and 6 were males and 7 females. The mean tumor size was 10 (range: 5-17) cm, mean nuclear grade 2.4, and mean Robson's stage was 1.9. There were two distinct histologic variants; typical variant (n=9) and eosinophilic variant (n=4). Both of them showed typical light microscopic features and positive reaction with Hale's colloidal iron and carbonic anhydrase II, a marker protein of intercalated cells of renal collecting ducts. A strong positive immunoreactivity for epithelial membrane antigen was noted in the cytoplasm in 12 of 13 tumors. Numerous microvesicles, 180~440 nm in diameter, were identified ultrastructurally. DNA aneuploidy was found in 3 out of 10 cases. Neither local recurrence nor metastasis have been identified during the following period of 4~144 (mean 48) months.
Adult ; Aneuploidy ; Carbonic Anhydrase II ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Colloids ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Mucin-1 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence