BACKGROUND: There are many rating scales for assessment of geriatrics. But each of these scales were not sufficient to evaluate comprehensive geriatric assessment, physical and psychologic efforts for care. METHODS: We developed new scales to comprehensive geriatric assessment for care of geriatric patients. The Geriatrics Physical Support Scale(GPSS) evaluates physical effort consists of 10 areas and the Geriatrics Global Support Scale(GGSS) evaluates general condition of patients consist of 6 areas. Eighty probable and possible AD patients received the Clinical Dementia Rating Rating Scale(CDR), Korearn version of Mini-Mental State Examination(K-MMSE), Barthel Activity of Daily Living Index(B-ADL) GPSS, GGSS. We tested internal consistency, correlation among dementia rating scales. RESULTS: The GPSS correlated to CDR -0.63(p<0.01), B-ADL -0.90(p<0.01) and the GGSS correlated to CDR -0.60(p<0.01), B-ADL -0.75(p<0.01). The internal consistency were 0.69(GGSS), 0.92(GPSS). CONCLUSION: The Geriatrics Global Support Scale evaluate general condition of patients and the Geriatrics Physical Support Scale evaluate physical efforts needed for care of geriatric patients. These scales an also brief and easy rating scales to grade degree of caregiver`s burden.
Dementia ; Geriatric Assessment ; Geriatrics* ; Humans ; Physical Exertion ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the significance of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) for the diagnosis of pyogenic ventriculitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 9 patients with pyogenic ventricultis underwent a set of imaging sequences that included DWI, T1-and T2-weighted imaging, FLAIR and enhanced T1 weighted imaging. DWI consisted of an axial single shot spin echo EPI pulse sequence with b values of 0 and 1000 sec/mm2. We evaluated the presence and signal intensity of ventricular debris, hydrocephalus, periventricular signal abnormality, and ependymal enhancement. The apparent diffusion coffiecient values of ventricular debris and cortical gray matter were calculated from the ADC map. RESULTS: In all patients, ventricular debris was hyperintense on the DWIs. A periventricular hyperintense signal was present in all cases on FLAIR and T2WI. Ependymal enhancement was detected in eight (89%) of 9 cases. A hydrocephalus was observed in 6 (67%) of 9 cases. The mean ADC value of ventricular debris was 0.735 +/- 0.117 (10(-3) mm2/sec). These ADC values were significantly lower than those for cortical gray matter (1.052 +/- 0.149 (10(-3) mm2/sec)). CONCLUSION: Ventricular debris was most conspicuous finding of ventriculitis on DWI. Areas of intraventricular hyperintensity on DWI corresponded to the decreased ADC values.
Cerebral Ventricles ; Diagnosis* ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Diffusion* ; Encephalitis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of our antivenin treatment protocol for patients with Korean Viperidae envenomation. METHODS: We developed an antivenin treatment protocol for Korean Viperidae envenomation, based on previous data, and applied this treatment to the enrolled patients. In brief, antivenin was not used for patients with grade 0. Patients with grade I and II received one vial of antivenin. Those with grade III and IV received two and three vials of antivenin, respectively. Adult patients who visited the emergency department (ED) after receiving a snakebite between July 2008 to August 2010 were included. Follow ups were performed at 24 hours, 7 days, and 28 days after the snakebite. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were enrolled. At the initial evaluation, 6 patients (9.7%) were grade 0, 47 patients (75.8%) were grade I, and 9 patients (14.5%) were grade II. Upon the follow-up evaluation, 14 patients (29.8%) progressed from grade I to grade II and 2 patients (22.2%) progressed from grade II to III. Coagulopathy developed in 5 patients (8.0%) and rhabdomyolysis in 5 patients (8.0%). Urticaria developed in 2 patients (3.2%) and cellulitis in 3 patients (4.8%) as delayed complications. As an antivenin-related complication, serum sickness developed in only 1 patient (1.6%). There were no severe complications and all clinical and laboratory abnormalities disappeared within 28 days. CONCLUSION: Our antivenin treatment protocol was feasible and safe. To confirm our data, multicenter validation studies are needed.
Adult ; Antivenins ; Cellulitis ; Clinical Protocols ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Serum Sickness ; Snake Bites ; Snake Venoms ; Urticaria ; Viperidae

No abstract available.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Ampicillin/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Ankle/ultrasonography ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Cellulitis/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Prevotella nigrescens/drug effects/*genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*analysis ; Sulbactam/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 32 year-old-man was admitted because of paraparesis. Hypertension and hypokalemia was noted with increased aldosterone level in his serum. Computerized tomography of abdomen showed well-defined an ovoid mass of low density in the right adrenal gland. Right adrenalectomy was done and pathologic findings showed a golden yellow color adenoma with large clear cells. Postoperatively there was reversal of hypertension and hypokalemia. We present a case of periodic paralysis due to aldosterone producing adrenal cortical adenoma with brief review of literature.
Abdomen ; Adenoma ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Adenoma* ; Aldosterone* ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Paralysis* ; Paraparesis

BACKGROUND: The limitation of activities of daily living (ADL) is a critical problem in dementia patients in addition to cognitive dysfunction. In spite of many previous studies about the relationship between cognitive dysfunction, ADL and the nature of functional changes, there have not been any clear explanations about the liaisons between them due to various results from the diversity of objects and methods. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between ADL and clinical features in patients with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: One hundred thirty-four patients with Alzheimer's disease were enrolled to participate in the study. The physical activity of daily living (P-ADL) and the Korean instrumental activity of daily living (K-IADL) were evaluated in the patients. In addition, all subjects were tested by a Korean version of the expanded clinical dementia rating scale (CDR), and a Korean version of the mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) and a Korean version of the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI). RESULTS: ADL was significantly correlated with cognitive functioning (r>-0.75, p<0.01). NPI was not significantly correlated with P-ADL and KIADL. The ability to use the telephone was the most highly correlated with CDR and K-MMSE (r>0.72, p<0.01). The ability to use the telephone was the most predictable item in K-IADL and bathing was the most predictable item in PADL. The deterioration of K-IADL showed rapid progression in the degree of CDR 2 and P-ADL showed rapid progression in the degree of CDR 4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ADL decline induced by dementia may progress and have a close correlation with clinical manifestations of dementia including cognitive dysfunction, behavioral symptoms and psychological symptoms.
Activities of Daily Living ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Baths ; Behavioral Symptoms ; Dementia ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Telephone

Acute gastric dilatation leading to gastric necrosis is rare but potentially fatal condition that can occur in patients with bulimia. It usually develops after a bulimic episode and it is not diagnosed with sufficient rapidity it may lead to gastric perforation followed by peritonitis, sepsis, shock, and death. Because of the rarity of this condition and the patients in whom it occurs, the clinician must maintain a high degree of suspicion when treating patients with eating disorders who present with abdominal pain after a binge. This case report describes a 24-year old woman with acute gastric dilatation due to binge eating, who had the gastrotomy and died of complications such as gastric necrosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Abdominal Pain ; Bulimia ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; Female ; Gastric Dilatation ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Peritonitis ; Sepsis ; Shock

PURPOSE: Many patients in South Korea are brought to hospitals by ambulance. As such, bacterial contamination within the ambulance and their critical or semi-critical equipment may be dangerous, especially for immunocompromised patients. No previous studies have examined the distribution patterns of pathogenic bacteria in ambulances or the bacterial contamination rate associated with riding in an ambulance in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of pathogenic bacteria species in ambulances, and to investigate the bacterial contamination rate associated with ambulances and their equipment, in South Korea. METHODS: Thirty ambulances (17 from private facilities and 13 from regional emergency centers) were enlisted for this study. We took 955 swabs and isolated the resulting bacteria. We surveyed the intervals between cleaning and disinfecting of the ambulances and their equipment. We compared the distributional of the bacterial species, following Spaulding's classification, between critical equipment (CE), semi-critical equipment (SCE) and non-critical equipment (NCE) in the ambulances, using the chi-square test. RESULTS: The ambulances were cleaned and disinfected every 5 and 8 days, respectively. The equipment was cleaned and disinfected once every 22 and 30 days, respectively. Of the 955 swabs, 159 (16.6%) were found to be contaminated by bacteria. Fourteen pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the CE and SCE, but no methicillin-resistant or vancomycin-resistant bacteria were found. CONCLUSION: Approximately 16.6% of the ambulances and their equipment were contaminated by bacteria, and pathogenic bacteria were found on both CE and SCE. Consequently, in South Korea, we find a risk associated with the hazard presented by bacterial contamination in ambulance CE and SCE.
Ambulances ; Bacteria ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Methicillin Resistance ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: Many patients in South Korea are brought to hospitals by ambulance. As such, bacterial contamination within the ambulance and their critical or semi-critical equipment may be dangerous, especially for immunocompromised patients. No previous studies have examined the distribution patterns of pathogenic bacteria in ambulances or the bacterial contamination rate associated with riding in an ambulance in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of pathogenic bacteria species in ambulances, and to investigate the bacterial contamination rate associated with ambulances and their equipment, in South Korea. METHODS: Thirty ambulances (17 from private facilities and 13 from regional emergency centers) were enlisted for this study. We took 955 swabs and isolated the resulting bacteria. We surveyed the intervals between cleaning and disinfecting of the ambulances and their equipment. We compared the distributional of the bacterial species, following Spaulding's classification, between critical equipment (CE), semi-critical equipment (SCE) and non-critical equipment (NCE) in the ambulances, using the chi-square test. RESULTS: The ambulances were cleaned and disinfected every 5 and 8 days, respectively. The equipment was cleaned and disinfected once every 22 and 30 days, respectively. Of the 955 swabs, 159 (16.6%) were found to be contaminated by bacteria. Fourteen pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the CE and SCE, but no methicillin-resistant or vancomycin-resistant bacteria were found. CONCLUSION: Approximately 16.6% of the ambulances and their equipment were contaminated by bacteria, and pathogenic bacteria were found on both CE and SCE. Consequently, in South Korea, we find a risk associated with the hazard presented by bacterial contamination in ambulance CE and SCE.
Ambulances ; Bacteria ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Methicillin Resistance ; Republic of Korea