OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of changes in obesity and life style factors, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise, on the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol among Korean men. METHODS: This study included 7,205 healthy male employees in the steel manufacturing industry. Each subject underwent health examination in 1994 and was re-examined in 1997. The study subjects were classified into four categories, according to changes in body mass index (BMI) (loss; stable; mild gain; severe gain), cigarette smoking (quitter; non-smoker; smoker continued; smoker started), alcohol drinking (quitter; non-drinker; drinker continued; drinker started) and exercise (more exercise; continuous regular exercise; continuous irregular or no exercise; less exercise), respectively. We evaluated the relationship between the categories of change in those independent variables and the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol, adjusted for BMI in 1994 and age by analysis of variance. RESULTS: The change in systolic blood pressure was positively associated with the changes in BMI (p<0.001) and drinking (p=0.001), but negatively with smoking (p=0.004), compared to the first category of each independent variables. The systolic blood pressure was significantly less increased in the continuous smoking group than quitter or non-smoker. The changes in diastolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol appeared to have statistically significant linear relationships only with the change in BMI. The change in exercise showed a marginal significance with diastolic blood pressure (p=0.088). CONCLUSIONS: These prospective data emphasize the importance of obesity as a determinant of the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol. In addition, the changes in smoking and drinking habits can affect systolic blood pressure.
Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol* ; Drinking ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Male ; Obesity ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steel*

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated demographic, socioeconomic, smoking-related, other health behavior, and disease factors associated with smoking cessation. METHODS: This study included 5,493 male employees in a steel manufacturing industry, who smoked at health examination underwent in 1998. Quitters were defined as those who had stopped smoking at least one month prior to re-examination in 1999. The information on related factors was collected by self-administered questionnare. RESULTS: At 12 months of follow-up, 1,955 patients (35.6 %) had quit smoking. The quit rate was higher in middle-aged, white collar, and high rank personnels. The quit rate increased with decreasing amount of cigarette, decreasing duration of smoking, and increasing age of starting smoking. There were higher quit rates among smokers who drank less or exercise. However, the existence of disease did not affect the quit rate. CONCLUSION: This study showed that many demographic, socioeconomic, smoking-related and other health behaviors associated with smoking cessation. These results could be of use in the other worksite smoking cessation campaigns to enhance the quit rate.
Follow-Up Studies ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Steel* ; Tobacco Products ; Workplace*

No abstract available.
Cutaneous Fistula ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans ; Sarcoma, Kaposi*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop an evaluation framework for QI activity in medical institutions and to analyze QI activity cases by applying the developed evaluation framework. METHOD: A four-phase process was employed to develop the evaluation framework, and a descriptive survey was used for the QI case study. Data were collected in April, 2010 by examining 157 QI activity cases presented at conferences and published in Journal of Korean Society of Quality Assurance in Health Care over the past three years. Developed QI activity evaluation instruments were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 for Windows program. RESULT: A QI Activity Evaluation Framework was developed. This framework consisted of 45 items. The department with the highest level of QI participation was the nursing department. The most frequent QI activity theme was patient safety. QI activity levels in Korean medical institutions are relatively equalized without significant differences according to institution characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: From the quality aspect of QI activity, more systematic and scientific approaches are required to upgrade QI activity. This study could provide methodological guidelines for QI activity and be useful in setting goals and directions for QI activity in medical institutions in Korea.
Congresses as Topic ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Korea ; Patient Safety ; Qi ; Quality Improvement

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of hypnotics and analgesics on oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry in surgery patients under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty-five patients classified ASA physical status 1 or 2 scheduled for surgery under spinal anesthesia were studied. These patients were divided into three groups. The 22 subjects of the first group did not receive either midazolam or fentanyl. The 22 subjects of the second group received midazolam. The 21 subjects of the third group received midazolam (0.03 mg/kg) and fentanyl (1.0 microgram/ kg). Oxygen saturation was measured with a pulse oximetry. Measurements were made before spinal anesthesia, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes after starting of spinal anesthesia, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes after the start of the operation or intravenous injection of drugs. In addition, measurements were made on arrival in the recovery room, and 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes after arrival in the recovery room. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in oxygen saturation at 5 minutes after the start of the operation or intravenous injection of drugs. The mean oxygen saturation for the first group was 98.2 +/- 1.8%, for the second group 97.9 +/- 2.6%, and for the third group 92.4 +/- 2.8%. Hypoxia cases at 5 minutes after the start of the operation or intravenous injection of a drug occurred in 4.5% of the first group, 9.1% of the second group, and 57.1% of the third group CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that oxygen saturation monitoring should be done routinely in patients receiving hypnotics and analgesics during spinal anesthesia, and oxygen should be administered to patients who develope hypoxia during spinal anesthesia.
Analgesics* ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anoxia* ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives* ; Incidence* ; Injections, Intravenous ; Midazolam ; Oximetry ; Oxygen ; Recovery Room

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the mediating effects of perceived stigma and family strength on the relationship between family stress and adaptation in family members of patients with mental illness. METHODS: Participants were 189 primary family caregivers of persons with mental illness in G city, C, G, and J provinces. Data were collected from May to June 2018 using the FILE (Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes), K-ISMI (Korean Version of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale), FAS III (Family Adaptability Scale III), and KFSS-II (Korea Family Strengths Scale). Collected data were analyzed with t-tests, one-way ANOVAs with Scheffé' test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and PROCESS macro mediation analysis. Mediators were tested by calculating bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals using bootstrapping with 5,000 resampling. RESULTS: Family stress was directly associated with family adaptation. Family strengths had a partially mediating effect on the relationship between family stress and adaptation, but perceived stigma did not. CONCLUSION: Based on our study findings, developing a nursing intervention program focused on improving family strengths might be necessary to facilitate family members' successful adaptation to persons with mental illness.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Caregivers ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Negotiating ; Nursing ; Social Stigma

The number of latex-induced allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, has been increasing since latex induced contact urticaria was first reported in surgical patients by Nutter in 1979. Latex allergy is frequently seen in the healthcare industry, and is associated with systemic symptoms, hand eczema, and allergic contact dermatitis. Reactions range from contact urticaria, rhinitis and conjunctivitis, angioderma or bronchospasm to the recently recognized severe anaphylactic shock with cardiovascular collapse. We encountered a 55-year-old female patient who developed a severe anaphylactic reaction after manual vetilatory support using a facemask that contained latex. A subsequent allergy workup revealed a delayed-type hypersensitivity to latex. This case highlights the need for anesthesiologists to be able to diagnose the signs and symptoms of allergic reactions in patients during the peri-anesthetic period. Two types of allergic reactions to natural rubber latex (NRL) and rubber products are now known to exist: type I (immediate-type) and type IV (delayed-type hypersensitivity [DTH]). Patients with NRL allergy should be provided with information on non-latex devices and latex avoidance in medical, dental, and occupational settings. In addition, we should pay more attention to the management of allergic reactions to latex in high risk groups.
Anaphylaxis ; Bronchial Spasm ; Conjunctivitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Eczema ; Female ; Hand ; Health Care Sector ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Latex ; Latex Hypersensitivity ; Masks ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis ; Rubber ; Urticaria

BACKGROUND: The root of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb., a perennial herb found in Japan, the Philippines, China, and Korea, is used as an analgesic. In a previous study, sec-O-glucosylhamaudol (SOG) showed an analgesic effect. This study was performed to examine the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal SOG in the formalin test. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with an intrathecal catheter. Rats were randomly treated with a vehicle and SOG (10 µg, 30 µg, 60 µg, and 100 µg) before formalin injection. Five percent formalin was injected into the hind-paw, and a biphasic reaction followed, consisting of flinching and licking behaviors (phase 1, 0–10 min; phase 2, 10–60 min). Naloxone was injected 10 min before administration of SOG 100 µg to evaluate the involvement of SOG with an opioid receptor. Dose-responsiveness and ED50 values were calculated. RESULTS: Intrathecal SOG showed a significant reduction of the flinching responses at both phases in a dose-dependent manner. Significant effects were showed from the dose of 30 µg and maximum effects were achieved at a dose of 100 µg in both phases. The ED50 value (95% confidence intervals) of intrathecal SOG was 30.3 (25.8–35.5) µg during phase 1, and 48.0 (41.4–55.7) during phase 2. The antinociceptive effects of SOG (100 µg) were significantly reverted at both phases of the formalin test by naloxone. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that intrathecal SOG has a very strong antinociceptive effect in the formalin test and it seems the effect is related to an opioid receptor.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Catheters ; China ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Naloxone ; Nociception ; Pain Measurement ; Philippines ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of cheap tinted contact lenses on corneal swelling and ocular surface inflammation, compared to hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses. METHODS: Forty eyes of 20 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups. Two types of tinted contact lenses, hydrogel lenses, and silicone hydrogel lenses were each applied to 10 rabbit eyes. Corneal thickness and tear lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured at 1 and 4 days after contact lens wear, and the inflammation of ocular surface was scored at 4 days after contact lens wear. The internal surface of the cheap tinted lens was examined with a scanning electron microscope to compare the surface quality between the tinted and non-tinted area. RESULTS: Although the corneal swelling of the silicone hydrogel lens group was significantly lower than the other 3 lens groups after contact lens wear (p<0.01), the common hydrogel lens group was not different from the 2 tinted contact lens groups (p>0.1). Tear LDH activity at 1 and 4 days after contact lens wear showed no significant difference among the 4 groups (p>0.29). The scores of ocular surface inflammation in the 2 tinted contact lens groups were greater than the hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lens groups (p=0.03). The scanning electron microscope revealed the internal surface of the tinted area in the tinted contact lens was coarse and irregular though the surface of the non-tinted area was relatively smooth. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding corneal swelling and tear LDH activity, the cheap tinted contact lenses used in Korea were not significantly different from the common hydrogel contact lenses. However, tinted contact lenses showed a greater tendency to provoke ocular surface inflammation than other lenses. The coarse and irregular surface of the tinted area in the tinted contact lens appears to play a role in provoking severe ocular surface inflammation.
Contact Lenses ; Electrons ; Eye ; Hydrogel ; Inflammation ; Korea ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Rabbits ; Silicones

BACKGROUND: This randomized, double-blinded clinical study was designed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of remifentanil with ketorolac for IV PCA after laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly allocated into four groups. Group R received IV PCA using only remifentanil at a basal rate of 0.025 microg/kg/min and a bolus of 0.375 microg/kg. Group RK1 received IV PCA using remifentanil at a basal rate of 0.015 microg/kg/min and a bolus of 0.225 microg/kg. Group RK2 received IV PCA using remifentanil at a basal rate of 0.0075 microg/kg/min and a bolus of 0.1125 microg/kg. Group F received IV PCA using fentanyl at a basal rate of 0.3 microg/kg/h and a bolus of 0.075 microg/kg. In addition, ketorolac at a basal rate of 0.04 mg/kg/h and a bolus of 0.01 mg/kg was added to Group RK1, RK2, and F. All PCA conditions had a lock out period of 15 minutes. Pulse rate, systolic and diastolic BP, sedation score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and PONV score were recorded at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after the operation. Total opioid use and the patients' number for rescue analgesic drug were also collected. RESULTS: The groups did not differ in PONV score and hemodynamic changes. The VAS in Group RK2 was high compared with the other groups. In addition, the sedation score was high in Group R. CONCLUSIONS: The additional ketorolac administration in remifentanil IV PCA had remifentanil sparing effects and reduced sedation among the side effects. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the precise and adequate dosage of ketorolac.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Ketorolac ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Piperidines ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting