The Ross operation, a procedure of replacement of the diseased aortic valve with an autologous pulmonary valve, has many advantages such as no need for anticoagulation therapy and similar valve function and growth potential as native valves. However secondary aortic disease has emerged as a significant complication and indication for reoperation. We report a 48-year-old woman who had Ross operation in 1997 for a damaged bicuspid aortic valve and severe aortic regurgitation due to subacute bacterial endocarditis complicated by aortic root abscess. In 2009, 12 years later, progressive severe aortic regurgitation with incomplete coaptation and mild dilatation of the aortic root was shown on echocardiography and contrasted CT, while the pulmonary homograft retained normal function. She subsequently underwent aortic valve replacement. Histopathological examination of the explanted neo-aortic valve and neo-arterial wall revealed pannus formation at the nodulus Arantii area of the three valve cusps, ventricularis, and arterialis. The amount of elastic fibres in the neo-aorta media was less than usual for an aorta of this patient's age but was similar to a pulmonary artery. The pathological findings were not different from other studies of specimens removed between 7 to 12 years after Ross operation. However, the pathophysiology and long-term implications of these findings remain debatable. Considering the anatomical and physiological changes induced by the procedure, separate mechanisms for aortic dilatation and regurgitation are worthy of consideration.
Aorta/*pathology ; Aortic Valve/*surgery ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/*etiology ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures/*adverse effects ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Heart Valve Diseases/*surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pulmonary Valve/*transplantation

Complications after a median sternotomy incision, which is used currently in most open heart surgery, are serious, although it is infrequent. Reconstruction of the sternal defect resulting from dehiscence of median sternotomy is still big challenge to the most plastic surgeons. Since vascularized greater omentum was transposed to eliminate mediastinal wound problems, many vascularized regional muscle flaps became mainstay in reconstruction of median sternotomy wound. We treated 13 patients with median sternotomy dehiscence between October of 1993 and March of 1998. In two patients, the wound problems were so confined to superficial tissue that debrided and closed primarily. Eleven patients with deep wound infection were managed with vigorous debridement of all necrotic tissues and resultant defects were covered with regional muscle flaps: rectus myocutaneous flap(3) and bilateral pectoralis advancement flap(8). We used the pectoralis major advancement flaps without counter incision at humeral insertion site and the dissections were limited only medial to the anterior axillary line to preserve the axillary fold. In five patients with larger defects, we elevated muscle and cutaneous flaps separately to make these flaps more mobile. Large portion of two rectus abdominis flaps could not survive, whereas pectoralis advancement flaps had mo special wound problems. Only one patient developed fistula due to remained wire, regardless to flap surgery.
Debridement ; Fistula ; Humans ; Omentum ; Rectus Abdominis ; Sternotomy* ; Thoracic Surgery ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical usefulness of the quick Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score (based on the 2016 definition of sepsis) at intensive care unit admission in Korean patients with bacteremia. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 236 patients between March 2011 and February 2016. In addition to the qSOFA, the Modified Early Warning score (MEWS) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria were calculated. RESULTS: The patients' median age was 69 years, and 61.0% were male. Of the patients, 127 (53.8%) had a qSOFA score ≥2 points. They had significantly higher rates of septic shock, thrombocytopenia, and hyperlactatemia, and increased requirements for ventilator care, neuromuscular blocking agents, vasopressors, and hemodialysis within 72 hours after intensive care unit admission. They also had a significantly higher 28-day mortality rate. When analyzed using common thresholds (MEWS ≥5 and ≥2 SIRS criteria), patients with a MEWS ≥5 had the same results as those with a qSOFA score ≥2 (P < 0.05). However, patients with ≥2 SIRS criteria showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that a qSOFA score ≥2 at admission is a useful screening tool for predicting disease severity and medical resource usage within 72 hours after admission, and for predicting 28-day mortality rates in patients with bacteremia. In addition, qSOFA scores may be more useful than SIRS criteria in terms of prognostic utility.
Bacteremia* ; Critical Care* ; Humans ; Hyperlactatemia ; Intensive Care Units* ; Korea* ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Prognosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; Thrombocytopenia ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify clinical characteristics of oncologic patients at a point when they signed their do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. METHODS: From January through December 2014, we retrospectively analyzed the records of 197 patients who passed away after agreeing to a DNR order in the hemato-oncology department of a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: Of all, 121 patients (61.4%) were male and 76 (38.6%) were female, and their average age was 58.7 years. Ninety-four patients (47.7%) had gastrointestinal cancer. The ECOG performance status at admission was grade 3 in 76 patients (36.5%) and grade 4 in 11 (5.6%). The patients' mean hospital stay was 20 days. The mean duration from the admission to DNR decision was 13 days, and the mean duration from DNR decision to death was seven days. CONCLUSION: Study results indicate that a decision on signing or refusing a DNR order was made by medical staff mostly based on the opinions of patients' guardians rather than the patients themselves. This suggests that patients' own wishes are not well respected. Thus, it is urgent to establish institutional devices to enhance cancer patients' autonomy regarding DNR and to define an adequate timing for withdrawal of treatments.
Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Hospice Care ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Medical Staff ; Resuscitation Orders ; Retrospective Studies ; Terminal Care ; Terminally Ill ; Tertiary Care Centers*

This study was aimed to examine nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, and eating habits of elementary school students and to examine if their characteristics differ by gender. Subjects were 5th and 6th graders of an elementary school (n = 317) in Seoul, and the survey was done during July 2007. Mean height, weight, BMI of subjects was 148.1 cm. 41.7 kg, 19.0, and 14.3% of subjects were categorized as the overweight/obese group. Anthropometric data were not significantly different by gender. Mean score of nutrition knowledge was 14.9 out of 20 showing moderate knowledge levels, and girls scored higher on nutrition knowledge than boys (p < 0.05). Subjects showed knowledge deficit in areas such as nutrients, food groups and specific weight control information. The percentages of correct answers regarding meals for brain function were significantly higher in girls than in boys (p < 0.05). They got nutrition information mainly from mass media and family/relatives. The mean score of dietary attitudes was 41.2 (possible score: 10-50) indicating somewhat positive attitudes, and the score of eating behaviors was 34.8 (possible score: 15-45). Subjects showed problems in eating habits such as having unbalanced diets and snack foods. 82.6% of subjects had unbalanced meals, and these percentages were higher in girls (87.2%) than in boys (78.1%, p < 0.05). Vegetables and fish/shellfish were the most disliked foods. Specific eating behaviors, such as eating slowly, eating grains and having processed foods less frequently, were better in girls than in boys (p < 0.05). Results also showed that majority of subjects need to improve specific behaviors including having diverse foods, eating meals slowly, having meals at regular times, having adequate foods in each food groups, and eating sweets or salty foods less frequently. Only 52.7% of subjects perceived their body images as normal, and 56.4% had experience of weight control. Reasons for weight control were different by gender (p< 0.05). Based on these findings, nutrition education for school children should focus on modifying eating habits or eating behaviors, by suggesting practically applicable methods and providing nutrition information that is interesting and suitable to school-aged children.
Body Image ; Brain ; Edible Grain ; Child ; Diet ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Mass Media ; Meals ; Snacks ; Vegetables

Therapeutic irradiation may produce a variety of adverse side effects on the central and the peripheral nervous systems. These adverse effects are divided into two main groups; transient and permanent. Four major clinical syndromes have been described in relation to permanent radiation injury of the nervous system: encephalopathy, cranial neuropathy, myelopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Among them, delayed encephalopathy represents the major hazard in CNS irradiation. The characteristic MR imaging pattern of radiation induced delayed necrotizing leukoencephalopathy is symmetric, high-signal foci on T2WI in the periventricular white matter. We report a case of suspected post-irradiation leukoencephalopathy showed progressive mental change, quadriparesis, and urinary incontinence with characteristic MR findings who had taken therapeutic irradiation 12 months ago.
Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Leukoencephalopathies* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nervous System ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Quadriplegia ; Radiation Injuries ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Urinary Incontinence

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of the income support allowance policy for the care workers on wage level. Methods: The analysis data was constructed using database (DB) of long-term care institution, DB of long-term care personnel status, and DB of health insurance qualification and contribution possessed by National Health Insurance Services. We analyzed the wage status of care workers 2009 to 2016 through basic analysis. We used the difference-in-difference analysis method for the workers who worked in the same institution from 2012 to 2013, The effects of the income allowance policy on wage increase were analyzed. Results: As a result of the net effect of the income support allowance policy, the monthly average wage of the care worker increased by 25,676 won and the hourly wage increased by 478 won. As a result of the analysis, it can be confirmed that the income support allowance policy has achieved some of the goals of raising the wage level of the care workers, and the effect of raising wages for other occupations in the long-term care business can be confirmed. Conclusion The low wage problem of long-term care workers such as care workers is not the only problem in Korea. In other countries, there are various wage support policies for employees. In particular, it is necessary to refer to the improvement in the treatment of care workers in Japan and wage pass-through in the United States. In addition to wages, there is a need to promote policies to provide employment motivation through efforts to improve their social status and improve their job status and career development for employees in long-term care facilities.

Objectives: This study investigated sleep quality in female full-time homemakers and evaluated the relationship of sleep disturbance with psychological and socio-environmental factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study adopted a structured survey and sequential recruitment method for randomized participation of community-dwelling full-time female homemakers. Sleep quality and mental health were measured using the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (K-PSQI), Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (K-BDI-II), Korean version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (K-BAI), and Korean version of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (K-BHS). The willingness-to-pay (WTP) method was selected to measure the self-evaluated monetary value of household service work. The relationship among the main relevant factors was statistically analyzed through a mediation model. Results: A total of 166 participants were analyzed and classified having poor versus good sleep quality (poor : 24.1%, n = 40 ; good : 75.9%, n = 126 ; cut-off point = 9 on the K-PSQI). Significant between-group differences were observed in mental health status (K-BDI-II, p < 0.001 ; K-BAI, p < 0.001 ; K-BHS, p = 0.003). The moderated mediation model was verified, indicating that depression may mediate the association between nurturing burden and sleep disturbance. The path from nurturing burden to depression may be moderated by average monthly household income. Conclusion A relatively high portion of full-time female homemakers may suffer from sleep disturbance and interactions between psychological and socio-environmental factors might determine sleep quality, suggesting the need for public health policies targeting improvement of sleep quality and mental health among full-time homemakers.

Objectives: This study investigated sleep quality in female full-time homemakers and evaluated the relationship of sleep disturbance with psychological and socio-environmental factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study adopted a structured survey and sequential recruitment method for randomized participation of community-dwelling full-time female homemakers. Sleep quality and mental health were measured using the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (K-PSQI), Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (K-BDI-II), Korean version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (K-BAI), and Korean version of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (K-BHS). The willingness-to-pay (WTP) method was selected to measure the self-evaluated monetary value of household service work. The relationship among the main relevant factors was statistically analyzed through a mediation model. Results: A total of 166 participants were analyzed and classified having poor versus good sleep quality (poor : 24.1%, n = 40 ; good : 75.9%, n = 126 ; cut-off point = 9 on the K-PSQI). Significant between-group differences were observed in mental health status (K-BDI-II, p < 0.001 ; K-BAI, p < 0.001 ; K-BHS, p = 0.003). The moderated mediation model was verified, indicating that depression may mediate the association between nurturing burden and sleep disturbance. The path from nurturing burden to depression may be moderated by average monthly household income. Conclusion A relatively high portion of full-time female homemakers may suffer from sleep disturbance and interactions between psychological and socio-environmental factors might determine sleep quality, suggesting the need for public health policies targeting improvement of sleep quality and mental health among full-time homemakers.

This study was made to evaluate the effect of oral atenolol, a cardioselective beta-adrenergic blocking agent without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, on left ventricular function in patient with essential hypertension. Atenolol, 100mg/day, was given to 11 hypertensive patients for 4 weeks, and its effects on arterial pressure, pulse rate, left ventricular dimensions and ejection phase indices of myocardial performance were examined by echocardiography. Echocardiographic studies were performed before treatment and after 4 weeks of atenolol therapy. Arterial pressure fell form 145/90 mmHg to 138/84mmHg after 4 weeks. Pulse rate fell significantly from 69/min to 58/min(p<0.05). Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions and mean rate of circumferential fiber shortening(mVcf) did not change significantly. Ejection fraction increased significantly from 0.66 to 0.72(p=0.01). This results indicate that atenolol in the resting state has no depressant effect on left ventricular function in patients with essential hypertension.
Arterial Pressure ; Atenolol* ; Echocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Ventricular Function, Left*