No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of our new video-assisted asthma education program on patients' knowledge regarding asthma and asthma control. METHODS: Adult asthmatics who were diagnosed by primary care physicians and followed for at least 1 year were educated via smart devices and pamphlets. The education sessions were carried out three times at 2-week intervals. Each education period lasted at most 5 minutes. The effectiveness was then evaluated using questionnaires and an asthma control test (ACT). RESULTS: The study enrolled 144 patients (mean age, 56.7±16.7 years). Half of the patients had not been taught how to use their inhalers. After participating in the education program, the participants' understanding of asthma improved significantly across all six items of a questionnaire assessing their general knowledge of asthma. The proportion of patients who made errors while manipulating their inhalers was reduced to less than 10%. The ACT score increased from 16.6±4.6 to 20.0±3.9 (p<0.001). The number of asthmatics whose ACT score was at least 20 increased from 45 (33.3%) to 93 (65.3%) (p<0.001). The magnitude of improvement in the ACT score did not differ between patients who received an education session at least three times within 1 year and those who had not. The majority of patients agreed to the need for an education program (95.8%) and showed a willingness to pay an additional cost for the education (81.9%). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that our newly developed education program would become an effective component of asthma management in primary care clinics.
Adult ; Asthma* ; Education* ; Humans ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Pamphlets ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Primary Health Care*

In this article, on page 230, Fig. 2A needs to be corrected.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We compared the efficacy and safety of valsartan and rosuvastatin combination therapy with each treatment alone in hypercholesterolemic hypertensive patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who met inclusion criteria were randomized to receive 1 of the following 2-month drug regimens: valsartan 160 mg plus rosuvastatin 20 mg, valsartan 160 mg plus placebo, or rosuvastatin 20 mg plus placebo. The primary efficacy variables were change in sitting diastolic blood pressure (sitDBP) and sitting systolic blood pressure (sitSBP), and percentage change in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in the combination, valsartan, and rosuvastatin groups. Adverse events (AEs) during the study were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 354 patients were screened and 123 of them were finally randomized. Changes of sitDBP by least squares mean (LSM) were -11.1, -7.2, and -3.6 mm Hg, respectively, and was greater in the combination, as compared to both valsartan (p=0.02) and rosuvastatin (p<0.001). Changes of sitSBP by LSM were -13.2, -10.8, and -4.9 mm Hg, and was greater in the combination, as compared to rosuvastatin (p=0.006) and not valsartan (p=0.42). Percentage changes of LDL-C by LSM were -52, -4, and -47% in each group, and was greater in the combination, as compared to valsartan (p<0.001), similar to rosuvastatin (p=0.16). Most AEs were mild and resolved by the end of the study. CONCLUSION: Combination treatment with valsartan and rosuvastatin exhibited an additive blood pressure-lowering effect with acceptable tolerability, as compared to valsartan monotherapy. Its lipid lowering effect was similar to rosuvatatin monotherapy.
Blood Pressure ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Valsartan

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and tolerability between same-day bowel preparation protocols using 2 sachets of Picosulfate and a 4 L split-dose polyethylene glycol (PEG) bowel preparation for afternoon colonoscopy. METHODS: The study had a single-center, prospective, randomized, and investigator-blinded, non-inferiority design. We evaluated bowel preparation quality according to the Ottawa scale, patient tolerability, compliance, incidence of adverse events, sleep quality, and polyp/adenoma detection rate. RESULTS: Among the 196 patients analyzed (mean age, 55.3 years; 50.3% men), 97 received the same-day regimen of 2 sachets of picosulfate (group A) and 99 received the 4 L split-dose PEG regimen (group B). The Ottawa score of the total colon was 4.05+/-1.56 in group A and 3.80+/-1.55 in group B (P=0.255). The proportion of patients having adequate bowel preparation in the same-day picosulfate group (61.5%) was slightly less than the 4 L PEG group (71.3%); however, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.133). Tolerability of the group A regimen was superior to that of the group B regimen (P<0.000). The same-day picosulfate regimen was associated with fewer adverse events, such as abdominal bloating (P=0.037) and better sleep quality (P<0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The same-day picosulfate regimen and the 4 L split-dose PEG regimen had similar efficacy in bowel preparation for afternoon colonoscopy. However, the same-day picosulfate regimen was easier to administer, produced fewer adverse events, and enabled better sleep quality.
Colon ; Colonoscopy* ; Compliance ; Humans ; Incidence ; Polyethylene Glycols* ; Polyethylene* ; Prospective Studies*

OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical and sonographic parameters which predict the likelihood of successful labor induction in preterm women. METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled 103 consecutive preterm women (<37 weeks gestation) with singleton gestations scheduled for induction of labor. Transvaginal ultrasound for measurement of the cervical length was performed and the Bishop score was determined by digital examination. The parameters studied were gestational age at induction, parity, maternal age, Bishop score, sonographic cervical length, and current body mass index (BMI). Univariate and multivariate statistical methods were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Successful induction of labor occurred in 45 (44%) of women. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified parity, maternal BMI, and gestational age at induction as the independent predictors of successful labor induction in preterm women, although gestational age did not reach statistical significance (P=0.056). However, maternal age, sonographic cervical length, and Bishop score did not provide independent contribution to success of induction. CONCLUSION: In preterm women undergoing induction of labor parity, maternal BMI, and gestational age at induction were independent parameters in predicting successful induction of labor. However, sonographic cervical length and Bishop score had poor predictive values for success of labor induction.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Lipids ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Age ; Parity ; Prospective Studies ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Statistics as Topic

Case 1:A 59-year-old man underwent mitral valve replacement and Maze operation.Under general anesthesia, a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and superior vena cava (SVC) cannula were inserted.There were no complications during surgery.However, when the surgeons attempted to remove the PAC the next day there was resistance that caused the catheter to break during removal.A chest X ray revealed that the distal portion of the PAC remained in his heart.Therefore, the patient underwent surgery to remove the remnant catheter.Case 2:A 62-year-old man underwent mitral valvuloplasty.A PAC was inserted under general anesthesia.After the procedure, the patient was weaned off his cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).However, his pulmonary artery pressure could not be measured and an abnormal wave was observed. We attempted to re-insert the catheter, but were unsuccesful.An operation was conducted and the catheter was found to be tied at the septum of the right atrium.
Anesthesia, General ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheters ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Superior

Case 1:A 59-year-old man underwent mitral valve replacement and Maze operation.Under general anesthesia, a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and superior vena cava (SVC) cannula were inserted.There were no complications during surgery.However, when the surgeons attempted to remove the PAC the next day there was resistance that caused the catheter to break during removal.A chest X ray revealed that the distal portion of the PAC remained in his heart.Therefore, the patient underwent surgery to remove the remnant catheter.Case 2:A 62-year-old man underwent mitral valvuloplasty.A PAC was inserted under general anesthesia.After the procedure, the patient was weaned off his cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).However, his pulmonary artery pressure could not be measured and an abnormal wave was observed. We attempted to re-insert the catheter, but were unsuccesful.An operation was conducted and the catheter was found to be tied at the septum of the right atrium.
Anesthesia, General ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheters ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Superior

Stent thrombosis (ST) is one of the major complications that occur in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) with stents. Various factors have been attributed to the development of ST, and several strategies have been recommended for its management. We report the case of a patient suffering from recurrent subacute STs after recurrent PCIs. The patient was treated by coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
Coronary Artery Bypass ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents ; Stress, Psychological ; Thrombosis ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) has been primarily associated with emotional problems. Recently, however, the impact of PTSD on cognitive processes has interested a growing number of researchers. The current study is aimed at investigating the cognitive aspects of PTSD at both behavioral and neurological levels. METHODS: We recruited individuals with PTSD who survived the Daegu subway explosion in 2003 as well as non-PTSD individuals as a control group. To evaluate the inhibitory processes and the neural mechanisms, we had these individuals perform the negative priming task simultaneously with functional MRI scanning. RESULTS: Behaviorally, the negative priming effect was intact in the control group but was not evident in the PTSD group. In the imaging results, only the PTSD group showed the negative priming effect (i.e., increased activation of the negative priming condition as opposed to the neutral condition) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and inferior temporal gyrus. The PTSD group also showed increased activity for the positive priming condition as opposed to the neutral condition in the claustrum. These results confirm and extend the previous findings that the integrity of the ACC is compromised in the trauma survivors due to disrupted white matter tract. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that deteriorated performance of the PTSD group may be due to the functional problem as well as the structural abnormalities.
Basal Ganglia ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Explosions ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Railroads ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Survivors