Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome due to compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Division of the transverse carpal ligament for median nerve compression in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome is a common and successful procedure. A variety procedures exist to release the transverse carpal ligament the classic open release, limmited open or percutaneous release, and endoscopic release. From February 1994 to January 1996, 39 carpal tunnel releases were performed by percutaneous method in 30 patients (3 males and 27 females) at the Chonnam University Hospital. The patients age ranged from 42 to 67 years (average 54.8 years). The duration of the symptoms ranged from 3 months to 10 years. According to Brown's outcome analysis, results were as follows. 1. Persistent pain and paresthesia were noted in only 3 cases (7.7%) at 24 week postoperatively. 2. Two-Point discrimination on the index finger was improved significantly at 12 week postoperatively (p<0.05). In electromyographic study, conduction delay of motor and sensory fibers was diminished significantly at 4 week postoperatively (p<0.05). 3. Functional outcomes (grip strength, pinch strength, scar tenderness and return to work) were showed good and excellent result. We concluded that percutaneous decompression is one of the less morbid method for decompressing the carpal canal and relief of symptoms for the patient.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Cicatrix ; Decompression* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Fingers ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Ligaments ; Male ; Median Nerve ; Paresthesia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Pinch Strength ; Wrist

An electron microscopic study was conducted in order to investigate the healing and maturation process of central one third of donor site patellar tendon which was used for endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. 17 patients among 118 consecutive series, which underwent ACL reconstruction from January 1990 to March 1995, were involved in this study according to various followup periods. At 6 months follow-up, hypercullular and randomly arranged fibrohlasts had abundant cytoplasm with marked irregular cytoplasmic borders and short cytoplasmic extensions. Thc, nuclei of fibroblasts had prominent nuclear indentation with chromatin condensation along the nuclear mernbrane and prominent nucleolus. The cytoplasm contained irregularly dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, and pinocytic vesicles. Intercellular space were occupied by newly-formed, immature col)agen fibrills without distinct parallel arrangement, and the diameter of collagen fibrils was unifoimly small. At 12 months, fibroblast and collagen fibrils showed a little matured findings except the small diameter of collagen fibrils. At 24 months, irregular-shaped fibroblasts were still present, which contained folded nuclei, ahundant cytoplasm with large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex. Collagen fihril showed also a unimodal distribution pattern with small diameter, however had a tendency to have a regular parallel arrangement. These finding suggest that the donor site of a patellar tendon was still quite different from normal patellar tendon in electron microscopic morphology even at 24 months postoperative follow-up regardless of considerable maturation of regular parallel arrangement pattern of collagen fibril.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Chromatin ; Collagen ; Cytoplasm ; Dronabinol ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Extracellular Space ; Fibroblasts ; Follow-Up Studies ; Golgi Apparatus ; Humans ; Patellar Ligament* ; Tissue Donors*

PURPOSE: This descriptive correlation study was done to identify the hardiness, coping behavior, and organizational commitment of general hospital employees and show how these variables affect increases in role performance and problem solving ability to have a positive influence on organizational harmony. METHODS: A quantitative, descriptive research design was used with a sample of 368 employees working in general hospitals in M and C cities. A survey was used to collect the data. RESULTS: The score for perception of hardiness of general hospital employees was 2.85, and coping behavior was 2.40, both out of a possible 4 points, and organizational commitment, 3.03 out of a possible 5 points. There were statistically significant positive correlations between hardiness and coping behavior (r=.33, p<.001), also between hardiness and organizational commitment (r=.51, p<.001), and also between coping behavior and organizational commitment (r=.22, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that hardiness, coping behavior, and organizational commitment in general hospital employees have positive correlations, and thus hospital administrators should explore ways of increase individual employee hardiness and coping behavior, and make efforts to harmonize their organizations by enhancing organizational commitment.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Hospital Administrators ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Problem Solving ; Research Design ; Statistics as Topic

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate bradycardia as an adverse effect after administration of dexmedetomidine during 33degrees C target temperature management. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent 33degrees C target temperature management in the emergency department during a 49-month study period. We collected data including age, sex, weight, diagnosis, bradycardia occurrence, target temperature management duration, sedative drug, and several clinical and laboratory results. We conducted logistic regression for an analysis of factors associated with bradycardia. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients were selected. Among them, 39 (57.4%) showed bradycardia, and 56 (82.4%) were treated with dexmedetomidine. The odds ratio for bradycardia in the carbon monoxide poisoning group compared to the cardiac arrest group and in patients with higher body weight were 7.448 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.834-30.244, p = 0.005) and 1.058 (95% CI 1.002-1.123, p = 0.044), respectively. In the bradycardia with dexmedetomidine group, the infusion rate of dexmedetomidine was 0.41 +/- 0.15 microg/kg/h. Decisions of charged doctor's were 1) slowing infusion rate and 2) stopping infusion or administering atropine for bradycardia. No cases required cardiac pacing or worsened to asystole. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the frequent occurrence of bradycardia after administration of dexmedetomidine during 33degrees C target temperature management, bradycardia was completely recovered after reducing infusion rate or stopping infusion. However, reducing the infusion rate of dexmedetomidine lower than the standard maintenance dose could be necessary to prevent bradycardia from developing in patients with higher body weight or carbon monoxide poisoning during 33degrees C targeted temperature management.
Atropine ; Body Weight ; Bradycardia* ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the epidemiology of VRE colonization among neonates. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of VRE colonization, risk factors for VRE, and how to control the spread of VRE infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 192 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of PNUH from March 2006 to March 2007. Surveillance cultures from rectal swabs for detecting VRE were obtained weekly during the study period. We analyzed the prevalence of VRE and various risk factors. RESULTS: The rate of VRE colonization among NICU patients was 25% (48/192). Thirty five of these VRE colonized patients were transferred to the NICU from other local hospitals. Compared with the non-VRE group, the risk factors associated with VRE colonization were lower birth weight, congenital heart disease, applied mechanical ventilation, use of a central venous catheter, chest tubing, a history of surgery, and use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: VRE colonization among patients admitted to the NICU is rapidly increasing. Monitoring and managing premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process, avoiding many invasive procedures, avoiding antibiotics such as vancomycin and third generation cephalosporin are important for preventing the emergence and spread of VRE colonization in the NICU.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Central Venous Catheters ; Colon ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

No abstract available.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Spondylolysis*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop effective timeout protocol in coordination with current practice and test its clinical effectiveness in pursuit of safety management for patients undergoing cataract surgery. METHODS: A total of subjects were 60 women, 50~65 years old, who visit C ophthalmology clinic in D city. They were assigned to 30 experimental group and 30 control group, respectively. Based on the comprehensive literature review, timeout protocol that was suitable for patients undergoing cataract surgery was developed, and then test its effectiveness by measuring blood pressure, pulse, anxiety and sense of well-being among surgical patients. RESULTS: The timeout protocol was found to reduce blood pressure, pulse, and anxiety and increase well-being among surgical patients. CONCLUSION: As a results, it is necessary to introduce an effective timeout protocol giving positive responses to surgical patients, hence it should be develop a timeout protocol and explore the effectiveness of the protocol.
Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Cataract* ; Female ; Humans ; Ophthalmology ; Safety Management

Tumoral calcinosis is an uncommon disease, characterized by deposits of large, calcified soft tissue masses around major joints in children and young adults. The causes of the lesion have not yet been established, but are presumed an inborn error of metabolism of phosphorus. It has been recommanded medical treatment or surgical excision, but recurrence of the lesion is frequent. We report a case of young female patient who presented with tumoral calcinosis at the age of 10 years.
Calcinosis* ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Metabolism ; Phosphorus ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors affecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination intention. Methods: For an anonymous online survey, recruitment notices were posted on an anonymous community by each university, and an online survey was conducted through online form from June to July 2021. COVID-19 knowledge and health-protective behavior were measured using a questionnaire based on previous literature and reflecting the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Response Guidelines. The psychological antecedents of vaccination were measured by 5C scale. Results: Two-hundred and ninety-four college students (women 67.3%) answered the survey; 179 (60.9%) reported that they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. The mean scores for COVID-19 knowledge and health-protective behavior were 22.97 ± 5.33 (out of 35) and 9.92 ± 2.22 (out of 12), respectively. For the psychological antecedents of vaccination, the mean scores for confidence, collective responsibility, calculation, complacency, and constraints were 4.45 ( ± 1.24), 5.61 ( ± 1.09), 5.09 ( ± 1.18), 2.42 ( ± 1.11), and 2.37 ( ± 1.19) out of 5 points, respectively. The confidence, calculation, and collective responsibility were associated with vaccination intention. Additionally, the top reason for those who were less prone to accept vaccination against COVID-19 was concern about vaccine safety. Conclusion The higher the confidence in the vaccine and the higher the collective responsibility, the higher the vaccination intention. As it is a factor related to an individual’s perception of COVID-19 information, it is necessary to increase confidence in the vaccines through obtaining accurate information on the safety, effectiveness, and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are main pathogens of bloodstream infection. We compared the epidemiology of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. METHODS: From January 2003 through March 2007, we retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of patients with bloodstream infection by ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. RESULTS: During the study period, 79 patients (54 with E. coli and 25 with K. pneumoniae) with blood cultures positive for ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae were studied. When comparing the source of bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs) were more commonly caused by E. coli (24% vs. 0; P=0.007), and respiratory tract and soft tissue infection (36% vs. 15%; P=0.04, 12% vs. 0; P=0.03, respectively) were more commonly associated with K. pneumoniae. Among hospital-acquired bloodstream infection, third-generation cephalosporin was more commonly used in patients with E. coli than patients with K. pneumoniae (81% vs. 24%, P<0.001). Medical devices (central venous catheter and urinary catheter) were more commonly used in patients with K. pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in urinary tract infections. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is more common in respiratory tract infections and in skin and soft tissue infections. In hospital-acquired infections, ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in biliary tract infection. ESBL-producing E. coli was more commonly associated with prior frequent antibiotics use and K. pneumoniae was more commonly associated with use of medical devices.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Biliary Tract ; Catheters ; Comorbidity ; Epidemiology* ; Escherichia coli* ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Urinary Tract Infections