Mass casualty disasters have complex communication requirement. The involvement of many different communication systems and agencies and the difficulty of exchanging information between them is a perplexing problem. This may be compounded by telecommunication systems overload or failure, and electric service disruptions in the disaster area. In addition, emergencies are characterized by a sudden need for an increased information flow, an explosion in the topographical complexity of the information network, and a feeling of intense psychological pressure among the participants. The rescue, treatment, evacuation of a lot of patients from a natural disaster or mass casualties must be performed in accordance to several national agencies. Without an effective communication system, morbidity and mortality will needlessly rise. The stabilization and evacuation off lot of patients in a disaster is a serious and complex medical problem that must be resolved expeditiously. The potential far maximizing care depends on an well-organized rescue. However, without adequate communications, the patient may experience needless delays into the health care system an6 thus compromise prognosis. Established communication systems in most communities consist of private services, provincial and national agencies, and military and amateur radio operator. A disaster situation can severely disrupt routine telephone and radio communication. Customary frequencies may be incompatible with military and emergency civilian frequencies or become overloaded and useless because of intense activity. In a disaster, local telephone communication resources may be destroyed: qualified staffing of communications networks may be inadequate or unavailable to cope with the demands of the emergency. So, we recommend, that Amateur Radio should be provide as a effective emergency communication in a disaster.
Delivery of Health Care ; Disasters* ; Emergencies* ; Explosions ; Humans ; Information Services ; Mass Casualty Incidents ; Military Personnel ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Telecommunications ; Telephone

No abstract available.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn*

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica is rare, chronic non-inflammtory mechanobullous disease of hereditary trait, which easily produces bullae by minor trauma or sponta neosly. A 1-day old male neonate presented wide spread vesicobullous minor, eruptions since birth. On examination, tense bullse were noted on the dorsa of the feet and right knei: area Which is usually serous but may be hemarrhagic tendeney. This was healed by the dropping of oxoline and wet betadine auze application along with the administration of vitamin E and phenytoin. We present a case of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica that seems be a dominant type considering the presence of family history with histopathologic and electron microscopic findings.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Foot ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Parturition ; Phenytoin ; Povidone-Iodine ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

No abstract available.
Splints* ; Sterilization, Tubal*

BACKGROUND: Intravenous urography(IVU) has long been accepted as the primary radiologic study for the diagnosis of renal colic. But the IVU does pose disks of contrast material reactions and exposure to radiation. Recently, IVU has been challenged as a first line modality and ultrasonography proposed as a replacement. We, therefore, felt obliged to re-evaluate the IVU, KUB and ultrasonography as diagnostic tools. METHODS: We evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound, IVU and KUB in detecting urinary calculi in suspected acute renal colic, a prospective study of 69 patients, both sides of kidney and ureter, who visited urban university hospital emergency center from September 1997 to January 1998. Our sonographic criteria far a positive examination consisted of visualization of urinary tract calculus and/or hydronephrosis and/or urinoma. RESULTS: In Ultrasonography, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were 94, 94 and 94%. In IVU and KUB, they were 90, 81, 98% and 71, 43, 96%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is very useful diagnostic tool in initial evaluation of acute renal colic.
Calculi ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Colic* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography* ; Ureter ; Urinary Calculi ; Urinary Tract ; Urinoma

There are some effective methods for removing layers of skin to improve aging face and dermatologic defects : chemabrasion (chemical peeling), dermabrasion(surgical removal), laserabrasion. Chemabrasion, generally performed with a chemical solution, is most useful for removal of fine facial wrinkles and abnormal pigmentation. The application of chemical caustics, especially TCA (trichloroacetic acid), is known to be an effective and is now commonly practiced to improve the surface of the facial skin that has been blemished by pigmentation, wrinkles, solar damage and certain scars. Trichloroacetic acid is a colorless melting crystal and derivatives of acetic acid which das protein precipitating properties. It has specific odor but there is not systemic toxic effect like a phenol. It has heavy caustic effect on skin and mucosa and cause the coagulation necrosis of the skin and therefore, it must be handled carefully and stored in the proper condition. Especially, moderate to high concentrated TCA solution must be treated by well-trained persons. A 46-year-old woman visited a private clinic for removal of fine wrinkles around the lip. She was refered to our department because of acute upper lip coagulation necrosis which was caused by injection of 35% TCA solution mistaken for lidocaine, which was supposed to be used for anesthesia. At her arrival, cental half of upper lip showed severe coagulation necrosis. The lesion was well discriminated in a few days, then debridement and immediate reconstruction was done using an Abbe flap. Chemical peeling is a relatively effective procedure for improvement of aging skin lesion in a lower cost with a short time operation, if the practitioner has much experience and optimal indication is properly selected. But not so as, side effect and complication may be often ocurred in a mistake and as a result irreversible scars are remained. We experienced a rare case of upper lip necrosis which was caused by TCA injection mistaked for lidocaine in a private clinic and so, We report this case with the results of experiment of rabbit model which was observation of macroscopic and microscopic changes of the abdominal skin of the rabbit injected with serially diluted TCA solution.
Acetic Acid ; Aging ; Anesthesia ; Caustics ; Cicatrix ; Debridement ; Female ; Freezing ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Lip* ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis* ; Odors ; Phenol ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Trichloroacetic Acid

No abstract available.
Osteotomy*

PURPOSE:The natural course of Hashimoto' thyroiditis (HT) is so dynamic that the disease progresses to overt hypothyroid or spontaneous recovery. The authors reviewed the clinical course of this disease and analysed the possible predicting factors regarding remission. METHODS:Thirty nine patients with HT (38 girls and 1 boy) were studied retrospectively. Of these patients, 30 were followed for more than 2 years. The possible remission factors were analyzed at initial diagnosis and during follow-up period. RESULTS:The mean age at the diagnosis was 11.8+/-.1 years. Initial thyroid function was euthyroid in 38.5%, compensated hypothyroid in 35.9%, overt hypothyroid in 23.1%, and hyperthyroid in 2.6% of patients. Antithyroglobulin antibody (ATA) was positive in 94.7%, and antimicrosomal antibody (AMA) was positive in 74.4%. The overall remission rate was 53.3% during the follow-up period (51+/-7 months). Initial goiter size, thyroid function status, and autoantibody titer had no relation to the remission rate statistically. Follow-up autoantibody titers in remission group were marginally lower than those in nonremission group (P<0.1), and follow-up AMA titer was significantly higher than initial titers in nonremission group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We could not find any predictable remission factors from the initial clinical and autoantibody status. But, during follow-up period, patients with lower autoantibody titers showed slight higher remission, and those with increasing AMA titer showed less remission. Above results suggest that we should monitor antithyroid antibody titer as well as thyroid function regularly.
Adolescent* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Goiter ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis*

This survey was conducted from January 1991 to May 1991. Two hundred and eight residents in 4 government supported homes for the aged and hundred and eleven living in the community in Taegu, Korea, were examined to evaluate the depression and the anxiety of the aged with combined anxiety and depression scale (CADS) and somatization symptom check list (SCL). There are no significant differences between residents in the home for the aged and those living in the community on the total scores of CADS and SCL. However, in the case of the total score of CADS of the female subjects in the home for the aged were significantly higher than those of the community residents. The elderly in the home for the aged tended to have pure depression, while community residents were likely to have anxiety and depression. Fifty-two subjects of home for the aged and sixty-nine of the community scored over 50 points of CADS, which indicates considerable depression or anxiety. In psychosocial factors, the subjects who in the following situations had statistically significant higher scores than others. The results were as follow. Poor health, unhappiness, unsatisfaction to the past occupation, pessimistic thought in future view for both group and unsatisfaction of the relationship with familiar people for the elderly in the community. The SCL scores of two groups subgrouped by under 49 and 50 on CADS showed significant differences between each subgroup on all of the SCL items. It could be suggested that somatic symptoms for the aged is a sign of depression.
Aged* ; Anxiety* ; Daegu ; Depression* ; Female ; Homes for the Aged ; Humans ; Korea ; Occupations ; Psychology

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes after open reduction and plate fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures between patients who achieved successful anatomical reduction and those who had a remaining fracture gap even after open reduction and plate fixation, and were thus treated with additional demineralized bone matrix (DBM). METHODS: This retrospective analysis was conducted on 56 consecutive patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation using a locking compression plate for acute displaced midshaft clavicle fractures, and who underwent radiographic and clinical outcome evaluations at least 6 months postoperatively. The outcomes between those who achieved perfect anatomical reduction without remnant gap (n=32) and those who had a remaining fracture gap even after open reduction and plate fixation treated with additional DBM (n=24) were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no differences in the use of lag screws or wiring and operation time (all p>0.05) between those with and without remnant gap. No difference in the average radiological union time and clinical outcomes (satisfaction and Constant score) was observed between the two groups (all p>0.05). However, significantly faster union time was observed for AO type A fracture compared with other types (p=0.012), and traffic accident showed association with worse clinical outcomes compared with other causes of injury. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical outcome of midshaft clavicle fracture was more affected by initial fracture type and event, and re-reduction and re-fixation of the fracture to obtain a perfect anatomical reduction spending time appears to be unnecessary if rigid fixation is achieved.
Accidents, Traffic ; Bone Matrix ; Clavicle* ; Fracture Fixation ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies