BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the effects of a multifaceted needlestick injury (NSI) prevention program on changes in knowledge about bloodborne infectious diseases and postexposure coping, attitudes toward postexposure reporting, preventive measures, the number of NSIs, and postexposure reporting pre- and post-intervention among nurses. METHODS: A total of 429 and 420 nurses participated in the pre- and post-intervention periods, respectively. The intervention was performed from April to September 2007, comprising NSI guideline education, the use of containers with enhanced engineering, and the supply of safety devices. RESULTS: The average score of knowledge about bloodborne infectious diseases increased significantly from 8.3 to 8.9 out of 14 points (P<0.001), but the change in score of knowledge about postexposure coping was insignificant. The average score of attitude toward postexposure reporting increased significantly from 8.9 to 9.6 out of 12 points (P<0.001). Preventive measures such as "gloves are provided whenever needed" (P<0.001), "use one-hand technique" (P<0.001), and "needle containers are provided whenever needed" (P=0.031) increased significantly. The number of NSIs decreased by 40.4%, and the postexposure reporting rate increased by 552.8%. CONCLUSION: The multifaceted NSI prevention program positively affected knowledge about infectious diseases and postexposure coping, attitudes toward postexposure reporting, preventive measures, the number of NSIs, and postexposure reporting after intervention. Therefore, we recommend that this program be applied to various healthcare workers in hospitals.
Communicable Diseases ; Delivery of Health Care ; Incidence ; Needlestick Injuries ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

No abstract available.

To know the effect of subconjunctival injection of liposome encapsulated cytarabine on proliferation of conjunctival fibroblasts, the conjunctiva was isolated at 180 degrees from the injection site 3 days after subconjunctival injection of the normal saline (control), cytarabine, liposome encapsulated cytarabine, and 1 day after injection of cytarabine, and then those were inoculated in the culture media of fibroblasts. In the case of 3 days after injection of cytarabine, there was 49% and 42% inhibition of proliferation of conjunctival fibroblasts compared with the control respectively. Therefore, the authors concluded that the liposome encapsulated cytarabine is effective on inhibition of proliferation of conjunctival fibroblasts and reduces the frequencies of subconjunctival injection compared with the cytarabine itself.
Conjunctiva ; Culture Media ; Cytarabine* ; Fibroblasts* ; Liposomes*

Concurrent use of instrumentation has been shown to increase fusion rates and satisfactory results for surgical treatment of the lumbar stenosis. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate clinically and radiologically two groups of lumbar stenosis who were surgically treated with pedicular screw fixation system and posterior lumbar interbody or posterolateral autogenous bone graft following complete posterior decompression. One group was degenerative type and the other group was spondylolisthetic type spinal stenosis. We analyzed the results of 39 cases of lumbar stenosis who underwent pedicular screw and rod fixation system and posterior lumbar interbody or posterolateral autogenous iliac bone fusion following complete posterior decompressive operation during the period from May 1988 to December 1992. There were 27cases of degenerative type and 12 cases of spondylolisthetic type lumbar stenosis. The were 25 women and 14 men. Their age was ranged 20 to 76 years old with an average of 51.7 years old. The follow up period was the interval from 18 months to 6 years with an average of 3.2 years. The radiologic union rate was average 94.9% and 96.3%(26cases) in degenerative spinal stenosis and 91.7%(11 cases) in spondylolisthetic spinal stenosis. The clinical success rate was average 92.3%(36 cases), 88.9%(24 cases) in degenerative spinal stenosis and 100%(12 cases) in spondylolisthetic spinal stenosis. The patients with spondylolytic spinal stenosis showed better result in their life than the patient with degenerative spinal stenosis.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Pedicle Screws ; Spinal Stenosis ; Transplants

A complete fracture dislocation at the cervicothoracic junction is rare and accompanied by severe spinal cord injury. This region is difficult to image with plain radiography, and to immobilize with external orthosis due to the biomechanical forces exerted in this transitional portion of the spinal column. We experienced a rare case in 52-year-old male victim of a car accident. He sustained paraplegia, and complained of dyspnea and neck pain of 10 days duration at another hospital. The delayed clinical rediagnosis was a C6 and 7 spinous process fracture and a cervicothoracic fracture dislocation, with complete transection of spinal cord, which was based on a clinical examination, simple radiography, CT and MRI. Skeletal traction was immediately applied, followed by a posterior pedicle screw to stabilize the spine and secure the grafts. Rehabilitation was initiated and the dysphagia and dyspnea, due to aspiration pneumonia, were improved, but no neurologic recovery was made after the 1st postoperative year.
Deglutition Disorders ; Dislocations ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Pain ; Orthotic Devices ; Paraplegia ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Radiography ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spine ; Traction ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Phototherapy ; Psoriasis

Dentocutaneous fistula of the face neck is an infrequent manifestation of chronic dental infection. A periapical dental abscess may be initiated by disease, trauma, or thermal or chemical injury and develops into an extensive necrosis of surrounding tissue. Diagnostic errors can result in multiple excision, biopsies, and ineffective long-term antibiotic therapy. Awarness that periapical dental abscess is the most common etilolgic factor of cutaneous sinus tracts involves the face & neck will facilitate their early diagnosis and prevent needless treatment or anxiety for the patient. From 1994 to 1998, we have performed 6 cases of dentocutaneous fistula. Among of them, three were men and the others were women, age ranged from 18 to 66-year-old, and morbidity period was from 3 weeks to 3 years, the follow-up period ranged from 5 to 18 months (mean period 11 months). In conclusion, an understanding of the pathogenesis of cutaneous fistulae arising from dental infections will lead to proper early diagnosis and treatment without unnecessary surgery.
Abscess ; Aged ; Anxiety ; Biopsy ; Cutaneous Fistula ; Diagnostic Errors ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Unnecessary Procedures

Malposition of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) venous cannula in the azygos vein is not frequently reported. We hereby present such a case, which occurred in a neonate with right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Despite ECMO application, neither adequate flow nor sufficient oxygenation was achieved. On the cross-table lateral chest radiograph, the cannula tip was identified posterior to the heart silhouette, which implied malposition of the cannula in the azygos vein. After repositioning the cannula, the target flow and oxygenation were successfully achieved. When sufficient venous flow is not achieved, as in our case, clinicians should be alerted so they can identify the cannula tip location on lateral chest radiograph and confirm whether malposition in the azygos vein is the cause of the ineffective ECMO.
Azygos Vein* ; Catheters* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart ; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Oxygen ; Radiography, Thoracic

STUDY DESIGN: We report two cases of symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) associated with long-term use of steroid medication OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Spinal epidural lipomatosis is a condition in which excess adipose tissue is deposited circumferentially about the spinal cord in the epidural space. It can present neurologic symptoms including back pain, radiculopathy or cauda equina. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most helpful dignostic means and should be used initially if suspected. Treatment is decompressive laminectomy and debulking of fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two cases of lumbar epidural lipomatosis with neurologic symptoms were discussed and evaluated by physical examination, postmyelography CT and MRI. RESULTS: Two cases were treated with decompressive laminectomy and debulking of fat. Increased accumulation of the fatty tissue was seen predominently in posterior and posterolateral epidural space of the spinal canal, displacing and compressing the lumbar spinal cord anteriorly. Both gross and histologic evaluation revealed overgrowth of unencapsulated normal appearing fat consistent with spinal epidural lipomatosis. One case was demonstrated gradual improvement in symtoms after operation but the other was died due to medical problems. CONCLUSION: The authors reviewed the literature and reported the results of operative treatment of patients with lumbago, radicular pain and intermitent claudication caused by epidural lipomatosis of lumbar spine and degenerative spinal stenosis.
Adipose Tissue ; Back Pain ; Cauda Equina ; Diagnosis ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lipomatosis* ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Physical Examination ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of problems for the management of horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HSC-BPPV) is the difficulty of determining the affected ear using Ewald's second law. The purpose of this study is to develop the new "Bow and Lean Test (BLT)" to determine easily the affected ear of HSC-BPPV and evaluate its efficiency. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We compared the efficiency between the classical method and BLT in 26 patients with HSC-BPPV. The classical method is based on Ewald??s second law comparing the intensity of nystagmus or symptoms in head roll test. BLT is based on the direction of both "bowing nystagmus" and "leaning nystagmus" at head's bowing and leaning state on sitting position. The affected ear is the same direction of bowing nystagmus in canalolithiasis and the same direction of leaning nystagmus in cupulolithiasis. RESULTS: In 26 patents (15 canalolithiasis, 11 cupulolithiasis), 3 (11.5%) patients did not show a prominent affected ear in the classical method, and 7 (26.9%) patients showed the different affected ear between two methods. All 10 patients were successfully treated with just one trial of barbecue rotation based on the affected ear in BLT. Three patients did not show any bowing or leaning nystagmus. The side with canal paresis in all 4 patients, who showed significant canal paresis in bithermal caloric tests, was equal to the affected ear based on BLT. CONCLUSION: "Bow and Lean Test" (also called "Choung's test") is a new method which can easily determine the affected ear of HC-BPPV.
Caloric Tests ; Ear ; Head ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Paresis ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo*