In this article, the sixth author's affiliation was misprinted unintentionally.

PURPOSE: Nutrition status is an important factor for perioperative morbidity in cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the malnutrition risk, determined by Seoul National University Hospital-nutrition screening index (SNUH-NSI), on operative morbidity after colorectal surgery for cancer.METHODS: This study enrolled 2,462 patients who had undergone colectomy for initially diagnosed colorectal cancer at Seoul National University Hospital from January 2011 to December 2014. We collected general patient information, SNUH-NSI and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) at administration and related parameters (serum albumin, cholesterol, total lymphocyte counts, hemoglobin and body mass index), operative method, hospital stay and operative morbidity.RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 62.12 years, and 423 patients (17.18%) were rated as severe malnutrition risk. Patients with high risk of malnutrition by SNUH-NSI or PNI, men, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, palliative operation, and higher stage showed higher operative morbidity (P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, significant independent risk factors for operative morbidity were severe malnutrition by SNUH-NSI (odds ratio [OR], 1.868; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.429–2.442; P < 0.001) or PNI (OR, 1.596; 95% CI, 1.258–2.025; P < 0.001), men (OR, 1.483; 95% CI, 1.174–1.876; P=0.001), or high ASA class (OR, 1.782; 95% CI, 1.136–2.795; P=0.012).CONCLUSION: Overall nutritional status, rather than single data, shows significant association with postoperative morbidity in patients who underwent colectomy. Especially severe malnutrition determined by SNUH-NSI, is an independent risk factor for perioperative morbidity. Nutritional support to severely malnourished patient by SNUH-NSI is expected to be effective in preventing complications after colectomy of colorectal carcinoma patients.
Cholesterol ; Colectomy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Colorectal Surgery ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Risk Factors ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and prognostic value of overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in patients with septic shock presenting to emergency departments (EDs) is poorly understood, particularly following the release of a new definition of septic shock. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and prognostic value of DIC in septic shock. METHODS: We performed retrospective review of 391 consecutive patients with septic shock admitting to the ED of tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital during a 16-month. Septic shock was defined as fluid-unresponsive hypotension requiring vasopressor to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 65 mmHg or greater, and serum lactate level ≥ 2 mmol/L. Overt DIC was defined as an International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) score ≥ 5 points. The primary endpoint was 28-day mortality. RESULTS: Of 391 patients with septic shock, 290 were included in the present study. The mean age was 65.6 years, the 28-day mortality rate was 26.9%, and the prevalence of overt DIC was 17.6% (n = 51) according to the ISTH score. The median DIC score was higher in non-survivors than in survivors (5.0 vs. 2.0, p = 0.001). Significant higher risk of mortality was observed in overt DIC patients compared to those without (28.2% vs. 13.7%, p = 0.005). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified DIC to be independently associated with 28-day mortality (odds ratio, 2.689 [95% confidence interval, 1.390-5.201]). CONCLUSIONS: Using the ISTH criteria of DIC, overt DIC in septic shock was found to be common among patients admitting to the ED and to be associated with higher mortality when it is accompanied with septic shock. Efforts are required to identify presence of overt DIC during the initial treatment of septic shock in patients presenting the the ED.
Arterial Pressure ; Consensus* ; Dacarbazine ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Lactic Acid ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Prevalence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock, Septic* ; Survivors ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVES: A growing body of literature has documented that job stress is associated with the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). However, the association of WMSDs with job stress has not yet been fully studied in Korean male firefighters. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of WMSDs in almost all Korean male firefighters and to clarify the effect of job stress on the occurrence of WMSDs. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional, and 21,466 firefighters were recruited. The study design included a structured questionnaire to assess general characteristics, the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (optional KOSS-26), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), and WMSDs. The chi-square test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to look for a correlation between general characteristics and job stress, and the occurrence of WMSD. RESULTS: Back pain is the most common WMSD. Among the job stress subgroup, physical environment, job demands, organizational system, occupational climate, lack of reward and job insecurity were related to the occurrence of WMSDs. However, insufficient job control and interpersonal conflict were not related to the occurrence of WMSDs. CONCLUSION: Job stress was related to the occurrence of WMSDs in Korean male firefighters. To reduce the occurrence of WMSDs, a job stress management program may be required.
Back Pain ; Climate ; Firefighters* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male* ; Reward ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We report two cases of toxic methemoglobinemia caused by an inert ingredient in pesticide product after intentional ingestion of pesticide. First, 51-year-old male visited to the emergency department (ED) after the ingestion of pesticide in a suicide attempt. Initial methemoglobin (MetHb) level was 25.6%. We did not know the cause of methemoglobinemia at that time. Second, 56-year-old female visited to the ED after the ingestion of the same pesticide in a suicide attempt. MetHb level after 30 minutes was 16.1%. The patients were treated with methylene blue. We contacted to the Korean Rural Development Administration and estimated that magnesium nitrate was more likely to cause methemoglobinemia. This report highlights the importance of considering the possibility of methemoglobinemia caused by inert ingredient in pesticide and early antidotal therapy.
Eating* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Magnesium ; Male ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia* ; Methylene Blue ; Middle Aged ; Pesticides ; Social Planning ; Suicide

Epileptic seizure is a frequent sign of mitochondrial encephalopathies with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). We report a 21-year-old woman with MELAS who had alternating hemispheric seizures. Her brain MRI showed migratory short lasting lesions. Serial EEG recordings revealed epileptiform discharges, which occurred first on the right frontotemporal region but then switched to the left frontotemporal region concordant to her clinical and MRI manifestations. Migratory short lasting lesions may be helpful features for differentiating MELAS syndrome from other epileptic syndromes.
Acidosis, Lactic ; Brain* ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; MELAS Syndrome* ; Seizures* ; Young Adult

Aconitine is an anti-inflammatory agent with therapeutic uses in oriental medicine as an analgesic and for treatment of stroke. Because of its sodium channel effect, aconitine can promote undesirable, wide complex tachyarrhythmia. If tachycardia develops during use of aconitine, class Ia and class III anti arrhythmic drugs can be utilized for treatment. However there are no single anti-arrhythmia agents which are uniformly effective. We report a case, characterized by wide complex tachyarrhythmia and severe hypotension, which was successfully treated by simultaneous injections of amiodarone and lidocaine. A 59-year-old woman exhibiting clinical signs of drowsiness as a result of ingesting 6 g of aconitine, was admitted to the emergency department. Initially, wide complex tachyarrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia and pulse rate of 180 beats/min) and severe hypotension (blood pressure of 53/26 mmHg) was observed. After simultaneous injection of amiodarone and lidocaine, the patient's rhythm pattern changed to an accelerated junctional rhythm with ventricular premature complex. Two hours later, the patient's heart pattern became a sinus rhythm. As demonstrated by this case, simultaneous injections of amiodarone and lidocaine can be useful in treating ventricular arrhythmia induced by aconitine.
Aconitine ; Amiodarone ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Emergencies ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Lidocaine ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Stages ; Sodium Channels ; Stroke ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Therapeutic Uses ; Ventricular Premature Complexes

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Esophageal perforation is a rare but often a life-threatening condition. However, the incidence and clinical features of esophageal perforation caused by ingested foreign body are unknown. This study investigated the incidence of esophageal perforation caused by ingested foreign body and evaluated the clinical features and outcome of patients with esophageal perforation. METHODS: Among a total of 196 adult patients with confirmed esophageal foreign body and complained of at least one of the related symptoms at the emergency department between January 2000 and July 2008, 18 patients with esophageal perforation due to esophageal foreign body ingestion were included in the study. Data were collected by retrospectively reviewing the electric medical records. RESULTS: The incidence of esophageal foreign body and esophageal perforation in adults was 19.4% (196/1,009) and 1.8% (18/1,009), respectively. Chest pain was the most common symptom and fishbone was the most common foreign body causing esophageal perforation. Mediastinitis or mediastinal abscess occurred in 13 patients (13/18, 72.2%). About half (8/18) of the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit but there was no in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of esophageal perforation in patients with foreign body ingestion was low but it increased up to 9.2% in patients with esophageal foreign body. However, prognosis was favorable with timely proper treatment. Chest pain can be an ominous sign indicating the presence of esophageal perforation in patients with esophageal foreign body.
Aged ; Chest Pain/etiology ; Emergency Medical Services ; Esophageal Perforation/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Foreign Bodies/*complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of functional MR imaging(fMRI) for determination of language dominance compared with Wada test and to assess the lateralization of activated signals according to stimulation task of activated area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Functional maps were obtained during word generation task and reading task in twenty patients(16 epilepsy, 4tumor; 17 right-handed, 1 left-handed, 2 ambidextrous). MR examinations were performed at 1.5T scanner with EPI BOLD technique during word generation and word reading tasks. We used SPM program for the postprocessing of image. The threshold for significance was set at p<0.0001 or p<0.001. A lateralization index(LI) was calculated from the number of activated pixels in three hemispheric areas(whole hemisphere, frontal lobe, and temporoparietal lobe. The LIs of fMRI and Wada test were compared according to stimulation task and area for calculation of LI. RESULTS: During the Wada test, sixteen patients had the left language dominance and four patients had right dominance. The language dominance determined by LI of fMRI in each hemisphere was concordant with the result of Wada in 19(95%) by word generation task and in 15(75%) by reading task. At word generation task, the concordance rate was higher with LI calculated on whole hemisphere than that on frontal(80%) or temporoparietal lobe(90%). Correlation between the LIs of Wada and fMRI was significant(r=0.74) CONCLUSION: In fMRI word generation task produced stronger activation of language areas and showed more accurate lateralization reading task. The concordance rate of and Wada test was higher with LI calculated on whole hemisphere than on frontal or temporoparietal lobe.
Brain ; Epilepsy ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

PURPOSE: This study prospectively investigated the effects of biofeedback therapy on objective anorectal function and subjective bowel function in patients after sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer. METHODS: Sixteen patients who underwent an ileostomy were randomized into two groups, one receiving conservative management with the Kegel maneuver and the other receiving active biofeedback before ileostomy closure. Among them, 12 patients (mean age, 57.5 years; range, 38 to 69 years; 6 patients in each group) completed the study. Conservative management included lifestyle modifications, Kegel exercises, and medication. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after ileostomy closure by using anal manometry, modified Wexner Incontinence Scores (WISs), and fecal incontinence quality of life (FI-QoL) scores. RESULTS: Before the ileostomy closure, the groups did not differ in baseline clinical characteristics or resting manometric parameters. After 12 months of follow-up, the biofeedback group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the mean maximum squeezing pressure (from 146.3 to 178.9, P = 0.002). However, no beneficial effect on the WIS was noted for biofeedback compared to conservative management alone. Overall, the FI-QoL scores were increased significantly in both groups after ileostomy closure (P = 0.006), but did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although the biofeedback therapy group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the maximum squeezing pressure, significant improvements in the WISs and the FI-QoL scores over time were noted in both groups. The study was terminated early because no therapeutic benefit of biofeedback had been demonstrated.
Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Exercise ; Fecal Incontinence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ileostomy* ; Life Style ; Manometry ; Pilot Projects* ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Rectal Neoplasms*