Hemophilia is a serious rare disease that requires continuous management and treatment for which the medicine is costly at the annual average of 100 million KRW for an individual. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in the utilization of coagulation factor (CF) used for hemophilia treatment using the National Health Insurance database from 2010 to 2013 in Korea and compare the utilization of CF with other countries. The consumption of CF per capita (IU) in Korea was not more than other countries with similar income to Korea. However, CF usage per patient IU was higher because the prevalence rate of hemophilia in Korea was lower than in other countries while the number of serious patients was much more. Therefore, it is difficult to say that the consumption of hemophilia medicine in Korea is higher than that in other countries. The consumption and cost of hemophilia medicine in Korea is likely to increase due to the increased utilization of expensive bypassing agents and the widespread use of prophylaxis for severe hemophilia. Even during the research period, it increased slightly and other countries show a similar trend. Thus, hemophilia patient management should accompany active monitoring on the health and cost outcomes of pharmaceutical treatment in the future. This study is expected to contribute to further insight into drug policies for other countries that face similar challenges with high price pharmaceuticals.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Coagulation Disorders, Inherited/*drug therapy/*economics/pathology ; Blood Coagulation Factors/*therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; National Health Programs/statistics & numerical data ; Republic of Korea ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was designed to explore the perceptions of quality nursing care among nurses. METHOD: The data were analyzed using content analysis. The data were collected from 19 nurses who worked at diverse clinical areas in 8 general and university hospitals with over 400 beds. RESULT: 1. The attributes of quality nursing care were categorized into 7 hierarchies in the order of 'caring' (40.65%), 'specialty' (29.03%), 'nurse attainments' (15.48%), 'patient- centered nursing management' (6.45%), 'sincerity' (5.16%), 'kindness' (2.58%), 'satisfaction' (0.65%). 2. The concept of quality nursing care were defined as 'giving a satisfaction both to patients and nurses through patient-centered nursing management with specialty and caring in the ground of the kindness and sincerity'. CONCLUSION: Based on there findings, we suggest that the study results should be used for development of a quality assurance tool in nursing practice, patient care in hospital setting, education of nurses and nursing students. In addition, further repeated studies need to be conducted.
Education ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Nursing Care* ; Nursing* ; Patient Care ; Patient-Centered Care ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of the functional MRI (fMRI) using motor and sensory stimuli in patients with brain tumors or focal cerebral lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved five patients with brain tumors (n=2) or cerebral lesions [cysticercosis (n=1), arteriovenous malformation (n=1), focal infarction (n=1)] and seven normal controls. For MR examinations a 1.5T scanner was used, and during motor or sensory stimulation, the EPI BOLD technique was employed. For image postprocessing an SPM program was utilized. RESULTS: In volunteers, contralateral sensori-motor cortices were activated by both motor and sensory stimuli, while supplementary motor cortices were activated by motor stimuli and other sensory cortices by sensory stimuli. Preoperative evaluation of the relationship between lesions and important sensory and motor areas was possible, and subsequent surgery was thus successful, involving no severe complications. Activation of ipsilateral or other areas occurred in patients with destruction of a major sensory and/or motor area, suggesting compensatory reorganization. CONCLUSION: fMRI could be a useful supportive method for determining the best approach to surgery treatment in patients with brain tumors or focal cerebral lesions.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Volunteers

To find out the predictors of nocturnal arterial oxygen desaturation in patients with respiratory diseases, transcutaneous oxygen saturation(StcO2) monitoring studies using a pulse oximeter were performed during sleep in 20 patients. StcO2 was decreased more than 4% from the baseline value in 18 patients(90%) and more than 10%('Desaturator') in 8(40%). Five of the seven patients(71.4%) with awake PaO2<60mmHg and three of the thirteen patients(23.1%) with awake PaO2≥60mmHg were 'desaturators'. The awake PaO2/FIO2 and PaO2/PAO2 could distinguish 'desaturator' from 'nondesaturator, and PaO2, SaO2 or StcO2 could not. These results suggest that the nocturnal oxygen desaturation depends on the severity of the underlying disease rather than the baseline PaO2. Anthropomorphic and lung function factors could not separate between 'desaturator' and 'non-desaturator', and about a quarter of patients with a wake PaO2≥60mmHg developed significant desaturation. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation in patients with respiratory diseases regardless of their severity of airflow obstruction or awake PaO2.
Humans ; Lung ; Oxygen*

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon does not occur with common hemangioma, rather it is associated with the more aggressive Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and rarely with other vascular neoplasm. We report the case of an adult who was diagnosed as Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma complicated by Kasabach-Memtt phenomenon. This is the first report in Korea of an adult with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon who has osteolytic changes of femur, pelvic bone, and lumbar spine.
Adult* ; Femur ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome ; Korea ; Pelvic Bones ; Spine ; Vascular Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Dyspnea* ; Humans

The main objectives of this study were to analyze the concept of hope, so to provide basic data to develop a valid instrument to measure hope, and to develop hope enhancing nursing intervention a program for cancer patients. The hybrid model approach was applied in three phases, the theoretical phase, the empirical phase, and the analytic phase. The study was developed on universal attributes explaining generalized hope and specific hope, which were revealed in a comprehensive review of the literature. In the empirical phase, eight cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were interviewed to reveal causes, motivation, and their resource of hope according to The Hope Assessment Guide (Farren, Herth, & Popovich, 1995). In the analytical phase, the results of the two previous stages of the study were compared. The results were as follows: In the theoretical phase, six dimensions of hope emerged; affective, cognitive, behavioral, affiliative, temporal and contextual dimension. The antecedent of hope was loss, crisis, uncertainity, and stress. The consequences were renewal, development of new methods, safety, peace and transcendental competence. In the empirical phase, these six dimensions emerged as theoretical phases were verified and specified as these descriptive terms: feeling, intention, expectation, activity, relation, future- orientation, reality and goal-setting. The antecedent factor of hope was occurrence or recurrence of cancer. The consequence of hope was ability to cope with real condition, feeling of safety and comfort, peace, development of new strategy and recovery of disease. The major content of hope in this phase was related to specific hope, but it was also influenced on by general hope. In the analytic phase, general and specific hope was renamed as trait and state hope. All attributes emerged at the empirical phases, and also emerged at the theoretical phase. However, cognitive and contextual dimensions were revised and specified. In conclusion, the concept of hope is divided into trait hope and state hope, and state hope is an anticipatory expectation that occurs at the time of a stressful stimulus, such as being diagnosed with cancer. Hope is a multidimensional dynamic energized mental state which has the dimensions of affective, cognitive, behavioral, affiliative, temporal and contextual. There should be further studies to develope the state and trait hope scale according to definition and attributes of hope investigated in this study. In addition, considering results of the empirical phase, the family is very a important factor as a resource of hope, so it is necessary to consider family in implementing a nursing intervention program to enhance hope.
Drug Therapy* ; Hope* ; Humans ; Intention ; Mental Competency ; Motivation ; Nursing ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Needles*

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the bacterial pathogens of Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a tertiary referral hospital. METHODS: A total of 109 bacterial pathogens from 91 adult patients with VAP, who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit from January 2008 to December 2009, were examined. Clinical characteristics, bacterial pathogens, and resistance profiles were analyzed. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus (44%) was the most frequently isolated. Acinetobacter baumanii (30%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (6%), and Serratia marcescens (2%) were isolated from the transtracheal aspirates or bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with VAP. There was no significant difference of bacterial pathogens between early and late onset VAP. All isolated S. aureus were methicillin resistant S. aureus; the imipenem resistance rate of A. baumanii was 69%. CONCLUSION: The two most frequent pathogens of VAP were S. aureus and A. baumanii. There were no pathogenic differences between early and late onset VAP.
Acinetobacter ; Adult ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Intensive Care Units ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Methicillin Resistance ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Referral and Consultation ; Serratia marcescens ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the bacterial pathogens of Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a tertiary referral hospital. METHODS: A total of 109 bacterial pathogens from 91 adult patients with VAP, who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit from January 2008 to December 2009, were examined. Clinical characteristics, bacterial pathogens, and resistance profiles were analyzed. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus (44%) was the most frequently isolated. Acinetobacter baumanii (30%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (6%), and Serratia marcescens (2%) were isolated from the transtracheal aspirates or bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with VAP. There was no significant difference of bacterial pathogens between early and late onset VAP. All isolated S. aureus were methicillin resistant S. aureus; the imipenem resistance rate of A. baumanii was 69%. CONCLUSION: The two most frequent pathogens of VAP were S. aureus and A. baumanii. There were no pathogenic differences between early and late onset VAP.
Acinetobacter ; Adult ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Intensive Care Units ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Methicillin Resistance ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Referral and Consultation ; Serratia marcescens ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Ventilators, Mechanical