BACKGROUND: Emergency Medical Technicians can do emergency care only under the control of the physicians. Emergency medical services system(EMSS) in Korea is now extended from the level of basic life support(BLS) to advanced life support(ALS). Unfortunately we don't have any official medical control system yet. We and regional EMSS, 119 rescue team(BLS), have had monthly joint meeting to validate and improve the prehospital care since August, 1998. METHODS: From August, 1998 to February, 1999, 1,708 patients were transported to Ewha Mokdong Hospital by regional 119 rescue team. Eight hundred and six(47.2%) run record were collected and analyzed. The appropriateness of the prehospital care were evaluated based on the comparison of assessment data and treatment data in each run record. The run record were divided into 5 groups; 1) necessary-adequate, 2) necessary-inadequate, 3) necessary-undo, 4) unnecessary-done, and 5) unnecessary-undo. 1) and 5) were judged as acceptable, and 2), 3), and 4) as unacceptable. RESULTS: Among 806 transported patients, 60.8% required one or more emergency care. 21.0% of required care were not provided, and 20.7% of provided care were not adequate. 78.8% of unprovided and 75.9% of inadequate care were 'airway and oxygen supply'. Overall unacceptable rate was decreased from 31.7% to 17.0% during first 5 months, but it rose up again to 24.7% after 2 months. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) was performed in 29 prehospital cardiac arrest victims and admitted to ICU in 5 cases. CPR was not provided in 8 necessary situations, and unnecessary CPR was done in 3 cases. CONCLUSION: EMSS in Korea also need a kind of medical control system, even for BLS level. Major portion of the quality assurance program could be 'airway and oxygen supply', but attention should be focused in cardiac arrest victims and CPR. Record keeping and reliance of run record data are now pending problems. Fire department should develop a formal medical control system and the referring hospital should have an organization for maintaining the quality of prehospital care.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Fires ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Oxygen ; Retrospective Studies*

The Dichloromethane(methylene chloride) is a highly volatile liquid used as a solvent, extraction medium, and paint remover. The most significant route of intoxication to dichloromethane is generally inhalation at work site or home, but ingestion is rare. The main toxicological harvard insults from in vivo conversion of dichloromethane to carbon monoxide. We present a case of dichloromethane intoxication following ingestion. A 71 years old male patient ingested 60-70cc of dichloromethane was brought to emergency department after stomach washout via nasogastric tube at other hospital. On arrival at emergency department(approximately 19 hours after ingestion), he was stuporous with a blood pressure 140/90mmHg, heart rate of 92 beats/min, dyspneic, respiratory rate of 24/min and body temperature 36.8 degrees C. His Pupils were isocoric, miotic, and sluggishly reactive. There were mucosal bums and significant secretion in oral cavity. On auscultation, breathing sound was coarse without role on both lung field. The COHb levels were 6.3%at 32 hours after ingestion and normalized to 0.6%at 44 hours after ingestion. Patient was transfered to intensive care unit and supportive care was started with 100% oxygen. On ingestion 4th day, chest X-ray showed pulmonary edema and acute respiratory distress syndrome developed. Patient regained the consciousness on the 11th day. On the 30th day, respiratory function improved and the ventilator was removed. Alveolitis and mild pulmonary fibrosis developed and mild dyspnea was continued. On the 36th day, gastroscopic examinations showed ulceration of esophagus and stomach. On the 76th day, patient was discharged after pulmonary rehabilitation.
Aged ; Auscultation ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Carbon Monoxide ; Consciousness ; Dyspnea ; Eating* ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Esophagus ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Male ; Methylene Chloride* ; Mouth ; Oxygen ; Paint ; Pulmonary Edema ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Pupil ; Rehabilitation ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Respiratory Rate ; Respiratory Sounds ; Stomach ; Stupor ; Thorax ; Ulcer ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Workplace

The present study was to evaluate the protective effects of bromocriptine, which is known as D2 dopamine receptor agonist and used for the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde; MDA) produced by the administration of 6-OHDA was profoundly reduced following the treatment of bromocriptine in a dose-dependent manner in rabbit brain homogenate. Quinone formation by 6-OHDA autoxidation was also attenuated, and its effect was as potent as other antioxidants. Pretreatment of bromocriptine reduced the cytotoxicity of 6-OHDA on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines dose-dependently. The loss of striatal dopamine and its metabolite, DOPAC (dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) as well as increase of MDA production caused by intrastriatal injection of 6-OHDA was significantly recovered following the treatment of bromocriptine. The present study clearly showed that bromocriptine had a protective action against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity. These results suggest that bromocriptine has the antioxidant properties, which could be another advantage for delaying the progress of Parkinson's disease.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid ; Antioxidants ; Brain ; Bromocriptine* ; Cell Line ; Dopamine ; Dopamine Agonists ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Neuroblastoma ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease

Congenital fibrous bands may be found at the gluteus maximus, the gluteus medius,thequadriceqs,the triceps and the deltoideus muscles. Congenital fibrous bands of both gluteus maximus muscles are rare and cause extension contracture of the hip joints. We experienced a case of congenital fibrous bands of both gluteus maximus muscles associated with severe limited flexion of both hips. Almost full flexion of both hips was obtained by excision of the congenital fibrous bands.
Contracture ; Hip Joint ; Hip ; Muscles

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences of readiness for interporfessional learning before and after applying a simulation-based interprofessional education (sim-IPE) program among medical and nursing students. Methods: This study used one-group pretest-posttest design. A sim-IPE program was implemented for 94 medical and 41 nursing students during half a day. The program was consisted of team building games, simulation, board games, and case discussion. The readiness for interprofessional learning scale (RIPLS) which is a 5-point Likert type and has four domains was used to assess students’ perceptions pre- and post-IPE program. Also, students were requested to write three words that immediately came to mind when they saw a word of ‘teamwork’. Data were analyzed by frequency, mean and standard deviation, paired t-test, and Cronbach’s alpha. Results: A total scores of RIPLS significantly increased from 78.3 to 86.7 points after implementing a simulation-based IPE program (t=-14.80, p<.001). Among the most submitted words by students, a ranking of ‘communication’ has risen from fifth pre-IPE to second post-IPE. Conclusions Based on the results form our study, a simulation-based IPE program provides a very valuable educational opportunity for students to increase positive attitude to interprofessional learning. A variety of IPE programs should be developed and incorporated in all healthcare professional curriculums.

PURPOSE: Till now, various circumstances have generated mass casualties. Thus, the government is now concerned about providing a social safety system against disasters. Most of accidents involving mass casualties have broken out in public places like department stores, bridges, and train depots, but there are few little medical reports on accidents in subway station. So the author investigated the types of traumas experienced in cases of mass casualties at subway stations and to searched for ways to prevent injury. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients, who presented at the Emergency Department with traumas incurred at subway stations, except for those who had definite medical diseases, were enrolled in this study, and the medical records of those patients were reviewed retrospectively. The age, gender, mechanism of injury, and other characteristics were collected for analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant relationship between the incidence of trauma and age. In general, most of the accidents occurred on platforms and on escalators. However the older patients were more likely to be injured on escalators rather than on platforms. The opposite was true for younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: In subway stations, platforms and escalators are weak points for trauma. Elderly people are injured much more often on escalators and young people on platforms. Thus age is a serious factor when planning an injury prevention and control system for subway stations.
Aged ; Disasters ; Elevators and Escalators ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Casualty Incidents ; Medical Records ; Railroads* ; Retrospective Studies

Higenamine was isolated originally from Aconiti tuber from Aconitum species and recently Higenamine was synthesized. The purpose of this study is to investigate the adrenergic effect of Higenamine on rabbit cardiovascular system. Blood pressure, cardic output, systemic vascular resistance and heart rate were measured after intravenous injection of Higenamine(2-100microg/kg/min). The effects of Higenamine were compared with those of other sympathomimetic drugs. The changes in the cardiovascular systems after pretreatment with Propranolol, Atenolol and Hexamethonium were also studied. The following results were obtained. 1) Higenamine increased the cardic output and the heart rate and decreased the blood pressure and the systemic vascular resistance. Those changes were dose-dependent. The duration of action of Higenamine was 5 to 8 minutes. 2) The effects of Higenamine were similar to those of Isoproterenol. The amount of Higenamine was more than 100 times the required amount of Isoproterenol in order to obtain the same casdiovascular effects. 3) The effects of Higenamine were blocked by Propranolol, The increase of cardic output and heart rate were blocked by Hexamethonium. Higenamine has stimulating action on beta1 and beta2 receptors. But Higenamine is much less potent than Isoproterenol.
Aconitum ; Adrenergic Agents* ; Atenolol ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System* ; Heart Rate ; Hexamethonium ; Injections, Intravenous ; Isoproterenol ; Propranolol ; Sympathomimetics ; Vascular Resistance

No abstract available.
Animals ; Astrocytes* ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-2* ; Interleukin-6* ; Melanoma* ; Mice* ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

Primary tumors of the heart are rare, three quarter of the tumors are benign, and nearly half of the benign heart tumors are myxomas. Cardiac myxoma usually originate in the left atrium about 75 percent, however, only 3 to 4 percent of myxoma are detected in the left ventricle. We report on a 32 years old woman with left ventricular myxoma who presented with shortness of breath, chest tightness, and general weakness. Acute pulmonary embolism and left ventricular myxoma were found on a perfusion lung scan and echocadiogram. A mass located on septal wall of left ventricle was excised en bloc. The patient recovered uneventfully and careful follow up has be performed periodically.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Lung ; Myxoma* ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The severity of several chronic inflammatory diseases was reported to be associated with polymorphism of the IL-1 receptor antagonist gene(IL-lrn). OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to study the polymorphism of the IL-1rn in vitiligo and in the normal Korean population. METHODS: Thirty one cases of vitiligo and seventy nine normal Koreans as control were studied for the polymorphism of IL-1 rn. RESULTS: The frequency of allele 2 of the IL- I rn in 31 patients with vitiligo was compared with that of the 79 healthy controls. The frequency of allele 2 was 1.6% in vitiligo patients and 3.8% in the normal controls. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the frequency of allele 2 between the vitiligo patients and normal controls.
Alleles ; Humans ; Interleukin-1* ; Vitiligo*