It is well recognized that case management is required to survive in the rapidly changing medical environment. One of the case management is the critical pathway(CP) which is assumed to increase the quality of care and at the same time to decrease the length of stay in hospital. The purpose of the study was to develop a CP for the management of patients with postero-lateral fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis. Through review of literature and medical records of patients with spinal stenosis, a pilot CP was designed, including 8 different care components such as medication, laboratory tests, assessment etc., from one day before surgery to 6 days of postoperative care. Every item of the pilot CP was evaluated by a panel of experts to test the content validity. The items not agreed on by more than 4 out of 6 experts were deleted or modified to be integrated in the CP. To apply the modified CP to a clinical environment, the items reflecting treatment, medication and lab work were entered into an order communication system(OCS), and doctors and nurses were taught to use the CP. Finally, the development of CP for the patients with posterolateral lumbar fusion was completed after the application and variance analysis of the CP.
Case Management* ; Critical Pathways* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Care ; Spinal Stenosis*

The study was aimed at developing an independent hospice center model that would be best suited for Korea based on a literature review and the current status of local and international hospices. For the study, five local and six international hospice organizations were surveyed. Components of the hospice center model include philosophy, purpose, resources (workers, facilities, and equipment), allocation of resources, management, financial support and hospice team service. The following is a summary of the developed model: Philosophies for the hospice center were set as follows: based on the dignity of human life and humanism, help patients spend the rest of their days in a meaningful way and accept life positively. On the staff side, to pursue a team-oriented holistic approach to improve comfort and quality of life for terminally ill persons and their families. The hospice center should have 20 beds with single, two, and four bed rooms. The center should employ, either on a part-time or full-time basis, a center director, nurses, doctors, chaplains, social workers, pharmacists, dieticians, therapists, and volunteers. In addition, it will need an administrative staff, facility managers and nurses aides. The hospice should also be equipped with facilities for patients, their families, and team members, furnished with equipment and goods at the same level of a hospital. For the organizational structure, the center is represented by a center director who reports to a board and an advisory committee. Also, the center director administers a steering committee and five departments, namely, Administration, Nursing Service, Social Welfare, Religious Services, and Medical Service. Furthermore, the center should be able to utilize a direct and support delivery systems. The direct delivery system allows the hospice center to receive requests from, or transfer patients to, hospitals, clinics, other hospice organizations (by type), public health centers, religious organizations, social welfare organizations, patients, and their guardians. On the other hand, the support delivery system provides a link to outside facilities of various medical suppliers. In terms of management, details were made with regards to personnel management, records, infection control, safety, supplies and quality management. For financial support, some form of medical insurance coverage for hospice services, ways to promote a donation system and fund raising were examined. Hospice team service to be provided by the hospice center was categorized into assessment, physical care, emotional care, spiritual care, bereavement service, medication, education and demonstrations, medical supplies rental, request service, volunteer service, and respite service. Based on the results, the study has drawn up the following suggestions: 1. The proposed model for a hospice center as presented in the study needs to be tested with a pilot project. 2. Studies on criteria for legal approval and license for a hospice center need to be conducted to develop policies. 3. Studies on developing a hospice charge system and hospice standards that meet local conditions in Korea need to be conducted.
Advisory Committees ; Education ; Equipment and Supplies ; Financial Management ; Financial Support ; Fund Raising ; Hand ; Hospice Care ; Hospices* ; Humanism ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea ; Licensure ; Nurses' Aides ; Nursing Services ; Nutritionists ; Personnel Management ; Pharmacists ; Philosophy ; Public Health ; Quality of Life ; Resource Allocation ; Social Welfare ; Social Workers ; Terminally Ill ; Volunteers

This study was conducted to draw out prevalence and the risk factors of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose for adults,(age 30-69). The subjects were 2096 adults, who had regular health examinations between January and December of 1999 at K Hospital in Seoul. The data was analyzed using chi-square test, unpaired t-test and logistic regression. Diabetes Mellitus and impaired fasting glucose were diagnosed by ADA (American Diabetes Association, 1997) criteria. The results were as follows: 1. Mens' prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus was 7.9% and womens' prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus was 3.8%. Mens' prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 10.4% and womens' prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 6.5%. Prevalences of Diabetes Mellitus and impaired fasting glucose increased with age. 2. Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and impaired fasting glucose of obese subjects (relative body weight>=162) was higher than that of overweight subjects (110<=relative body weight<=119) in men and women. 3. The diagnoses of Diabetes Mellitus and impaired fasting glucose increased with systolic blood pressure and triglyceride. 4. Significant factors associated with diabetes in the logistic regression best gut model were age, relative body weight, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride in men, and systolic blood pressure in women. In conclusion, as age, weight, systolic blood pressure and triglyceride get higher, Diabetes Mellitus and impaired fasting glucose prevalence also increases, porportionally.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diagnosis ; Fasting* ; Female ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Overweight ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul ; Triglycerides

The biological interpretation of two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis experiments is a key step toward understanding the functions of biological systems. We here present a web-based integrated database, called 2DSpotDB, for the management of proteome data derived from several pathogens. The 2DSpotDB was established as a part of the management of a pathogen proteome project at the Korea National Institute of Health. The goals of the 2DSpotDB implementation are to store and define important pathogen genes, retrieve information obtained by 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, and create an integrated system to provide pathogen proteome information for biological scientists. This database currently contains 14 gels and information on 387 protein spots, among which 329 proteins were identified and annotated.
Acrylic Resins ; Data Mining ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gels ; Korea ; Mass Spectrometry ; Proteins ; Proteome

Claudin-7 has recently been suggested to be a distal nephron marker. We tested the possibility that expression of claudin-7 could be used as a marker of renal tumors originating from the distal nephron. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of claudin-7 and parvalbumin in 239 renal tumors, including 179 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC)s, 29 papillary RCCs, 20 chromophobe RCCs, and 11 renal oncocytomas. In addition, the methylation specific-PCR (MSP) of claudin-7 was performed. Claudin-7 and parvalbumin immunostains were positive in 3.4%, 7.8% of clear cell RCCs, 34.5%, 31.0% of papillary RCCs, 95.0%, 80.0% of chromophobe RCCs, and 72.7%, 81.8% of renal oncocytomas, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of claudin-7 in diagnosing chromophobe RCC among subtypes of RCC were 95.0% and 92.3%. Those of parvalbumin were 80.0% and 88.9%. The expression pattern of claudin-7 was mostly diffuse in chromophobe RCC and was either focal or diffuse in oncocytoma. All of the cases examined in the MSP revealed the presence of unmethylated promoter of claudin-7 without regard to claudin-7 immunoreactivity. Hypermethylation of the promoter might not be the underlying mechanism for loss of its expression in RCC. Claudin-7 can be used as a useful diagnostic marker in diagnosing chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma.
Tumor Markers, Biological/metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tissue Distribution ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Reproducibility of Results ; Nephrons/metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/analysis/*metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*metabolism ; Humans ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/*diagnosis/*metabolism ; Adenoma, Oxyphilic/*diagnosis/*metabolism

Gastritis cystica profunda is usually characterized by hyperplastic and cystic dilatation of pseudopyloric gland with submucosal invasion. These lesions possess malignant histologic features as metaplastic and even dysplastic alteration can be observed, however they usually exhibit benign behavior. Macroscopically, gastritis cystica profunda may present as a submucosal tumor or as a polyp. In rare case, however, it can be found as a giant mucosal fold. The proposed pathogenesis of lesion relates to ischemia, chronic inflammation, and the presence of foreign body. Herein, we report a case of gastritis cystica profunda associated with high grade tubular adenoma in a patient without antecedent surgery.
Adenoma/*complications/pathology ; English Abstract ; Gastritis/*complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms/*complications/pathology

BACKGROUND: Data on the long-term effects of interferon alpha (IFN) treatment on disease progression and mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are limited. To evaluate factors that influence clinical outcome and survival, we performed a follow-up study on hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive CHB patients treated with IFN. METHODS: A total of 98 patients with biopsy-proven HBeAg-positive CHB were treated with IFN- between 1988 and 2000 and followed. Data were collected by review of medical record, direct contact, or using database from Korea Central Cancer Registry. Sustained response (SR) to treatment was defined as HBeAg loss within 12 months after the end of IFN therapy and maintenance of HBeAg negativity for at least 3 years. We tried to find the factors associated with SR, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence and survival. We also compared the cumulative rate of HCC and survival between SR group and non-sustained response (NSR)/nonresponder group. RESULTS: The mean IFN dose was 375+/-205 mega units. Mean follow-up was 92.0 months (SD 45 months). Twenty-six patients (27%) had sustained response to IFN treatment, although transient response was seen in 39% (38 out of 98 patients). Nine patients died of liver-related causes (hepatic failure, variceal bleeding) during follow-up. There were no significant differences of clinical outcomes such as survival and HCC incidence between responders and nonresponders (p=0.18, p=0.10, respectively). However, HCC developed in 6 patients, all of whom were nonresponders with an age older than 39 years. CONCLUSION: Age of 39 years and above at the time of IFN treatment might increase the risk of developing HCC. Therefore, interferon should be applied at the younger age to prevent HCC in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Disease Progression ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Mortality