PURPOSE: Occupational stress can have a negative effect on the worker such as physical, emotional, and psychological health. Although it is well reported that health service staff tend to have a high level of minor psychiatric disorder, only a few studies have been reported in Korea. Intern and Residency (residents) are very vulnerable periods of stress and other psychiatric disorders. In this study, we describe occupational stress of interns and residents and relationship between occupational stress and depression. METHODS: The participants of this study were interns and residents trained in a tertiary hospital in Korea. The occupational stress scale was used for measurement of occupational stress. In addition, the Korean version of the Beck depression scale was used to evaluate the prevalence of depression. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v. 18.0; p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Female doctors showed higher occupational stress than male. Interns and chief residents demonstrated higher occupational stress than other grades. Astonishingly, most participants showed depressive mood. Compared with the general population, job demand and culture of the workplace are in the first upper quartile. It is indicated that compared with general populations, physicians have a higher workload and patience is required in order to cope with the harsh culture of the workplace. Depressive mood was evaluated with various factors and only occupational stress was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Overwhelming occupational stress of residents could result in both medical and social problems. Therefore, recognition of occupational stress is essential and aggressive interventions are required.
Burnout, Professional ; Depression ; Female ; Health Services ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Korea* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seoul* ; Social Problems ; Tertiary Care Centers*

Background: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of the well-known complication of spinal anesthesia. Epidural blood patch is the treatment of choice for PDPH but is rarely used for the prevention of PDPH after spinal anesthesia. The purpose of this study is to observe the effectiveness of epidural blood patch for prevention of PDPH and to evaluate the complications after epidural blood injection. Methods: Three hundred patients (ASA I or II) receiving spinal anesthesia were studied. They were randomly devided into two groups. Patients in Group I, the control group, were maintained in a supine position for 24 hour after spinal anesthesia. Patients in Group II, the study group, received 3 ml of autologous blood in the epidural space after spinal anesthesia. PDPH was evaluated for 5 days. The incidence, location, onset, and duration of headache in the patients presenting with PDPH were measured for 5 days, and the complications following epidural blood patch in Group II were observed for 2 weeks. Results: The incidence of PDPH in group I was 11%, but 0% in group II. There were no specific complications following epidural blood patch in Group II. Conclusions: This study suggest that the 3 ml epidural autologous blood patch is an useful method for the prevention of PDPH in patients with spinal anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Blood Patch, Epidural ; Epidural Space ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Post-Dural Puncture Headache ; Punctures* ; Supine Position

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to examine whether gabapentin, a new anti-epileptic agent with relatively low toxicities and side effects, could reduce postoperative pain. METHODS: Thirty-two patients scheduled for an elective total hysterectomy were investigated in this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study. The patients were randomized to receive either oral gabapentin 400 mg (gabapentin group, n = 16) or a matching placebo capsule (control group, n = 16) the night before and again 30 min before surgery as an adjunct to morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain at rest and on movement, morphine consumption, overall satisfactions and postoperative side effects including sedation were recorded for 24 h after surgery. RESULTS: Total morphine consumption for 24 h after surgery was not significantly different between the two groups, but mean hourly morphine consumption during the period of 2 6 h after surgery was significantly greater in the control group. Movement VAS of gabapentin group measured at 6 h and 12 h after surgery was significantly lower than those of control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the sedation score, patient's satisfaction and the frequencies of side effects. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that preoperatively administered oral gabapentin 800 mg reduced postoperative morphine consumption and incidental pain without increasing side effects. The addition of gabapentin to a morphine regimen may lower morphine consumption and provide better pain relief without increasing side effects.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Morphine ; Pain, Postoperative

BACKGORUND: infusion of propofol by a target-controlled infusion (TCi) system is effective in achieving conscious sedation for anxious patients presenting for dental surgery. However, there is no report of conscious sedation for mandibular fracture patients using propofol TCi. The objective of this study was to evaluate the appropriation of a conscious sedation using propofol for mandibular fracture patients. METHODS: Twenty patients with a mandibular fracture undergoing an open reduction and miniplate insertion operation were analyzed. We anesthetized patients using a propofol infusion by a TCi system (Diprifusor :Master TCi:Pilot Anesthesia is, France) with local anesthesia using lidocaine. The BiS score was evaluated continually during surgery using a microcomputer (A-2000 BiS monitor , Aspect Medical System, USA). We set the infusion machine at a target concentration 2mug/ml, and adjusted the propofol concentration for a BiS score range of 80-85. infusion rate, total dosage, duration of induction, recall of operative procedure and cooperation scores were checked. BiS, heart rate, noninvasive arterial blood pressure, and SpO2 were recorded during the operation. RESULTS: The mean BiS score was 82.95, the mean target concentration of propofol was 2.645mug/ml, the mean infusion rate was 136.3mug/kg/min, and the mean cooperation score was 2.5, the patients were cooperative. The score of amnesia was 0.2, almost patients did not recall the intraoperative event. The mean duration of stay in the recovery room was 22.2 minutes, and the most frequent side effect was pain on injecion of propofol. CONCLUSiONS: Conscious sedation with propofol TCi is an effective anesthesia method substitute for general anesthesia with quick emergence, few side effects, and safety for mandibular fracture patients.
Amnesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Local ; Arterial Pressure ; Conscious Sedation* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Mandibular Fractures* ; Microcomputers ; Propofol* ; Recovery Room ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the most common bacterial strain causing atypical pneumonia in children and adolencents. Although it is known to cause mild symptoms, it can also cause severe pulmonary or extrapulmonary complications in rare cases. Necrotizing pneumonia (NP) is often reported as a complication of Streptococcus pneumoniae and is very rarely caused by M. pneumoniae. We report a case in which a 5-year-old boy was diagnosed with lobar pneumonia with symptoms that aggravated even with macrolide antibiotic treatment. Anti-mycoplasma pneumoniae Ig-M test yielded high values, and direct polymerase chain reaction results were also positive. NP caused by M. pneumoniae was confirmed on computed tomography. After treatment involving tosufloxacin and systemic steroid, the lesion decreased in size and improved gradually when followed-up for more than 1 year. The patient did not have any predisposing or risk factors for NP.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Mycoplasma ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

BACKGROUND: Neurological injury after cerebral air embolism may be due to thromboinflammatory responses at sites of air-injured endothelium. Because heparin inhibits multiple thromboinflammatory processes. we hypothesized that heparin would decrease neurological impairment after cerebral air embolism. METHODS: Anesthetized rabbits received either heparin (n=14) or saline (n=13), 5 minutes before air injection (150 microliter/kg). Heparin was given as a 200 IU/kg bolus and followed by a constant infusion of 75 IU/kg/h for 2 hours. Equal volumes of salines were given to saline group. Two hours later, anesthesia was discontinued. Rabbits were neurologically evaluated 24 hours after air embolism. RESULTS: Heparin group had significantly less neurological impairment at 24 hours (34 14) than saline controls (52 8) (p=0.0013). CONCLUSIONS: When given prophylactically, heparin decreases neurological impairment caused by severe cerebral arterial air embolism.
Anesthesia ; Embolism, Air ; Endothelium ; Heparin* ; Rabbits*

The healthy cities approach emphasizes the role of the leadership of local governments in promoting the health of the population in city settings. The concept emerged from public health strategies declared in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, and reflects the characteristics of the third public health revolution. The Korean healthy cities movement, characterized by voluntary participation of local governments in the Alliance for Healthy Cities, has grown rapidly in recent years. A strong push of the healthy cities movement by a local government without a profound commitment to the vision may hinder the effective and sustainable development of the movement. By reviewing the historical background and significance of the healthy cities movement and its underlying concepts, and illustrating the main strategies and goals of the movement, that is, the development of partnerships, community participation and empowerment, and working in networks for stimulating change, this article argues that the healthy cities movement is a potent vehicle for implementing the new paradigm of public health introduced to local governments. We also argue that the Korean healthy cities movement needs more active participants and more support of the central government and other related stakeholders.
Consumer Participation ; Health Promotion ; Korea ; Local Government ; Natural Resources ; Power (Psychology) ; Public Health ; Vision, Ocular

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Osteomyelitis*

Dissecting aneurysms of intracranial artery often arise in the posterior circulation, but those in the anterior circulation are rare, presenting with hemorrhagic event. So, we report an unusual case of isolated dissecting aneurysm of the pericallosal artery presenting with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. A 46-year-old hypertensive woman presented with severe headache and intense nuchal rigidity after onset of two days. Computed tomography (CT) brain scan revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage and an interhemispheric hematoma. This was due to dissecting aneurysm of left pericallosal artery on conventional cerebral angiography. Total occlusion of the dissecting aneurysm was performed with five Guglielmi detachable coils, with no apparent procedure-related complications. Endovascular treatment by aneurysm and parent artery occlusion is a relatively reliable alternative to surgery for isolated dissecting aneurysm of pericallosal artery.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Arteries ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Headache ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Rigidity ; Parents ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: The DPC4/Smad4 gene is known to perform a key role in the TGF-beta group protein signaling pathway, which regulates cell proliferation, differentiation and death. DPC4/ Smad4 gene mutation has been studied in cancers of the breast, ovary, esophagus, colo-rectum, bile duct, as well as the pancreas. The mutation rates depend on the kind of carcinoma sites, and range from 10% to around 50%, but no study has been performed on gallbladder carcinomas. This study was performed to search for mutation of the DPC4/Smad4 gene in the gallbladder carcinomas. METHODS: Eighteen surgically resected gallbladder cancers were screened for mutation of the exons; 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the DPC4/Smad4 gene using dideoxyfingerprinting (ddF), and single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). The results were confirmed using automatic DNA sequencing, and the expressions examined by immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal anti-DPC4/Smad4 protein antibody, B8. RESULTS: DdF revealed 3 mutations in two of the exons, which were confirmed by direct sequencing. In one case, a single-base substitution mutation existed in exon 11 with codon change (missense mutation), whereas in two cases such mutations were detected in exon 9 without codon change (silent mutation). Immunohistochemical staining showed negative to weakly positive expression for all three mutated cases, but had high false-positive rates (7/11). CONCLUSION: DPC4/Smad4 gene mutation exists in a certain proportion of gallbladder carcinomas, but the mutation rate seems to be low compared to organogenetically related pancreas or bile duct carcinomas. This suggests somewhat different mechanisms may operate on the carcinogenesis of these organs.
Bile Ducts ; Breast ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Codon ; Esophagus ; Exons ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Mutation Rate ; Ovary ; Pancreas ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transforming Growth Factor beta