Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors for the development of osteonecrosis in civilian professional divers by an epidemiologic study and to determine the correlation between osteonecrosis in divers and coagulopathy by analysis of serologic markers that are related to thrombophilia and hypofibrinolysis. Materials and Methods: Forty-two divers, who collected pen shells (Atrina pinnata), and among whom 10 had osteonecrosis (group 1), were compared with 32 divers without osteonecrosis (group 2). Both groups were evaluated based on the number of years of diving experience, number of dives per year, mean number of dives per day, mean diving time and depth, and diving methods. We determined any statistically significant differences among these variables. We measured the levels of serologic markers that were related to hyperlipidemia, thrombophilia, and hypofibrinolysis from the divers and a control group of 20 physicians (group 3). The levels of the serologic markers were compared between groups 1 and 2 and between the divers and the control group, in order to determine the relationship between the serologic markers and the development of dysbaric osteonecrosis. Results: None of the variables demonstrated any statistically significant differences, except for the mean diving time, in which group 1 had a mean diving time of 124 minutes and group 2 had a mean diving time of 62.1 minutes (P<0.05). In the analysis of the serologic markers, there were no statistically significant differences between groups 1 and 2; however, in comparison with the group 3, the divers demonstrated significantly decreased activity levels of proteins C and S (Protein C: P<0.05; Protein S: P<0.05), and an increase in the levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (P<0.05). Conclusion: The divers with osteonecrosis had a longer mean diving time than did those divers without osteonecrosis. In the serologic marker analysis, the divers with osteonecrosis demonstrated significantly decreased activity levels of Proteins C, S and a significant increase in the levels of PAI-1, compared with the control group.
Biomarkers* ; Diving ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Hyperlipidemias ; Osteonecrosis* ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Protein S ; Risk Factors ; Thrombophilia

PURPOSE: The study evaluated elastography, a technique that allows differentiation between pathological and normal tissue by determination of tissue hardness. METHODS: From March 2009 to April 2010, 25 consecutive patients with thyroid nodules who were referred for surgical treatment were examined in this prospective study. Thirty nodules in these patients were examined by conventional ultrasound, ultrasound elastography, and fine needle aspiration cytology. Lesions were scored (1~3) according to hardness based on the Ueno classification system. The final diagnosis was based on histopathologic results. RESULTS: Of the 30 thyroid nodules, four were classified as benign and 26 were malignant. Two of the nodules with an elastography score of 1 were benign and 17 nodules whose elastography score was 3 were malignant. Two benign nodules and nine malignant nodules had an elastography score of 2. Applying an elastography score exceeding 2 as a indicator for malignancy determined that the sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound elastography was 100.0% and 50.0%, respectively, the positive and negativepredictive values were 92.9% and 100.0%, respectively, and the accuracy of the technique was 93.3%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound elastography may be a useful adjunct to ultrasonography in the identification of indeterminate thyroid nodules for which tissue diagnosis is required.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques* ; Hardness ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common diseases requiring surgical treatment. Delayed diagnosis, which causes complications like perforation of the appendix, abscess formation, or misdiagnosis, leads to unnecessary surgery. Many scoring systems have been suggested for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. This study aims to evaluate the clinical value of previous scoring systems. METHODS: This study was conducted with a total of 270 patients who had visited the National Police Hospital (NPH) Emergency Room for acute abdominal symptoms from January to June 2008. The Alvarado and the Ohmann scores were applied retrospectively based on the patients' records. We found 3 criteria which were relatively objective and clinically meaningful; then, we designed a new 10 points scoring system. RESULTS: The sensitivity and the specificity of the Alvarado scoring system were 83.23% and 64.42%, respectively, whereas those of the Ohmann scoring system were 74.85% and 66.35%, respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity of the NPH scoring system were found to be 78.4% and 68.9%, respectively. The Ohmann scoring system showed a little lower sensitivity, and the NPH scoring system showed a little higher specificity, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that the scoring systems considered are not useful diagnostic methods for primary screening and diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
Abscess ; Appendicitis ; Appendix ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Police ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Unnecessary Procedures

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare three methods of hernioplasty: high ligation (HL), tissue repair (TR), and tension free (TF) and to determine the usefulness of high ligation for repair of indirect inguinal hernia in young adults. METHODS: One hundred thirty two patients who were under the age of 25 and who underwent repair of their inguinal hernia between January 2001 and December 2005 were reviewed retrospectively by using their inpatient and outpatient records and phone calls. Sixty seven, 23 and 42 patients underwent HL, TR and TF, respectively. The clinical features that were analyzed included location, type, signs and symptoms, operation method, complications and recurrence. RESULTS: The operation times were (mean+/-SD) 46.2+/-19.1, 56.0+/-11.5, and 61.8+/-14.9 minutes for HL, TR and TF, respectively. For the post-operative complications, there was 1 case of wound infection (1.5%) and 1 case of scrotal hematoma (1.5%) for HL; 1 case of wound infection (4.4%) and 1 case of scrotal swelling (4.4%) for TR; 3 cases of wound infection (7.0%), 2 cases of scrotal swelling (4.7%), 1 cases of intermittent pain (2.3%) and 1 case of scrotal hematoma (2.3%) for TF. Two patients in the HL group had recurrences, but there was no recurrence in the TR and TF groups. CONCLUSION: High ligation hernioplasty in young adults showed a shorter operation time, but there were no differences in the rate of complications between the methods. In the case of recurrence, it can be corrected by performing tissue repair or tension free hernioplasty because the normal anatomy may be preserved even after operation. Therefore, high ligation hernioplasty proved to be a useful method for repair of indirect inguinal hernia in young adults. In contrast, for the recurred or older age patients, tissue repair or tension free hernioplasty may be a more useful method.
Hematoma ; Hernia, Inguinal* ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Ligation* ; Outpatients ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Wound Infection ; Young Adult*

OBJECTIVES: The changing population age structure and rapidly increasing medical costs make providing high-quality, effective medical care for the elderly a challenge. This study assessed the satisfaction with medical care in terms of comprehensiveness, general satisfaction, and accessibility among community-dwelling Korean elders. METHODS: Data were obtained from a nationwide representative sample of the older adults(aged 65 years old or older) living in the community, who participated in a 2006 telephone survey conducted using random digit dialing (n=881). General satisfaction, comprehensiveness and accessibility were measured using a 10-item satisfaction survey questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was used to assess the distribution of each of three components of subjective satisfaction. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine the association of each of the three components with socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: Comprehensiveness and general satisfaction were low among older people with a high socioeconomic status. Accessibility was evaluated as low among older people of low socioeconomic status, those living in rural areas and those who were medical aid beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: Urgent interventions should be considered in order to improve accessibility to medical care for elders of low socioeconomic status and those living in rural communities. Given the rapid aging of the population, we need to develop a monitoring system to improve the quality of geriatric care.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Delivery of Health Care/*utilization ; Education ; Female ; *Health Services Accessibility ; Humans ; Income ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Male ; Marital Status ; *Personal Satisfaction ; Questionnaires ; Socioeconomic Factors

2-Octylcyanoacrylate(Dermabond(R)) has an eight-carbon alkyl derivatives that is less inflammative with stronger adhesive property than its short chain derivatives (ie. 2-ethylcyanoacrylate, 2-butylcyanoacrylate).1 To assess the effectiveness of the tissue adhesiveness of 2-octylcyanoacrylate with dermal suture for the closure of head and neck incision wound, 20 patients who underwent thyroidectomy at Asan Medical Center were studied. Ten patients underwent skin closure with paper adhesive and the other 10 with the new tissue adhesive, 2-octylcyanoacrylate. At the time of 2 weeks and 3 months respectively, the incisions were evaluated by authors. Photographs of the incisions were rated using a visual analogue scale by 2 plastic surgeons who had no idea of the method of skin closure. The length of time required for skin repair was increased(161 seconds 2-octylcyanoacrylate vs 65 seconds paper adhesive), and the incision closed with tissue adhesive had similar cosmetic scores(84mm 2-ocylcyanacrylate vs 82.5mm paper adhesive). But the satisfaction of patient was higher in 2-octylcyanoacrylate group. The practical advantages of tissue adhesives are easy application, convenience of taking early showers and no need of suture removal. In conclusion, 2-octylcyanoacrylate is found to be an effective method of skin closure in clean head and neck incisions.
Adhesiveness ; Adhesives ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Skin ; Sutures ; Thyroidectomy* ; Tissue Adhesives ; Wounds and Injuries*

Transformation of MDS into ALL during childhood is extremely rare. We report a rare case of an 8-yr-old girl who presented with refractory cytopenia of childhood (RCC) that transformed into ALL only 3 months after the diagnosis of childhood MDS. Although no cytogenetic abnormalities were observed in conventional karyotype and FISH analysis, we found several deletions on chromosomes 5q, 12q, 13q, and 22q. Partial homozygous deletion of the RB1 gene was observed on microarray analysis, with the bone marrow specimen diagnosed as ALL. This is the first case report of transformation of ALL from childhood MDS in Korea. We also compared the clinical, cytological, and cytogenetic features of 4 previously reported childhood MDS cases that transformed into ALL.
Bone Marrow Cells/pathology ; *Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics ; Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/*diagnosis/genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/*diagnosis/genetics ; Retinoblastoma Protein/genetics

We performed customer satisfaction surveys for physicians and nurses regarding clinical laboratory services, and for outpatients who used phlebotomy services at a tertiary care unit level to evaluate our clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. Thus, we wish to share our experiences with the customer satisfaction survey for clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. Board members of our laboratory designed a study procedure and study population, and developed two types of questionnaire. A satisfaction survey for clinical laboratory services was conducted with 370 physicians and 125 nurses by using an online or paper questionnaire. The satisfaction survey for phlebotomy services was performed with 347 outpatients who received phlebotomy services by using computer-aided interviews. Mean satisfaction scores of physicians and nurses was 58.1, while outpatients' satisfaction score was 70.5. We identified several dissatisfactions with our clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. First, physicians and nurses were most dissatisfied with the specimen collection and delivery process. Second, physicians and nurses were dissatisfied with phlebotomy services. Third, molecular genetic and cytogenetic tests were found more expensive than other tests. This study is significant in that it describes the first reference survey that offers a survey procedure and questionnaire to assess customer satisfaction with clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services at a tertiary care unit level.
Humans ; Internet ; Interviews as Topic ; Laboratories ; *Personal Satisfaction ; *Phlebotomy ; Questionnaires ; Tertiary Healthcare ; User-Computer Interface

BACKGROUND: Recent studies and case reports have shown that recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) treatment is effective for reversing coagulopathy and reducing blood transfusion requirements in trauma patients with life-threatening hemorrhage. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of rFVIIa treatment on clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness in trauma patients. METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2010, we reviewed the medical records of patients who were treated with rFVIIa (N=18) or without rFVIIa (N=36) for life-threatening hemorrhage due to multiple traumas at the Emergency Department of Pusan National University Hospital in Busan, Korea. We reviewed patient demographics, baseline characteristics, initial vital signs, laboratory test results, and number of units transfused, and then analyzed clinical outcomes and 24-hr and 30-day mortality rates. Thromboembolic events were monitored in all patients. Transfusion costs and hospital stay costs were also calculated. RESULTS: In the rFVIIa-treated group, laboratory test results and clinical outcomes improved, and the 24-hr mortality rate decreased compared to that in the untreated group; however, 30-day mortality rate did not differ between the groups. Thromboembolic events did not occur in both groups. Transfusion and hospital stay costs in the rFVIIa-treated group were cost effective; however, total treatment costs, including the cost of rFVIIa, were not cost effective. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, rFVIIa treatment was shown to be helpful as a supplementary drug to improve clinical outcomes and reduce the 24-hr mortality rate, transfusion and hospital stay costs, and transfusion requirements in trauma patients with life-threatening hemorrhage.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Factor VIIa/*therapeutic use ; Hemoglobins/analysis ; Hemorrhage/complications/*drug therapy/mortality ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Trauma/*complications ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time ; Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The porosity of the bone cement is the most important cause of fatigue failure, the most common mode of failure of bone cement using widely in arthroplasty. It is important to evaluate the porosity of bone cement for improvement or development of bone cement, but the conventional 'stain, 'cut, and 'polish, manual method takes long time and efforts. So it is necessary to develop a new technique for evaluation of porosity of bone cement. We tried a technique using computer image analysis system to evaluate the porosity of bone cement specimen and assess efficacy of the method. Simultaneously we evaluated the relationship between the porosity of bone cement and fatigue failure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We made 59, 2.5inch-length bone cement specimens(30 Simplex P, 29 Palacos R) using Simplex P and Palaces R which are widely using in clinical situation and checked radiogram using mammography film. After scanning the mammography film, we measured the porosity of the bone cement specimens using NIH(National Institute for Health) Image 1.6 version image analysis program. We also, measured the porosity of the bone cement specimens with conventional 'stain','cut' and 'polish' method, after then compared the results of two methods. Simultaneously, we evaluated the relationship between porosity & fatigue failure by loading 9.0, 10.0, 12.5 and 15.0 MPa load with frequency of 10Hz to the bone cement specimens under the physiologic condition. RESULTS: The coefficient of relation of simplex P and palaces R was 0.729 and 0.713 respectively, so there was high relationship between the image analysis system method and conventional one. It was easy and took shorter time to measure the porosity of bone cement specimens with image analysis system. There was high correlation between cement porosity and fatigue failure, regardless of level of load. CONCLUSION: It was very easy and fast to measure the porosity of the bone cement specimens with image analysis system and there was high correlation between cement porosity and fatigue failure.
Arthroplasty ; Fatigue ; Mammography ; Methylmethacrylate ; Porosity*