BACKGROUND: The implementation of health care delivery system(HCDS) in 1989 affected the visit pattern of tertiary care hospital. In this study we analyzed the effect of implementation of HCDS in a university hospital. METHODS: We analyzed the yearbook of a university hospital from 1986 to 1992. The clinical departments were divided into three groups of medical departments, surgical departments with application of HCDS and clinical departments without application of HCDS. RESULTS: The total outpatient visits increased after implementation of HCDS. The new outpatient visits decreased after implementation in the medical departments and surgical departments but re-visit patients increased in all clinical departments. The number of emergent patients increased at year 1889, but decreased in 1990, then little changed. Admission rate via emergency room decreased in surgical departments and clinical departments without application of HCDS. The patient from Pusan in which hospital is located was little changed but patients that from other areas increased. So the proportion of patients from Pusan decreased, and from other regions increased. The visit of patients with self pay decreased, but patients with medical insurance increased. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of increased total outpatient visits, the new outpatient visits and patient visits from near place decreased through implementation of HCDS. The new outpatient visits decreased in the medical departments and surgical departments in clinical departments with application of HCDS, but the new outpatient visits increased in clinical departments without application of HCDS.
Busan ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Insurance ; Outpatients ; Tertiary Healthcare

A endodermal sinus tumer (Teilum) is a highly malignant germ cell tumor showing a selective overgrowth of yalk sac endoderm intimately associated with the extraembryonic mesoblast. Several cases of the tumor originating from the ovaries have been reported in the literature. We present a case of the tumor with a rare origin from the sacrococcygeal region.
Endoderm ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Ovary ; Sacrococcygeal Region

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Rapid identification of Mycobacterium spp. isolated from patients is important with increased isolation of mycobacteria other than tubercle bacilli (MOTT). DNA-DNA hybridization with streptavidin-peroxidase and tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) color reaction method was recognized as a useful tool for identification of various species of mycobacteria. In this study, optimum condition of the test was determined. The optimal concentrations of tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride and hydrogen peroxide for streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase were 0.3-0.6 ug/ ml and 0.16 mM, respectively. The TMB stock solution was stable when prepared in methanol and the dilution of TBM stock solution in 10 mM sodium citrate-10 mM EDTA solution (pH 5.0) gave highest peroxidase-TMB activity. The suitable composition of hybridization solution consisted of 2 x SSC, 10% dextran sulfate, 50 ug/ml salmon DNA, 5 x Denhardt's solution, and 50% formamide. The 5-minute heating at 100C of test DNA prior to photobiotin labeling significantly increased the reaction. In conclusion, DNA-DNA hybridization method with streptavidin-peroxidase and TMB color reaction method may be useful for rapid identification of Mycobacterium spp. isolated from patients.
Dextran Sulfate ; DNA ; Edetic Acid ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Methanol ; Mycobacterium* ; Peroxidase ; Salmon ; Sodium

BACKGROUND: There has been a change in the causes of aortic stenosis when comparence of rheumatioc aortic stenosis in recent year. Therefore, we studied the etiology factor of pure aortic stenosis. METHODS: The gross surgical pathologic features of the aortic valves were reviewed in 92 patients with pure aotic stenosis whom underwent aortic valve replacement at Yonsei University, Cardiovascular center between July 1989 and June 1994. RESULTS: The three most frequent causes were 1) calcification of congenital bicuspid valve in 30%, 2) degenerative calcification of aortic valve in 22%, 3) rheumatioc valvular change in 48%. The mean age at the time of aortic valve replacement for the entire series of patients was 54.4 years. The range of age was from 18 years to 77 years. Males predominated for degenerative disease and congenital bicuspid valves, but there were reversed rheumatic origin. One or more complications occured in 17% of patients undergoing operation. The surgical mortality was 3.3%. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that more common cause of aortic stenosis is non-rheumatic disease rather than rheumatinc origin.
Adult* ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality

BACKGROUND: Adequate staffing is necessary to meet patient care needs and provide safe, quality nursing care. In November 1999, the Korean government implemented a new staffing policy that differentiates nursing fees for inpatients based on nurse-to-bed ratios. The purpose was to prevent hospitals from delegating nursing care to family members of patients or paid caregivers, and ultimately deteriorating the quality of nursing care services. PURPOSE: To examine nurse staffing levels and related factors including hospital, nursing and medical staff, and financial characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was employed using two administrative databases, Medical Care Institution Database and Medical Claims Data for May 1-31, 2002. Nurse staffing was graded from 1 to 6, based on grading criteria of nurse-to-bed ratios provided by the policy. The study sample consisted of 42 tertiary and 186 general acute care hospitals. RESULTS: None of tertiary or general hospitals gained the highest nurse staffing of Grade 1 (i.e., less than 2 beds per nurse in tertiary hospitals; less than 2.5 beds per nurse in general hospitals). Two thirds of the general hospitals had the lowest staffing of Grade 6 (i.e., 4 or more beds per nurse in tertiary hospitals; 4.5 or more beds per nurse in general hospitals). Tertiary hospitals were better staffed than general hospitals, and private hospitals had higher staffing levels compared to public hospitals. Large-sized general hospitals located in metropolitan areas had higher staffing than other general hospitals. Occupancy rate was positively related to nurse staffing. A negative relationship between nursing assistant and nurse staffing was found in general hospitals. A greater number of physician specialists were associated with better nurse staffing. CONCLUSIONS: The staffing policy needs to be evaluated and modified to make it more effective in leading hospitals to increase nurse staffing.
Workload/economics ; Program Evaluation ; Personnel Staffing and Scheduling/*economics ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/economics/*supply & distribution ; Logistic Models ; Korea ; Humans ; *Hospital Charges ; *Health Policy ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Bed Occupancy/economics ; Analysis of Variance

PURPOSE: The circular stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) reduces mucosal prolapse and interrupts the end branches of the upper hemorrhoidal artery through a suitable instrument, Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH). However, there are some technical difficulties in routine use of the circular anal dilator (CAD). The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of a CSH without use of a CAD. METHODS: Between April 2005 and November 2006, 250 patients with Grade III and IV prolapsed hemorrhoids who had undergone CSH with PPH without using a CAD were retrospectively analyzed. The sex and age, the operation time, the type of anesthesia, the number of excised hemorrhoid piles, the degree of hemorrhoids and postoperative pain (consumed analgesics), the hospital stay, the postoperative complications, and the number of follow-up examinations at the outpatient clinic were analyzed. RESULTS: The operation time was 17.76 minutes (10~35 minutes). Most patients (89%) experienced spinal anesthesia. The degrees of hemorrhoids were Grade III (45%) and Grade IV (55%). The numbers of excised piles were 3 (44%), 4 (43%), and more than 5 (13%). The number of consumed postoperative analgesics was 0.97 times (mean). The mean hospital stay was 2.83 days. The postoperative complications were pain, bleeding, and urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: A CSH without use of a CAD was an effective and safe surgical modality compared with other procedures for treating hemorrhoids. This procedure is feasible and convenient. The procedure is a new alternative in the treatment of severe hemorrhoids.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Complications ; Prolapse ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Retention

No abstract available.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of mothers of infants who received sustained nurse home visiting services. The program of sustained home visit by nurses (Seoul Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-Visiting Program) is an intervention program. Its effectiveness has been verified in Australia, where services are provided to families in a vulnerable families during the period from prenatal period until the newborn is 2 years old. Methods: The study protocol used qualitative approaches. Eleven mothers of infants who received nursing services in December 2015 were invited for an in-depth interview. The data collected were subjected to directed content analysis. Results: The following 4 themes were identified from the analysis: (1) reduction in suspicion and increased feeling of benefit from the visiting service, (2) emotional support to the parents and use of community resources, (3) reliance on friendly nurses, and (4) gaining confidence about parenting and motherhood. Conclusion Sustained nursing home visiting services can be applied effectively in South Korea. The concrete narrations and descriptions of the experiences of mothers in this study can be used as a base for education, practice, and research.