This descriptive, correlational study was carried out in order to a) investigate the perceived stress and quality of life, b) to identify the relationship between the stress and quality of life of recipients who have undergone kidney transplantation and c) to provide data for their care in clinical situations. The subjects in this study were 156 kidney transplant recipients who received regular follow up in the Out Patient departments of 9 university hospitals in Seoul and the Provinces. The data were collected during the period from June 2 to August 31, 1998. The instruments used for this study were as follows: The Stress instrument used in this study was a stress questionnaire in which I modified the instrument developed by Hayward(1989), KTRSS(Kidney Transplant Recipient Stress Scale) and used by Fallen(1997). The instrument to measure the Quality of Life in this study was the 'Quality of Life Scale developed by Ro You Ja The data was analyzed by the SPSS program using descriptive statistics & Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results were as follows 1. The range of stress the scores of the subjects was from 62 to 163. The mean score was 115(SD=20.609). Perceived stress revealed the mean, 3.05(SD=0.552) ranged from 4.288 to 1.660 Among 38 items, the highest mean in the rank-order was "Taking medications for the rest of their lives"(M=4.288, SD=0.908). The next four stressors in the rank-order were "Fear of injury to the new kideney, Fear of rejection, Cost of medication, Uncertainty about the future".The item with the lowest(M = 1.660,SD=o.853) was "Non-reliance on nursing staff". The next was "Non-reliance on medical staff". 2. The range of Quality of Life scores of the subjects was from 83 to 200. The mean score was 151.237 (SD= 22.296) For each factor on the Quality of Life scale, the mean scores in the rank-order were as followed: Family relationship : 3.518(SD=0717), Self-esteem 3.550(SD=0.760), Relationship with neighbors : 3.430(SD=O.522), Physical state and function : 3.290(SD=0.549), Emotional state 3. 199(SD=0.663) 3. The relationship between stress and the Quality of life revealed a significant negative correlation (r=-0.430, p= .000). The relationship between stress and other factors in the Quality of Life scale showed a negative correlation, as follows: Stress and emotional state : r=-0.432, p=.000, Physical state and function : r=-0.403, p=.000, Economical state : r= -0.330, p=.000, Relationship with neighbors : r= -0.290, p=.000, Self esteem: r = -0.205, p = .010, Family relationship :r=-0.264, p=.001 In conclusion, This study revealed that the perceived stress and Quality of life of Kidney Transplant recipients have significant correlation. The results of this study might help Nurses and other health care workers to consult effectively, to educate, to give pre operational information, to prepare education for the period following the discharge, and to develop interventions for self-care reinforcement.
Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Family Relations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney* ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Self Care ; Self Concept ; Seoul ; Transplantation* ; Uncertainty ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Extramammary Paget's disease is a rare malignant disease associated with underlying adenocarcinoma, or not. Two cases with a unique clinical presentation are described and we wish to call attention to the malignant potential of chronic scaly and erythematous lesions of perianal and genital area.
Adenocarcinoma ; Male ; Paget Disease, Extramammary* ; Penis* ; Scrotum*

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes between laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and open liver resection (OLR) in elderly patients with hepatic tumors. Methods: From January 2013 to December 2019, a retrospective study was conducted for a total of 143 patients with over 70 years of age, who underwent liver resection for hepatic tumors. Forty-five patients who received biliary reconstruction at the same time were excluded. According to surgical approaches, 98 patients were classified into LLR and OLR groups. All postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). Results: Incidence of the postoperative complications was not statistically different between LLR and OLR groups. The CCI was significantly lower in the LLR group, with a median of 8.556, and a median of 19.698 in the OLR group (p=0.042). The length of hospital stay in the LLR group was significantly shorter than in the OLR group (p=0.008). Conclusion LLR is safe and feasible as a treatment for hepatic tumor in elderly patients with potentially less postoperative complications compared to OLR.

Proper positioning of pulmonary artery catheter and predicting distal migration of it during cardiopulmonary bypass is important for the prevention of perioperative complication of pulmonary artery rupture. The authors therefore examined the insertion length of pulmonary artery catheter via right internal jugular vein at which catheter tip was advanced to the most proximal position where pulmonary capillary wedge pressure could be obtained. And also the distal migration is measured by comparing the difference between prebypass and postbypass corrected length. Just before bypass, pulmonary artery catheter was arbitrarily receded 5cm for the prevention of spontaneous distal migration and wedging. The subjects were 47 patients who underwent open heart surgery (valve replacement, coronary artery bypass graft) during the period of November, 1992 through April, 1993. The results were as follows. 1) The insertion length of pulmonary artery catheter from skin to the right ventricle inlet, pulmonary artery inlet and pulmonary capillary wedge position were 26.5+/-3.0 cm, 36.8+/-4.9 cm and 46.1+/-5.7 cm respectively. 2) There were no significant statistical correlations between insertion lengths and patient constitutions such as body weight and height(r=0.144, r=0.032). 3) Locations of catheter tips were distributed to the 0.9+/-3.1 cm left to the spinous process, 1.9+/-1.6 cm inferior to the carina ; mostly LLQ of the lung field(51%). 4) During cardiopulmonary bypass, pulmonary artery catheter tips were migrated distally in 93.6% of the cases and the migration lengths were 2.7+/-2.0 cm. 5) There were no major perioperative complications caused by pulmonary artery catheterization. These results suggest that 5 cm withdrawal of pulmonary axtery catheter just before cardiopulmonary bypass can prevent the fatal complication of pulmonary artery rupture owing to its spontaneous distal migration.
Bays ; Body Weight ; Capillaries ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheterization, Swan-Ganz ; Catheters* ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Lung ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Rupture ; Skin ; Thoracic Surgery

Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection (RHPLD) was considered as primary management of cervical cancer (stage I and IIa). RHPLD provides for resection of paracervical and paravaginal tissues at the lateral pelvic walls, transaction of the uterosacral ligament, ligation of uterine vessels and excision of pelvic lymph node from the surrounding vessels. The urinary tract disturbance was the most frequent and significant postoperative complication. Among 82 patients who had undergone radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection for cervical cancer from July 1983 to December 1989, 43 patients who were treated for urologic complications, were reviewed retrospectively. The age distribution was even from 4th to 6th decades. The common urologic complications were neurogenic bladder dysfunction 28 (34.2%). Ureteral injury 15 (18.3% ), UTI 12 (14.6% ), stress incontinence 5 (6.1%). Each urologic complication and its management are discussed.
Age Distribution ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Ligaments ; Ligation ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Tract ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

It is occasionally difficult to distinguish Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) from other diseases including malignancy, tuberculosis, and various types of vasculitis because of the overlapping symptoms and signs. We report on a patient with NK/T cell lymphoma who was treated with a limited form of WG. At his first visit, he presented with left foot drop and recurrent nasal swelling. Necrosis and massive infiltration of inflammatory cells were identified on a nasal tissue biopsy. Sural nerve biopsy findings also showed infiltration of inflammatory cells in both the endoneurium and perivascular area; thus, a diagnosis of a limited form of WG was made. After combination therapy with a glucocorticoid and oral cyclophosphamide was initiated, his condition completely recovered without recurrence for the next 2 years. However, he visited the hospital again for recurrence of nasal swelling. Repeated biopsy of nasal tissues, combined with an immunophenotypic analysis revealed NK/T cell lymphoma. The possibility of NK/T lymphoma should be considered when evaluating a limited type of WG, which shows atypical findings on biopsy as well as recurrent deterioration, as a suboptimal dose of immunosuppressive therapy may mask its expression and lead to a poor prognosis.
Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Foot ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Masks ; Necrosis ; Organic Chemicals ; Peripheral Nerves ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Sural Nerve ; Tuberculosis ; Vasculitis ; Wegener Granulomatosis

In order to elucidate employees satisfaction levels in using graphic user interface(GUI) in a laboratory information system(LIS), users attitudes toward GUI versus CUI(Character User Interface) in a similar LIS were surveyed one month after implementing upgrade version of LIS in a tertiary care university hospital laboratory. The outcome of the study showed that approximately two third of users preferred to have GUI in LIS. There was no difference in preference of GUI or not. However the female and older employees tend to shy away from GUI. The employee productivity was improved with GUI although it takes slightly longer program loading time than that of CUI. In conclusion, the laboratory employee satisfaction was higher with GUI than CUI and their productivity was improved with GUI.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems* ; Efficiency ; Female ; Humans ; Laboratories, Hospital ; Tertiary Healthcare

PURPOSE: The optimal timing and the consequences of dexamethasone therapy in chronic lung disease remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether early dexamethasone therapy would reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease and to determine the adverse effects and complications of prematurity associated with such therapy. METHODS: Twenty neonates with hyaline membrane disease(dexamethasone n=10, placebo n=10) of less than 32 weeks of gestation at Ewha Womens University Mokdong Hospital were enrolled. Infants were randomized to receive either early dexamethasone or placebo within 12 hours after birth for three days at 10 day intervals until postconceptional age was 36 weeks. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the incidence of chronic lung disease, duration of the ventilator therapy, O2 therapy and the duration of admission in the NICU. Retinopathy of prematurity and periventricular leukomalacia were more common in the dexamethasone-treated group(P< 0.05). There were no different in other complications between two groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that dexamethasone treatment in extreme low birth weight premature infants may be discouraged. And the duration of treatment and total dosage of dexamethasone should be reevaluated.
Dexamethasone* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung* ; Membranes ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic imaging fee had been reduced in May 2011, but it was recovered after 6 months because of strong opposition of medical providers. This study aimed to analyze the behavior of medical providers according to fee changes. METHODS: The National Health Insurance claims data between November 2010 and December 2012 were used. The number of exams per computed tomography was analyzed to verify that the fee changes increased or decreased the number of exams. Multivariate regression model were applied. RESULTS: The monthly number of exams increased by 92.5% after fee reduction, so the diagnostic imaging spending were remained before it. But medical provider decreased the number of exams after fee return. After adjusting characteristic of hospitals, fee reduction increased the monthly number of exams by 48.0% in a regression model. Regardless type of hospitals and severity of disease, the monthly number of exams increased during period of fee reduction. The number of exams in large-scaled hospitals (tertiary and general hospital) were increased more than those of small-scaled hospitals. CONCLUSION: Fee-reduction increased unnecessary diagnostic exams under the fee-for-service system. It is needed to define appropriate exam and change reimbursement system on the basis of guideline.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Fees and Charges ; Insurance, Health ; National Health Programs

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a effect of intraarticular injection of Sodium Hyaluronate in the patient with degenerative osteoarthritis without restriction of activities of daily living. METHOD: Twenty-five patients were participated in this study. These patients are diagnosed as degenerative osteoarthritis by clinical symtoms and radiographic findings. Sodium hyaluronate, 2.5 ml, 3 mg/ampule, were injected intraarticulary without local anesthesia once a week for 5 times consecutively. For evaluation of the effectiveness of sodium hyaluronate, we assess the parameters for subjective and objective symtoms scored from 0 to 3 on 3 items, and for activities of daily living scored from 0 to 4 on 4 items. And then, we compared these data between pre-injection and at post-injection 2, 4, and 5 weeks. Changes of subjective and objective symtoms, and activities of daily living are assessed using Kellgren's X-ray grading of degenerative osteoarthritis. Improvement of the subjective pain is recorded by visual analogue scale. RESULTS: 1. Subjective and objective symtoms, and activities of daily living with time progression were significantly increased at post-injection 4, 5 weeks compared with pre-injection status (P<0.05). 2. Subjective and objective symtoms, and activities of daily living according to Kellgren's X-ray classification were significantly increased at stage II and III (P<0.05). 3. Visual analogue scale is significantly decreased after injection (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intraarticular injection of sodium hyaluronate showed improvement of patient's subjective and objective symtoms, and activities of daily living. The improvement was pronounced in the cases of high grade of degenerative osteoarthritis (stage II, III) according to Kellgren's X-ray classification as well as low grade (Stage I).
Activities of Daily Living ; Anesthesia, Local ; Classification ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis* ; Sodium*