Yonsei medical journal
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A predisposition to occlusive vascular diseases has been reported in patients with psoriasis and it has been suggested that some of these patients have some disorders of lipid metabolism. In this study, serum lipid levels were investigated in psoriatic patients to explore to the knowledge of this relationship. One hundred psoriatic patients and 100 non- psoriatic controls were included in the study. ⋯ In patients with psoriasis, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were found to be significantly higher than those of controls. No significant differences were found in the other parameters. We concluded that psoriatic patients should be evaluated and followed up for the risk of hyperlipidemia and obstructive vascular diseases.
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Yonsei medical journal · Feb 2003
How much are anesthesiologists exposed to electromagnetic fields in operating rooms?
Numerous electronic devices have been introduced into the operating room. Although little is known about the relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health hazards, some authors reported its association with cancer or other diseases. We measured the amount of EMF exposure that an anesthesiologist gets in the operating room. ⋯ Because quantities over 2 or 3 mG were accepted to be high radiation levels of EMF by many reports describing the hazards of EMF, we set 2 mG to be the cutoff value. In some of the 19 operating rooms, the measured EMF density exceeded our cutoff value. Although the health hazards related to EMF exposure are still equivocal, anesthesiologists should consider making an effort to improve their environment and reduce their exposure to EMF.
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Yonsei medical journal · Feb 2003
Infrared thermographic imaging in the assessment of successful block on lumbar sympathetic ganglion.
This study examined the net changes in temperature at various regions of the lower extremities in an attempt to identify the regions demonstrating the most significant temperature changes following a lumbar sympathetic ganglion block (LSGB). Thermography was performed before and after the LSGB in 26 sympathetic nerve system disorder cases. The inspection points were the anterior and posterior surfaces of the thigh, the knee and leg, and the dorsal and plantar surfaces of the feet. ⋯ There was one case of orthostatic hypotension during the thermography procedure. In conclusion, thermographic imaging is a useful method for demonstrating the success of a LSGB in various diseases. An evaluation of the deltaT(net) on the plantar surface of the feet using thermographic imaging is the most effective, simple, and safe method for assessing a successful LSGB.
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Yonsei medical journal · Oct 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialInstillation of normal saline before suctioning in patients with pneumonia.
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a no saline, a 2 ml and a 5 ml saline instillation prior to endotracheal suctioning on oxygen saturation in patients with pneumonia. The subjects in this study were 16 pneumonic patients with a tracheotomy tube, who had been admitted to the neuro-surgical intensive care unit at a university hospital in Seoul Korea. All three (0, 2 and 5 ml) saline instillation methods were applied to the 16 patients. ⋯ The oxygen saturation was evaluated using pulse oximetry. The recovery times for oxygen saturation to return to baseline levels following suctioning were, just after suctioning, 45 seconds after suctioning and in excess of 5 minutes with 0, 2 and 5 ml saline instillations, respectively. Instillation of normal saline before suctioning could have an adverse effect on oxygen saturation, and should be used carefully as a routine intervention in patients who have pneumonia.
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Yonsei medical journal · Aug 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of sevoflurane-nitrous oxide and target-controlled propofol with fentanyl anesthesia for hysteroscopy.
A randomized prospective study was performed on the anesthetic induction, maintenance, and recovery characteristics of sevoflurane-nitrous oxide, compared to that of target- controlled propofol and fentanyl anesthesia, for forty day-case hysteroscopic surgery. The patients in the sevoflurane group (n = 20) received sevoflurane-nitrous oxide for both induction (8%) and maintenance (1 - 2%) of anesthesia, while the patients in the propofol group (n = 20) received target-controlled propofol (4 micro g/ml, 3-6 micro g/ml as occasion demanded) with fentanyl (1 micro g/kg). In both groups, the airway was maintained by a facemask with the patient breathing spontaneously during the surgery. ⋯ The postanesthetic Aldrete's recovery scores of the patients immediately after surgery were higher in the sevoflurane group. Propofol was associated with more drowsiness, with sevoflurane being associated with more nausea, in the recovery period; however, neither delayed the time to discharge (103.7 +/- 28.1 vs. 99.0 +/- 36.2 min). In conclusion, sevoflurane-nitrous oxide appears to be superior for day-case hysteroscopic surgery, than target-controlled propofol with fentanyl, with regards to the speed of recovery from anesthesia and the return to hemodynamic stability.