Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Mar 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialProphylactic effect of erythropoietin injection to prevent acute mountain sickness: an open-label randomized controlled trial.
This study was performed to evaluate whether increasing hemoglobin before ascent by prophylactic erythropoietin injections prevents acute mountain sickness (AMS). This open-label, randomized, controlled trial involved 39 healthy volunteers with hemoglobin ≤ 15.5 g/dL who were divided randomly into erythropoietin (n=20) and control (n=19) groups. Epoetin alpha 10,000 IU injections were given weekly for four consecutive weeks. ⋯ Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that SaO2<87% and control group, but not hemoglobin<15.0 g/dL, independently predicted satisfaction of immediate descent criteria. Erythropoietin-related adverse effects were not observed. In conclusion, erythropoietin may be an effective prophylaxis for AMS.(Clinical Trial Registry Number; NCT 01665781).
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In covering wounds, efforts should include utilization of the safest and least invasive methods with goals of achieving optimal functional and cosmetic outcome. The recent development of advanced wound healing technology has triggered the use of cells to improve wound healing conditions. The purpose of this review is to provide information on clinically available cell-based treatment options for healing of acute and chronic wounds. ⋯ Fibroblasts, keratinocytes, adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction cells, bone marrow stem cells, and platelets have been used for wound healing in clinical practice. Some formulations are commercially available. To establish the cell therapy as a standard treatment, however, further research is needed.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Mar 2014
Validity of the Korean version of the fear of Alzheimer's disease scale for the assessment of anticipatory dementia.
Anticipatory dementia is related to anxiety, which is a clinical predictor of early conversion to Alzheimer's disease. The Fear of Alzheimer's Disease Scale (FADS) is a reliable and valid instrument to address anticipatory dementia. The aim of the present investigation was to develop the Korean version of the Fear of Alzheimer's Disease Scale (K-FADS) and to verify its reliability and validity. ⋯ The K-FADS revealed good reliability (Cronbach α=0.96) and good validity as compared to the Korean version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form (r=0.242, P=0.013). Test-retest reliability was excellent, as the intra-class correlation coefficient comparing the retest to test was 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-0.99). Our results show that the K-FADS is a suitable and valuable scale to assess anticipatory dementia in elderly Koreans.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Mar 2014
Long term outcomes of pediatric liver transplantation according to age.
Liver transplantation (LT) has been the key therapy for end stage liver diseases. However, LT in infancy is still understudied. From 1992 to 2010, 152 children had undergone LT in Seoul National University Hospital. ⋯ However, the 1, 5, and 10 yr patient survival rates were 93%, 93%, and 93%, in Group A and 92%, 90%, and 88% in Group B (P = 0.212). The survival outcome of pediatric LT is excellent and similar regardless of age. LTs in infancy are not riskier than those of children.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyThe relationship among complex fractionated electrograms, wavebreak, phase singularity, and local dominant frequency in fibrillation wave-dynamics: a modeling comparison study.
Although complex fractionated electrogram (CFE) is known to be a target for catheter ablation of fibrillation, its physiological meaning in fibrillation wave-dynamics remains to be clarified. We evaluated the spatiotemporal relationships among the parameters of fibrillation wave-dynamics by simulation modeling. We generated maps of CFE-cycle length (CFE-CL), local dominant frequency (LDF), wave break (WB), and phase singularity (PS) of fibrillation in 2-dimensional homogeneous bidomain cardiac modeling (1,000 × 1,000 cells ten Tusscher model). ⋯ Virtual ablation (5% of critical mass) of CFE-CL < 100 ms terminated fibrillation at 14.3 sec, and high LDF ablation (5% of critical mass) changed fibrillation to organized tachycardia, respectively. In homogeneous 2D fibrillation modeling, CFE-CL was weakly correlated with WB, PS, and LDF, spatiotemporally. PSs are mostly positioned at the periphery of low CFE-CL areas, and virtual ablation targeting low CFE-CL regions terminated fibrillation successfully.