Differences in the Clinical Characteristics of Rapid Response System Activation in Patients Admitted to Medical or Surgical Services

Variability in rapid response system (RRS) characteristics based on the admitted wards is unknown. We aimed to compare differences in the clinical characteristics of RRS activation between patients admitted to medical versus surgical services. We reviewed patients admitted to the hospital who were detected by the RRS from October 2012 to February 2014 at a tertiary care academic hospital. We compared the triggers for RRS activation, interventions performed, and outcomes of the 2 patient groups. The RRS was activated for 460 patients, and the activation rate was almost 2.3 times higher for surgical services than that for medical services (70% vs. 30%). The triggers for RRS activation significantly differed between patient groups (P = 0.001). They included abnormal values for the respiratory rate (23.2%) and blood gas analysis (20.3%), and low blood pressure (18.8%) in the medical group; and low blood pressure (32.0%), low oxygen saturation (20.8%), and an abnormal heart rate (17.7%) in the surgical group. Patients were more likely classified as do not resuscitate or required intensive care unit admission in the medical group compared to those in the surgical group (65.3% vs. 54.7%, P = 0.045). In multivariate analysis, whether the patient belongs to medical services was found to be an independent predictor of mortality after adjusting for the modified early warning score, Charlson comorbidity index, and intervention performed by the RRS team. Our data suggest that RRS triggers, interventions, and outcomes greatly differ between patient groups. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of an RRS approach tailored to specific patient groups.

Bilateral Vestibulopathy with Alcohol Abuse and Vitamin Deficiency / 대한평형의학회지

Bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) is a clinical entity with impaired function of bilateral peripheral vestibular system, which is characterized by movement-induced vertigo, oscillopsia and gait unsteadiness. Among various etiologies of BV, alcohol and vitamin B deficiency has rarely been reported. We experienced a case of BV with vitamin B deficiency in a 24-year-old man who was previously exposed to alcohol. He had osillopsia and gait unsteadiness as a primary symptom, and was treated successfully with vestibular rehabilitation and vitamin supplement. Bithermal caloric test, rotatory chair test and head impulse test showed the result compatible with BV.

Dual Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support for Bridging Lung Transplantation in Acute Exacerbation of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / 대한구급학회지

When patients with severe respiratory failure are treated with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO), severe pulmonary hypertension due to right ventricular (RV) failure is possible. This is a serious complication that requires immediate therapeutic intervention. We report an extraordinary experience of additional venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support for RV failure in a patient who was being treated with VV-ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation. A 61-year-old man was diagnosed with acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. While waiting for lung transplantation, he was placed on VV-ECMO and developed RV failure. After insertion of additional VA ECMO, RV dysfunction was dramatically improved. He underwent heart-lung transplantation after 23 days of dual ECMO support.

Successful Implementation of a Rapid Response System in the Department of Internal Medicine / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: A rapid response system (RRS) aims to prevent unexpected patient death due to clinical errors and is becoming an essential part of intensive care. We examined the activity and outcomes of RRS for patients admitted to our institution's department of internal medicine. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients detected by the RRS and admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) from October 2012 through August 2013. We studied the overall activity of the RRS and compared patient outcomes between those admitted via the RRS and those admitted conventionally. RESULTS: A total of 4,849 alert lists were generated from 2,505 medical service patients. The RRS was activated in 58 patients: A (Admit to ICU), B (Borderline intervention), C (Consultation), and D (Do not resuscitate) in 26 (44.8%), 21 (36.2%), 4 (6.9%), and 7 (12.1%) patients, respectively. Low oxygen saturation was the most common criterion for RRS activation. MICU admission via the RRS resulted in a shorter ICU stay than that via conventional admission (6.2 vs. 9.9 days, p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: An RRS can be successfully implemented in medical services. ICU admission via the RRS resulted in a shorter ICU stay than that via conventional admission. Further study is required to determine long-term outcomes.

A Longitudinal Study of Frequency Specific Electrical Stimulation Levels in Cochlear Implant Users / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the changes in electrical stimulation levels, i.e. threshold (T) levels, comfortable (C) levels, dynamic range (DR), and electrode impedance values (EIVs) during the first year in cochlear implant users. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The maps of 49 cochlear implant users (at least 1 year mapping), using the Nucleus device, were examined at the time of initial connection, and at 6 and 12 months post-initial stimulation. T levels, C levels, DR and EIVs were analyzed according to three frequency levels. RESULTS: During the first 6 months of implant use, C levels and DR increased significantly whereas T levels were stable. EIVs of current carrying electrodes decreased significantly from the connection to the 12-month visit. The changes of electrical stimulation levels did not differ among three frequency levels during the entire follow-up. CONCLUSION: During the first 6 months of implant use, C levels and DR increased significantly. Thus, an appropriate mapping in the first 6 month is critical to setup hearing capacity in implant users. The mapping should be performed under the best communication environment between the audiologist and the patient, and it makes correct setting of T levels from the initial connection period.

Enhanced Cardiomyogenic Differentiation of P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of different concentrations of serum, 5-azacytidine, and culture time on the cardiomyogenic differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma stem cells in the course of developing an efficient protocol for generating the cardiomyogenic lineage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: P19 cells were plated at a density of 1x10(6) cells on 10-cm bacterial dishes for 96 hours in the presence of 1% dimethyl sulfoxide to form embryoid bodies. The embryoid bodies were cultured in medium with 2% or 10% fetal bovine serum for an additional 10 or 15 consecutive days in the presence of 0, 1, or 3 microM 5-azacytidine. RESULTS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of cardiac muscle-specific genes, such as GATA4, alpha-actin, alpha-myosin heavy chain, and cardiac troponin T, were significantly higher in the 15-day culture groups than in the 10-day culture groups. Furthermore, the cardiac muscle-specific genes were expressed more in the high-serum groups compared to the low-serum groups regardless of the culture time. Cardiomyogenic differentiation of the P19 cells was most effective in 1 microM 5-azacytidine regardless of the serum concentrations. In addition, the stimulation effects of 5-azacytidine on cardiomyogenic differentiation were more significant under low-serum culture conditions compared to high-serum culture conditions. Cardiomyogenic differentiation of P19 cells was further confirmed by immunostaining with cardiac muscle-specific antibodies. CONCLUSION:Taken together, these results demonstrated that cardiomyogenic differentiation of P19 cells was enhanced by a combination of different experimental factors.