BACKGROUND Although exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) has been associated with various medical conditions, only limited data are available on its association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL), particularly data obtained with the EQ-5D or EQ visual analogue scale (VAS). METHODS This cross-sectional study evaluated 10,532 adult never-smokers who participated in the fifth Korea Natio...

OBJECTIVES The short-term effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the patients with catastrophic and intractable tinnitus were investigated. METHODS Fifteen participants were recruited among patients with catastrophic intractable tinnitus to receive 1 Hz rTMS treatment. Tinnitus severity was assessed before rTMS and directly after sham or real rTMS usin...

PURPOSE To investigate whether the rate of infiltration of local anaesthetic influences the pain or efficacy of local anaesthesia in oculoplastic surgery. METHODS A prospective observational study on consecutive patients undergoing a variety of oculoplastic procedures under local anaesthesia. An observer recorded the rate of injection of local anaesthetic during each procedure. The same mixtu...

This study aimed to elucidate the appropriate physical characteristics that are clinically acceptable for gummi formulations. We prepared 11 placebo gummi formulations containing different amounts of gelatin and water and evaluated their penetration and restitution using a penetrometer and rheometer, respectively. Clinical sensory tests in 16 healthy volunteers (age, 23.4±0.9 years, mean±standa...

To evaluate the efficacy of nephrostomy balloon dilation (NBD) for patients who developed vesicourethral anastomotic stricture (VAS) following radical prostatectomy. NBD was performed in patients who developed VAS following radical prostatectomy. Quality of life (QoL), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax) were evaluated. Four hundred and sixty-three p...

BACKGROUND Lumbar total disc arthroplasty is often performed in patients with axial back pain. There are multiple etiologies for axial back pain, including disc degeneration and annular tears. The location of these annular tears can vary, producing differing preoperative symptomatology. Intraoperatively, disruptions in the annulus are identifiable, and it has been suggested that patients with d...

OBJECTIVE Haemodialysis is associated with the deposition of beta(2) microglobulin in musculoskeletal structures, leading to the syndrome of dialysis related amyloidosis and impairment of hand function. This study aimed at assessing hand function using the Sollerman test in a cross section of patients undergoing haemodialysis. METHODS Recipients of haemodialysis underwent the Sollerman test o...

Background Patients' satisfaction is the key parameter to measure the quality of healthcare services. Value added-services (VAS) were introduced to improve the quality of medication deliveries and to reduce the waiting time at outpatient pharmacy. Objective This study aimed to compare the satisfaction levels of patients receiving VAS and traditional counter service (TCS) for prescription refi...

UNLABELLED Objective. To evaluate the association between nasal obstruction and (1) demographic factors, (2) medical history, (3) physical tests, and (4) nasal exam findings. Study Design. CASE SERIES Methods. Chart review at a tertiary medical center. Results. Two hundred-forty consecutive patients (52.1 ± 17.5 years old, with a Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score of 32.0 ± 24....

Background and Aims: A visual analogue score (VAS), based on application of a visual analogue scale, has been widely used to assess pruritus in clinical studies of patients with cholestatic liver disease. A VAS is a numerical score of the severity of the perception of pruritus, and, hence, is inherently subjective. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of a VAS as an index o...